First of all, are there any good stereotypes? Okay, the one about big hands isn't bad (that is if you have big hands).
So I've been watching televised sports for a good 30+ years. My first memory of a televised game worth value was Hank Aaron's 715 (I was 6 and a half). As a young impressionable kid you have no idea what a stereotype is, so let's throw out the first 20 years.But over the last 10 or so years, there is this one that just makes my blood boil:
Black Guys are "athletic" and white guys are "smart". Okay I said it. This pisses me off for a ton of reasons:
1. I know a ton of really athletic white guys (and no Steensland, you're not one of them), but because they can't do a Dominique Tomahawk Jam (DTJ), they aren't athletic.
2. Conversely, I know a ton of really athletic black guys who can do the DTJ, but I wouldn't call dumb.
3. Finally, the stereotype diminishes great white performers as non-athletic (i.e. John Stockton). How many times did you hear an announcer say this about Stockton: "Stockton is so crafty". Last time I checked crafty is an important skill for all Point Guards (white or black). It also does not allow great black athletes (i.e. Ladanian Tomlinson) to be something other than an athlete and not something more...which is sad.
Here are a few smart black guys that made good on being smart rather than athletic:
1. Robert Parrish (my favorite Celtic): this guy would be lucky to be drafted today based on flash. Had Duncan-like numbers and 3 rings. Never allowed a DTJ on him, much less performed one.
2. Travarus Bennet (my favorite Gopher BB player). Was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice, rarely missed a free throw, and made open shots consistently. 0 DTJs.
3. Aaron Gibson (Offensive Tackle, Buffalo Bills). This guy is 6-6 390 pounds of non-athlete. But for some reason, he was drafted in the first round and has been in the NFL for 8 years. Currently has 0 DTJs.
Here are a few dumb white guys that have/had a ton of athletic ability:
1. Jason Williams: big ranch, no cattle
2. Ryan Leaf: could only read headlines, not blitzes
3. Phil Mickelson: did you watch the 2006 US Open?
4. John Greenagel
Please add to the list.
TZ
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Some Good Asterisks
So I'm watching Sports Center the other day on the treadmill and they show two Red Sox fans with homemade t-shirts with an asterisk on it. Cut to the visual with Barry Bonds stepping to the plate and I immediately chuckle. Who would have thought that the asterisk would be such a crushing blow in the sports world? Here are a few asterisks that should be both added and taken away:
* Houston Rockets (1994 & 1995) - these guys won titles when Jordan was playing baseball and wearing number 45. There are so many things wrong with those two titles. First of all, if Jordan's playing, NBC doesn't cut away to watch OJ drive down the 405...right? Second of all, who did they beat in '95? If you can't remember then they deserve an asterisk (just looked it up...Orlando...remember Little Penny)? This instance reminds me of that Eddie Murphy stand up bit, when Eddie said of Brooke Shields, "I don't know why they bother having the Miss America Pageant. Everybody knows Brooke Shields is the winner every year!" Same went for basketball without Jordan those two years.
* Cincinnati Reds 1981 - this team had the best record in baseball, but finished 2nd in both halves of the strike seasons and consequently missed the playoffs. This slip up ranks right up there with the tie in the All Star game...nice! Or worse, Mark McGwire and Rafeal Palmiero in front of a Congressional hearing. All black eyes, but just one asterisk for the Big Red Machine.
*Roger Maris - the guy hits 61 home runs, breaks Babe Ruth's long-standing record and MLB gives it an asterisk because he did it in more games. I never knew the Maris family up in Fargo also made the MLB schedule. That is one that I would vote to remove. The point is now obviously moot.
*The Trent Tucker Rule - I loved college basketball before the 35 second clock, when it had the perpetual 1 and 1 free-throws on non-shooting fouls (you get 2 shots now after 10 team fouls), and no three point arc. I remember as a kid just going crazy during any UNC game where UNC would get a 4+ point lead late in the game and the TV producer would scream "cut to Dean, cut to Dean" because you knew he would be holding up 4 fingers sending his team into the famed Dean Smith 4 corners. I hated UNC (still do), and that made me hate them even more when they did that. Anyway, back to asterisks. Guys like Trent Tucker, Lancaster Gordon at Louisville, Andrew Toney at SW Louisiana aka "the Boston Strangler", and Pete Maravich at LSU would have had so many more points it wouldn't have been funny. I mean Maravich averaged 44 a night for LSU without a stripe...are you telling me none of them came behind 19'9"? This would qualify as an asterisk needed.
* Boise State 2006 - Didn't they go undefeated last year? Please add asterisk to Florida National Championship. Florida won the National Championship for the big boys with all the money, but there are a few out there (and they don't live in, nor have they ever visited the state of Idaho) who think they were the best team in the entire NCAA last year. BSU was robbed...add asterisk please. In 1994 (pre BCS days), Penn State won the NY Times National Championship after finishing the season 12-0, but finishing #2 in virtually every poll. As of today, Boise State is the 2006 MW Sports Guy dot com presented by Multiply National Champs!
There's 5, please add to the list or tear apart mine.
* Houston Rockets (1994 & 1995) - these guys won titles when Jordan was playing baseball and wearing number 45. There are so many things wrong with those two titles. First of all, if Jordan's playing, NBC doesn't cut away to watch OJ drive down the 405...right? Second of all, who did they beat in '95? If you can't remember then they deserve an asterisk (just looked it up...Orlando...remember Little Penny)? This instance reminds me of that Eddie Murphy stand up bit, when Eddie said of Brooke Shields, "I don't know why they bother having the Miss America Pageant. Everybody knows Brooke Shields is the winner every year!" Same went for basketball without Jordan those two years.
* Cincinnati Reds 1981 - this team had the best record in baseball, but finished 2nd in both halves of the strike seasons and consequently missed the playoffs. This slip up ranks right up there with the tie in the All Star game...nice! Or worse, Mark McGwire and Rafeal Palmiero in front of a Congressional hearing. All black eyes, but just one asterisk for the Big Red Machine.
*Roger Maris - the guy hits 61 home runs, breaks Babe Ruth's long-standing record and MLB gives it an asterisk because he did it in more games. I never knew the Maris family up in Fargo also made the MLB schedule. That is one that I would vote to remove. The point is now obviously moot.
*The Trent Tucker Rule - I loved college basketball before the 35 second clock, when it had the perpetual 1 and 1 free-throws on non-shooting fouls (you get 2 shots now after 10 team fouls), and no three point arc. I remember as a kid just going crazy during any UNC game where UNC would get a 4+ point lead late in the game and the TV producer would scream "cut to Dean, cut to Dean" because you knew he would be holding up 4 fingers sending his team into the famed Dean Smith 4 corners. I hated UNC (still do), and that made me hate them even more when they did that. Anyway, back to asterisks. Guys like Trent Tucker, Lancaster Gordon at Louisville, Andrew Toney at SW Louisiana aka "the Boston Strangler", and Pete Maravich at LSU would have had so many more points it wouldn't have been funny. I mean Maravich averaged 44 a night for LSU without a stripe...are you telling me none of them came behind 19'9"? This would qualify as an asterisk needed.
* Boise State 2006 - Didn't they go undefeated last year? Please add asterisk to Florida National Championship. Florida won the National Championship for the big boys with all the money, but there are a few out there (and they don't live in, nor have they ever visited the state of Idaho) who think they were the best team in the entire NCAA last year. BSU was robbed...add asterisk please. In 1994 (pre BCS days), Penn State won the NY Times National Championship after finishing the season 12-0, but finishing #2 in virtually every poll. As of today, Boise State is the 2006 MW Sports Guy dot com presented by Multiply National Champs!
There's 5, please add to the list or tear apart mine.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Softball and other low moments in my sports history
Okay, I did it. I broke down and participated in a competitive sport that requires a semblance of coordination, moments of sprinting, and my favorite: a lot of worthless chatter. Yep, I played softball last night.
Here's the rub. Our office use to neighbor next to another agency. Needless to say, over the years, minor animosity arose (just imagine the worst bathroom ettiquettes..both male and female and you know where this is going). Enter Brendan Loughery to our company. In his spare time he writes TV, web, brochures, etc. but his main job is organizing softball teams.
So needless to say our company now has a team and yes, last night we played the former neighbors....and yes we put a beating on them. Don't remember the score, but the highlight came when one of their guys struck out and no one on their team laughed (note: it is a long standing softball tradition to laugh a guy out of the park for whiffing)...they just sighed in quiet disgust.
Yes, admitting I played co-ed softball and actually stretched a single into a double because the girl in the outfield bobbled the ball is #5 on low moments in my sports history.
4. Is making an 8 on the first hole of a playoff in front 20 other guys. I didn't think it was possible to make that many bad shots in a row.
3. Getting knocked out cold in an Edina/SW hockey game my Junior year. So many girls, so little sympathy.
2. Playing for the hand picked "A" squad Kappa Sig (Big Red Machine) and losing to the B squad (Greens/JV) in a league game. The heckling still hasn't stopped. It was like watching the Titanic, after the first scene (inning), you knew the ship was going to be a wreck. That game set the word brotherhood back 10 years.
1. Being physically removed by my Dad from a baseball game at age 10 (body, hat, glove, bike, the whole 9 yards in the back of the VW van, followed by his signature 5 finger salute). Picture this: umpire and I have a "disagreement" about balls and strikes and one thing leads to another. Roberto Alomar would have fit in well on my Little League team.
Some (or actually most) have some history with me. Add your own list or for that matter add one to mine.
Here's the rub. Our office use to neighbor next to another agency. Needless to say, over the years, minor animosity arose (just imagine the worst bathroom ettiquettes..both male and female and you know where this is going). Enter Brendan Loughery to our company. In his spare time he writes TV, web, brochures, etc. but his main job is organizing softball teams.
So needless to say our company now has a team and yes, last night we played the former neighbors....and yes we put a beating on them. Don't remember the score, but the highlight came when one of their guys struck out and no one on their team laughed (note: it is a long standing softball tradition to laugh a guy out of the park for whiffing)...they just sighed in quiet disgust.
Yes, admitting I played co-ed softball and actually stretched a single into a double because the girl in the outfield bobbled the ball is #5 on low moments in my sports history.
4. Is making an 8 on the first hole of a playoff in front 20 other guys. I didn't think it was possible to make that many bad shots in a row.
3. Getting knocked out cold in an Edina/SW hockey game my Junior year. So many girls, so little sympathy.
2. Playing for the hand picked "A" squad Kappa Sig (Big Red Machine) and losing to the B squad (Greens/JV) in a league game. The heckling still hasn't stopped. It was like watching the Titanic, after the first scene (inning), you knew the ship was going to be a wreck. That game set the word brotherhood back 10 years.
1. Being physically removed by my Dad from a baseball game at age 10 (body, hat, glove, bike, the whole 9 yards in the back of the VW van, followed by his signature 5 finger salute). Picture this: umpire and I have a "disagreement" about balls and strikes and one thing leads to another. Roberto Alomar would have fit in well on my Little League team.
Some (or actually most) have some history with me. Add your own list or for that matter add one to mine.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Top 5 Tickets in Minnesota
The following is a list of the top 5 franchise/entities in the Twin Cities. The criteria is fairly simple. If you were offered tickets to watch this team, would you turn them down (not necessarily attend yourself, but take and give to someone knowing it would be a good giveaway)? Note: Over time, the list evolves (early '90s the Gopher Hoops team would have been a 2 or a 3, meanwhile the Twins in 97 or 98 would have been a 4 or a 5).
1. Wild - The novelty has not worn off, yet. I had partial season tickets and never once struggled to give even exhibition game tickets away. The atmosphere is great, the team competes, etc.
2. Twins - Very similar to #1, but no atmosphere. Mauer, Morneau, Hunter and Santana sell tickets.
3 (tie). Gopher Hockey - National Championships, great arena, excting team equals ticket demand. Still the only team in its sport to broadcast 90 percent of its games.
3. Vikings - The reigning #1 for 40+ years...their product has gotten so bad and the people that attend are this (fingers 1 inch apart) close to WWE. Their 40 TV rating (highest in MN every week) every Sunday is the only thing that saves them from a #4 ranking.
5. T'Wolves - They squeak past Gopher Football. The product is so bad. Besides KG, name another guy on the team?
Others receiving votes: Gopher Football (up and comer, new coach & new stadium..watch out Wolves) and Gopher Basketball (couldn't give away 6 games last year).
1. Wild - The novelty has not worn off, yet. I had partial season tickets and never once struggled to give even exhibition game tickets away. The atmosphere is great, the team competes, etc.
2. Twins - Very similar to #1, but no atmosphere. Mauer, Morneau, Hunter and Santana sell tickets.
3 (tie). Gopher Hockey - National Championships, great arena, excting team equals ticket demand. Still the only team in its sport to broadcast 90 percent of its games.
3. Vikings - The reigning #1 for 40+ years...their product has gotten so bad and the people that attend are this (fingers 1 inch apart) close to WWE. Their 40 TV rating (highest in MN every week) every Sunday is the only thing that saves them from a #4 ranking.
5. T'Wolves - They squeak past Gopher Football. The product is so bad. Besides KG, name another guy on the team?
Others receiving votes: Gopher Football (up and comer, new coach & new stadium..watch out Wolves) and Gopher Basketball (couldn't give away 6 games last year).
Monday, April 30, 2007
Triple Crown Mania
Like the Swallows returning to Capistrano (whatever that means), every Spring we get our taste of a potential Triple Crown Winner. I remember my first Triple Crown, 1977, Seattle Slew...he made it look so easy. Then the next year, one of the best rivalries in sports unfolded in front of my eyes (how I didn't know)...Affirmed v. Alydar. In Horse Racing Circles this is Red Sox/Yankees. And ever since its been nearly 30 years of close calls (sort of like being a Viking fan). No matter, it's still exciting stuff.
I don't know why, but these three races just get my blood going. Is it the fact that no horse can win the Triple Crown? Is it those cheesy special interest stories leading up to the race? Or is it because its the most low maintainence sport of them all (no regional bias, no research, no year-round banter, 1 hour of special interest story and 90 seconds of racing..that's it)? Or, is early May a dead time for Sports? The pageantry? Whatever?! Come Saturday my whole family will be peeled to the set.
Here are some fun lists to prime your pump:
Great Horses:
1. Smarty Jones (2004) - Almost cried when Birdstone blew by him at the Belmont...this horse was it.
2. Charismatic (1999) - Broke his leg in the Belmont still finished third to Lemon Drop Kid...that's Phil Richard toughness.
3. Easy Goer (1989) - beat Sunday Silence to snatch TC...one of the best finishes in any sport ever.
4. Alydar (1978) - lost three times to Affirmed. Alydar is like Barry Bonds: lots of stats and great blood lines, but not much hardware.
5. Afleet Alex (2005) - A starting gate slip cost this Colt immortality...two easy wins in Preakness and Belmont.
Great Horses I cheered against:
1. Point Given*
2. War Emblem*
3. Silver Charm*
4. Real Quite*
*denotes Bob Baffert trained horse
Favorite Triple Crown Anthem:
Maryland, My Maryland (Preakness)
Best Drink:
1. Black Eyed Susan (Preakness)
2. Mint Julip (Derby)
3. Belmont Breeze (Gross)
Favorite Saying:
And down the stretch the come! (Dave Johnson Style)
Here's his call from the 1999 Derby:
Charismatic is coming on strongly... DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME! Cat Thief digging in at the rail. Worldly Manner with Jerry Bailey. Charismatic, trained by Lukas, on the outside, now Lukas running 1-2. Charismatic on the outside takes command! Cat Thief... in the middle of the track, Menifee is flying, BUT IT'S CHARISMATIC HOLDING ON TO WIN IT BY A HEAD!
Are you pumped yet for Saturday? If not, you're probably not reading this far anyway.
Here's my pick for Saturday:
Curlin (won the Wood Memorial...winner of this prep race has won the most Derbies)
I don't know why, but these three races just get my blood going. Is it the fact that no horse can win the Triple Crown? Is it those cheesy special interest stories leading up to the race? Or is it because its the most low maintainence sport of them all (no regional bias, no research, no year-round banter, 1 hour of special interest story and 90 seconds of racing..that's it)? Or, is early May a dead time for Sports? The pageantry? Whatever?! Come Saturday my whole family will be peeled to the set.
Here are some fun lists to prime your pump:
Great Horses:
1. Smarty Jones (2004) - Almost cried when Birdstone blew by him at the Belmont...this horse was it.
2. Charismatic (1999) - Broke his leg in the Belmont still finished third to Lemon Drop Kid...that's Phil Richard toughness.
3. Easy Goer (1989) - beat Sunday Silence to snatch TC...one of the best finishes in any sport ever.
4. Alydar (1978) - lost three times to Affirmed. Alydar is like Barry Bonds: lots of stats and great blood lines, but not much hardware.
5. Afleet Alex (2005) - A starting gate slip cost this Colt immortality...two easy wins in Preakness and Belmont.
Great Horses I cheered against:
1. Point Given*
2. War Emblem*
3. Silver Charm*
4. Real Quite*
*denotes Bob Baffert trained horse
Favorite Triple Crown Anthem:
Maryland, My Maryland (Preakness)
Best Drink:
1. Black Eyed Susan (Preakness)
2. Mint Julip (Derby)
3. Belmont Breeze (Gross)
Favorite Saying:
And down the stretch the come! (Dave Johnson Style)
Here's his call from the 1999 Derby:
Charismatic is coming on strongly... DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME! Cat Thief digging in at the rail. Worldly Manner with Jerry Bailey. Charismatic, trained by Lukas, on the outside, now Lukas running 1-2. Charismatic on the outside takes command! Cat Thief... in the middle of the track, Menifee is flying, BUT IT'S CHARISMATIC HOLDING ON TO WIN IT BY A HEAD!
Are you pumped yet for Saturday? If not, you're probably not reading this far anyway.
Here's my pick for Saturday:
Curlin (won the Wood Memorial...winner of this prep race has won the most Derbies)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
5 Teams I Cheer For that most don't
Do any of you guys have friends that have favorite teams from other cities and its like North Carolina Basketball or the LA Dodgers? I'm not naming names (Jay Ettinger), but these guys always have an answer for every sporting situation. Go Yankees! What? Yeah, my Mom's from New York. Or go USC! What? Yeah, my cousin went there. But my all-time favorite are the Duke basketball and Notre Dame football guys...they're the worst. Next time you run into one ask them how their other team's are doing like say Lacrosse or Football at Duke...and when they back peddle (oh, I just like their such and such team), that's when you got 'em. A real sports fan should choose his teams with a little more salt.
Below is my list of teams no one cheers for (literally).
Criteria: Must have very little following, must perform better than perceived.
1. Florida Marlins. Have you ever seen more than 10,000 fans at one of their home games? Have you ever not seen them compete? Have you ever seen Dontrell Willis (a pitcher) leg out a triple? This is the Red Headed Step Child marries the Little Engine That Could of all sports teams. There are plenty of Red Headed Step Children teams (see Devil Rays, Arizona Cardinals) and plenty of Little Engines (see Packers, Twins, or Edmonton Oilers). But no team combines them both as well as the Marlins.
2. Golden Gopher Football. With Glen Mason at the helm, he gave everyone in the state the green light to hate them and more or less root against them. The stadium should be cause for removal from the Big 10. They are a very close second. Despite having terrible recruiting and no fan support the Gophs always found a way to compete. New coach, new stadium will probably eliminate the fan support part of the equation. Based on the criteria, they probably will slip down this chart, since its my alma mater, I'm okay with that.
3. Wake Forest Anything. Fan following outside of its 300 alums (and a few nappie headed groupies) is brutal...so they have that part down. The outperforming is unbelievable. In hoops they are like the 6th choice for recruits behind UNC, Duke, NCST, UNC Charlotte and Elon but they still find their way into the tournament almost every year. But more amazing has to be football. Last year they won the ACC...yes the ACC, the future football super power (see future blogs on the ACC) that has Miami, Florida State, Clemson, BC, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech (all perennial T25s) in its conference plus Virginia, NCST, and Maryland (no cup of Tea). Go Deacs.
4. NY Jets. Decent following by NFL standards but by all means the second team in NYC. This team gets no respect...ever. They consistently outperform better teams no matter the coach, QB, lack of skill positions. Plus J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets has gotta be one of the best chants in pro sports.
5. San Antonio Spurs. Okay they have a huge fan following in San Antonio (bad choice). But nationwide no one cares if they win...period. This team is a Tony Parker/Eva Longoria breakup away from moving up a notch. They're boring, they win NBA titles, and they don't get in trouble. Maybe the other teams should consider their formula. That is if winning mattered at all in this league (sorry Mune for the bad NBA karma).
Below is my list of teams no one cheers for (literally).
Criteria: Must have very little following, must perform better than perceived.
1. Florida Marlins. Have you ever seen more than 10,000 fans at one of their home games? Have you ever not seen them compete? Have you ever seen Dontrell Willis (a pitcher) leg out a triple? This is the Red Headed Step Child marries the Little Engine That Could of all sports teams. There are plenty of Red Headed Step Children teams (see Devil Rays, Arizona Cardinals) and plenty of Little Engines (see Packers, Twins, or Edmonton Oilers). But no team combines them both as well as the Marlins.
2. Golden Gopher Football. With Glen Mason at the helm, he gave everyone in the state the green light to hate them and more or less root against them. The stadium should be cause for removal from the Big 10. They are a very close second. Despite having terrible recruiting and no fan support the Gophs always found a way to compete. New coach, new stadium will probably eliminate the fan support part of the equation. Based on the criteria, they probably will slip down this chart, since its my alma mater, I'm okay with that.
3. Wake Forest Anything. Fan following outside of its 300 alums (and a few nappie headed groupies) is brutal...so they have that part down. The outperforming is unbelievable. In hoops they are like the 6th choice for recruits behind UNC, Duke, NCST, UNC Charlotte and Elon but they still find their way into the tournament almost every year. But more amazing has to be football. Last year they won the ACC...yes the ACC, the future football super power (see future blogs on the ACC) that has Miami, Florida State, Clemson, BC, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech (all perennial T25s) in its conference plus Virginia, NCST, and Maryland (no cup of Tea). Go Deacs.
4. NY Jets. Decent following by NFL standards but by all means the second team in NYC. This team gets no respect...ever. They consistently outperform better teams no matter the coach, QB, lack of skill positions. Plus J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets has gotta be one of the best chants in pro sports.
5. San Antonio Spurs. Okay they have a huge fan following in San Antonio (bad choice). But nationwide no one cares if they win...period. This team is a Tony Parker/Eva Longoria breakup away from moving up a notch. They're boring, they win NBA titles, and they don't get in trouble. Maybe the other teams should consider their formula. That is if winning mattered at all in this league (sorry Mune for the bad NBA karma).
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Minnesota's Top 20
The following is a list of my top 20 golf courses in the fair state of MN. Courses are selected on three criteria (beauty, difficulty, and tradition):
1. Interlachen (No Brainer)
2. Hazeltine (No Brainer)
3. Minneapolis (No Nonsense, has it all...except a Driving Range)
4. Spring Hill (Has everything except Tradition...Bobby Jones never played there)
5. White Bear Yacht (Nothing missing except I hate side hill lies)
6. Northland (Can you tell I like Donald Ross?)
7. Minikahda (Home Course bias...would rank higher if not for the recent remodel)
8. Wilderness (Never played it, a very good source ranks it #1 overall)
9. Woodhill (steeped in tradition and beauty, played there several times, never get over how cool this place is)
10. The Classic (#11 is the hardest green in the state to hit)
11. Windsong Farm (everything but tradition, very fair, very cool)
12. Deacon's Lodge (bulldoze #10 and this thing moves into the top 10)
13. Somerby (Never played it, a good source says top 10)
14. Somerset (Has all 3, lacks difficulty)
15. Rochester CC (Can you say hallways?)
16. Dacotah Ridge (Never played it, good source says top 20)
17. Olympic Hills (top 3 difficulty, only 3 vacation holes)
18. The Legends (Beautiful, tough, great golf experience)
19. Oak Ridge (Its been a long time...I'd run through hell in a gasoline jacket to play there...that's a Pete Rose line)
20. Wayzata (#9 and #18 are the two toughest finishing holes I've ever seen)
Others receiving votes:
TPC, Edinborough USA, Willingers, Golden Valley, & Giant's Ridge
1. Interlachen (No Brainer)
2. Hazeltine (No Brainer)
3. Minneapolis (No Nonsense, has it all...except a Driving Range)
4. Spring Hill (Has everything except Tradition...Bobby Jones never played there)
5. White Bear Yacht (Nothing missing except I hate side hill lies)
6. Northland (Can you tell I like Donald Ross?)
7. Minikahda (Home Course bias...would rank higher if not for the recent remodel)
8. Wilderness (Never played it, a very good source ranks it #1 overall)
9. Woodhill (steeped in tradition and beauty, played there several times, never get over how cool this place is)
10. The Classic (#11 is the hardest green in the state to hit)
11. Windsong Farm (everything but tradition, very fair, very cool)
12. Deacon's Lodge (bulldoze #10 and this thing moves into the top 10)
13. Somerby (Never played it, a good source says top 10)
14. Somerset (Has all 3, lacks difficulty)
15. Rochester CC (Can you say hallways?)
16. Dacotah Ridge (Never played it, good source says top 20)
17. Olympic Hills (top 3 difficulty, only 3 vacation holes)
18. The Legends (Beautiful, tough, great golf experience)
19. Oak Ridge (Its been a long time...I'd run through hell in a gasoline jacket to play there...that's a Pete Rose line)
20. Wayzata (#9 and #18 are the two toughest finishing holes I've ever seen)
Others receiving votes:
TPC, Edinborough USA, Willingers, Golden Valley, & Giant's Ridge
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