By Thomas A. Kvamme
What a week.
For sports fans this is shaping up to be a great week, regardless of what Mother Nature tosses out.
Last evening the Final Four determined the men's basketball college champion, putting to bed March Madness, with the Masters waiting on deck. On the same evening of the hoops championship, the Minnesota Twins opened the 2007 major league baseball season with Johan Santana taking the hill against the Baltimore Orioles.
Now that made for one great evening of working the remote control or taking advantage of a split screen.
That was only the beginning my friends, as University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey fans are chomping at the bit for Frozen Four ice action on Thursday evening.
The first game of the evening will find Michigan State taking on Maine, followed by UND going up against Boston College.
You have an opportunity to get in on the action by filling out the Frozen Four entry that was published in the Thursday Herald or drop by Jack & Jewel's Bar-B-Que by 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Top prize is $200 in gift certificates from J&J's and you need to enter in order to have a chance to win.
GRINDERS AT ELKS
UND fans should also take note of the fun being planned over at the Williston Elks Club in conjunction with the Frozen Four.
The public is invited to drop by with some tailgating fun planned around 5:30 p.m., followed by the game on the big screen.
With folks clad in UND gear cheering on their favorite team, a special treat is in order with grinders being made available for purchase between the second and third periods.
Direct from the Red Pepper in Grand Forks, the grinders will certainly spice things up.
This sounds like a perfect setting to enjoy the playoffs.
TWINS SADDENED
While there is definitely a lot to be happy about, Minnesota Twins fans were saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary Herb Carneal.
Carneal, 83, the long-time radio voice of the Twins passed away Sunday morning at his Minnetonka home due to congestive heart failure.
He had served as the voice of the Twins for 45 years and plans called for him to be back behind the microphone this spring.
Minnesota Twins president and North Dakota native David St. Peter was quoted as saying, “This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of baseball fans across the Upper Midwest.”
We agree with those sentiments, having grown up with a transistor radio with an ear piece stuck in my ear tuned to the Twins on WCCO.
In the early years, the radio was counted on as the main source, prior to television stepping to the plate to provide a picture to go along with the words.
St. Peter went on to add, “Herb Carneal's voice was the signature element of Twins baseball for multiple generations of fans. Clearly, he was one of the most beloved figures in Minnesota sports history.”
No truer words were ever spoken.
Carneal's signature greeting “Hi everybody,” will always be there as the games play on.
DEDICATE SEASON
We were fortunate to have been a part of that time period and also had an opportunity to meet Carneal on several occasions.
Having bumped into Carneal many times back at the old Metropolitan Stadium, the one time we remember the most was when he allowed and escorted this scribe for an opportunity to visit the press box at Fenway Park in Boston.
That is one memory that will stick with us for a lifetime.
Carneal was a true professional and while his voice became weak over the past few years, we tip our hat to the Twins organization for the way they handled the situation.
While cutting back to home games, every effort was made to have Carneal a part of the Twins, while breaking in a backup team to call the action.
St. Peter noted the Twins will proudly dedicate the 2007 season to the memory of Carneal.
May he rest in peace.
JACKSON IN HALL
We send out a Scope Salute to Williston High School 1963 graduate Phil Jackson on being selected for induction in the basketball Hall of Fame.
This is a great honor and we salute him on this accomplishment dating back to his days in a Coyote uniform.
To think it all began right here makes this a proud moment.
scope@willistonherald.com | 572-2165
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