Sports Posts

Jugger, a sword-fighting and rugby combo, has arrived in Duluth

Jack Brown, Mitchell Glatzel and Noah Pongratz duel at Leif Erikson Park. When playing jugger they go by the names Dragon, Tumbles and Grub.

There’s a weekly sword fight at Leif Erikson Park in Duluth. Rolling, sliding and dodging blow after blow of foam attacks, three duelists who call themselves Dragon, Tumbles and Grub always draw a crowd of onlookers.

To the uninformed, the spectacle might seem like a form of live-action roleplay. But it would be more accurate to say Dragon and his crew have introduced a new sport to Duluth: jugger.

PDD Quiz: Mascots

This week’s quiz tests your knowledge of local mascots (some affiliated with sports teams, some not). Step up to the plate and see how many you can identify!

The next PDD quiz, reviewing current events, will be published on Aug. 25. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Aug. 22.

The Fourth Day of FinnFest

Every day at FinnFest the North American Floorball finals are held, with some of the best players from nine countries playing for the coveted Troy Cup.

I’m not much for sportsball, but this video helps to explain.

Big League Manager Baseball Game from West Duluth

To mark the start of the 2024 baseball season we take a look back at the Big League Manager Baseball Game, which was made in Duluth beginning, as near as can be determined, 70 years ago in 1954.

PDD Quiz: Basketball

Drive to the basket and take your shot at this week’s basketball-themed PDD Quiz. Shout out to PDD user llinmpls for suggesting some of this week’s questions!

The next current events quiz charges your way on March 31. Submit question ideas to Alison Moffat [email protected] by March 26.

Minnesota hockey hair featured in the New York Times

The New York Times reports this week on Minnesota as the “global hub for hockey hair.” The feature includes the story of Graff Mellin, the junior forward for Hairmantown, who went against the mullet trend with a buzzcut leopard look.

Daniel Durant’s Super Bowl National Anthem ASL Performance

Actor Daniel Durant, the Duluth native who starred in the Academy Award-winning movie CODA, performed the national anthem in American sign language at the Super Bowl on Sunday. But the telecast showed only Durant’s introduction before focusing on singer Reba McEntire.

The video above, via the YouTube channel of the Sign Language Studies program at Southwestern Illinois College, shows Durant’s full performance.

Tim Cortes Studio West open in Duluth Heritage Sports Center

The Duluth News Tribune reports artist Tim Cortes has opened an art studio and gallery in the former warming shack at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center’s Sill Arena.

Nimrods: Prophecy of the Six Trailer

The Nimrods have won the American Birkebeiner Giant Ski Race a record five times. But just when it looked like their skiing days were over, fate had other ideas.

Yes, another Nimrod giant ski movie is premiering at the Park Center in Hayward on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and showing again during Birkie Week. All proceeds benefit the Share Winter Foundation to support youth winter sports programs.

Former Duluthian writes about hockey-playing cousin

Former Duluthian Crystal Gibbins writes about northeast Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha on the Coffee House Press website.

NFC Championship Game of 1973: Vikings vs. Cowboys

It was 50 years ago today — Dec. 30, 1973 — when the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium to win the National Football Conference Championship, sending the team to its second of four Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.

The 27-10 upset of the Cowboys preceded a 24–7 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII at Rice Stadium in Houston.

Part Way to the Majors: The 1970 Duluth Dukes

The 1971 educational film Part Way to the Majors, a documentary produced by ABC News for the Sunday afternoon series Discovery, follows the Duluth-Superior Dukes as they road trip to Sioux Falls, S.D. The film starts and ends at Wade Stadium in Duluth.

Grandma’s Marathon 2022 Double: I Wanna Be Sedated

One year ago Eric Strand completed his 10th Grandma’s Marathon Double — starting at the finish line, running to the starting line, then running the official marathon. The 2022 video was finally released just before the 2023 marathon. Strand uses the 52.4-mile Grandma’s Marathon Double as a training run for the Leadville 100 Trail Run.

Strand has been running the Grandma’s Marathon since 2000 and has done the “double” since 2012, except for the pandemic year of 2020.

UMD Bulldog Hockey: Amsoil Arena Fly-through

Take a tour of Amsoil Arena, home of UMD Bulldogs hockey, via drone footage by Ethan Schultz of ShotxSchultz.

Rawkers crush Rollers in Homegrown Kickball Classic 2023

Rohrbaugh’s Rawkers piled on five runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth to easily top Vaagen’s Rollers 13-4 in the 2023 Homegrown Kickball Classic at Chester Bowl. The Rawkers now lead the overall series with 12 wins in 23 games.