2013 In Review: Top Local Sports Stories
It was another eventful year in local sports with three local professional teams making the playoffs, a high profile coach getting dismissed and a football team having a turnaround season.
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It was another eventful year in local sports with three local professional teams making the playoffs, a high profile coach getting dismissed and a football team having a turnaround season.
The Minnesota Vikings will play one more time at the Metrodome before the building is torn down. While most eyes are on the field during a game, WCCO found that police have plenty to do that has nothing to do with football.
Greg Jennings wanted to make sure he knew what he was getting into before he joined the Minnesota Vikings, so he sat down and studied film of Christian Ponder.
There's no doubt that sports can take a toll on the human body. And professional athletes need to be able to recover quickly after a game. And many are turning to yoga as a way to provide recovery not only to their bodies, but also their minds and souls. Andrea Atherton, manager of Modo Yoga in Minneapolis, says the temperature of the yoga space draws in practitioners from the cold. "Once they step into the space, the heat gets them here. The way that they feel when they walk out of these doors really makes them feel refreshed," Atherton said.
The Minnesota Vikings play in a division that has been up for grabs all season long. They've had four losses — and a tie — by four points or less. So many factors led to the Vikings (4-9-1) being on the outside looking in as the season winds down. But one appears to stick out more than any other.
The Philadelphia Eagles had a lot to feel good about this week — and even more to play for. In the end, the Minnesota Vikings looked more like the team that was soaring toward the playoffs.
Last week in Baltimore, the Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention when the Ravens defeated them 29-26. The loss made official what most people had already suspected, that the Vikings would not be making a return trip to the post-season.
Matt Cassel passed for 382 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to lead the injury-depleted Vikings to a 48-30 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday, snapping the Eagles' five-game winning streak.
Adrian Peterson has been ruled out of Minnesota's game against Philadelphia because of a sprained right foot. Peterson returned to practice Friday, and the Vikings expressed optimism about the 2012 NFL MVP playing Sunday against the Eagles.
The big dig is on. Construction on a new Vikings stadium is well underway. In fact, it's going so fast that the demolition of the old Dome could happen soon. Mortenson Construction Company, the builder of the new stadium, has already removed 100,000 tons of dirt, creating a vast hole that is essentially a foundation for the new facility. Workers are putting in the pilings to secure the outer perimeter. All of this is in preparation for the last Dome event: the Vikings game against the Lions on Dec. 29.
A major vote just came down in Minneapolis on a 400 million dollar project. It will have two towers and will likely be anchored by Wells Fargo. It will also stretch five blocks and will have office space, retail and housing. The plan includes a park and a parking ramp next to the new Vikings stadium.
There's more objection surrounding the new Vikings stadium on Thursday, a little more than a week after officials broke ground on one of the largest construction projects in Minnesota history. Except this time it literally deals with areas surrounding the new stadium.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has shed the walking boot on his sprained right foot, but he's not ready for practice. Coach Leslie Frazier says Peterson probably won't practice until Friday at the earliest. The Vikings host Philadelphia on Sunday, and Peterson's status is in question.
The Minnesota Vikings are back from a painful road trip. Not only did the Vikings give up the lead Sunday in Baltimore three times in the fourth quarter on their way to another last-second loss, they saw star running back Adrian Peterson and several others suffer significant injuries.
On their way to the Super Bowl last season, the Baltimore Ravens knocked off the top-seeded Denver Broncos by erasing a fourth-quarter deficit with a near-miraculous touchdown pass. That was nothing compared to what the defending champions did Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in a 29-26 victory.
It's hard to determine which was wackier, the unrelenting snow during the first half, or the flurry of five touchdowns over the final 125 seconds during this unforgettable game between the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has left Sunday's game against Baltimore with an ankle injury. The injury occurred early in the second quarter on a snowy afternoon and on a wet field. His return is questionable.
Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil has been placed on the inactive list for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings because of a sprained ankle.
The Minnesota Vikings and Wells Fargo have reached a preliminary agreement to resolve a conflict surrounding a development near the team's new stadium. Vikings vice president of stadium development Lester Bagley says the agreement was reached on Saturday night. It establishes parameters for roof signage on a new Wells Fargo tower close to the new Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The Vikings were concerned that the proposed signing violated city ordinances and would deter other companies from pursuing naming rights deals for the new stadium.
The Baltimore Ravens are coming off an emotional victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. So it wouldn't be a stretch to expect the defending Super Bowl champions to experience a letdown at home Sunday against the struggling Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings have ruled quarterback Christian Ponder out for Sunday's game at Baltimore. Coach Leslie Frazier said Friday that Ponder had yet to pass all of his post-concussion tests. So Ponder will not suit up against the Ravens, with Matt Cassel starting and Josh Freeman backing him up.
Kevin Williams has never been incredibly loquacious in public. He has always preferred to use that syrupy Arkansas drawl to talk about the game and not much else, batting away attention like he brushes aside a center on his way to the quarterback.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Cook told reporters Wednesday his agent has filed an appeal with the league. He said he realizes he has to keep his composure in those situations and added a "guarantee it will not happen again."
Veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams has been picked by Minnesota Vikings players as the team's recipient this season of the Ed Block Courage Award.
Matt Cassel stepped on the platform, grasped the podium with both hands, looked around and grinned.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after St. Paul police officers shot a man who pointed a gun at them on an interstate Sunday afternoon, officials said.
Rookie Sarah Wozniewicz scored her first goal with 65 seconds left in overtime to rally the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the two-time defending-champion Minnesota Frost at Allstate Arena in a continuation of the PWHL's Takeover Tour.
J.J. McCarthy ran for a touchdown before leaving with an injury to his throwing hand, but backup Max Brosmer helped the Vikings top the Giants 16-13 on Sunday.
J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the Minnesota Vikings' game against the New York Giants on Sunday with an injury to his throwing hand. The team said he would not return.
Educators in Minnesota's largest school district have voted to authorize a strike, though the union representing them said they still hope to avoid one.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after St. Paul police officers shot a man who pointed a gun at them on an interstate Sunday afternoon, officials said.
Educators in Minnesota's largest school district have voted to authorize a strike, though the union representing them said they still hope to avoid one.
A federal agent was hit by a vehicle in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sunday morning and subsequently fired their weapon, according to police.
Two men have been convicted of murdering a man in north Minneapolis in 2023, and both are expected to spend life in prison.
Twin Cities shoppers were out and about on Super Saturday, the second-busiest shopping day of the year. The day lands on the final Saturday before Christmas annually.
A 19-year-old man is dead and four people are in custody in a shooting overnight Saturday in northwestern Minnesota.
President Trump voiced support for Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of MyPillow, at a rally Friday in North Carolina.
David Hann, the ex-chair of the state's Republican Party and former minority leader in the Minnesota Senate, is joining the race for Democrat Tina Smith's U.S. Senate seat.
A retired Twin Cities police officer was killed while helping a driver stuck on an icy road early Monday morning.
Roughly a dozen schools in the state had announced they were either closed or delayed for Friday classes, following Thursday's snow and Friday's bitter cold.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please horror villain Slender Man and then fled a group home won't fight the state's attempt to revoke her release privileges.
Defense attorneys and prosecutors are starting to select the jurors who will decide whether a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal officers broke the law.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
Rep. Ro Khanna said the release of an initial tranche of files and photos related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a "slap in the face of survivors," while Rep. Thomas Massie said the DOJ is "flouting the spirit and the letter of the law."
Thousands of people braved the bitter cold Saturday morning, marching more than a mile along Minneapolis' Lake Street corridor in a massive, coordinated anti-immigration enforcement protest.
Thousands took to the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday in protest of federal immigration enforcement. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security's Operation Metro Surge prepares to enter its third week.
President Trump voiced support for Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of MyPillow, at a rally Friday in North Carolina.
Three people are in the hospital after an individual shot at a Metro Transit bus in north Minneapolis Friday, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Twin Cities shoppers were out and about on Super Saturday, the second-busiest shopping day of the year. The day lands on the final Saturday before Christmas annually.
Buy now, pay later plans are becoming more popular for shoppers this holiday season.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
When we do winter weather stories, there's always that one line people use: cold, snow, ice — it's just what happens here. And this week, Ticket King president Michael Nowakowski said that same idea kind of applies to Minnesota Vikings ticket prices.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after St. Paul police officers shot a man who pointed a gun at them on an interstate Sunday afternoon, officials said.
A federal agent was hit by a vehicle in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sunday morning and subsequently fired their weapon, according to police.
Two men have been convicted of murdering a man in north Minneapolis in 2023, and both are expected to spend life in prison.
Thousands of people braved the bitter cold Saturday morning, marching more than a mile along Minneapolis' Lake Street corridor in a massive, coordinated anti-immigration enforcement protest.
The Minnesota State Patrol said a suspected impaired driver struck a trooper's empty squad car late Friday night on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
The family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died at training camp from heat exhaustion in 2001 is still fighting to protect others.
A Twin Cities metro area school shifted to e-learning after a flu outbreak impacted nearly a quarter of its students. A senior epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health said flu season is "definitely picking up."
Officials at the Ramsey-Washington Recycling and Energy Center in Newport, Minnesota, say local hospitals are sending over dangerous waste and putting the facility's workers at risk.
The special features interviews with Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Albert Brooks, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O'Connell and Mandy Patinkin.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
The nearly 100-year-old cinema will close briefly after New Year's Day and reopen on Jan. 9 with a showing of Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother."
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
When the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day, fans may want to have their gin and juice handy come halftime.
Rookie Sarah Wozniewicz scored her first goal with 65 seconds left in overtime to rally the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the two-time defending-champion Minnesota Frost at Allstate Arena in a continuation of the PWHL's Takeover Tour.
J.J. McCarthy ran for a touchdown before leaving with an injury to his throwing hand, but backup Max Brosmer helped the Vikings top the Giants 16-13 on Sunday.
J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the Minnesota Vikings' game against the New York Giants on Sunday with an injury to his throwing hand. The team said he would not return.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was tossed early in Friday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he now faces a fine for his conduct.
The Minnesota Vikings had some travel trouble getting to the New York area for their game at the Giants.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
How would you like to own a former Cold War missile site? In Dakota County, Minnesota, there's a one-of-a-kind property that could be yours for the right price.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
It's the time of year when we accumulate the most stuff. When we do, people often throw around the word "hoarding." But it turns out it's a frequently misunderstood term.
Why do we have oily or dry skin? A dermatologist explains the root cause and how it can change over time.
It is the food that is top of mind right now, but did you know more turkeys come from Minnesota than anywhere else in the country?
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Minnewaska, Minneota. Those are just some of the place names in "the Land of 10,000 Lakes" featuring "minne" as the first five letters.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
Sunday will be nice and sunny, with much lighter winds and temperatures around average.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Sunday will be nice and sunny, with much lighter winds and temperatures around average.
There are some chances for light snow Sunday evening into Monday morning, but a warming trend will lead to a lot of Christmas Week snow melt, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Katie Steiner.
It will be a chilly Saturday night in the Twin Cities, but a warming trend will lead to a lot of Christmas Week snow melt, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Saturday marked the second-busiest shopping day of the year.
Dr. Lalitha Belur offers some insight on meditation and how to practice it.
Sunday will be nice and sunny, with much lighter winds and temperatures around average.
Rev. Jessica Pachett of Westminster Presbyterian Church talks about how to stay hopeful in a hard world.
Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, reflects on the tragedy.