Categories (Nominees)

Biggest Cheerleader

Dave Lee

Rita Maloney

Dave Mona

Rod Simons


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Comments: Rod brought his pom poms over with him from Seattle and has yet to put them down.

Biggest Grandstander

Paul Allen

Sid Hartman

Anthony LaPanta

Don Shelby


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Comments: After so many bunk predictions, you’d think P.A. would be a little gun shy and temper his grandstanding know-it-all takes.

Biggest Shill

Dave Mona(Gopher Football)

Jim Rich (Vikings)

Chip Scoggins(Gopher Football)

Don Shelby (All local teams)

Dark Star (Twins)


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Comments: Nobody has put more positive spin on a team that has achieved so little.

Biggest Boot Licker

Paul Allen

Mike Max

Mark Rosen

Rod Simons


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Comments: All very worthy but Maxie is slightly more deferential than his fellow homers.

Best Alibi Provider

Greg Coleman

Jeff Dubay

Sid Hartman

Sean Jensen

Mike Max

Charley Walters


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Comments: His consistent defense of every local coach (including Dan Monson) made this a lock for Sid.

Best Prevaricator

Dave Lee

Mike Max

Mark Rosen

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Comments: A contributor to the “Comments” page may have stated it best:

“Rosie is shameless lackey for all the sports celebs in this town and it’s time someone called him out on it. When forced to voice an opinion that actually might be his own...you'll notice he equivocates, qualifies and explains his opinion...in effect landing on all sides of an issue simultaneously.”

”If you're Rosen, whoa be the day you make an enemy in the local sports world.”

Best "Media Darling" Promoter

Sid Hartman

Mark Rosen

Bob Sansevere

Dark Star

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Comments: Having Joe Mauer’s parents as guests of his Sunday night show says it all.

Homer Take of the Year


Paul Allen- Described Coach Glen Mason as“elite”

Jeff Dubay- Predicted huge RBI numbers for Rondell White and dismissed fan concerns after a terrible start

Sid Hartman- Called Coach Dan Monson “great”

Mike Max & Don Shelby- Stated the Twins changing radio stations as “that’s not very Minnesotan”

Mark Rosen- Described Joe Mauer’s exploits as “Bunyanesque”
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Comments: Although literally hundreds of legitimate outrageous takes were considered, few could compete with “that’s not very Minnesotan”.

Non-Homer Take of the Year

Dan Barriero- Bump’s blog consistently panned those who underachieved and/or were fraudulent

Dan Cole- Consistently chiding Paul Allen and Jeff Dubay for their homerish behavior

Patrick Reusse- Annual Turkey of the Year article willing to name untouchables such as Gopher coach Don Lucia

Patrick Reusse- Star/Tribune article dissecting the inadequacies of Gopher Athletic Director Joel Maturi

Stu Voight- Pointed out the college football teams that make 3rd tier bowl games don’t really have “winning seasons”
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Comments: Reusse’s article had even the most biased Gopher fans questioning their A.D.

Non-Homer of the Year


Dan Barriero

Dan Cole

Chad Hartman

Tom Powers

Patrick Reusse

Jim Souhan

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Comments: Although coined “negative” by those on the homer side of the fence, all these candidates brought some refreshing balance to an otherwise parochial press.

Homer of the Year

Paul Allen

Sid Hartman

Mike Max

Dave Mona

Mark Rosen

Rod Simons


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Comments: Getting the nominations narrowed down to six was difficult enough, but not as problematic as selecting a winner amongst such blatant homers. Ultimately, we gave the nod to Rosen for his consistent softball questioning techniques and unwillingness to take a stand before the rest of the public has come to some consensus.