UMD hockey fans admonished for racist chants

Stay classy, UMD Bulldog fans. Christa Lawler at the Duluth News-Tribune writes: “Student season-ticket holders for University of Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey games were warned last week to clean up their acts after complaints to the athletic department about racist chants during UMD’s series against the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux on Feb. 10-11. ‘There were some reports on some chants coming from the student section that certainly would have been considered inappropriate,’ Athletic Director Bob Nielson said. ‘We decided it was an opportunity to reinforce our policy … to focus on cheering for our team and avoid comments that are considered inappropriate.’ … North Dakota fan Chad Czmowski said he was adjacent to the student section during Saturday night’s game when students began chanting ‘smallpox blankets’ and what he described as other racist phrases and actions directed at the university’s mascot. Czmowski said other derogatory statements were specifically directed at the goalie’s mother.” Insulting the goalie’s mother is, of course, well within the bounds of fair game.

Kieran Folliard and Jameson have kissed and made up. David Phelps of the Strib says: “Attorneys for former restaurateur Kieran Folliard and Jameson Irish Whiskey said a one-week-old, high-profile dispute between the two parties over the name of an Irish whiskey-and-ginger-ale drink has been resolved through ‘an amicable settlement.’ Folliard confirmed the settlement in a telephone call Tuesday morning and said his Irish whiskey company, 2 Gingers Whiskey, continues to own the ‘Big Ginger’ trademark for the cocktail his pubs have been pouring since 2005. ‘We will continue to sell the Big Ginger,’ Folliard said. He said no other terms of the settlement could be revealed.”

I believe only the ad and media businesses give out more awards to themselves each year than restaurateurs, but still, the James Beards are a big deal. At the Strib, Rick Nelson writes: “The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists in its 2012 restaurant and chef awards categories, and the results include a number of Twin Cities names in categories ranging from the Midwest’s best chef to the nation’s best new restaurant, bar program and pastry chef. … Outstanding Restaurant: Restaurant Alma. The award honors ‘A restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.’ … Outstanding Bar Program: La Belle Vie ( … bartender Johnny Michaels … ). The award, new in 2012, recognizes a restaurant or bar ‘that demonstrates excellence in cocktail, spirits and/or beer service.’ … Outstanding Pastry Chef: Michelle Gayer of the Salty Tart Bakery. Gayer is a 2010 and 2002 (when she was pastry chef at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago) nominee. The award honors ‘A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries or breads and who serves as a national standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past five years.’ ”

A search committee for a new U of M athletic director has been appointed by President Eric Kaler. Matt Herbert of the Daily says: “The search advisory committee is made up of 21 members and a four-person search committee will work with the Park Executive Search, a firm that specializes in collegiate athletics, to advise Kaler on replacing current director of athletics Joel Maturi, who will retire June 30. The search advisory committee will review and finalize the job description, advance names of qualified candidates to the search committee and participate in on-campus interviews, according to a University statement. The search committee members include Tim Mulcahy, vice president for research at the University; Mary Jo Kane, director of Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University; Amy Phenix, Kaler’s chief of staff; and John Lindahl, managing general partner with Norwest Equity Partners.” Deadline for nominees is the end of April.

A first-ever Glean mention for Hollywood gossip blogger, Perez Hilton. He notes the recent gay marriage decision by Evangelical Lutherans and posts: “Yay! What a huge step for Minnesota! 700 Evangelical Lutheran synod leaders gathered in Minneapolis and nearly unanimously passed a resolution to oppose Minnesota’s gay marriage amendment. Currently, Minnesota has statutes that ban gay marriage and a constitutional amendment has been proposed to cement the ban. The resolution is monumental because 1 out of every 4 Minnesotans are Evangelical Lutherans. That’s 25% of the entire state population! While the leaders stated that this was not a political move, they did say that they wanted to let their followers know where they stood as a whole.” I’m sure if someone wrote him, he’d post a doodle of our Catholic bishops.

What was the last time someone who wasn’t charged with DUI claimed they were drunk to mitigate a worse crime?  Dave Hanners of the PiPress writes: “Driving while impaired is a crime, and the lawyer for Timothy Bakdash freely admits that is what the Roseville man was doing last year when he struck and killed a University of Minnesota student. But Bakdash, 29, is not charged with DWI. He is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, and when he goes on trial today, defense lawyer Joseph Tamburino intends to turn his client’s impairment into a defense. The law requires prosecutors to prove Bakdash intended to kill someone, and Tamburino said evidence would show the man was too intoxicated to have intent. ‘He did not intend to kill anyone. He did not attempt to kill anyone,’ Tamburino said. ‘He was intoxicated, and he was driving, but he had absolutely no intent or premeditation to kill anyone.’ Benjamin Van Handel, 23, of Appleton, Wis., died five days later from injuries suffered in the April 15 hit and run. Two women also were injured, and they form the basis of the two charges of attempted first-degree murder against Bakdash.”

When you don’t succeed … and get slapped down publicly by a state agency … try, try again. Mary Divine of the PiPress reports: “The last time Stillwater officials hired a lobbyist to push for a new St. Croix River bridge, things didn’t go that well. The state auditor’s office last year declared that the $80,000 donation to the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing was illegal because it was made without a contract that would keep the public informed about how the money would be spent. Tonight, city officials will be set to try again. The Stillwater City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposal to enter into contracts with Wilhelmi Government Affairs of Stillwater and Riverwood Group of River Falls, Wis., to lobby for the new bridge. Mike Wilhelmi is president of Wilhelmi Government Affairs … ‘What happened last time was instructive, and the city has taken pains to make sure that it won’t be a problem again,’ said Wilhelmi, who also serves as executive director of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing. How much the lobbyists will be paid will be determined tonight, said Mayor Ken Harycki.”

There are some new solar incentives on the way. Says David Shaffer at the Strib: “Minnesota Power said Tuesday that its updated SolarSense program will rebate $1,000 per kilowatt (kW) to customers installing solar-electric technology manufactured in Minnesota. That’s on top of the existing base rebate of $2,000 per kilowatt. A kilowatt is 1,000 watts. Customers who also meet energy efficiency standards could get another $1,000 per kilowatt rebate on their solar array. Nonprofit and tax-exempt customers are eligible for an additional $500 per kilowatt-incentive. Other solar incentive programs offered by the state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, and the state of Minnesota have been so popular that they have run out of money.”

The vital numbers for the real deal — such as construction cash from where and whom — are still nowhere in sight, but the Vikings and the U of M have reached some agreement, should the team need to use TCF Bank Stadium while their new taxpayer-subsidized home is constructed. Say Eric Roper and Mike Kaszuba at the Strib: “While declining to say how much the Vikings would pay per game, Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley said Monday that the tentative agreement would add roughly 3,000 temporary end zone seats to the university’s 50,000-seat stadium. ‘We have close to 53,000 season-ticket owners, so we’re trying to at least get to that,’ said Bagley, the team’s vice president for stadium development and public affairs. Other details still need to be resolved before the plan can be finalized, Bagley said Monday. ‘I’d say there’s an agreement in principle there, but formal sign-off is yet to occur between the Vikings and the university,’ he said. Because it is unclear how many games or seasons the team would play at TCF, Bagley said the school and team had reached a tentative agreement on the cost per game.”