The first day of September brings sports fans a plethora of options, from the Twins to high school football. Here's the menu of what's taking place that day.
First up is the Twins as they try to end a 13 game losing streak against the Chicago White Sox in a 7:10 game at Target Field. The St. Paul Saints are also in action as they host the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:05 at CHS Field. A heads up if you plan to take the Green Line light rail to Lowertown. The game could be a sellout as have the majority of the games since the Saints new ballpark opened last season.
The Vikings are also home as they try to focus after losing their quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the season due to a torn ACL. They will wrap up the preseason against the Los Angeles Rams at 7 PM at US Bank Stadium. It's also your chance to see the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Rams quarterback Jared Goff. Warning. This game is sold out so you might want to buy a ticket from a scalper or head to TCF Bank Stadium to see the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers open their 2016 campaign against the Oregon State Beavers. It could be a big year for the maroon and gold as quarterback Mitch Leidner returns from a foot injury. It's also the first full season under head coach Tracy Claeys. Game time is 8 PM.
If you don't have a ticket for baseball or football and don't want to smash your piggy bank or bust your bank account for tickets, the high school football season gets underway. Some games to consider are Totino-Grace at Eden Prairie in a rematch of the 2014 Class AAAAAA final, the battle of District 279 as the defending AAAAAA champion Osseo Orioles travel to Maple Grove to take on the Crimson and a great outstate battle takes place down Highway 7 when the two time defending champion Becker Bulldogs take on the five time state champion Hutchinson Tigers.
But wait, there's more. There's also high school soccer and volleyball. And where will HSGN be on that abundant sports night? HSGN will not have to worry about bottlenecks on the freeway because there is a soccer doubleheader at St. Louis Park as the Orioles will host the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders with the girls game at 5 PM and the boys game at 7 PM. The author of this blog is in his 21st year as the public address announcer so that's where HSGN will be.
So those are some of your choices for September 1. Take your pick. Plenty of options for the casual or super fan.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Mpls. Washburn Millers Late Goal Stops SLP Orioles
There seems to be an epidemic going around the St. Louis Park stadium of the one goal loss disease and Tuesday night it spread over to the Orioles girls in their home opener as Marli Rajacich scored the game winning goal with 1:34 left in regulation time to lead the Minneapolis Washburn Millers to a 1-0 win.
Neither team would score in the first half. But the Millers, ranked eighth in Class AA, almost took the lead on a shot from Rajacich but Oriole goalkeeper Anna Roethler made the save. Another shot bounced off the football crossbar.
As the second half moved on, it looked like the game would remain scoreless and head into overtime. Not so as Lizzie Mewes made a left cross pass to Rajacich and she put it past Roethler with 1:34 to go and it would be the game winner.
The game was played minus a functioning scoreboard and it resulted in time being kept on the field.
Washburn improved their record to 1-0-1 and will head to Minneapolis Southwest on Thursday, August 30 for a 5 PM game with the Lakers. St. Louis Park fell to 0-2 and will host the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders, also on the 30th at 5 PM.
Neither team would score in the first half. But the Millers, ranked eighth in Class AA, almost took the lead on a shot from Rajacich but Oriole goalkeeper Anna Roethler made the save. Another shot bounced off the football crossbar.
As the second half moved on, it looked like the game would remain scoreless and head into overtime. Not so as Lizzie Mewes made a left cross pass to Rajacich and she put it past Roethler with 1:34 to go and it would be the game winner.
The game was played minus a functioning scoreboard and it resulted in time being kept on the field.
Washburn improved their record to 1-0-1 and will head to Minneapolis Southwest on Thursday, August 30 for a 5 PM game with the Lakers. St. Louis Park fell to 0-2 and will host the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders, also on the 30th at 5 PM.
Monday, August 29, 2016
St. Cloud Tech Tigers Top SLP Orioles
Monday night was the battle of orange and black as the St. Cloud Tech Tigers made the trek down I-94 to St. Louis Park and made the most of it as Mohamed Abdi scored the game winning goal with 7:58 left in regulation to lead them to a 3-2 win over the host Orioles.
It was the first home meeting between St. Louis Park and a school from The Granite City. It was also the Tigers regular season opener.
The Orioles got a good break in the early going after a Tiger foul. It would mean a free kick for St. Louis Park and it would be up to Miguel Ocampo to take the kick from outside the penalty area. He booted the ball past a five player Tech wall and it landed into the net. Abdi would even the game at one when he rebounded Edgar Waldusky's shot and scored. The Orioles would regain the lead while Tiger goalkeeper Bryan Helminick was playing a bit far out of the net and Jacob Stillman found an opening to tally. But Tech was not done as Khalid Gelani scored from the right side with 6:09 left in the first half. Both teams went into the halftime break even at two.
The second half looked like a very physical and defensive and defensive battle as both goalkeepers Helminick of the Tigers and Felix Hengel of the Orioles mad several outstanding saves. But it was Abdi who converted the game with 7:58 to go while Hengel played outside the net and Abdi would score the game winner, though he left for a few minutes due to being shaken up. He would return late in the game. St. Louis Park was unable to send the game into overtime and it would be a happy bus ride home for the Tigers.
St. Cloud Tech improved to 1-0 and returns to action Tuesday, August 30 as they host the Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres at 7 PM at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State University campus. St. Louis Park lost the second straight game, both by one goal and fell to 1-2. The Orioles wrap up a three game home stand on Thursday, September 1 with a 7 PM game against the Cretin Derham Hall Raiders.
It was the first home meeting between St. Louis Park and a school from The Granite City. It was also the Tigers regular season opener.
The Orioles got a good break in the early going after a Tiger foul. It would mean a free kick for St. Louis Park and it would be up to Miguel Ocampo to take the kick from outside the penalty area. He booted the ball past a five player Tech wall and it landed into the net. Abdi would even the game at one when he rebounded Edgar Waldusky's shot and scored. The Orioles would regain the lead while Tiger goalkeeper Bryan Helminick was playing a bit far out of the net and Jacob Stillman found an opening to tally. But Tech was not done as Khalid Gelani scored from the right side with 6:09 left in the first half. Both teams went into the halftime break even at two.
The second half looked like a very physical and defensive and defensive battle as both goalkeepers Helminick of the Tigers and Felix Hengel of the Orioles mad several outstanding saves. But it was Abdi who converted the game with 7:58 to go while Hengel played outside the net and Abdi would score the game winner, though he left for a few minutes due to being shaken up. He would return late in the game. St. Louis Park was unable to send the game into overtime and it would be a happy bus ride home for the Tigers.
St. Cloud Tech improved to 1-0 and returns to action Tuesday, August 30 as they host the Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres at 7 PM at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State University campus. St. Louis Park lost the second straight game, both by one goal and fell to 1-2. The Orioles wrap up a three game home stand on Thursday, September 1 with a 7 PM game against the Cretin Derham Hall Raiders.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Wayzata Trojans Spoil SLP Orioles Home Opener
It was opening day for the St. Louis Park Orioles boys soccer team in their newly renovated stadium but Tyler Stevens put a damper on the opener by scoring two goals, including the game winner with 3:03 left in regulation time to lead the Wayzata Trojans to a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon.
Among the new amenities at the St. Louis Park stadium include a new concession stand, real bathrooms and an upgraded sound system.
Now to the game. Defense played a role, especially for Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan. Erik Williams header almost put the Trojans ahead but Phelan made the stop. Wayzata did get on the bard as Stevens scored off a corner kick with 10:27 to go in the first half. The Trojans led 1-0 at halftime.
St. Louis Park tied the score in the second half as Ian Lockhart's line drive kick went to the left side of Wayzata goalkeeper Collin Kubinski and into the net. But would there be overtime on this cloudy Saturday afternoon? Not so, according to Stevens as he headed in a corner kick with 3:03 left to go and it would be the eventual game winner.
The Trojans improved their record to 2-0 and will host the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars on Tuesday, August 30 at 7 PM. The Orioles fell to 1-1 and return to action on Monday, August 29 as the St. Cloud Tech Tigers head down I-94 for a 7 PM game at the stadium.
Among the new amenities at the St. Louis Park stadium include a new concession stand, real bathrooms and an upgraded sound system.
Now to the game. Defense played a role, especially for Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan. Erik Williams header almost put the Trojans ahead but Phelan made the stop. Wayzata did get on the bard as Stevens scored off a corner kick with 10:27 to go in the first half. The Trojans led 1-0 at halftime.
St. Louis Park tied the score in the second half as Ian Lockhart's line drive kick went to the left side of Wayzata goalkeeper Collin Kubinski and into the net. But would there be overtime on this cloudy Saturday afternoon? Not so, according to Stevens as he headed in a corner kick with 3:03 left to go and it would be the eventual game winner.
The Trojans improved their record to 2-0 and will host the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars on Tuesday, August 30 at 7 PM. The Orioles fell to 1-1 and return to action on Monday, August 29 as the St. Cloud Tech Tigers head down I-94 for a 7 PM game at the stadium.
Friday, August 26, 2016
All's Well as Endwell, NY Goes for US Little League Title
Thousands of fans in the Triple Cities area (Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott) could be making the 113 mile trip to Williamsport, PA to see the Maine-Endwell Little League battle for the United States championship against Goodlettsville, TN Saturday afternoon in the 2016 Little League World Series.
The winner advances to Sunday's World Championship against the Korea-Panama winner. ABC, which has carried the Little League World Series since 1963 will carry the game that begins at 2 PM on KSTP-TV.
Here's a look at how Maine-Endwell made it to the US final. Ryan Harlost had three hits and struck out five Rhode Island batters en route to a 7-2 win. Their next game was against Goodlettsville, TN and got only three hits but came away with a 3-1 win. They earned their championship berth thanks to Jude Abbadessa's six RBI's to beat Bowling Green, KY 13-10.
Goodlettsville's road to the final started with Robert Carroll's two run walkoff double to beat Bend, OR 3-2. They would lose their next game to Maine-Endwell 3-1 but would bounce back in their next game to beat Chula Vista, CA 4-2. They would clinch their berth in the finals with a seven run fifth inning to rout Johnston, IA 14-3.
Maine-Endwell's success is another chapter in the Bingahamton area's long baseball history that goes back to 1877, with teams called the Crickets, the Bingoes and the name that had the longest run, the Triplets. From 1932-61 and 1965-68 the Triplets were a Yankees farm club and many players went on to The Bronx including Whitey Ford, Vic Raschi, Bobby Richardson and Thurman Munson. The triples had short stints as an affiliate with the Milwaukee Braves and the Kansas City Athletics. The Triplets folded in 1968 but baseball returned to the Triple Cities in 1992 when the Williamsport Bills moved to Binghamton and became the Mets. Next season the team plans to change its name.
Can Maine-Endwell do well and add to the area's baseball success?
The winner advances to Sunday's World Championship against the Korea-Panama winner. ABC, which has carried the Little League World Series since 1963 will carry the game that begins at 2 PM on KSTP-TV.
Here's a look at how Maine-Endwell made it to the US final. Ryan Harlost had three hits and struck out five Rhode Island batters en route to a 7-2 win. Their next game was against Goodlettsville, TN and got only three hits but came away with a 3-1 win. They earned their championship berth thanks to Jude Abbadessa's six RBI's to beat Bowling Green, KY 13-10.
Goodlettsville's road to the final started with Robert Carroll's two run walkoff double to beat Bend, OR 3-2. They would lose their next game to Maine-Endwell 3-1 but would bounce back in their next game to beat Chula Vista, CA 4-2. They would clinch their berth in the finals with a seven run fifth inning to rout Johnston, IA 14-3.
Maine-Endwell's success is another chapter in the Bingahamton area's long baseball history that goes back to 1877, with teams called the Crickets, the Bingoes and the name that had the longest run, the Triplets. From 1932-61 and 1965-68 the Triplets were a Yankees farm club and many players went on to The Bronx including Whitey Ford, Vic Raschi, Bobby Richardson and Thurman Munson. The triples had short stints as an affiliate with the Milwaukee Braves and the Kansas City Athletics. The Triplets folded in 1968 but baseball returned to the Triple Cities in 1992 when the Williamsport Bills moved to Binghamton and became the Mets. Next season the team plans to change its name.
Can Maine-Endwell do well and add to the area's baseball success?
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Happy Birthday to a Couple of Game Show Icons
It's rare that HSGN will do two consecutive game show posts since the focus is also on sports. But on Thursday, two game show host have the same birthday. They are Monty Hall and Regis Philbin.
If you plan to celebrate their birthdays, you better look for a cake that can hold 180 candles. Hall is now 95 and Philbin turned 85. Here's a look back at their hosting careers.
First up is Hall, best known for one of TV's classic game shows Let's Make a Deal. But before he started making deals in 1963, he came to New York from Canada and began his hosting career filling in for Warren Hull on the original Strike it Rich and for Jack Barry on the scandal tainted game Twenty One. He also had a one season stint as the analyst on New York Rangers radio broadcasts alongside the late Jim Gordon. He did only home games until he hit pay dirt in 1960 when he replaced Jack Narz on the first game show produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley Video Village. The show was a larger than life board game that was originally produced in New York until CBS moved the show to California and Hall has stayed there ever since.
After CBS cancelled Video Village in 1962 (it would be the last morning game show CBS would air for 10 years), Hall had his biggest success when he co-created and hosted Let's Make a Deal that debuted on December 30, 1963. The show would be a big hit and would run on NBC until 1968, then moved to ABC after contract negotiations broke down with NBC. It became a bigger success on ABC, leading into The Newlywed Game and also had a couple of prime time runs that also delivered outstanding ratings. The show ran until July 1976 but Hall would also host three revivals, the last aired in 1990 when he replaced Bob Hilton who was fired due to low ratings. He also serves as a consultant on the current version that's hosted by Wayne Brady.
Hall, along with his partner Stefan Hatos, also produced another hit Split Second, hosted by Tom Kennedy. The fast paced game show where Kennedy told contestants to "look at the board" ran for three years on ABC. Hall hosted a short-lived revival in the 1986-87 season.
As for Philbin, he began his hosting career with one of the worst game shows to air in 1975, The Neighbors. The show featured five femal neighbors who answered questions about how they knew each other. It was not interesting at all and it perished from ABC after 13 weeks. Philbin went on to another unsuccessful show, Almost Anything Goes, serving as a sideline reporter. Based on the British show It's a Knockout, it wasn't a knockout in the ratings.
Philbin became an icon when he became the host of a game show that was popular in Great Britain but made it's debut in the USA in 1999. The show was Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. It was ABC's first prime time game show since Let's Make a Deal, The Newlywed Game and The Reel Game left the network in 1971. The show became a big summer hit and returned to prime time the following season. The network version ran until 2002 then entered syndication hosted by Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and currently Chris Harrison.
But it was Philbin who made the prime time show a hit with his pleasant personalty and his sense of humor that put the hot seat contestant at ease that also earned him a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001. He also made famous one of the most famous catch phrases in game show history "Is that your final answer?'
So Happy Birthday to Hall and Philbin. And that's our final answer.
If you plan to celebrate their birthdays, you better look for a cake that can hold 180 candles. Hall is now 95 and Philbin turned 85. Here's a look back at their hosting careers.
First up is Hall, best known for one of TV's classic game shows Let's Make a Deal. But before he started making deals in 1963, he came to New York from Canada and began his hosting career filling in for Warren Hull on the original Strike it Rich and for Jack Barry on the scandal tainted game Twenty One. He also had a one season stint as the analyst on New York Rangers radio broadcasts alongside the late Jim Gordon. He did only home games until he hit pay dirt in 1960 when he replaced Jack Narz on the first game show produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley Video Village. The show was a larger than life board game that was originally produced in New York until CBS moved the show to California and Hall has stayed there ever since.
After CBS cancelled Video Village in 1962 (it would be the last morning game show CBS would air for 10 years), Hall had his biggest success when he co-created and hosted Let's Make a Deal that debuted on December 30, 1963. The show would be a big hit and would run on NBC until 1968, then moved to ABC after contract negotiations broke down with NBC. It became a bigger success on ABC, leading into The Newlywed Game and also had a couple of prime time runs that also delivered outstanding ratings. The show ran until July 1976 but Hall would also host three revivals, the last aired in 1990 when he replaced Bob Hilton who was fired due to low ratings. He also serves as a consultant on the current version that's hosted by Wayne Brady.
Hall, along with his partner Stefan Hatos, also produced another hit Split Second, hosted by Tom Kennedy. The fast paced game show where Kennedy told contestants to "look at the board" ran for three years on ABC. Hall hosted a short-lived revival in the 1986-87 season.
As for Philbin, he began his hosting career with one of the worst game shows to air in 1975, The Neighbors. The show featured five femal neighbors who answered questions about how they knew each other. It was not interesting at all and it perished from ABC after 13 weeks. Philbin went on to another unsuccessful show, Almost Anything Goes, serving as a sideline reporter. Based on the British show It's a Knockout, it wasn't a knockout in the ratings.
Philbin became an icon when he became the host of a game show that was popular in Great Britain but made it's debut in the USA in 1999. The show was Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. It was ABC's first prime time game show since Let's Make a Deal, The Newlywed Game and The Reel Game left the network in 1971. The show became a big summer hit and returned to prime time the following season. The network version ran until 2002 then entered syndication hosted by Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and currently Chris Harrison.
But it was Philbin who made the prime time show a hit with his pleasant personalty and his sense of humor that put the hot seat contestant at ease that also earned him a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001. He also made famous one of the most famous catch phrases in game show history "Is that your final answer?'
So Happy Birthday to Hall and Philbin. And that's our final answer.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Another Version of Break the Bank Gone Bust
In the last entry written about game shows, HSGN did a story about the short-lived 70s version of Break the Bank that was cancelled due to ABC expanding their soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital from 30 to 45 minutes. This week, HSGN looks back at the mid 80s incarnation of another show that used the title Break the Bank.
When Richard Kline, who directed many episodes of the Barry-Enright game shows such as The Joker's Wild and Tic Tac Dough, he left the company after the death of Jack Barry in 1984 to form his own production company Kline & Friends. The first show the new company came up with was another version of Break the Bank that debuted in the fall of 1985 with Gene Rayburn, best known for hosting Match Game as the host.
This version of Break the Bank was much different from the Tom Kennedy hosted version. The game was played by two couples, some married, some boyfriend/girlfriend who earned seconds to use in the Prize Vault. Rayburn asked a question and the first couple to hit their buzzer got to answer the question. If they answered correctly, they earned seconds that increased with each question. Each correct answer was a clue to the identity of a person place or thing like Super Password. Up to six clues were played in each puzzle and the first couple to solve two puzzles won the game and took the seconds accumulated in the main game to the Prize Vault.
The main game was executed well because the home viewer could try and solve the puzzle, an important aspect of a successful game show. But Break the Bank's downfall came in the Prize Vault round. In came the show's assistant, former Miss USA Julie Hayek and she opened the vault that featured several stunts for the couple to attempt using the time they earned.
Among the numerous stunts used on the show were the couple trying to identify voices from impressionist Louise DuArt, reciting a tongue twister or doing aerobics. Each completed stunt earned a bank card. When time ran out, the couple took their cards to the vault and insert one in the code reader. The readout would display one of two messages. "Wrong Code" or Break Bank." Break bank meant that they would break the bank which could be worth more than $20,000.
This hodgepodge of a mess resulted in low ratings and Rayburn was fired after 13 weeks. He was replaced by Joe Farago and the format was changed. The two couples no longer played for seconds. Instead they earned money and bonus prizes by solving puzzles. Each correct answer was still a clue to the puzzle's identity. The first couple to earn $2000 or more won the game and went to the Prize Vault.
The Prize Vault round was also changed. A Master Puzzle was played and a couple could earn up to 10 bank cards. The longer it took to solve the puzzle, the fewer the cards they earned. After the couple solved the puzzle, they went to the vault where they picked from 40 bank cards. Thirty eight of them had cash or prizes. One card broke the bank while the last one would read "Bankrupt" that lost their winnings. The couple insert the cards they won into the reader. If it was cash or a prize they kept the prize. They could stop at anytime, but if the bankrupt card came up, the game was over.
The one bright spot for the show was announcer Michael Hanks. a prolific voice over artist, he was a very good announcer in his first game show stint. It was unfortunate that no other packager used him on any other game show. According to imdb.com, he was the announcer for the short-lived talk show Dr. Laura.
Farago and the format change did little good for the ratings and after 39 weeks of original episodes, Break the Bank went bust.
When Richard Kline, who directed many episodes of the Barry-Enright game shows such as The Joker's Wild and Tic Tac Dough, he left the company after the death of Jack Barry in 1984 to form his own production company Kline & Friends. The first show the new company came up with was another version of Break the Bank that debuted in the fall of 1985 with Gene Rayburn, best known for hosting Match Game as the host.
This version of Break the Bank was much different from the Tom Kennedy hosted version. The game was played by two couples, some married, some boyfriend/girlfriend who earned seconds to use in the Prize Vault. Rayburn asked a question and the first couple to hit their buzzer got to answer the question. If they answered correctly, they earned seconds that increased with each question. Each correct answer was a clue to the identity of a person place or thing like Super Password. Up to six clues were played in each puzzle and the first couple to solve two puzzles won the game and took the seconds accumulated in the main game to the Prize Vault.
The main game was executed well because the home viewer could try and solve the puzzle, an important aspect of a successful game show. But Break the Bank's downfall came in the Prize Vault round. In came the show's assistant, former Miss USA Julie Hayek and she opened the vault that featured several stunts for the couple to attempt using the time they earned.
Among the numerous stunts used on the show were the couple trying to identify voices from impressionist Louise DuArt, reciting a tongue twister or doing aerobics. Each completed stunt earned a bank card. When time ran out, the couple took their cards to the vault and insert one in the code reader. The readout would display one of two messages. "Wrong Code" or Break Bank." Break bank meant that they would break the bank which could be worth more than $20,000.
This hodgepodge of a mess resulted in low ratings and Rayburn was fired after 13 weeks. He was replaced by Joe Farago and the format was changed. The two couples no longer played for seconds. Instead they earned money and bonus prizes by solving puzzles. Each correct answer was still a clue to the puzzle's identity. The first couple to earn $2000 or more won the game and went to the Prize Vault.
The Prize Vault round was also changed. A Master Puzzle was played and a couple could earn up to 10 bank cards. The longer it took to solve the puzzle, the fewer the cards they earned. After the couple solved the puzzle, they went to the vault where they picked from 40 bank cards. Thirty eight of them had cash or prizes. One card broke the bank while the last one would read "Bankrupt" that lost their winnings. The couple insert the cards they won into the reader. If it was cash or a prize they kept the prize. They could stop at anytime, but if the bankrupt card came up, the game was over.
The one bright spot for the show was announcer Michael Hanks. a prolific voice over artist, he was a very good announcer in his first game show stint. It was unfortunate that no other packager used him on any other game show. According to imdb.com, he was the announcer for the short-lived talk show Dr. Laura.
Farago and the format change did little good for the ratings and after 39 weeks of original episodes, Break the Bank went bust.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
2016 St. Louis Park Soccer Preview
The fall sports season kicks off for the St. Louis Park boys and girls soccer teams as they open up the 2016 season in Plymouth on Thursday, August 26 as they take on the Armstrong Falcons with the boys game at 5 PM and the girls game at 7 PM. Here's a preview of the 2016 Oriole soccer teams.
The boys begin another campaign under head coach Chato Alvarado with six seniors on their roster, including captains Miguel Ocampo, Daniel Decker and Ian Lockhart. They will also have a new goalkeeper Felix Hengel, who replaces the graduated Eric Hendricks.
St. Louis Park has a young team but can they get past a tough home stand that starts with a 1 PM game on Saturday, August 27 against the perennial Section 6AA power Wayzata Trojans. They will also host the St. Cloud Tech Tigers on Monday, August 30 at 7 PM and the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders on Thursday, September 1, also at 7 PM. Another key non conference game for the Orioles is on Friday, September 23 against the Minneapolis South Tigers at 5 PM.
Now to the girls side as head coach Benji Kent returns a number of young veterans, including his daughter Ellie. They also have experience in the net with senior goalkeeper Anna Roethler.
Other seniors to watch are Jayne Stevenson, Mei Li Liss, Samantha Baer and Abby Bremner. If the names Baer and Bremner sound familiar to Oriole fans, they also play on the girls lacrosse team in the spring.
The Oriole girls open their home season on Tuesday, August 30 at 7 PM against the Minneapolis Washburn Millers. It could be a huge test as St. Louis Park faces a team that lost in last year's Section 6AA finals to the Wayzata Trojans.
Plenty of soccer action coming up for both St. Louis Park teams this fall.
The boys begin another campaign under head coach Chato Alvarado with six seniors on their roster, including captains Miguel Ocampo, Daniel Decker and Ian Lockhart. They will also have a new goalkeeper Felix Hengel, who replaces the graduated Eric Hendricks.
St. Louis Park has a young team but can they get past a tough home stand that starts with a 1 PM game on Saturday, August 27 against the perennial Section 6AA power Wayzata Trojans. They will also host the St. Cloud Tech Tigers on Monday, August 30 at 7 PM and the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders on Thursday, September 1, also at 7 PM. Another key non conference game for the Orioles is on Friday, September 23 against the Minneapolis South Tigers at 5 PM.
Now to the girls side as head coach Benji Kent returns a number of young veterans, including his daughter Ellie. They also have experience in the net with senior goalkeeper Anna Roethler.
Other seniors to watch are Jayne Stevenson, Mei Li Liss, Samantha Baer and Abby Bremner. If the names Baer and Bremner sound familiar to Oriole fans, they also play on the girls lacrosse team in the spring.
The Oriole girls open their home season on Tuesday, August 30 at 7 PM against the Minneapolis Washburn Millers. It could be a huge test as St. Louis Park faces a team that lost in last year's Section 6AA finals to the Wayzata Trojans.
Plenty of soccer action coming up for both St. Louis Park teams this fall.
Monday, August 22, 2016
A Happy Homecoming for Four Lynx Players and Coach
After wrapping up a decisive win last Saturday against Spain, four members of the USA Women's Basketball Team who play for the Minnesota Lynx and head coach Cheryl Reeve returned to the United States with gold medals Monday night.
One Lynx player played a big role in the gold medal game, Lindsey Whalen as she tied with Diana Taurasi with a game high 17 points en route to a 101-72 win. It was the 49th consecutive win for the USA Women's Basketball Team.
Maya Moore played a large role in the win, scoring 14 points. Along with Whalen and Taurasi, they were three of the five players who scored in double figures. Breanna Stewart had 11 points and Elena Delle Donne added 10.
Two other Lynx players contributed off the bench. Seimone Augustus scored six points and Sylvia Fowles scored three points and six rebounds.
Reeve, the Lynx head coach served as an assistant under USA head coach Geno Auriemma.
Now that the Lynx quintet is back in the Twin Cities, it's back to the WNBA schedule, which went on hiatus due to the Olympics. The Lynx return to action on Friday, August 26 against the Connecticut Sun and return home on Sunday, August 28 for a 6 PM game against the Seattle Storm at Target Center.
When the Lynx return to their downtown Minneapolis home court on the 28th, fans will be greeted with a new center hung scoreboard. It's part of a massive renovation that will take place following the next Timberwolves season. The Lynx will be playing their 2017 home season at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
But first, the Lynx are in a race with the Los Angeles Sparks for the league's best record and a top playoff seed. Can Moore, Whalen, Augustus and Fowles maintain momentum and help the Lynx earn another championship banner in 2016?
One Lynx player played a big role in the gold medal game, Lindsey Whalen as she tied with Diana Taurasi with a game high 17 points en route to a 101-72 win. It was the 49th consecutive win for the USA Women's Basketball Team.
Maya Moore played a large role in the win, scoring 14 points. Along with Whalen and Taurasi, they were three of the five players who scored in double figures. Breanna Stewart had 11 points and Elena Delle Donne added 10.
Two other Lynx players contributed off the bench. Seimone Augustus scored six points and Sylvia Fowles scored three points and six rebounds.
Reeve, the Lynx head coach served as an assistant under USA head coach Geno Auriemma.
Now that the Lynx quintet is back in the Twin Cities, it's back to the WNBA schedule, which went on hiatus due to the Olympics. The Lynx return to action on Friday, August 26 against the Connecticut Sun and return home on Sunday, August 28 for a 6 PM game against the Seattle Storm at Target Center.
When the Lynx return to their downtown Minneapolis home court on the 28th, fans will be greeted with a new center hung scoreboard. It's part of a massive renovation that will take place following the next Timberwolves season. The Lynx will be playing their 2017 home season at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
But first, the Lynx are in a race with the Los Angeles Sparks for the league's best record and a top playoff seed. Can Moore, Whalen, Augustus and Fowles maintain momentum and help the Lynx earn another championship banner in 2016?
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Minnesota United's Rise to MLS Part of State's Pro Soccer Heritage
Minnesota soccer fans can rejoice now that the news came out that Minnesota United FC will join Major League Soccer as an expansion team in the 2017 season after years as a lower level NASL team.
MN United is the newest professional soccer team that will add to the state's history in the sport that goes back 40 years to the emergence of the Minnesota Kicks. Here's a look back at the state's pro soccer franchises.
In 1976, Minnesota joined the world of soccer when a group investors, including Jack Crocker of Super Valu, bought and moved the failing Denver Dynamo franchise and renamed it the Kicks. The Kicks would join the Twins and Vikings as Met Stadium tenants. Off the field, tailgating became a popular pastime since the team offered free parking. On the field, the Kicks had considerable success, winning four consecutive Western Division titles and advanced to the Soccer Bowl in their first year. They lost to the Toronto Metros. Those who did see the games instead of tailgating saw players such as Alan Willey, Alan Merrick, Ron Futcher, Patrick (Ace) Ntsoelengue, Alan West and a man who backed up goalkeeper Geoff Barnett who would become popular years later with the second pro soccer entry the Strikers, Tino Letteri.
The Kicks would fold in 1981 but pro soccer would return three years later in 1984 when the Strikers, owned by then Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie and his wife Elizabeth moved the team from Fort Lauderdale to Minnesota. After playing seven seasons at Lockhart Stadium, which was used primarily for high school sports, the team played in the cavernous Metrodome. Unfortunately, the NASL went out of business after the 1984 season but the Strikers survived and played the next four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Strikers would play their home games at Met Center. Merrick and Willey would be part of the Strikers success. Merrick was the head coach and Willey would emerge as one of their top players. Letteri would also join his former Kicks teammates and become the team's starting goalie. He would be introduced by Public address announcers Rod Trongaard and Don Michaels as "The King of the Keepers." Letteri, who later went into the food business, kept a stuffed parrot named Ozzie in the goal for luck.
The Strikers most successful season was the 1985-86 season where they advanced to the MISL finals against the powerhouse San Diego Sockers. In addition to Willey, there were outstanding players such as David (Budgie) Byrne, Jan Goosens, Ray Hudson and a native of Stillwater, MN Gregg Thompson. Playing before a packed Met Center crowd, the Strikers could not solve the Sockers "No Goal Patrol" and came up short in the finals.
But reality set in over the next two seasons as financial losses and low attendance took a toll on the Robbie family and the Strikers. Not even a group called "Save our Strikers" could save the franchise and it folded in 1988.
In 1990, the state's most successful pro soccer franchise would be born, the Minnesota Thunder. After four seasons as an independent team, they would join the US Interregional Soccer League. Playing their home games at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the Thunder would win the league title in 1999. They would also play the home games at Griffin Stadium at St. Paul Central High School and occasionally the Metrodome. The Thunder would cease operations after the 2009 season.
The following season, Minnesota United FC replaced the Thunder. Beginning as the Stars, the team adopted its current name in 2013. Next season they will join Major League Soccer and play at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus before moving into a soccer specific stadium in 2018.
Can pro soccer in Minnesota survive again? Find out in 2017.
MN United is the newest professional soccer team that will add to the state's history in the sport that goes back 40 years to the emergence of the Minnesota Kicks. Here's a look back at the state's pro soccer franchises.
In 1976, Minnesota joined the world of soccer when a group investors, including Jack Crocker of Super Valu, bought and moved the failing Denver Dynamo franchise and renamed it the Kicks. The Kicks would join the Twins and Vikings as Met Stadium tenants. Off the field, tailgating became a popular pastime since the team offered free parking. On the field, the Kicks had considerable success, winning four consecutive Western Division titles and advanced to the Soccer Bowl in their first year. They lost to the Toronto Metros. Those who did see the games instead of tailgating saw players such as Alan Willey, Alan Merrick, Ron Futcher, Patrick (Ace) Ntsoelengue, Alan West and a man who backed up goalkeeper Geoff Barnett who would become popular years later with the second pro soccer entry the Strikers, Tino Letteri.
The Kicks would fold in 1981 but pro soccer would return three years later in 1984 when the Strikers, owned by then Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie and his wife Elizabeth moved the team from Fort Lauderdale to Minnesota. After playing seven seasons at Lockhart Stadium, which was used primarily for high school sports, the team played in the cavernous Metrodome. Unfortunately, the NASL went out of business after the 1984 season but the Strikers survived and played the next four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Strikers would play their home games at Met Center. Merrick and Willey would be part of the Strikers success. Merrick was the head coach and Willey would emerge as one of their top players. Letteri would also join his former Kicks teammates and become the team's starting goalie. He would be introduced by Public address announcers Rod Trongaard and Don Michaels as "The King of the Keepers." Letteri, who later went into the food business, kept a stuffed parrot named Ozzie in the goal for luck.
The Strikers most successful season was the 1985-86 season where they advanced to the MISL finals against the powerhouse San Diego Sockers. In addition to Willey, there were outstanding players such as David (Budgie) Byrne, Jan Goosens, Ray Hudson and a native of Stillwater, MN Gregg Thompson. Playing before a packed Met Center crowd, the Strikers could not solve the Sockers "No Goal Patrol" and came up short in the finals.
But reality set in over the next two seasons as financial losses and low attendance took a toll on the Robbie family and the Strikers. Not even a group called "Save our Strikers" could save the franchise and it folded in 1988.
In 1990, the state's most successful pro soccer franchise would be born, the Minnesota Thunder. After four seasons as an independent team, they would join the US Interregional Soccer League. Playing their home games at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the Thunder would win the league title in 1999. They would also play the home games at Griffin Stadium at St. Paul Central High School and occasionally the Metrodome. The Thunder would cease operations after the 2009 season.
The following season, Minnesota United FC replaced the Thunder. Beginning as the Stars, the team adopted its current name in 2013. Next season they will join Major League Soccer and play at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus before moving into a soccer specific stadium in 2018.
Can pro soccer in Minnesota survive again? Find out in 2017.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Grand Reopening of SLP Stadium Getting Close
High School Stadium
When the St. Louis Park Boys Soccer team opens its home season on Saturday, August 27, fans will witness a new and improved stadium that was renovated prior to graduation in June.
The first thing fans will see after they purchase their tickets at the new ticket window located outside the entrance is the new gate with the sign. go on your right and there will be a new concession stand.
Next, make a right turn and for the first time the stadium will have real, functioning bathrooms with sinks. The days of using satellite facilities on the sides of the bleacher will come to an end.
And last, but not least, there will be a new press box that will also contain a new sound system (where the author of this blog will begin his 21st year as the public address voice of Oriole Soccer). The box will be a little more spacious than the previous press box.
So that's what visitors can expect when they attend a soccer or a football game at St. Louis Park. An extreme makeover that will be very fan friendly.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
How ABC Squandered a Potential Hit in Break the Bank
Game shows with large numbers of celebrities were popular in 1976. CBS had a big daytime hit in Match Game '76 with Gene Rayburn and NBC got the square with Hollywood Squares that was presided by Peter Marshall. ABC on April 12, 1976, got on the multi star bandwagon with another game that featured nine celebrities but had a much shorter run despite high ratings, a revival of Break the Bank that should have had a longer run.
At that time, Jack Barry and Dan Enright, who reunited after they were blacklisted due to the quiz show scandals of the late 50s, decided to revive a show that was popular on radio and early TV titled Break the Bank. The show was hosted by Bud Collyer and Bert Parks. Barry and Enright decided to build an all new show around the dormant title that would include nine celebrities seated around a giant gameboard that consisted of 20 squares.
Veteran game show host Tom Kennedy would host the show that made it's debut on April 12, 1976. for those who have never seen or heard of the show, here are the rules: The game feature two contestants, one male and one female. They would choose one of the 20 boxes that would connect to two of the celebrities. Kennedy would ask a question and one celebrity would give the correct answer while the other gave the wrong answer. The object was to determined which star was right. A correct answer earned the box while an incorrect answer returned the box to its neutral position. The rule was changed later in the run where an incorrect judgement awarded the box to the opposing player, unless it resulted in a win.
Dollar amounts on the network version were $100, $200 and $300 and they all were connected in threes. The first player to get three boxes of the same amount won the game. There was also a "Wild" box that could be used for any dollar figure and five boxes that were blank. Any player selecting a blank box forfeited their turn. Now the way a contestant could break the bank was to select three of the five moneybags on the board. The player had the option of keeping a moneybag or waiting until later in the game. If they got the three moneybags, they would break the bank.
The celebrities would often give funny answers to the questions and it would also contribute to the show's success. Break the Bank would become daytime TV's second highest rated game show, in between Match Game '76 and the show's lead in The $20,000 Pyramid. But ABC, led by Fred Silverman, had other ideas.
Silverman, who was never a game show fan, except for Family Feud, which he declared in Mary Ann Norbom's book Richard Dawson and Family Feud as "the best game show ever to appear on the air" wanted to expand the network's soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital from 30 to 45 minutes. So, despite high ratings, on July 23, ABC cancelled Break the Bank after only 15 weeks on the network.
What ABC should have done to keep the high rated show on the air was to move the show to a different time period such as 11 AM EST that was occupied by Happy Days reruns. It would have brought in higher ratings and trigger a ratings battle with CBS's Gambit and NBC's Wheel of Fortune. As for Barry and Enright, they could have taken the show to another network or launch it in syndication. They chose the latter.
After its sudden cancellation, Break the Bank returned that fall in prime time access syndication. Barry would host the show that was unfortunately not seen in the Twin Cities. He wore dark glasses due to the bright studio lights. The only difference from the daytime version was that the contestant who won the most games would go on to the bonus round. In this round, eight of the nine celebrities had money amounts and one had a card that said "BUST". The object was for the player to earn $2000 before hitting the bust card and he or she would win $5000. This would be the standard avoid the bad guy formula that would later surface on the company's other shows such as The Joker's Wild and Tic Tac Dough. The show was not a ratings success and lasted only one year in access.
The other bright spot to Break the Bank was Stu Levin's theme, which was later used on The Joker's Wild Million Dollar tournament in 1980 and the syndicated soap opera news show Soapworld.
Here was a show that had enormous hit potential that was squandered by network interference,
At that time, Jack Barry and Dan Enright, who reunited after they were blacklisted due to the quiz show scandals of the late 50s, decided to revive a show that was popular on radio and early TV titled Break the Bank. The show was hosted by Bud Collyer and Bert Parks. Barry and Enright decided to build an all new show around the dormant title that would include nine celebrities seated around a giant gameboard that consisted of 20 squares.
Veteran game show host Tom Kennedy would host the show that made it's debut on April 12, 1976. for those who have never seen or heard of the show, here are the rules: The game feature two contestants, one male and one female. They would choose one of the 20 boxes that would connect to two of the celebrities. Kennedy would ask a question and one celebrity would give the correct answer while the other gave the wrong answer. The object was to determined which star was right. A correct answer earned the box while an incorrect answer returned the box to its neutral position. The rule was changed later in the run where an incorrect judgement awarded the box to the opposing player, unless it resulted in a win.
Dollar amounts on the network version were $100, $200 and $300 and they all were connected in threes. The first player to get three boxes of the same amount won the game. There was also a "Wild" box that could be used for any dollar figure and five boxes that were blank. Any player selecting a blank box forfeited their turn. Now the way a contestant could break the bank was to select three of the five moneybags on the board. The player had the option of keeping a moneybag or waiting until later in the game. If they got the three moneybags, they would break the bank.
The celebrities would often give funny answers to the questions and it would also contribute to the show's success. Break the Bank would become daytime TV's second highest rated game show, in between Match Game '76 and the show's lead in The $20,000 Pyramid. But ABC, led by Fred Silverman, had other ideas.
Silverman, who was never a game show fan, except for Family Feud, which he declared in Mary Ann Norbom's book Richard Dawson and Family Feud as "the best game show ever to appear on the air" wanted to expand the network's soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital from 30 to 45 minutes. So, despite high ratings, on July 23, ABC cancelled Break the Bank after only 15 weeks on the network.
What ABC should have done to keep the high rated show on the air was to move the show to a different time period such as 11 AM EST that was occupied by Happy Days reruns. It would have brought in higher ratings and trigger a ratings battle with CBS's Gambit and NBC's Wheel of Fortune. As for Barry and Enright, they could have taken the show to another network or launch it in syndication. They chose the latter.
After its sudden cancellation, Break the Bank returned that fall in prime time access syndication. Barry would host the show that was unfortunately not seen in the Twin Cities. He wore dark glasses due to the bright studio lights. The only difference from the daytime version was that the contestant who won the most games would go on to the bonus round. In this round, eight of the nine celebrities had money amounts and one had a card that said "BUST". The object was for the player to earn $2000 before hitting the bust card and he or she would win $5000. This would be the standard avoid the bad guy formula that would later surface on the company's other shows such as The Joker's Wild and Tic Tac Dough. The show was not a ratings success and lasted only one year in access.
The other bright spot to Break the Bank was Stu Levin's theme, which was later used on The Joker's Wild Million Dollar tournament in 1980 and the syndicated soap opera news show Soapworld.
Here was a show that had enormous hit potential that was squandered by network interference,
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Don't Forget Girls Tennis
In the last post that focused on the first day of fall sports practice around Minnesota and the opening dates for each sport, one sport that was unintentionally overlooked was girls tennis.
To anyone connected with girls tennis, HSGN would like to apologize for overlooking your sport. It was a bit of an oversight and in fairness to the other fall sports mentioned in the previous post, here are the opening matches for St. Louis Park and Benilde-St.Margaret's.
St. Louis Park opens their regular season next Tuesday, August 23 as they host the Breck Mustangs in a 4 PM meet. In 2014, the Muatangs took third place in the Class A team portion of the state tournament. As for the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights, their season opener is Thursday, August 25 when they host the defending state Class A team champion Blake Bears at 4 PM at Aquila Park.
But an even bigger story could take place on October 26 when the state Class AA championship is held at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus. If the Edina Hornets win the state title, it will be a state record 20th consecutive state championship and 34th overall. The Hornets, according to the National Federation of High School Associations record book is nine wins away from the national record of 42 that's set by Honolulu Punahow. First comes the regular season and the Hornets open up by heading up I-94 to participate in the St. Cloud Tech tournament on Tuesday, August 23.
Could it be the start for 20 straight state titles for head coach Steve Paulson and the Edina Hornets?
To anyone connected with girls tennis, HSGN would like to apologize for overlooking your sport. It was a bit of an oversight and in fairness to the other fall sports mentioned in the previous post, here are the opening matches for St. Louis Park and Benilde-St.Margaret's.
St. Louis Park opens their regular season next Tuesday, August 23 as they host the Breck Mustangs in a 4 PM meet. In 2014, the Muatangs took third place in the Class A team portion of the state tournament. As for the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights, their season opener is Thursday, August 25 when they host the defending state Class A team champion Blake Bears at 4 PM at Aquila Park.
But an even bigger story could take place on October 26 when the state Class AA championship is held at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus. If the Edina Hornets win the state title, it will be a state record 20th consecutive state championship and 34th overall. The Hornets, according to the National Federation of High School Associations record book is nine wins away from the national record of 42 that's set by Honolulu Punahow. First comes the regular season and the Hornets open up by heading up I-94 to participate in the St. Cloud Tech tournament on Tuesday, August 23.
Could it be the start for 20 straight state titles for head coach Steve Paulson and the Edina Hornets?
Monday, August 15, 2016
Practice Begins for 2016 Fall Sports Season
As summer heads into the homestretch, it's time to get out the footballs, soccer balls and volleyballs as thousands of high school athletes throughout Minnesota begin practice for the 2016 fall sports season.
Also beginning practice are athletes in girls swimming and boys and girls cross country.
Here's a look at the season openers for some athletic teams at St. Louis Park and Benilde St. Margaret's. First up is St. Louis Park as the Oriole football team begins its 2016 campaign on Friday, September 2 with a 7 PM game at Richfield. Their home opener is the following Friday, September 9 as they host the Armstrong Falcons at 7 PM.
On the soccer field, the St. Louis Park boys and girls soccer teams open the season on the road as they head up Highway 169 to Plymouth to face the Armstrong Falcons. The boys game is at 5, the girls at 7. The boys home opener is Saturday, August 27 as they host the perennial power Wayzata Trojans at 1 PM. It will be the first home event in the newly renovated stadium that includes a new sound system. The girls open their home season on Tuesday, August 30 with a 7 PM game against the Minneapolis Washbuen Millers.
If you don't feel like driving in rush hour traffic to Plymouth on the 25th, the Oriole girls volleyball team opens their second season under head coach Whitney Meierotto with a 7 PM home match against the Minneapolis Washburn Millers. The girls swimming and diving teams also open their season on the 25th in the conference pre season relays at 6 PM at Olson Middle School. The boys and girls cross country teams don't open their season until Saturday, September 10 when they will run in the Benilde-St. Margaret's Invitational at 9 AM at Basset Creek Park in Crystal.
Over at Benilde-St. Margaret's, the Red Knight football team looks to begin their quest for their second straight state tournament berth as they host the Orono Spartans on Friday, September 2 at 7 PM. The boys soccer team heads up I-35 on Thursday, August 25 to take on the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers. Their home opener is Tuesday, august 30 as they host Class AA power Eden Prairie at 7 PM.
Head coach Scott Helling-Christy leads the defending Class A girls soccer champion Red Knights as they begin defense of their state crown with their home opener on Saturday, August 27 at 3 PM against the Breck Mustangs. A key game to watch for BSM is on Thursday, September 1 when the Red Knights invade Gordy Aamoth Stadium in Hopkins for a rematch of last year's Class A championship game with the Blake Bears.
As for the girls volleyball team, they open their season on Thursday, September 1 with a 7 PM match at DeLaSalle. Their home opener is Tuesday, September 6 against the Holy Family Catholic Fire, also at 7.
It should be an interesting season and HSGN will continue to cover high school sports like the last five years on examiner.com.
Also beginning practice are athletes in girls swimming and boys and girls cross country.
Here's a look at the season openers for some athletic teams at St. Louis Park and Benilde St. Margaret's. First up is St. Louis Park as the Oriole football team begins its 2016 campaign on Friday, September 2 with a 7 PM game at Richfield. Their home opener is the following Friday, September 9 as they host the Armstrong Falcons at 7 PM.
On the soccer field, the St. Louis Park boys and girls soccer teams open the season on the road as they head up Highway 169 to Plymouth to face the Armstrong Falcons. The boys game is at 5, the girls at 7. The boys home opener is Saturday, August 27 as they host the perennial power Wayzata Trojans at 1 PM. It will be the first home event in the newly renovated stadium that includes a new sound system. The girls open their home season on Tuesday, August 30 with a 7 PM game against the Minneapolis Washbuen Millers.
If you don't feel like driving in rush hour traffic to Plymouth on the 25th, the Oriole girls volleyball team opens their second season under head coach Whitney Meierotto with a 7 PM home match against the Minneapolis Washburn Millers. The girls swimming and diving teams also open their season on the 25th in the conference pre season relays at 6 PM at Olson Middle School. The boys and girls cross country teams don't open their season until Saturday, September 10 when they will run in the Benilde-St. Margaret's Invitational at 9 AM at Basset Creek Park in Crystal.
Over at Benilde-St. Margaret's, the Red Knight football team looks to begin their quest for their second straight state tournament berth as they host the Orono Spartans on Friday, September 2 at 7 PM. The boys soccer team heads up I-35 on Thursday, August 25 to take on the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers. Their home opener is Tuesday, august 30 as they host Class AA power Eden Prairie at 7 PM.
Head coach Scott Helling-Christy leads the defending Class A girls soccer champion Red Knights as they begin defense of their state crown with their home opener on Saturday, August 27 at 3 PM against the Breck Mustangs. A key game to watch for BSM is on Thursday, September 1 when the Red Knights invade Gordy Aamoth Stadium in Hopkins for a rematch of last year's Class A championship game with the Blake Bears.
As for the girls volleyball team, they open their season on Thursday, September 1 with a 7 PM match at DeLaSalle. Their home opener is Tuesday, September 6 against the Holy Family Catholic Fire, also at 7.
It should be an interesting season and HSGN will continue to cover high school sports like the last five years on examiner.com.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Timberwolves Release 2016-17 Season Schedule
Get ready for an exciting season of NBA basketball as the Minnesota Timberwolves released their 2016-17 schedule along with the rest of the league Thursday.
The Wolves ring in the "Kris Dunn Era" as the rookie guard from Providence will make his regular season debut Wednesday, October 26 against the Memphis Grizzlies. They will also be on the road Saturday, October 29 at Sacramento. New head coach Tom Thibodeau will patrol the Target Center sidelines for the first time in their home opener Tuesday, November 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Other November highlights include a four game home stand starting with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, November 12 and on Sunday the 13th, they will host the Clippers Los Angeles rival, the Lakers. On Tuesday, November 15, the Wolves face the Charlotte Hornets and on Thursday the 17th, they will host the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be the only home appearance this season of the 2016 NBA Draft's number one pick Ben Simmons. Please note that it's the first of four games to air on the cable network TNT.
The other three that will be seen on TNT are all on Thursdays. December 8, they will play at Toronto against the Raptors, followed by a 9:30 game at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 19 and on April 6, they head to the Beaver State to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
In December, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and the rest of the Golden State Warriors make their first Target Center appearance on Sunday the 11th. The Wolves will play on Christmas night as they play at Oklahoma City in a game that will be seen on ESPN.
The Timberwolves open 2017 as they host a New Year's Day game against the Portland Trail Blazers. January highlights include the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday the 13th and Paul George and the Indiana Pacers come to Target Center on Thursday, January 26.
February opens up with the Wolves only trip to Cleveland on the 1st to take on the World Champion Cavaliers. Looking for something to do on Valentine's Day? Take your valentine to Target Center on the 14th to see LeBron James and the Cavs. It's the conclusion of a six game home stand that includes Miami, Toronto and Chicago.
While the state boys hockey tournament is in action in St. Paul the Warriors return to Target Center on Friday, March 10. John Wall and the Washington Wizard come on Monday, March 13.
The season concludes in April as the Wolves play five of their final seven games on the road. Their only home games are Saturday, April 1 against the Sacramento Kings and on Tuesday, April 11 against Oklahoma City.
Could this be the year the Wolves end their long playoff drought?
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Ticket Prices to Rise for State Soccer and Football Tournaments
High school soccer and football fans will have to bring out some more dollar bills because state tournament ticket prices will be going up as they head into their maiden voyage at the new US Bank Stadium this fall.
The state soccer and football tournaments will be heading back inside after two seasons in freezing cold weather due to construction of the new US Bank stadium. The state soccer semifinals and finals were played at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State University campus and the Prep Bowl was at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.
State soccer semifinal and championship ticket prices will be $12 for adults and $8 for students. State football tournament games, including the Prep Bowl go up to $14 for adults and $9 for students.
Ticket prices increases were approved by the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors at its August 9 meeting in Deerwood.
Fall practice opens for football, soccer, volleyball, cross country and swimming Monday, August 15.
The state soccer and football tournaments will be heading back inside after two seasons in freezing cold weather due to construction of the new US Bank stadium. The state soccer semifinals and finals were played at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State University campus and the Prep Bowl was at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.
State soccer semifinal and championship ticket prices will be $12 for adults and $8 for students. State football tournament games, including the Prep Bowl go up to $14 for adults and $9 for students.
Ticket prices increases were approved by the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors at its August 9 meeting in Deerwood.
Fall practice opens for football, soccer, volleyball, cross country and swimming Monday, August 15.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Robinson a Familiar Voice to Twin Cities Sports Fans
Among the many broadcasters at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is a voice that's familiar to Twin Cities sports fans.
Ted Robinson, who came to the Twin Cities in 1980 to serve as Al Shaver's sidekick on Minnesota North Stars radio broadcasts and later broadcast the Twins and University of Minnesota men's basketball team is working his eight Olympics for NBC. He is handling the commentary for diving. Among the Olympic sports Robinson has done for the network are baseball, speed skating, canoeing and snowboarding.
Robinson, who is also the radio voice of the San Francisco 49ers, is also the main voice of NBC's tennis coverage, including the French Open. Since joining the network's tennis coverage in 2000, he has also handled the play-by-play for Wimbledon until 2011. In addition, he has also covered a wide range of sports for the network, including a stint back in the late 80s on the Major League Baseball Game of the Week. He has also covered baseball for the A's, Giants, his hometown Mets (Robinson is a native of Queens) and a second stint with the Twins in 2011.
Robinson's voice was also heard on radio. Prior to his current 49ers assignment, he did Stanford football, CBS Radio's Major League Baseball Game of the Week and for 24 years, one of the play-by-play men for Westwood One's coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. He still does basketball for the Pac 12 Network as well as football. He has also filled in for Ron Barr on the nationally syndicated radio talk show Sports Byline USA and also on a Minnesota Timberwolves radio broadcast when Kevin Harlan did the TV broadcast. He also worked on WCCO-TV's coverage of the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament in the mid 80s.
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So if you watch the diving competition, not only will viewers hear a familiar voice in Robinson they will also see excellent replays. The replays have been a hallmark of NBC's Olympic coverage, no matter what sport is being shown.
Ted Robinson, who came to the Twin Cities in 1980 to serve as Al Shaver's sidekick on Minnesota North Stars radio broadcasts and later broadcast the Twins and University of Minnesota men's basketball team is working his eight Olympics for NBC. He is handling the commentary for diving. Among the Olympic sports Robinson has done for the network are baseball, speed skating, canoeing and snowboarding.
Robinson, who is also the radio voice of the San Francisco 49ers, is also the main voice of NBC's tennis coverage, including the French Open. Since joining the network's tennis coverage in 2000, he has also handled the play-by-play for Wimbledon until 2011. In addition, he has also covered a wide range of sports for the network, including a stint back in the late 80s on the Major League Baseball Game of the Week. He has also covered baseball for the A's, Giants, his hometown Mets (Robinson is a native of Queens) and a second stint with the Twins in 2011.
Robinson's voice was also heard on radio. Prior to his current 49ers assignment, he did Stanford football, CBS Radio's Major League Baseball Game of the Week and for 24 years, one of the play-by-play men for Westwood One's coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. He still does basketball for the Pac 12 Network as well as football. He has also filled in for Ron Barr on the nationally syndicated radio talk show Sports Byline USA and also on a Minnesota Timberwolves radio broadcast when Kevin Harlan did the TV broadcast. He also worked on WCCO-TV's coverage of the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament in the mid 80s.
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So if you watch the diving competition, not only will viewers hear a familiar voice in Robinson they will also see excellent replays. The replays have been a hallmark of NBC's Olympic coverage, no matter what sport is being shown.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Ten Game Shows Twin Cities TV Viewers Never Saw in Their Original Run
Many game shows have aired on the Twin Cities network affiliates for years but there have been cases where some shows do not air in the market because the local affiliate decided to show local or syndicated programming in order to bring in advertising revenue. Here are ten examples of game shows that Twin Cities TV viewers never saw.
1. Three on a Match. Since NBC lost Let's Make a Deal to ABC in December, 1968, the loss turned out to be a godsend for ABC's floundering daytime lineup and a giant lead in to The Newlywed Game. However it was a different story at NBC where they lost millions of dollars in advertising revenue with five shows that were creamed in the ratings, including the game shows You're Putting Me On, words and Music and Joe Garagiola's Memory Game. In August, 1971, NBC debuted a new Bob Stewart game Three on a Match with Bill Cullen as host. It would go on to have a three year run. But local viewers didn't see the show because KSTP, the NBC affiliate aired news and a local talk show titled "Dial 5." The station also did not carry Jeopardy! when it replaced Three on a Match in 1974. The show would eventually air on WTCN-TV, then an independent station until it was cancelled in January, 1975.
2. The Diamond Head Game. In January, 1975, game show history was made when The Diamond Head Game debuted as the first game show to be produced in Hawaii. The show was hosted by Bob Eubanks and was best known for its bonus round where contestants went into a Money Volcano and had 15 seconds to grab bills and slips of paper that were blown around by a wind machine. None of the Twin Cities stations picked up the show which ended after 26 weeks.
3. Press Your Luck. One of several game shows blacked out by WCCO-TV due to their commitment to airing the talk shows Hour Magazine and Sally Jessy Raphael. Over the show's three year run, the station denied viewers and opportunity to see the show of Big Bucks! and No Whammies! The station also never aired the episodes where Michael Larson won over $100,000 which led to an investigation of cheating by CBS and a reprogramming of the game board. Those episodes would aired recently on the digital subchannel BUZZR.
4. Card Sharks (Both the Jim Perry and Bob Eubanks versions) When Card Sharks made its debut on April, 1978, KSTP did not air the show because it carried the local show Twin Cities Today. But when WTCN became an NBC affiliate in March 1979, they did carry Card Sharks until it was moved to 11 AM in June 1980 and then it stopped airing because the station carried reruns of The Bob Newhart Show. In 1986, when Card Sharks was revived on CBS, WCCO did not carry the show which also turned out to be a hit.
5. The $25,000 Pyramid. In 1982, Bob Stewart brought back the Pyramid as The $25,000 Pyramid that was picked up by its original network, CBS. It was another show WCCO deprived viewers of seeing which was the first incarnation of the hit word game to be produced in Hollywood. It had a long and successful run like its predecessor and even when it returned to replace the failed game show Blackout, the show was also blacked out.
6. Celebrity Charades. In January, 1979, the show which had its roots in Pantomime Quiz and Stump the Stars returned in syndication. But what station did it air on in the Twin Cities? None. It didn't matter. The show would end its run that September.
7. Tic Tac Dough (The CBS revival) Following the success of the syndicated Joker's Wild, Jack Barry and Dan Enright brought back Tic Tac Dough as a CBS daytime entry in July 1978. But WCCO did not carry the short-lived revival because it was airing another Barry-Enright game Hollywood Connection that was playing out its run. The syndicated version would become a big hit, paired with The Joker's Wild in many markets and become the big hit for host Wink Martindale.
8. Break the Bank (Jack Barry version). In april, 1976, ABC debuted the first game show from Barry and Enright since they revived their partnership after the quiz show scandals Break the Bank. The nine celebrity game, hosted by Tom Kennedy turned out to be a hit and would have had a longer run if the network didn't cancel the show to expand their hit soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital. In September, a nighttime syndicated version debuted but it was never seen in the Twin Cities possibly due to few open prime time access slots open. Local viewers never got to see Barry wearing dark glasses due to the bright studio lights.
9. Chain Reaction (Original version). The original version of Chain Reaction debuted in January 1980 but like several game shows that aired at 11 AM in the Twin Cities on WTCN-TV, it was not aired due to Bob Newhart Show reruns. The station denied viewers a chance to see a game that home viewers could play along with as well as an outstanding host in Bill Cullen (though Geoff Edwards filled in while Cullen subbed for Allen Ludden on Password Plus).
10. Super Password. Another show blacked out on Channel 11 (now KARE) since the station aired syndicated game shows such as The All-New Let's Make a Deal and The $1,000, 000 Chance of a Lifetime as well as other syndicated fare. Game show fans didn't get to see the fourth and last daytime incarnation of the classic word game that was hosted by Bert Convy.
1. Three on a Match. Since NBC lost Let's Make a Deal to ABC in December, 1968, the loss turned out to be a godsend for ABC's floundering daytime lineup and a giant lead in to The Newlywed Game. However it was a different story at NBC where they lost millions of dollars in advertising revenue with five shows that were creamed in the ratings, including the game shows You're Putting Me On, words and Music and Joe Garagiola's Memory Game. In August, 1971, NBC debuted a new Bob Stewart game Three on a Match with Bill Cullen as host. It would go on to have a three year run. But local viewers didn't see the show because KSTP, the NBC affiliate aired news and a local talk show titled "Dial 5." The station also did not carry Jeopardy! when it replaced Three on a Match in 1974. The show would eventually air on WTCN-TV, then an independent station until it was cancelled in January, 1975.
2. The Diamond Head Game. In January, 1975, game show history was made when The Diamond Head Game debuted as the first game show to be produced in Hawaii. The show was hosted by Bob Eubanks and was best known for its bonus round where contestants went into a Money Volcano and had 15 seconds to grab bills and slips of paper that were blown around by a wind machine. None of the Twin Cities stations picked up the show which ended after 26 weeks.
3. Press Your Luck. One of several game shows blacked out by WCCO-TV due to their commitment to airing the talk shows Hour Magazine and Sally Jessy Raphael. Over the show's three year run, the station denied viewers and opportunity to see the show of Big Bucks! and No Whammies! The station also never aired the episodes where Michael Larson won over $100,000 which led to an investigation of cheating by CBS and a reprogramming of the game board. Those episodes would aired recently on the digital subchannel BUZZR.
4. Card Sharks (Both the Jim Perry and Bob Eubanks versions) When Card Sharks made its debut on April, 1978, KSTP did not air the show because it carried the local show Twin Cities Today. But when WTCN became an NBC affiliate in March 1979, they did carry Card Sharks until it was moved to 11 AM in June 1980 and then it stopped airing because the station carried reruns of The Bob Newhart Show. In 1986, when Card Sharks was revived on CBS, WCCO did not carry the show which also turned out to be a hit.
5. The $25,000 Pyramid. In 1982, Bob Stewart brought back the Pyramid as The $25,000 Pyramid that was picked up by its original network, CBS. It was another show WCCO deprived viewers of seeing which was the first incarnation of the hit word game to be produced in Hollywood. It had a long and successful run like its predecessor and even when it returned to replace the failed game show Blackout, the show was also blacked out.
6. Celebrity Charades. In January, 1979, the show which had its roots in Pantomime Quiz and Stump the Stars returned in syndication. But what station did it air on in the Twin Cities? None. It didn't matter. The show would end its run that September.
7. Tic Tac Dough (The CBS revival) Following the success of the syndicated Joker's Wild, Jack Barry and Dan Enright brought back Tic Tac Dough as a CBS daytime entry in July 1978. But WCCO did not carry the short-lived revival because it was airing another Barry-Enright game Hollywood Connection that was playing out its run. The syndicated version would become a big hit, paired with The Joker's Wild in many markets and become the big hit for host Wink Martindale.
8. Break the Bank (Jack Barry version). In april, 1976, ABC debuted the first game show from Barry and Enright since they revived their partnership after the quiz show scandals Break the Bank. The nine celebrity game, hosted by Tom Kennedy turned out to be a hit and would have had a longer run if the network didn't cancel the show to expand their hit soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital. In September, a nighttime syndicated version debuted but it was never seen in the Twin Cities possibly due to few open prime time access slots open. Local viewers never got to see Barry wearing dark glasses due to the bright studio lights.
9. Chain Reaction (Original version). The original version of Chain Reaction debuted in January 1980 but like several game shows that aired at 11 AM in the Twin Cities on WTCN-TV, it was not aired due to Bob Newhart Show reruns. The station denied viewers a chance to see a game that home viewers could play along with as well as an outstanding host in Bill Cullen (though Geoff Edwards filled in while Cullen subbed for Allen Ludden on Password Plus).
10. Super Password. Another show blacked out on Channel 11 (now KARE) since the station aired syndicated game shows such as The All-New Let's Make a Deal and The $1,000, 000 Chance of a Lifetime as well as other syndicated fare. Game show fans didn't get to see the fourth and last daytime incarnation of the classic word game that was hosted by Bert Convy.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
USA Women's Basketball team a smashing success against Senegal
Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi scored 15 points apiece to lead the USA Women's Basketball team to a 121-56 rout of Senegal in the opening round of Olympic basketball at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It was all USA from the get go as the led at the end of the first quarter 35-9 and further distanced themselves from the African nation's national team by taking a 64-21 halftime lead.
Other USA players in double figure were Brittney Griner with 14 points and seven rebounds, Angel McCoughtry and Elena Della Donne contributed 11 points and Tina Charles added 10. Fatou Dieng led Senegal with nine points.
USA is now 1-0 in pool play and Senegal is 0-1. Both teams return to action on Monday, August 8. USA will face Spain at 10 AM and Senegal squares off with China at 5:45 PM.
It was all USA from the get go as the led at the end of the first quarter 35-9 and further distanced themselves from the African nation's national team by taking a 64-21 halftime lead.
Other USA players in double figure were Brittney Griner with 14 points and seven rebounds, Angel McCoughtry and Elena Della Donne contributed 11 points and Tina Charles added 10. Fatou Dieng led Senegal with nine points.
USA is now 1-0 in pool play and Senegal is 0-1. Both teams return to action on Monday, August 8. USA will face Spain at 10 AM and Senegal squares off with China at 5:45 PM.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Let the 2016 Summer Olympics Begin
It was a "Festival of Nations" on a larger scale as 205 countries and 5,000 performers took part in the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 2016 Summer Olympics are the first to be held in South America since the first summer games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
Watching some of the ceremony on a laptop, it was definitely a spectacle worth watching. A lot of color, pageantry as well as native music punctuated the start of 16 days of athletic competition as well as developing stories. There were a lot of blue and green laser lights as well as fireworks.
Give credit to the many people behind the scenes at NBC for outstanding overhead shots of Maracana Stadium and a spectacular view of the numerous venues being used for the 2016 Olympics.
But the best part before all the formalities taking place was the Parade of Nations. Going alphabetically, it was great to see the numerous countries in their native attire as they carried their country's flag. That's also another part of the opening ceremonies that great to watch, seeing many of the world's flags. Could that be part of another "Fun With Flags" segment on "The Big Bang Theory?"
The formal part of the ceremonies came with speeches from Brazilian and Olympic officials. There was also the entry of the Olympic flag and torch that would be used to light the cauldron signifying the start of the Rio Olympics.
Let the games begin.
The 2016 Summer Olympics are the first to be held in South America since the first summer games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
Watching some of the ceremony on a laptop, it was definitely a spectacle worth watching. A lot of color, pageantry as well as native music punctuated the start of 16 days of athletic competition as well as developing stories. There were a lot of blue and green laser lights as well as fireworks.
Give credit to the many people behind the scenes at NBC for outstanding overhead shots of Maracana Stadium and a spectacular view of the numerous venues being used for the 2016 Olympics.
But the best part before all the formalities taking place was the Parade of Nations. Going alphabetically, it was great to see the numerous countries in their native attire as they carried their country's flag. That's also another part of the opening ceremonies that great to watch, seeing many of the world's flags. Could that be part of another "Fun With Flags" segment on "The Big Bang Theory?"
The formal part of the ceremonies came with speeches from Brazilian and Olympic officials. There was also the entry of the Olympic flag and torch that would be used to light the cauldron signifying the start of the Rio Olympics.
Let the games begin.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
A Grand Opening for US Bank Stadium
When US Bank Stadium held their open house July 23-24, thousands of purple clad Vikings fans came to the former Metrodome site to preview the team's new home after playing outside for two seasons at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
Fast forward to August 3, as the stadium held it's first event, an exhibition soccer match between AC Milan and Chelsea. The event was a huge success as 64,101 fans populated the new stadium. For soccer fans who couldn't get into the game, they could head up to the National Sports Center in Blaine to see Minnesota United FC battle Puerto Rico FC. The evening's attendance was 6,101, bringing the total attendance for the two soccer matches to 70,202, a state record that has not been broken since 46,370 fans saw the Minnesota Kicks take on the New York Cosmos at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington in 1978.
To quote the past tense of a Steve Allen song title, it was "The Start of Something Big" for the newest Twin Cities sports venue. Two concerts will take place later this month. Luke Bryan will perform on August 19 and Mettalica on August 20.
As for US Bank Stadium's main tenant, the Vikings, their first exhibition game takes place August 28 and the regular season home opener is September 18 against the Green Bay Packers. Please note that the game will be on NBC's Sunday Night Football. So if you don't have a ticket, it will be on TV.
On the high school level, the state boys and girls soccer semifinals and championship games will be held October 31, November 1 & 3. The Prep Bowl returns inside after being outside November 25 & 26. HSGN looks forward to covering the championship games from the new stadium's press box.
Baseball will also be held at US Bank Stadium as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers revive the Dairy Queen Classic in early March. High school teams will also use the stadium, including the St. Louis Park Orioles. Mark April 18, 2017 on your calendar. The Orioles will take on the Richfield Spartans at 6:45 PM.
Also coming up at US Bank Stadium is the 2018 Super Bowl and the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. If you can't get a Vikings ticket, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to see the new US Bank Stadium.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
ABC in Winner's Circle with Sunday Game Show Lineup
"Give me high ratings! Give me a hit!" Celebrity Family Feud host Steve Harvey would exclaim after it was revealed that the prime time celebrity version of the hit syndicated game show Family Feud was the highest rated of ABC's Sunday night game show lineup, finishing fourth in the recent Nielsen ratings.for the week ending August 1.
Celebrity Family Feud's high ratings also carried over to the following show, The $100,000 Pyramid. The latest incarnation of the classic word game finished seventh for the week. Wrapping up the evening was the revival of the hit 70s game show Match Game. The show ranked 14th that week.
In all the years of following game shows (by the way, this is the first entry on the subject), it's the first time a major broadcast network has aired an all game show lineup, though Celebrity Family Feud was preceded by America's Funniest Videos.
Now, an in depth look at a ratings success for ABC.
Now in it's second season, Celebrity Family Feud has been a summertime hit, especially against rerun competition. Harvey who took over hosting the syndicated version from John O'Hurley in 2010, parlayed the ratings resurgence in syndication into a prime time success. In a previous article written for examiner.com, it was mentioned that like other stand up comedians who have hosted game shows, Harvey doe not upstage the contestants, he does was successful hosts such as Bill Cullen and Bob Barker have done well and that is listen and react. The results have been extremely funny and that has been the key to saving the syndicated version from cancellation as well as generating high ratings. It's still one of the best game show formats ever invented, a very simple game that the home audience can play along. You turn on the show, you hear Harvey read the question, and you play along.
As for the $100,000 Pyramid, it's the first time since the original $10,000 Pyramid debuted in 1973 that the durable word game has aired in prime time. Michael Strahan, who recently left Live With Kelly and Michael presides over the festivities. The show has gone back to the original front game format, where two teams attempt to identify seven words in 30 seconds instead of six in 20 seconds in the Donny Osmond version. A carryover from the $25,000 Pyramid that aired on CBS is the "Mystery 7", where a contestant can win a trip if they guess all seven words in 30 seconds. Now comes what makes any version of Pyramid a classic, the Winner's Circle. Contestants can win $50,000 in the first game and if they win the second game, a possible $100,000 if they can identify six subjects in 60 seconds. It is still to this day, the best bonus round of any TV game show ever invented because it has the most important elements needed for a successful game show, drama, tension and suspense. Strahan, like his predecessor Dick Clark, also gives clues if a contestant comes up short in the Winner's Circle. If Bob Stewart, who originally created this classic was still alive, he would be very impressed at what he saw.
And that brings us to the final prime time game show entry, the revival of the hit 70s comedy game show Match Game. When it was mentioned that Alec Baldwin would be stepping into the host's role that the late Gene Rayburn made famous, there was skepticism that it was a bad move since he never hosted a game show. But it turned out to be a good move as Baldwin, who uses Rayburn's telescopic microphone has proven himself to be a capable hosted, interacting very well with the contestants and the celebrity panel that has included Jack McBrayer, Niecy Nash and Cheryl Hines.
It's the fourth revival of Match Game after three unsuccessful attempts and this time FremantleMedia has got it right, going back to the hit 70s format. The contestants still play two rounds and the questions still yield double entendre responses that sometimes get censored. One staple character from the Rayburn version that was mentioned in an episode was Dumb Dora and the audience responded "How dumb is she?" It still a very funny game show. The only thing wrong with this incarnation is the money amounts are rather cheap. If a contestant wins the Audience Match or comes up short, instead of playing for ten times their winnings in the Head to Head match, they play for five times the amount. The best way would have been to keep the ten times payoff and use the Star Wheel for a possible $50,000 if it lands on a star.
So there you have it. A prime time success that has viewers gathered around the TV on Sunday nights, playing along with three highly rated game shows.
Celebrity Family Feud's high ratings also carried over to the following show, The $100,000 Pyramid. The latest incarnation of the classic word game finished seventh for the week. Wrapping up the evening was the revival of the hit 70s game show Match Game. The show ranked 14th that week.
In all the years of following game shows (by the way, this is the first entry on the subject), it's the first time a major broadcast network has aired an all game show lineup, though Celebrity Family Feud was preceded by America's Funniest Videos.
Now, an in depth look at a ratings success for ABC.
Now in it's second season, Celebrity Family Feud has been a summertime hit, especially against rerun competition. Harvey who took over hosting the syndicated version from John O'Hurley in 2010, parlayed the ratings resurgence in syndication into a prime time success. In a previous article written for examiner.com, it was mentioned that like other stand up comedians who have hosted game shows, Harvey doe not upstage the contestants, he does was successful hosts such as Bill Cullen and Bob Barker have done well and that is listen and react. The results have been extremely funny and that has been the key to saving the syndicated version from cancellation as well as generating high ratings. It's still one of the best game show formats ever invented, a very simple game that the home audience can play along. You turn on the show, you hear Harvey read the question, and you play along.
As for the $100,000 Pyramid, it's the first time since the original $10,000 Pyramid debuted in 1973 that the durable word game has aired in prime time. Michael Strahan, who recently left Live With Kelly and Michael presides over the festivities. The show has gone back to the original front game format, where two teams attempt to identify seven words in 30 seconds instead of six in 20 seconds in the Donny Osmond version. A carryover from the $25,000 Pyramid that aired on CBS is the "Mystery 7", where a contestant can win a trip if they guess all seven words in 30 seconds. Now comes what makes any version of Pyramid a classic, the Winner's Circle. Contestants can win $50,000 in the first game and if they win the second game, a possible $100,000 if they can identify six subjects in 60 seconds. It is still to this day, the best bonus round of any TV game show ever invented because it has the most important elements needed for a successful game show, drama, tension and suspense. Strahan, like his predecessor Dick Clark, also gives clues if a contestant comes up short in the Winner's Circle. If Bob Stewart, who originally created this classic was still alive, he would be very impressed at what he saw.
And that brings us to the final prime time game show entry, the revival of the hit 70s comedy game show Match Game. When it was mentioned that Alec Baldwin would be stepping into the host's role that the late Gene Rayburn made famous, there was skepticism that it was a bad move since he never hosted a game show. But it turned out to be a good move as Baldwin, who uses Rayburn's telescopic microphone has proven himself to be a capable hosted, interacting very well with the contestants and the celebrity panel that has included Jack McBrayer, Niecy Nash and Cheryl Hines.
It's the fourth revival of Match Game after three unsuccessful attempts and this time FremantleMedia has got it right, going back to the hit 70s format. The contestants still play two rounds and the questions still yield double entendre responses that sometimes get censored. One staple character from the Rayburn version that was mentioned in an episode was Dumb Dora and the audience responded "How dumb is she?" It still a very funny game show. The only thing wrong with this incarnation is the money amounts are rather cheap. If a contestant wins the Audience Match or comes up short, instead of playing for ten times their winnings in the Head to Head match, they play for five times the amount. The best way would have been to keep the ten times payoff and use the Star Wheel for a possible $50,000 if it lands on a star.
So there you have it. A prime time success that has viewers gathered around the TV on Sunday nights, playing along with three highly rated game shows.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Strong Lynx Connection part of USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team
Minnesota Lynx fans will have plenty to cheer for when the USA Women's Basketball Team competes in the 2016 Summer Olympics August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Four members of the defending WNBA champion Lynx are part of the 12 player roster for the USA team. They are Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Hutchinson, MN native Lindsey Whalen. In addition, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is an assistant to head coach Geno Auriemma of UConn. Also assisting Auriemma is Doug Bruno of DePaul and Dawn Staley of South Carolina.
Now a look at the rest of the USA team. There are also four players that Auriemma coached for UConn. In addition to Moore, Sue Bird, who will be playing for her fourth consecutive gold medal; Tina Charles, who played on the 2012 Olympic team and was the first pick in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun; Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury also joins Bird in going for her fourth straight gold medal and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm, the first pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.
But there's more to the USA team than Lynx and UConn players. Elena Della Donne of the Chicago Sky and the first basketball player from the University of Delaware to play in the Olympics; Taurasi's Mercury teammate Brittney Griner adds height and defense to the team; Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever, who is also going for her fourth straight gold medal and Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream, the first pick in the 2009 WNBA draft.
When you look at the roster of and see these 12 talented female athletes, you'll probably think that the USA team will be the odds on favorite to win their seventh straight gold medal. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There could be bumps in the road along the way, especially if they advance to the medal round. This is a team that can generate a lot of offense and tremendous inside play and the key will also be defense and depth. The big question is how will Auriemma handle playing time? An easy answer would be to clear the bench if the margin becomes wide late in the game. After winning by four points in their first exhibition game, they have cruised through the next three games like a car heading down Highway 100, as their average win margin was 25.4 points per game.
Here's the USA Women's Basketball Team's schedule:
August 7: USA vs. Senegal 10 AM
August 8; Spain vs. USA 10 AM
August 10: USA vs. Serbia 1:30 PM
August 12: USA vs. Canada 1:30 PM
August 14: USA vs. China 10:15 AM
August 16: Quarterfinals TBD
August 18: Semifinals TBD
Bronze and gold medal games will take place on August 20 with the Bronze Medal game at 9:30 AM and the Gold Medal Game is at 1:30 PM.
Can Cheryl Reeve and the quartet of Lynx players help USA win the gold medal? Check your local listings for what channel these games will be on.
Four members of the defending WNBA champion Lynx are part of the 12 player roster for the USA team. They are Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Hutchinson, MN native Lindsey Whalen. In addition, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is an assistant to head coach Geno Auriemma of UConn. Also assisting Auriemma is Doug Bruno of DePaul and Dawn Staley of South Carolina.
Now a look at the rest of the USA team. There are also four players that Auriemma coached for UConn. In addition to Moore, Sue Bird, who will be playing for her fourth consecutive gold medal; Tina Charles, who played on the 2012 Olympic team and was the first pick in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun; Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury also joins Bird in going for her fourth straight gold medal and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm, the first pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.
But there's more to the USA team than Lynx and UConn players. Elena Della Donne of the Chicago Sky and the first basketball player from the University of Delaware to play in the Olympics; Taurasi's Mercury teammate Brittney Griner adds height and defense to the team; Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever, who is also going for her fourth straight gold medal and Angel McCoughtry of the Atlanta Dream, the first pick in the 2009 WNBA draft.
When you look at the roster of and see these 12 talented female athletes, you'll probably think that the USA team will be the odds on favorite to win their seventh straight gold medal. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There could be bumps in the road along the way, especially if they advance to the medal round. This is a team that can generate a lot of offense and tremendous inside play and the key will also be defense and depth. The big question is how will Auriemma handle playing time? An easy answer would be to clear the bench if the margin becomes wide late in the game. After winning by four points in their first exhibition game, they have cruised through the next three games like a car heading down Highway 100, as their average win margin was 25.4 points per game.
Here's the USA Women's Basketball Team's schedule:
August 7: USA vs. Senegal 10 AM
August 8; Spain vs. USA 10 AM
August 10: USA vs. Serbia 1:30 PM
August 12: USA vs. Canada 1:30 PM
August 14: USA vs. China 10:15 AM
August 16: Quarterfinals TBD
August 18: Semifinals TBD
Bronze and gold medal games will take place on August 20 with the Bronze Medal game at 9:30 AM and the Gold Medal Game is at 1:30 PM.
Can Cheryl Reeve and the quartet of Lynx players help USA win the gold medal? Check your local listings for what channel these games will be on.
Monday, August 1, 2016
The Great AL East Race of 2016
In 1965, there was a movie titled The Great Race that starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Forty one years later, there's another Great Race going on and it's not from New York to Paris, it's the American League Eastern Division race between three teams. They are the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Going into Monday's games, the Orioles have a half game lead over the Blue Jays and the Red Sox trail by one and a half games. The Orioles had the night off while the Blue Jays battle the Astros and the Red Sox headed west to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Just in, the Astros beat the Blue Jays 2-1 in 14 innings on a walkoff double by Carlos Correa that scored the AL's leading batter Jose Altuve.
Here's a look at where the three teams stand in the race. The Orioles upgraded their pitching by acquiring Wade Miley from the Mariners and welcomed back Steve Pearce, who they got in a deal with the Rays. The Orioles now have a top starting staff with the addition of Miley and their ace Chris Tillman. Tillman, who has a record of 14-3, is two wins shy of his career win total of 16 in 2013. They also have a solid bullpen anchored by a couple of Bs, Brad Brach and Zach Britton. Britton has 32 saves this season, his third consecutive season with more than 30 saves. The Orioles will also need production from Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Manny Machado to clinch the AL East.
As for the Red Sox, the best description of their lineup came from Fox Sports play-by-play man Joe Buck during the All-Star Game. "That lineup is young, deep and good." Plus, they have a veteran who is playing his final season at age 40 and he has hist 25 home runs, former Twin David Ortiz. They also have their version of the Three Bs. Mookie Betts, Xander Boegaerts and Jackie Bradley, Jr. All three were All-Star Game starters. Mix in first baseman Hanley Ramirez and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, add a third baseman in Travis Shaw and a left fielder in Brock Holt and they have a very solid lineup that could be headed for post season play in October.
But let's not overlook the Red Sox pitching. They have a strong starting five in Steven Wright (not the comedian), David Price, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and a key addition via trade with the padres Drew Pomeranz. Red Sox general manager David Dombrowski made a great move in obtaining Pomeranz as well picking up just before the trade deadline Fernando Abad from the Twins. Abad will be the closer due to the absence of Craig Kimbrel, who is on the disabled list. Keep an eye on the Red Sox. They can go pretty far in the post season and even advance to the World Series.
And the last team in the race is the Blue jays. Though they have a solid lineup anchored by Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders, they bolstered their pitching staff by acquiring former Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano from the Pirates and Scott Feldman from the Astros. The defending AL East champions are also in the hunt but can they get quality starts from their starters such as Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ?
Who will come out on top? This is a race that could go down to the final day of the season.
Going into Monday's games, the Orioles have a half game lead over the Blue Jays and the Red Sox trail by one and a half games. The Orioles had the night off while the Blue Jays battle the Astros and the Red Sox headed west to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Just in, the Astros beat the Blue Jays 2-1 in 14 innings on a walkoff double by Carlos Correa that scored the AL's leading batter Jose Altuve.
Here's a look at where the three teams stand in the race. The Orioles upgraded their pitching by acquiring Wade Miley from the Mariners and welcomed back Steve Pearce, who they got in a deal with the Rays. The Orioles now have a top starting staff with the addition of Miley and their ace Chris Tillman. Tillman, who has a record of 14-3, is two wins shy of his career win total of 16 in 2013. They also have a solid bullpen anchored by a couple of Bs, Brad Brach and Zach Britton. Britton has 32 saves this season, his third consecutive season with more than 30 saves. The Orioles will also need production from Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Manny Machado to clinch the AL East.
As for the Red Sox, the best description of their lineup came from Fox Sports play-by-play man Joe Buck during the All-Star Game. "That lineup is young, deep and good." Plus, they have a veteran who is playing his final season at age 40 and he has hist 25 home runs, former Twin David Ortiz. They also have their version of the Three Bs. Mookie Betts, Xander Boegaerts and Jackie Bradley, Jr. All three were All-Star Game starters. Mix in first baseman Hanley Ramirez and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, add a third baseman in Travis Shaw and a left fielder in Brock Holt and they have a very solid lineup that could be headed for post season play in October.
But let's not overlook the Red Sox pitching. They have a strong starting five in Steven Wright (not the comedian), David Price, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and a key addition via trade with the padres Drew Pomeranz. Red Sox general manager David Dombrowski made a great move in obtaining Pomeranz as well picking up just before the trade deadline Fernando Abad from the Twins. Abad will be the closer due to the absence of Craig Kimbrel, who is on the disabled list. Keep an eye on the Red Sox. They can go pretty far in the post season and even advance to the World Series.
And the last team in the race is the Blue jays. Though they have a solid lineup anchored by Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders, they bolstered their pitching staff by acquiring former Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano from the Pirates and Scott Feldman from the Astros. The defending AL East champions are also in the hunt but can they get quality starts from their starters such as Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ?
Who will come out on top? This is a race that could go down to the final day of the season.
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