Great Moments MN Sports

In this final episode of Great Moments in Minnesota Sports, Dave Schwartz talks with KARE 11 Anchor/Reporter Chris Hrapsky about the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They reminisce about Minnesota swimmer David Plummer, BMXer Alise Post and their chance meeting and obsession with sportscaster Marv Albert. 

This week’s episode is dedicated to the Minnesota Lynx. In 2011 the team won its first of 4 WNBA Championships this decade and also changed the face of the league and women’s basketball in America. This week KARE 11's Dave Schwartz sits down with Head Coach/GM Cheryl Reeve to talk about that first title, how they got there and where they are going. And will a WNBA coach ever transition to an NBA Head Coaching role; and could Cheryl be the first.

When John Shuster and the U.S. Men’s curling team lost 4 of their first 6 matches their battle was uphill to try and win a medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. But this team was used to fighting for their right to play. KARE 11's Dave Schwartz spoke with U.S. Skipper John Shuster about his triumphant comeback and the moment in South Korea when everything turned around. 

The Minnesota Boys state hockey tournament is always quite a spectacle. People come from all over just to watch the games and cross the experience off their hockey bucket list. But one night in 1996, the fans in attendance got an experience worth much more than the ticket price, while the players of Apple Valley and Duluth East put on a show for the ages. KARE 11's Dave Schwartz talks with members of both teams who took part in that 5 overtime marathon game.

There was a time in Major League Baseball when pitchers pitched entire games and they enjoyed doing it. St. Paul Native and former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jack Morris was definitely one of those guys. And no start of his career was more epitomizing of his “never say die” mentality than in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. KARE 11’s Dave Schwartz talked with Morris about that game and he shares stories you've never heard before about how the game played out and what happened after it was over.

Andrew Brunette will admit to you that he was never the strongest or fastest guy on the ice, but he is a guy known for coming through when it counts. In 2003 his heroics helped led a group of Wild players known as outcasts and misfits in an improbable playoff series win over Colorado with an overtime goal for the ages. KARE 11's Dave Schwartz talked with Brunette and teammates Wes Walz and Darby Hendrickson about that goal and what made that team so special.

In 2008 University of Minnesota track and field star Heather Dorniden was a favorite to win the 600 Meters at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships. But with one lap to go, a fall took her out of the race... at least it should have. Hear her inspiring story of perseverance and how she went on to win the whole race in this episode with KARE 11's Dave Schwartz.

In 2007 Blake Wheeler hit a shot he calls a “zero out of a hundred” chance. It was a diving attempt that won them the WCHA Final Five over their bitter rival North Dakota. KARE 11's Dave Schwartz sits down with former Gopher head coach Don Lucia and Wheeler to reflect on that shot, how it happened and how great it felt to beat North Dakota for a title.

In 2012-2013 the Gopher Women’s hockey team pulled off the impossible; a perfect season. It was anything but easy though. Head Coach Brad Frost and former Gopher Hannah Brandt talk with Dave Schwartz about that season, what made it great and what they had to go through to make it happen.

Blake Hoffarber hit an improbable shot while he was seated on the ground to help Hopkins win the Minnesota Boys Class 4A title. The shot made him a star, but it also had a dark side. Thirteen years later he’s still asked about the shot, so of course KARE 11's Dave Schwartz also had him try to repeat it.