December 6, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Dave Meltzer about new football league, the XFL, which is coming to Minnesota and Governor Jesse Ventura is going to be a sports announcer. The league is considered a raunchy version of the NFL.
December 12, 2000 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations says Governor Ventura's new job as an XFL analyst is NOT a conflict of interest. The Governor's office says the decision confirms what Ventura has argued all along, while critics of the Governor's outside earnings say the decision lacks credibility, because it was made by a Ventura appointee.
December 29, 2000 - Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen have crossed more than one-third of Antarctica in their attempt to become the first women to traverse the continent under their own power; and they join Lorna Benson to discuss the trip so far.
January 9, 2001 - MPR sports commentor Jay Weiner discusses results of a stadium advisory panel created by the Minnesota Twins that say Twins owner Carl Pohlad should contribute $150 million toward a new outdoor baseball stadium. A draft report obtained by the Star Tribune from Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says that amount would cover about the half of the cost. The other half would be financed through taxes as opposed to a "direct public subsidy."
January 11, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that a citizens panel put together by the Minnesota Twins to look at the baseball team's future has finished its work. After six months of study, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says the state risks losing the Twins unless the team gets a new ballpark combined with financial reforms in big league baseball.
January 16, 2001 - Local baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy shares his thoughts about former Twins outfielders Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett, who both have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.
January 16, 2001 - It may be a big day for Minnesota baseball as results of this 2001's Hall of Fame balloting will be announced and two of Minnesota's own…Dave Winfield, a Saint Paul native; and Kirby Puckett, a 12-year star Twin…are strong candidates for enshrinement.
January 16, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen provides a brief profile of baseball star Kirby Puckett, who along with Dave Winfield, have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Winfield is a St. Paul native whose 22-year major league career included a couple of seasons with the Minnesota Twins. But at the team offices in the Metrodome, the biggest celebration was for Puckett, who during his twelve years in Minnesota became one of the Twins' best and most popular players.
January 17, 2001 - Jim Kaat, former Twins broadcaster, and Howard Sinker, MPR sports analyst, discuss Baseball Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett. Program also features Kirby’s retirement statement, reports on his election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and call-in commentary from listeners.
January 17, 2001 - MPR’s sports commentator Jay Weiner reflects on the early days of Kirby Puckett after the announcement that St. Paul native Dave Winfield and the Minnesota Twins legend Puckett were elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Hall in their first year of eligibility.