SID's JOTTINGS

• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder and his wife, Samantha, recently went out of their way to perform a charitable act for a grieving family. The Ponders were asked to take a photo with Justin Robbins and his two young daughters at the Mall of America. While taking the picture the Ponders discovered the daughters had recently lost their mother, Maggie, who was killed in a car accident. So the Ponders went to the Lululemon store the girls were going to shop at and told the manager there they would anonymously pay for whatever the family bought. The Ponders didn't seek any recognition, but Robbins found out about their generosity and wanted people to know about it.

• Former Gophers receiver Eric Decker is back healthy with the New York Jets and led the team with 65 receiving yards in their 27-25 loss to the Patriots on Thursday. Decker has 24 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns on the season, and now he will be joined by former Vikings star Percy Harvin after Friday's surprising trade between the Jets and the Seahawks, who reportedly got tired of Harvin's attitude.

• Former Gopher Tom Lehman, 55, is still golfing on the Champions Tour and recently finished second at the SAS Championship. He is ranked 11th in tour earnings this year at $994,875.

• Twins President Dave St. Peter reports the opening game on March 4 at remodeled Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla., will have the Gophers facing the Twins. He also said the Big Ten baseball tournament will be held at Target Field for a second year in a row in 2015.

• The Gophers men's basketball team has scheduled a preseason scrimmage with Iowa State, coached by former Timberwolves player and executive Fred Hoiberg. The scrimmage will be Nov. 2 and most likely will be closed to the public.