Has Minnesota ever had it so good?
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/1/2003

The last nine months have been the best of times for Minnesota sports fans. It started with the Minnesota Wild reaching the Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals in their third season in the NHL. Then the University of Minnesota Gophers men's hockey team won the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row.
The Gophers women's basketball team reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Twins repeat as American League Central Champs after beating contraction and Oakland in the American League Divisional playoffs.
The Gophers football team won the Liberty Bowl last year, and they have started the 2003 football season 5-0 for the first time since 1987. They host Big Ten power Michigan on Friday, October 10, at the MetroDome, with a chance to start 7-0 and move into the BCS picture if they can win at Northwestern on Saturday.
The Vikings are 4-0 for the first time since 1998, and have won seven straight games dating back to last season.
The Timberwolves have basketball fans hungry with expectations after totally restructuring their team in the off season.
Enjoy it, Minnesota — the last nine months have been as good as it gets.

Did San Francisco hire the wrong Dennis?

After watching the Vikings dominate the once-proud San Francisco 49ers 35-7 and Randy Moss win his personal duel with Terrell Owens by scoring three touchdowns, we have to wonder if San Francisco shouldn't have heeded Bill Walsh's advice.
The 49ers, who fired Steve Marricui as head coach after a playoff loss to Tampa Bay last year, then hired Dennis Erickson. In doing so, San Francisco owner John York and General Manager Terry Donahue went against the strong recommendation of Hall of Fame Coach Bill Walsh.
Walsh built the 49ers into the NFL's best franchise, having put the foundation in place for five Super Bowl championships. He said the 49ers should hire former Walsh assistant and former Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green as the next 49ers head coach. The 49ers are 1-3 and Owens is out of control.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. leads the nation

University of Pittsburgh sophomore wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. leads the nation, averaging 149 yards per game for the 3-1 Panthers. Fitzgerald has dedicated this season to the memory of his mother Carol, who died of cancer in April.
Fitzgerald had a career-best 201 yards on 12 catches with one touchdown in a 35-31 loss to Toledo two weeks ago, and he helped Pittsburgh beat Texas A&M Saturday in a game seen by most of the country on ABC-TV 37-26. Fitzgerald had seven catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns; he has scored in a school-record 10 straight games. He was named Big East Conference Co-offensive Player of the Week for this performance, an honor he shared with Rutgers running back Justise Hairston.
Fitzgerald is among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.

Carter a man of principle
The following excerpt from my recent interview with Cris Carter was deleted from the published version due to space limitations. I wanted to include it this week because it illustrates the man's loyalty to his friends and his principles.
Fitz: Back in 1993, KFAN Radio fired me from what was, for me, a great job hosting a daily sports talk show with Eric Nelson. You did something days after the firing that no other athlete has ever done for me: You stood up and told your teammates and the media that it was wrong what KFAN did, and that no Vikings player should talk with the station. I've always felt grateful for your stand, because it was not something that I asked you to do, yet you did it and it meant everything to me.
Carter: Thank you. Over the course of time you just get the feel about people. I just thought that was the wrong thing that KFAN did, and I don't know why I did it.
And I think we've been able to build a relationship there. That's why me and your boys, Larry Jr. and Marcus, are so close. Why me and your wife Carol were so close. Because sometimes in life you go through stations where people come into your life and you just feel like you have a common bond. Not always agreeing, but having a genuine respect for each other and the course of life that we're on.