The state of Minnesota is going through a rough patch when it comes to sports. Over the past few years, Wisconsin has been superior to Minnesota in seemingly every way and the states are in the midst of what can be considered one of the most lopsided periods in the rivalry of these two states. Not only have Minnesota fans had to suffer through watching teams that flounder at the ends of games and seasons, but they’ve also had to listen to the cheers and jeers from their successful Wisconsin counterparts following multiple tournament and playoff appearances for all sorts of teams.
Two years ago, everything seemed so bright in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The University of Minnesota Gopher’s basketball team successfully reached a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in a row, the Vikings had come just a few plays short of a Super Bowl appearance, and the Twins clinched the Central Division after their first season in Target Field. Sure, there were a few bumps along the road with the flailing Timberwolves and Wild, but Minnesota fans felt they lived in one of the premier sports states.
Everything went downhill, though after the Twins lost to the Yankees in the 2010 postseason. Brett Favre and the Vikings had a terrible year, featuring the collapse of the Metrodome roof, both the Gophers football and basketball teams looked horrendous, the Timberwolves and Wild had terrible winters, and the Twins went on to finish the 2011 season with 99 losses. Sure, the Lynx won a WNBA trophy, but that victory isn’t a big enough consolation for most fans.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin teams have had an exorbitant amount of success over the past few years. With Minnesota’s recent blunders, a variety of Wisconsin teams have exceeded expectations. Last season, the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl and went 15-1 this year under the direction of MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In 2011, the Milwaukee Brewers won their first division title in 19 years and left-fielder Ryan Braun won the National League MVP. The Badgers have had consistently powerful football teams, with two straight Rose Bowl appearances, and reliably successful basketball teams, with six consecutive seasons with a victory in the NCAA Tournament.
So, what has made Wisconsin sports teams so much more successful than their neighbors to the west? As die-hard Badgers fan Kyle Keenan puts it, “most Wisconsin teams are very confident. They know that they are going to win most games.” As for the pro teams, Keenan believes that “the biggest part of Minnesota’s struggles is that there are so many distractions with injuries and stadium debates surrounding most of the teams.”
It’s been a rough 18 months that Minnesota fans have had to endure, but things may soon change. The Timberwolves are in the midst of a season lead by stars Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love in which they could reach the postseason despite Rubio’s recent ACL injury. The Twins have a clean slate and hope to erase with memories of last season with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau healthy and ready to play. A new stadium deal also looks as though it’s about to be made for the Vikings, which will create a lot of buzz around the team.
One thing is for sure: Minnesota teams appear to be on the rebound.
