Sports Posts

Grandma’s Marathon 2021 Double: Ninth or Tenth Annual?

Eric Strand’s tradition of running a Grandma’s Marathon Double — starting at the finish line, running to the starting line, then running the official marathon — continued in 2021. The annual video package didn’t make it to YouTube until today — 11 days before the next Grandma’s Marathon — but hey, editing video is its own marathon, right?

Joining Strand on the 52.4-mile trek, which began at 2:30 a.m., are Andy, Andrew, John, Lance and another guy named Eric. All were impressed with the awe-inspiring sunrise over the porta potties at the half-marathon starting line.

Duluth Homegrown Kickball Classic 2022: A Short Film

Photographer Kip Praslowicz gets all artsy with this video showcasing Homegrown Music Festival kickball athleticism.

Rollers win Homegrown kickball, knotting series at 11

The chant is heard sporadically throughout the annual Homegrown Music Festival Kickball Classic. “MVP. MVP. MVP.”

Minnesota Historia: Duluth’s Doomed Olympics Bid

WDSE-TV presents the story of an Olympics that never happened in a city that never stopped dreaming.

Minnesota Historia is a six-part web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.

Duluth curler among stray Olympians in Beijing streets

John Landsteiner of Duluth, at right in the image, was among “hundreds of stray Olympians” who “had been left behind after the 2022 Winter Games,” according to the satirical news website the Onion. With Landsteiner in the photo is his curling teammate Matt Hamilton of McFarland, Wis.

PDD Quiz: Duluth at the Olympics

Go for the gold with this quiz about Olympians with Duluth ties!

The next PDD quiz will review this month’s headlines; it will be published on Feb. 27. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Feb. 24.

Alan Sparhawk of Low on American Football

This video is more than three years old, but with the Super Bowl coming up this weekend it seems appropriate to get Duluth musician Alan Sparhawk’s take on the sport of football.

The video was shot during Low’s tour of the United Kingdom prior to the release of the 2018 album Double Negative. Luke Turner, editor of the rock music and pop culture website the Quietus met Sparhawk at the Barbican Centre in London to talk about football as part of the website’s “At Leisure” series, looking at musicians and their non-musical interests.

Bob Mason with the save in 1982

This 40-year-old press photo shows University of Minnesota Duluth goalie Bob Mason about to make a save at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. It is credited to Star Tribune photographer Cletus “Pete” Hohn.

America’s Curling Heroes in Parade Magazine

“A humble Midwestern team” that “made curling cool” is on the cover of this week’s Parade magazine.

The U.S. men’s Olympic curling team members pictured are, left to right: John Landsteiner, Duluth; Chris Plys, Duluth; John Shuster, Superior; John Landsteiner, Duluth; Colin Hufman, Minneapolis; and Matt Hamilton, McFarland.

Book Trailer for Eric Chandler’s Kekekabic

I’m happy to announce that my new book, Kekekabic, is for sale now at Finishing Line Press! From now until March 25, you can preorder a copy of my book and it will ship to you on May 20. You can get a copy for $19.99 at finishinglinepress.com.

Cross-country skiers push for Duluth to be ‘fluoro wax-free city’

As the national SuperTour race hits Spirit Mountain in Duluth this weekend, Minnesota Public Radio delves into the potentially harmful effects of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances found in the fluorinated ski wax used by elite cross-country ski racers.

Robb Stauber: The Goalie Who Never Stayed in His Net

The opinionated hockey YouTube channel “idontgivetkachuk” recently featured Duluth native Robb Stauber in an eight-and-a-half minute video tribute/critique. Slicing together some of the former goaltender’s crazier plays, video creator Paul DeRienzo presents Stauber as a wild and perhaps undisciplined goalie who lived outside the crease.

Armistice Day Parade, Football and Moonshine Mishap of 1921

In addition to the parade in Downtown Duluth, Armistice Day of 1921 featured two big football games. The Denfeld High School eleven traveled to Coleraine to play for the northern section championship, while the Duluth Kaycees hosted the Minneapolis Marines to determine the state’s professional championship. But the hilarity of the day occurred three miles outside of Floodwood.

Steve Solkela’s Accordion 5k World Record Attempt

Iron Ranger Steve Solkela ran 5 kilometers through the streets of Virginia while playing an accordion. His finishing time was 34 minutes and 34.91 seconds, which is presumably a record — there seems to be no previous attempts at this stunt.

Video by Nathan Wangensteen.

Wally Gilbert joins Duluth football eleven in 1921

On Aug. 25, 1921 the Duluth Herald reported that former Denfeld and Valparaiso football standout Wally Gilbert had agreed to join the Duluth Knights of Columbus football team. The “K.C.” team, or “Kaysees,” turned out to be the region’s best pro football squad. Facing all Minnesota and Wisconsin teams at Athletic Park in Duluth, the team racked up a 9-0 record and outscored opponents 278-0 before dropping a playoff game in Illinois to the Rock Island Independents.

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