Recent content from Sid Hartman
Hartman: Wolves top pick possesses the skills team needs
Georgia Tech's Josh Okogie is a fine shooter, but his versatility on defense will help more.
Hartman: Rosario, Escobar should be MLB All-Stars
Neither Eddie Rosario nor Eduardo Escobar had can't-miss profiles when the Twins acquired them, but they have carried the team this season.
Hartman: Taste of bad finish in 2017 lingers for Vikings defense
Aiming to learn from last season's sour finish, the Vikings worked on a lot of situational football during OTAs and minicamps, which ended this week.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • Pro Football Focus showed why Kirk Cousins might thrive with the Vikings: The team led the NFL in contested pass receptions last…
Hartman: Vikings have big plans for new Eagan headquarters site
The Vikings will have their official ribbon-Âcutting ceremony Friday for the new team headquarters, which is still a long way from being fully developed.
Hartman: Central road trip pivotal for Twins
The front office has to be hoping that its big collection of free agent signings and trade acquisitions is going to start to contribute more than it has so far.
Hartman: Sano's career statistics on path with Killebrew's
For all the hand-wringing about Miguel Sano, through his first 343 career games he compares almost identically to the greatest power hitter in franchise history
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS• Trevor Siemian, the backup to Kirk Cousins, said of the Vikings quarterback room: "Kirk is obviously doing a great job. You…
Hartman: Remmers willing to play guard or tackle for Vikings
Mike Remmers' versatility will play an important role in how the Vikings revamp their offensive line this season.
Hartman: Molitor praises all Anderson does for Gophers baseball
Twins manager Paul Molitor points to how the Gophers play on the field and how their coach prepared players for life.
Hartman: Vikings amp up spending in quest for Super Bowl
In the past two seasons, the Vikings have signed $209 million worth in total contracts to 15 unrestricted free agents, according to Spotrac.com.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • Ken Mauer, the NBA official and a cousin of Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, was blamed by many Cavaliers fans for…
Hartman: Struggling Twins need Mauer back in lineup
The offense has not been able to do much since the first baseman landed on the disabled list.
Hartman: Baseball coach Anderson one of Gophers all-time greats
John Anderson is considered one of the best college baseball coaches in the country, but it may be time to recognize him as the best coach ever at the U.
Hartman: Vikings receivers get jump on working with Kirk Cousins
Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs went to Atlanta in April to work out with Kirk Cousins after the Vikings signed their new QB.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • ESPN said if the 2018 Vikings are going to exceed last season’s results, there’s no doubt that Kirk Cousins will have to…
Hartman: Rodney never lost faith in his ability
Fernando Rodney, the 41-year-old Twins closer, had a rocky start, but he has been fantastic in his past 10 outings.
Hartman: Twins hanging in there without key players
Manager Paul Molitor continues to piece together lineups and keep them competitive.
Hartman: Falvey says Twins are ready for current, future challenges
Injuries and player struggles are taking their toll on the 2018 campaign while big contract decisions loom this offseason. Through it all, Derek Falvey says the Twins are in good shape.
Hartman: Gophers' athletic success driven by women's teams, coaches
Great coaching hires have led to fine seasons and/or optimism for many women's teams.
Hartman: Molitor encouraged by Twins' progress
After a rough start to the 2018 season, Twins Manager Paul Molitor sees signs of improvement and a still-close AL Central race.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck said that while the team will have more depth this year, that doesn’t mean it will have…
Hartman: Escobar, Kepler fuel Twins offense
Escobar's versatility and production have kept him in the lineup; Kepler has improved vs. lefties.
Hartman: Vikings eager to put last season's sour ending behind
One of the areas where the Vikings will adjust is on the offensive line, and Mike Zimmer said they are expecting big things out of guard Nick Easton, who fractured his ankle in the second-to-last game of the regular season
Sid's Sunday jottings
JOTTINGS • Even with Jamal Crawford opting out of the final year of his contract, the Timberwolves are currently slated to pay nine players…
Hartman: Vikings GM Spielman swayed to draft Hughes by UCF coach
Rick Spielman's chats with Scott Frost led him to believe Central Florida's Mike Hughes was a value pick at the end of the first round.
Hartman: Twins play through errors, injuries
Manager Paul Molitor sees some positives with the Twins despite the team's recent 3-12 downswing.
Hartman: Spielman has the knack for savvy draft strategy
There is no doubt Rick Spielman continues to build on the faith Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf showed when they made him the franchise's first GM since Mike Lynn in the 1980s.
Sid's Sunday jottings
JOTTINGS • It’s sad that former Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher lost his job after reaching the postseason for six consecutive seasons, and especially…
Hartman: Vikings made wise pick in taking Smith in 2012
ESPN.com ranked All-Pro safety Harrison Smith as the top first-round choice by the Vikings in past 10 years.
Hartman: Wolves show ability to adjust in NBA playoffs
Saturday's Game 3 win displayed new resilience, especially by some of the team's youngest stars.
Hartman: Vikings feel confident drafting from a position of success
"The good thing is we have a pretty good football team, so we can kind of be selective on taking the best player available and not try to fill too many holes," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
Sid's Sunday jottings
JOTTINGS • Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman broke down what newly signed wide receiver Kendall Wright brings: “Very good slot, has some quickness…
Hartman: It's do-or-die time for the Wolves
After getting blown out in Houston 102-82 on Wednesday to fall behind 0-2, the Timberwolves host their first playoff game in 5,075 days on Saturday.
Hartman: UCLA built the base for Vikings' Kendricks, Barr
Ex-Bruins coach Jim Mora sees a continuation of their college days in what Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr have done with Vikings.
Hartman: U football bolstered by numbers in Fleck's second season
Last year around the time of the spring game the Gophers roster was so depleted that they couldn't even run two teams on the field.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • With the Timberwolves set to play Houston in the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years, it’s worth noting that the Rockets will…
Hartman: Thibodeau's vision leads Wolves to NBA playoffs
Tom Thibodeau assessed the Wolves, brought in key additions and finally ended a 14-year postseason void.
Hartman: Owner Taylor thrilled after Wolves ends playoff drought
The Wolves ended their long postseason drought, and owner Glen Taylor was happy for the loyal fans.
Hartman: Mauer's $184 million contract with Twins nearing end
Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey has said he will wait until the offseason to do any contract negotiations with Joe Mauer, who would hit free agency at age 36.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • Recommended for Gophers football fans: Make plans for the spring game at noon Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. It is guaranteed to be…
Hartman: Tough offseason isn't slowing Twins' Sano
With Miguel Sano coming off surgery on his left tibia and facing an MLB investigation there was some uncertainty whether he would start the season with the big league club.
Hartman: Twins face challenges early in the season
If the Twins hope to have a better start than 2017, they will need to deal with key absences.
Hartman: Sherels' return is another good move for the Vikings
Sherels hasn't had any issues being a great returner in the NFL, and he'll have another year to prove that with the Vikings in 2018.
Hartman: Target Field experience remains a top priority for Twins
Target Field will reveal some significant changes when the home schedule begins next week.
Hartman: Big decisions face Twins in year ahead
One thing to keep watch of is how this year affects the Twins' decision-making when it comes to contracts in 2019.
Hartman: Vikings invested wisely in landing Cousins as long-term QB
For all the talk of the Vikings giving Kirk Cousins a three-year guaranteed $84 million contract, with $24 million for 2018, it's worth noting that the Vikings will be spending only $4 million more on quarterbacks in 2018 than in 2017.
Hartman: With Cousins and Richardson, Vikings learn that talent draws talent
Cousins and Richardson came to Minnesota as free agents in part because of team's success.
Hartman: Nanne says Gophers hockey job will draw top candidates
Ex-Gophers player and North Stars chief supports Don Lucia's decision to depart on his own terms.
Hartman: A salute to the Joneses, Minnesota's great basketball family
There's no doubt that there has never been a pair of brothers from Minnesota who have been as decorated as Tyus and Tre Jones.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • Before signing with the Vikings, Kirk Cousins spent time in town during Super Bowl week. He visited the Gophers football team and…
Hartman: Vikings, DeFilippo saw plenty of Cousins' play up close
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on Thursday talked about how John DeFilippo's experience watching Kurk Cousins from the opposite sideline helped the Vikings' decisionmaking.
Hartman: Gophers coaches draw scrutiny as contract renewals approach
Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle said that he knows there are a lot of questions surrounding the contracts of some of his coaches.
Hartman: Vikings sought out best available QB in Cousins
By pursing Kirk Cousins, the Vikings hope he'll be as healthy and productive as in the past three years.
Hartman: Family ties could help land standout Edina lineman at U
After more than 20 unofficial visits to campuses around the nation, Carroll announced this past week he had narrowed his choice to six programs, and the Gophers are one of them. The others are Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
Hartman: Downing rises from Eden Prairie backup QB to NFL assistant
New Vikings coach Todd Downing got his start playing for Mike Grant, then worked his way up.
Hartman: Gannon weighs in on Vikings-Packers, Keenum vs. Cousins
Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon sizes up the Vikings-Packers rivalry and the debate over the Vikings' next quarterback.
Hartman: Rowson guides Twins' young hitters to success
When James Rowson joined the Twins last season, he said he immediately saw just how athletic the young hitters were.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • John Anderson, in his 37th season as the Gophers baseball coach, became the 20th coach in NCAA Division I baseball history to…
Hartman: Vikings should end chatter and sign Keenum to long-term deal
After a stellar season, Case Keenum has proven he can lead, and it would finally resolve the team's quarterback issues.
Hartman: Wolves not looking for just one player to replace Butler
Without Jimmy Butler in the lineup for the foreseeable future after knee surgery, coach Tom Thibodeau intends for the Wolves to employ a team effort to make up for his absence.
Hartman: Vikings turning attention to combine, free agents
With the NFL scouting combine starting Thursday in Indianapolis, the Vikings are well underway preparing for the 2018 season.
Sid's jottings
JOTTINGS • With the news that Jimmy Butler has a meniscal injury instead of a ligament tear, the Timberwolves at least avoided the huge…
Hartman: U football recruits already on campus quickly could help program
P.J. Fleck is counting on seven new players to have an immediate impact on the football program.
Hartman: DeFilippo vows to get Vikings' quarterback situation fixed
New offensive coordinator DeFilippo knows that the Vikings quarterback situation is unique, with three potential starters from last year's roster being free agents.
Hartman: NFL executive praises state's host efforts for Super Bowl
NFL COO Tod Leiweke was no stranger to Minnesota, having once served as Wild team president. He had told league officials to expect a world-class, unique event in Super Bowl LII, and he said that looking back on the experience, that was exactly what they got.
Hartman: No league showing greater value growth than NBA
The Lakers, purchased for only $15,000 back in 1947, now are worth an astounding $3.3 billion.
Hartman: Saunders' impact with Timberwolves remains clear today
From the time Flip Saunders arrived at the University of Minnesota in 1973, he showed he was a brilliant basketball mind.
Hartman: Molitor believes young Twins turned the corner
The Twins last season reached the playoffs for the first time since 2010, and manager Paul Molitor was given a three-year contract extension. "I'm really excited to see what this team can do," he said.
Jottings
JOTTINGS • Now that the dust has settled on the Vikings’ season, quarterback Case Keenum talked about some of the great memories he had…
Hartman: Dozier still hopeful for new Twins deal
Second baseman Brian Dozier has been a bargain for how he has performed during his Twins career.
Hartman: Polishing tarnished image helped Moss get to Hall of Fame
Sid Hartman writes: "In my 70-plus years of working in sports, I have never seen an athlete repair his reputation as well as Randy Moss has."
Hartman: Eagles show their effort against Vikings was no fluke
There is no doubt that the Eagles' victory over this New England franchise proves that the Vikings lost to a truly great team two weeks ago.
Hartman: Without U.S. Bank Stadium, we'd have no Vikings or Super Bowl
There was no shot of the Super Bowl returning here without Gov. Mark Dayton and the Minneapolis City Council working together to get stadium financing.
Hartman: Grant was a two-way star in his Eagles playing days
Before he was coach of the Vikings, Bud Grant played two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles.
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