July 3, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that multiple players on the Minnesota Twins may be chosen for the upcoming 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Halfway through their baseball season the Minnesota Twins are perched at the top of their division, with the second best record in the American League. The strong performance of a team many experts picked to finish last remains the surprise story of the year in baseball.
July 4, 2001 - A day before Independence Day, a record 15,000 soccer fans turned out at the National Sports Center to wave Old Glory and cheer the U.S. national women's team in its 1-0 victory over Canada in a holiday exhibition match. MPR’s William Wilcoxen captures the day.
July 6, 2001 - MPR’s Kamoi Goetz profiles the 21st annual Hmong International Freedom Festival sports competition in St. Paul. 25,000 people are expected at the two-day festival which features a parade, food and souvenir booths, and sports competitions. Hmong youth from across the country will compete with Minnesota athletes in soccer, volleyball…and Takraw, a sport that blends aspects of both volleyball and soccer.
July 9, 2001 - The Minnesota Twins will send three players to the All-Star Game. It's the first time since 1996 that the team has sent more than one player to the game. Pitchers Joe Mays and Eric Milton, and shortstop Christian Guzman have led the surprising Twins this year. LaVelle Neal provides commentary about the team’s success in first half of 2001.
July 11, 2001 - What a difference a year can make. The Twins come out of this year's All-Star Break in first place, with a five game lead over Cleveland in the Central Division. Last year at this time, Minnesota was 18 1/2 games behind first place. Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy credits a combination of great pitching and some well-timed offense.
August 2, 2001 - MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner has been thinking about MInnesota Viking Korey Stringer's death. It reminded him of a 100-year-old poem by A.E. Housman.
August 3, 2001 - Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield will be inducted into the Hall and Midday has a Baseball Hall of Fame extravaganza to preview the event with the recorded words of Kirby Puckett himself, sports analyst Howard Sinker live from Cooperstown, and comments from MPR listeners.
August 3, 2001 - All Things Considered baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy provides a commentary on former baseball star Kirby Puckett, who played his entire career with the Twins. Puckett's attitude and his love for the game won him the admiration of countless fans…including Hennessy.
August 7, 2001 - MPR’s Annie Feidt looks at the sport of disc golf as 350 of the top disc golfer's in the world are gather in the Twin Cities for the world championship tournament. The sport looks a lot like traditional golf, but instead of using a club to hit a ball, players throw frisbees up the fairway and into a catching device.
August 14, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Jim Dreyer, a 37-year-old man from Michigan, as he prepares to swim across Lake Superior. The 62-mile swim will start in Grand Portage, on Minnesota's North Shore, and end at the F.J. McLain State Park on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.