Sports
PDD Quiz: Are you ready for some football?
[This post originally contained an embedded quiz created on the platform Qzzr. It is no longer available at its source.]
Since next week is Valentine’s Day, our theme will be “Love, Duluthian Style,” whatever that means to you. Send your suggested quiz questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Spirit Mountain Winter Downhill Fatbiking
Last weekend Spirit Mountain became (as far as we know) the first ski resort in North America to offer lift access fat-tire biking. Break out the fatbikes this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and come ride with us!
Video by Max Fierek.
Fish Bowl of 1952: The time Duluth beat the Packers … sort of
For three seasons, the Green Bay Packers divided up their team for inter-squad scrimmage games in Duluth. The first-group players, or “starters,” played for the Packers, and the second group players, or “benchwarmers,” took the name of the Duluth Eskimos. Of course, there was an actual Duluth Eskimos NFL team from 1923 to ’27, but the games referred to in this post were from 1951 to ’53.
The scrimmages were known as “The Fish Bowl,” and attracted crowds of about 8,000. The Packers won two of the three games, both by small margins, but in 1952 the backup players, under the name Duluth Eskimos, defeated the Green Bay starters by a score of 34-7. (more…)
Chester Bowl scheduled to open Saturday
The weather has finally been cooperating and the two snow guns have been running since last Thursday, so Chester Bowl is planning to open this Saturday, Dec. 26. That will also be the first day of Ski Camp. Chester will also be open New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but closed New Year’s Day. The first race is Jan. 3.
Duluth National Snocross 2015
Video by Max Fierek.
Sports on Traditional Duluth Radio
Where can one get a regular and accurate list of the location “on the dial” of live sports on radio? I have found the Duluth News Tribune sports page wanting.
Training with Silent Sam
“Silent” Sam Olson rides quickly and silently through Duluth. Video by Max Fierek.
R.I.P. Nick Bockwinkel
Professional wrestling great Nick Bockwinkel died Nov. 14 at age 80. The image above is from what was probably his last appearance in Duluth, as special referee during a World Wrestling Federation card at the Duluth Arena in 1987. (WWF is now World Wrestling Entertainment; Duluth Arena is now the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena.) (more…)
Duluth’s Mark Sertich on CBS Evening News
Tonight Mark Sertich became the second Duluthian to be featured on the CBS Evening News in the past month. Just 18 days after St. Scholastica Saints kicking coach Sister Lisa Maurer was profiled on the program, Sertich was featured in a segment with “On the Road” correspondent Steve Hartman.
Sertich is a 1939 Denfeld graduate and World War II veteran who, at age 94, still plays hockey with a group of Duluth firefighters.
Duluth’s Sister Lisa Maurer on CBS News
Sister Lisa Maurer of the St. Scholastica Monastery was featured in a national TV news story on Sept. 29 during the CBS Evening News. The piece will air again on CBS This Morning on Wednesday, Sept. 30, between 7 and 9 a.m. on KDLH-TV Channel 3.
Sister Lisa is a kicking coach with the St. Scholastica Saints football team. A news team from CBS Evening News, including national correspondent Dean Reynolds, came to campus Sept. 10 and 11 to interview Sister Lisa, Coach Kurt Ramler, and football players Michael Mensing and Donovan Blatz. The crew also filmed shots of the St. Scholastica campus, and captured footage during the Saints’ Sept. 12 football game at Public Schools Stadium against MacMurray College.
Last November, Sister Lisa was featured in a New York Times story.
Time Inc. looking for ATV riders
Time is looking for local ATV riders for a video they are shooting soon.
A production team will be in Minnesota to film a short 2-3 minute video for a series that we produce quarterly. This particular shoot will feature an SUV and up to 6 subjects on an off-road trail in Gilbert. Shoot days are October 1st and 2nd.
The subjects we’re looking for are ATV enthusiasts, with their own ATVs, who are rugged, athletic, between 35 and 50, and local to the Gilbert area.
Participants will be expected to ride their ATV on a closed off-road course and then enjoy a ride in our Expedition on the same or similar course on video.
Time Inc. will compensate each applicable participant featured in the video $150 for their time during the two day shoot.
If interested, please email me at emely.torres@timeinc.com for more details.
Please include a recent photo of yourself, and one of your ATV, full name, height and address.
This offer is on a first-come basis so please reply soon and feel free to share this offer.
Shrine Game of 1965
Fifty-year-old UMD Bulldogs football road-game poster.
Duluth Huskies make best decision ever
“The Duluth Huskies would like to announce that Greg Culver will be the new General Manager, effective immediately. Congratulations Greg!” (more…)
Chester Bowl Park Downhill Ski “Fun Slope”
Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division is preparing Chester Bowl Park for a new “fun slope,” according to a news release issued today.
Crews will be out clearing out a section of the hill within the ski area in preparation for the upcoming winter season. The new “fun slope” with gentle waves of snowy berms for skiing was identified as a desired addition to the park in the Chester Park Mini-Master Plan, approved in November 2014.
Crews will be working this week into next during daytime hours, but the public should not experience any interruption in their use of the park spaces or trails. The area will be covered with wood chips to reduce erosion and smooth out the area winter operations.
Baseball at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
On display at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Duluth through Aug. 31 is a stunning array of baseball history. At left: A 1866 baseball card featuring “The Old Man,” Dave Birdsall — considered to be the very first baseball card. At right: Babe Ruth’s 1922 contract with the New York Yankees. (more…)
Razors Tapes – Duluth Edition
Shane McClay and Jeph Howard of Razor Skate perform roller-blading stunts across Duluth, soaking up a bit of culture along the way.
Video Archive: Duckumentary
In this PDD classic from 2005, Duluthians visit Indianapolis to experience the wonders of duckpin bowling.
Duluthians conquer Switzerland’s “Wall of Death”!
Congratulations to Rick Kollath and Dean Einerson who topped out this morning on the mythic North Face of the Eiger, one of the most sought-after plumbs in alpine climbing (even Clint Eastwood failed spectacularly here in The Eiger Sanction)! The Eiger has claimed more than its share in terms of sensational mountain tragedies, but you can’t keep a good team from the Great Plains down. This ascent is testimony to the physical and mental grit of these two paragons of Duluth climbing, not to mention the world-class local training facilities at Superior Kettlebell Gym and Casket Quarry. Well done, lads!
Where should I get old photos copied?
I stumbled across a great old photo of my grandfather. My siblings want copies. Where should I have it copied? I’m looking for someplace I can trust with an old and irreplaceable photo. Thanks for any advice!
Jeff Galloway run/walk/run training group in Duluth
If you’re looking at running Grandma’s and/or Whistlestop half or full marathons this year, there’s a new training program available for both races. It’s a group using the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk/run. This is a great method for beginning runners as well as people who are injury prone but want to continue to run the longer races. Visit active.com to register and find more information and details. (more…)
2015 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship
The UMD Bulldogs drew the Minnesota Gophers in the first round of the NCAA National Hockey Championship Playoffs. The ‘Dogs have faced the Gophers four times this season, winning three and losing one. They play 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H., on ESPNU/WatchESPN. Go Bulldogs! (more…)
Break Shots
Video by James Holak.
Electric Snail: Fake Duluth Tour
Lucas, Andrew, Jack, Barrett and Non-lake-effect Jesse ski Spirit Mountain, Chester Bowl and Mont du Lac.
High School Hockey on Local Radio
Yes, I’m a sports fan, I enjoy ice hockey, and I go to the state high school tournament often. Now time for the whining. Why are two local sports stations broadcasting the same high school hockey game live (e.g., Jan. 29)? This is not the first time. Both 560 and 1490 have it and 1490 is the “home of the Minnesota Wild” in these parts. The Wild have a game this evening, which would be on 1490, that I assume will be preempted or joined in progress. One station for the high school game tonight is enough. My suggestion: Trade off or put Wild game on another station owned by whatever radio group. Looking forward to reading comments and other views on this situation.