Secrets of the City

Suspended Minnesota Gopher Royce White is now under investigation for a laptop computer theft on campus last weekend. The freshman forward already faces misdemeanor theft and fifth-degree assault charges for allegedly shoplifting and shoving a security guard at a mall last month.

Teammate Devron Bostick was suspended for violating team rules. Forward Trevor Mbakwe is sidelined until his upcoming felony aggravated assault trial wraps up in Florida in December.

And in football, freshman defensive back Michael Carter was arrested and jailed early this month for underage drinking and obstruction of justice. Linebacker Gary Tinsley was arrested last month. And Cedric McKinley and Tim Dandridge received two-game suspensions for violations of team rules.

To top it off, the Gophers just don’t seem to be doing very well at all. Why the continual embarrassment?

According to The New York Times, pigs from a commercial herd in Indiana tested positive for swine flu. “Last month, tests confirmed that several show pigs at the Minnesota State Fair contracted swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus.” Are they trying to blame the Minnesota pigs for infecting the Indiana pigs?!

How ’bout them Gophers? Another crime, another suspended player, or two. Not off to a very good start, are we?

We’ll not say a word about them Yankees. Shhh.

Are we tired of Tom Petters yet? It’s going to be a while (probably another month or two). But whistle-blower Deanna Coleman completed her testimony yesterday, claiming to have written more than $1.2 billion in company checks to her boyfriend and her brother (who, incidentally, are not the same person). Of course, the real story is all about Breath Blasters.

And did you hear that Proctor police had to repost the now-famous “DWI Chair” on eBay after being notified that it was not a La-Z-Boy at all? The bid was up to $10,099.99 at the time of this post, down from $43,000 during the first round of bids.

The Strib didn’t pull any punches this morning, suggesting that the Tim Brewster era as Gopher football coach should soon be over. Should there be quicker results, especially with the new stadium that the “actual” students have to contribute to? Is there really any chance the Gophers will ever be good? The last 50 years of so suggest not.

East-Lake goes to the opening of the new U of M stadium: If Saturday is any example of how college football days will be going forward, Gopher fans are in for a treat. Campus was electric. Maroon and Gold filled University Ave, Stadium Village, and Dinkytown. Frat houses had parties with alumni of all ages, and there was tailgating! Everything that is supposed to happen on game day.

The Star Tribune profiles the mascot of U of M Sports: Ah, the life of a rock star. Goldy is the official mascot of the University of Minnesota, and he’s been a part of campus life since 1940. He can lead a cheer, ignite a crowd, raise spirits and perform skits. He can be seen at every sporting event imaginable as well as gigs like birthday parties and weddings.

The Gopher football program was penalized for poor academic performance. The NCAA has taken away three scholarships for the next year.

The MNDaily got a behind the scenes look at the new TCF Stadium, home of the Golden Gophers. They’ve posted a video. In addition to attracting top recruits due to its football shaped locker room, the stadium may also host an outdoor hockey game.

The Gopher men’s basketball team won for the first time in 14 years in Madison with an amazing comeback after trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Gopher women’s basketball team won for the first time ever at Ohio State, knocking off the #13 Buckeyes 59-56. If there ever was a winter when we needed a distraction, this is it, at the Gophers have stepped up.

*Obviously “miracle” is being used in a completely frivilous way that does not compare to say … a plane falling into an icy river and no one getting seriously hurt.

The Gophers are ranked for the first time in six years, off to their best start in 32 years, and tickets are going fast. With the fading (eventually) Vikings, the horrible Wolves, and the mediocre Wild, the timing couldn’t be better. So, does anyone care, or did Clemgate and Dan Monson permanantly ruin this town’s interest in college basketball?