John is already watching film in heaven with his new team of old Johnnies. His positive impact on his thousands of players will continue to inspire in this world for generations as those lessons are passed along every day. I’m forever grateful and profoundly heartbroken.
Huge move by the
@Twins
to not cave. That’s the real story. They didn’t kowtow to the bad faith bullshit of the Red Sox. 50 bonus points for front office.
Don’t get it twisted. I’m a Johnnie. I don’t even really like St. Thomas. I mean I like them more than Bethel but everyone does. But they’re family and in families you work out differences in better ways than disowning them like a petulant jerkbaby
@StOlaf
My Dad wildly overspent rural teacher money to scalp tickets for Game 6 so we could go the “The Cities” and see this game a week after my 14th birthday and it will always be the greatest day in my life with my Pops ❤️.
#MNTwins
center fielder Kirby Puckett made one heckuva catch on this date in 1991.
Back is Puckett,
he's at the fence,
he leaps up ...
he caught it!
Oh, what a catch!
#Poetry
There’s a lot wrong with a lot of things in Wisconsin obviously but the tailgating atmosphere for opposing fans is best in class. 1) You won’t be murdered in the parking lot and 2) some friendly sausage-fingered Packer fan will probably offer you a brewski or a brat.
It was a fun ass summer watching this
#MNTwins
team. August alone, just crushing corn on the cob and watching a division race. This season will end up looking like a prequel. Add some pitching and it’ll be fine. Pitchers and catchers report in 127 days. ✌️
I tweeted about John Gagliardi all day yesterday and none of them were about having an NCAA record 489 wins, 4 national championships, 30 conference titles. 113 All-Americans and 22 Academic All-Americans. They were all about life lessons. Put your head around that.
“Let’s Roll” still gives me goosebumps. I’d like to believe that Tom was the first guy John looked for when he got up there 🙏🏻 Thank you, Tom
#RIP
Go Johnnies
#SJU1
Tom Burnett ’85 made the ultimate sacrifice when he and others rushed the cockpit of United Flight 93, forcing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania, avoiding our nation’s capital. This is his soph.
@SJUFootball
photo from '82
#NeverForget
#September11th
#d3fb
One of the crunchiest side notes of the NFL Draft today is that Ben Bartch will hear his name called for the Draft in one of St. Joseph’s iconic shitty houses on the circuit, Blarney Stone.
Someone sent me this today and I’d never seen it before and I’ll tell ya what - it really makes me miss John. 20 years ago we were in Texas and kicked the shit out of Hardin-Simmons on this weekend in the national semifinals. I wish I remember what he said here to make me smile.
I miss the urgency of renting a Nintendo game for a snowy weekend when I was in like 6th grade because we played it nonstop to reach maximum value of something that cost $2.99.
Open message to those of you who have gone to the effort to tweet about how you won’t be watching because you’re mad online about a path to equality (despite no one caring about what you do) - when you’re watching Vikes/Pack anyway, make sure to dip your hypocrisy in ranch.
#Skol
Why I joined The Athletic (for a day):
Because John Gagliardi is the greatest football coach in the history of the game and taught us everything we know.
"I'm going to play every play trying to prove him right. That's John's genius. Trust your players."
A tribute to
@SJUJohnnies
legend John Gagliardi, from just one of the thousands of players whose lives he impacted.
🔓 for all, from
@JohnSharkman
:
It’s not a credible list without my old ball coach John Gagliardi. 489 wins, 4 national championships and didn’t hit in practices, a visionary whose strategic approach is now being emulated across football
@finebaum
On Eagles Wings was the one track at church when I was I kid that I didn’t have to search through those ultra-thin pink pages in the missal to pretend to follow along because it was a f*cking banger and I went full-pump.
There will never be another man like John Gagliardi. He was old as long as I knew him. I thought he would just stay old forever. Legends aren’t supposed to die. I miss him already. Long day needs to end. Thanks for being a sounding board ❤️
Demolition started on St. Mary’s in Melrose today. Built in 1907 by German immigrants with spires that gave our town identity, sadly burned by a 13 year old dipshit. I can’t believe it’s coming down. From Baptism to Confirmation and altar boy in between. Lot of childhood. RIP
If I’m St. Thomas I’m spending a cool mil on this year’s Christmas Choir concert. Block out the sun in the choir market. Fly in Placido Domingo. Make it the most opulent ever. Win singing 97-0 too.
Early retirement for dogs? They aren’t forced to work any more? They can just fetch and jump into lakes while you rip a J and smile at them? Sounds ideal.
Minnesota State Sen. John Jasinski (R) argues against legalizing marijuana because it will result in early retirement for drug-sniffing dogs: "The police dog discussion ... that's a big issue."
I see a lot of people bitching and complaining about the Twins on this website so here’s my take: just shut up because no one cares what any of you think. Just watch the rest of the season and see what happens.
When I was a senior I was captain of the St. John’s football team. In fact, every senior player on the team was a captain. John thought it would look good on a resume. It does.
I’m really excited to watch Gophers/Penn State in Vegas next weekend but anyone who legitimately thinks it should be featured on Gameday over
#1
vs
#2
should go to the doctor.
When I was in college I went on a kick where I sent letters to people of things I was into and obviously I was super into
@Wendys
Super Value Menu
#tbt
My college house has been called The Power House since the ‘60’s and this pic hung proudly behind our bar.
Was in Minneapolis recently in a hotel elevator w/2 collegey dudes and I said hello and the guy said “I recognize you” and I was like ah hell now what and he said “I played for Bethel. You’re that guy who chirps us all the time on Twitter.” Shout out to that dude.
The first thing you learned about was hazing and how if there was any of it, you were done - and this was before it was universally condemned. John had the seniors take freshman out, treat them well, show them they’re part of something positive. That perpetuated of course.
The most joyful person in my family, despite countless challenges that would level almost anyone I know, has Downs. As today is the day we recognize folks like Ry, commit to calling people out for saying the R word. Not funny. Not ok. End it.
Happy 75th birthday to my chosen uncle
@Patrick_Reusse
- a country kid who became a storyteller for the ages and showed country kids like me that stories mattered even in “The Cities.” Like John Gagliardi, I have some special stories about Uncle Pat ...
If you grew up country back in the day imagine what your VFW baseball coach would’ve done if he took you off the mound and you threw it over the fence. Whatever happened would be considered self-defense in Stearns County. And the ride home with your Dad would’ve been worse.
First time back at John Gagliardi’s lake house since he passed. Miss my ol’ ball coach every day. Was pretty cathartic staying there last night and reminiscing. I learned more from him than anyone. He was the greatest ever.
As an homage to my personal hero/idol/spiritual guide, I came to
@Bourdain
favorite place in Rome - Roma Sparita - to get this dish, cacio e pepe that "could be the greatest thing in the history of the world."
Eyes welled. Wine enjoyed. Heart full.
Nora is sick so I showed the receptionist her Ontario health card and then waited 5 minutes, saw a doctor and got her a prescription. Then we left and she’s on her way to recovery. No paperwork, insurance, no nonsense. It’s wild up here 🇨🇦
I’m so proud of St. John’s football and especially of my buddy
@jerdy002
. There’s no program in America like it and we are all ride or die with our guys. If we raise the bar every year, the next generation will want to be a part of it and bring it to new heights. That’s the plan.
Still racing back in time from Asia concluding this 21 day, 3 continent journey. Flying over the Minnesota homeland now. Thanks for following along. And if I annoyed you I’m sorry - this is my therapy. It’s a free website. I wish you the best on your journey.
I’m not going to complain about how much money Cousins got. That was the market and it’s not my money anyway so I don’t care. I just would prefer he wouldn’t fumble so often.
David Morgan looks like an enthusiastic fan who tailgates hard AF and comes to games dressed in full pads and uniform. Like they just plucked him out of the corner of the Vikings end zone.
SJU plays Bethel today. The reason I hate their program so much is due to the hypocrisy of all their “God this, God that” pandering while being the dirtiest team in the league. Twisting ankles in pile-ups, cheap shots - ask anyone in the league and they’ll tell you. Garbage. 🗑
Happy Johnnie/Tommie Eve to those who celebrate. Jackson Erdmann got some competition from an old man today but we sorted it out over dinner. It’s his team now but he knows all of John’s players will be with them tomorrow.
One of the funniest things I’ve ever heard was a questionable pass interference call on SJU. John motioned the ref over. “Can I get penalized for what I think?” The official said, “Well, no, John.” “Good because I think that call was <redacted>” Ref stood there speechless. Lol.
Jacksonville’s fan base just doubled as Stearns County just became Jaguar territory.
Overjoyed for Ben Bartch. Such a great guy.
I know John is smiling down today 🙏🏻.
I can’t imagine a scenario in which someone would have spiked a ball playing for John Gagliardi. One time someone did a modestly exaggerated fist-pump after a touchdown and it was rewound 15 times in the film session with John’s commentary escalating exponentially each time.
Talked to
@BrianDozier
the other day when the Twins were in Toronto. Signed some balls for kids, chatted about dog costumes, this and that. I hope he’s a Twin again someday but either way he’s an all-timer. One of the best dudes. Hope he gets a ring to wear in the deer stand.
The baby blue uniforms the Twins wore last night are nothing short of spectacular and the toughest part is deciding whose jersey of several guys I like to get 📸
@bracehemmelgarn
Came up to Brooten, MN tonite to support my buddy Daman in the passing of his Pops. Kenny was a legendary storyteller - best of the best. Solid gold. Went to his fave Padua Pub for their famous Friday night buffet. Country as country comes.
First time I met Tom Hanneman I walked up to him and said, “Thank you very much” He said, “You’re welcome but for what?” And I told him that my Grandma would see him on TV and think it was me and she would call me to tell me I/he did such a nice job. So I thanked him
#RIPHanny
The Gophers dominated. Faalele was unbelievable. Johnson is an NFL player and showed it in a big game. Ibrahim rips 224 and Morgan managed well. Defense stayed on keys and shut down a difficult offense for which to prepare. Rossi is legit. Pret-tay damn good.
You know all the guys in high school who thought they were so badass (you may be one of them) and they took senior pictures with their cars? I was a human middle finger to that in Stearns County and that’s just one reason I was so punchable.