La Velle E. Neal III
Columnist
SportsA native of Chicago, La Velle has covered the Minnesota Twins since 1998. He also covered the Kansas City Royals for the Kansas City Star from 1995 through 1997. A graduate of the University of Illinois - Chicago, La Velle is a former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Latest from La Velle E. Neal III
Sports
Neal: Loons will have no trouble walking into LA and making Galaxy fans cry
Despite being tormented by the Galaxy over the years, this version of the Loons has a chance to return to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2020.
November 23, 2024
Gophers
Neal: The champ is back for one final ride — and Minnesotans should appreciate it
A wrestler who won two NCAA titles for the Gophers and an Olympic gold medal for his country, Gable Steveson said it’s a fine time for him to rejoin the success going on in Minnesota sports.
November 21, 2024
Twins
Neal: La Velle Neal, Pedro Martínez and a look back at a controversial American League MVP vote
Twenty-five years ago, Martínez finished second in AL MVP balloting — because La Velle didn't vote for the Red Sox ace.
November 17, 2024
Sports
Neal: Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Hockey Hall of Famers? It’s happening, and it’s right.
A pair of former Gophers, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl continue to contribute to the game that took them around the world.
November 10, 2024
Gophers
Neal: Johnson, starting over again with Gophers roster, doesn’t have to go backward
Avoiding “disaster” status this season is possible with the U's group of short-timers, and any more than that would be celebrated as overachieving.
November 7, 2024
Gophers
Neal: Fourth-quarter version of Brosmer indicates Fleck was smart to get him and even smarter to let him throw
After three strong games in a row, the Gophers quarterback was three quarters into a mediocre (or worse) day, until his team fell behind and required a response.
November 3, 2024
Wild
Neal: Five reasons the Wild could be the real deal
Kirill Kaprizov leads the league in scoring, but there are other factors leading to the team's hot start.
October 30, 2024
Vikings
Neal: Made devastatingly clear: Lions’ Goff is the best QB in the NFC North. Sam Darnold is not in the top three.
The NFC North is a conference in which all four teams like their quarterbacks, but Sunday’s game revealed separation between Detroit’s guy and Minnesota’s.
October 21, 2024
Gophers
Neal: Johnson, starting over again with Gophers roster, doesn’t have to go backward
Avoiding “disaster” status this season is possible with the U's group of short-timers, and any more than that would be celebrated as overachieving.
November 7, 2024
Gophers
Neal: Fourth-quarter version of Brosmer indicates Fleck was smart to get him and even smarter to let him throw
After three strong games in a row, the Gophers quarterback was three quarters into a mediocre (or worse) day, until his team fell behind and required a response.
November 3, 2024
Wild
Neal: Five reasons the Wild could be the real deal
Kirill Kaprizov leads the league in scoring, but there are other factors leading to the team's hot start.
October 30, 2024
Vikings
Neal: Made devastatingly clear: Lions’ Goff is the best QB in the NFC North. Sam Darnold is not in the top three.
The NFC North is a conference in which all four teams like their quarterbacks, but Sunday’s game revealed separation between Detroit’s guy and Minnesota’s.
October 21, 2024