Erik Nelson
@eanelson.bsky.social
Sports reporter/photographer for Elk River Star News (Elk River, MN) and Union-Times of Princeton, MN. U of Minnesota-Twin Cities alum. I cover teen athletes for a living. Opinions are my own and reposts aren't endorsements.
To my Minnesota friends: I can’t donate to political causes as a journalist because it would violate my profession’s ethics code and harm my credibility and reputation. However, I can donate to apolitical nonprofits such as World Wildlife Fund or the Minnesota Orchestra. I hope you all understand.
January 24, 2026 at 1:04 AM
To my Minnesota friends: I can’t donate to political causes as a journalist because it would violate my profession’s ethics code and harm my credibility and reputation. However, I can donate to apolitical nonprofits such as World Wildlife Fund or the Minnesota Orchestra. I hope you all understand.
Carlos Beltrán is now a Baseball Hall of Famer. Despite being on the 2017 Houston Astros, Beltrán is going to be inducted into the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame class in July. He also won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals (that team didn’t cheat).
January 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Carlos Beltrán is now a Baseball Hall of Famer. Despite being on the 2017 Houston Astros, Beltrán is going to be inducted into the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame class in July. He also won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals (that team didn’t cheat).
Being an acting-singing double threat is so rare in Hollywood these days. Think of Bing Crosby in the 1940s and Barbra Streisand. Hailee is another star in that long lineage of history, and I wish her and her family continued success, happiness and good health.
January 22, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Being an acting-singing double threat is so rare in Hollywood these days. Think of Bing Crosby in the 1940s and Barbra Streisand. Hailee is another star in that long lineage of history, and I wish her and her family continued success, happiness and good health.
Let me repeat what I have already said: Hailee Steinfeld is an amazing actress and singer who deserves more of our respect. She is going to be a fantastic mom to her child with Josh Allen, and one day, I hope she goes on a concert tour and releases her debut album. She can sing and act.
January 22, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Let me repeat what I have already said: Hailee Steinfeld is an amazing actress and singer who deserves more of our respect. She is going to be a fantastic mom to her child with Josh Allen, and one day, I hope she goes on a concert tour and releases her debut album. She can sing and act.
Sinners gets 16 Oscar nominations. Wow! Too bad Hailee Steinfeld wasn't one of the nominees. I'm a bit disappointed in the Academy for not giving her a nod for Best Supporting Actress, but the competition is so fierce. She also sang a great song for the movie.
January 22, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Sinners gets 16 Oscar nominations. Wow! Too bad Hailee Steinfeld wasn't one of the nominees. I'm a bit disappointed in the Academy for not giving her a nod for Best Supporting Actress, but the competition is so fierce. She also sang a great song for the movie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoYd...
Twenty years ago tomorrow. The greatest goal in NHL history. I call it "The Hands of God."
Twenty years ago tomorrow. The greatest goal in NHL history. I call it "The Hands of God."
Alexander Ovechkin | "The Goal" against Phoenix Coyotes 2006 ᴴᴰ
YouTube video by IceHockey08
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:56 AM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoYd...
Twenty years ago tomorrow. The greatest goal in NHL history. I call it "The Hands of God."
Twenty years ago tomorrow. The greatest goal in NHL history. I call it "The Hands of God."
NBC has released its 2026 Sunday Night Baseball schedule. Opening night is March 25. Opening Day is March 26.
January 16, 2026 at 12:47 AM
NBC has released its 2026 Sunday Night Baseball schedule. Opening night is March 25. Opening Day is March 26.
My beautiful Spain World Cup 2026 jersey has arrived. It is red with navy accents. I plan to wear it for all of Spain's games. I picked Spain to win the World Cup, so hopefully, I get to wear it all summer long. I have a Lamine Yamal jersey
January 16, 2026 at 12:45 AM
My beautiful Spain World Cup 2026 jersey has arrived. It is red with navy accents. I plan to wear it for all of Spain's games. I picked Spain to win the World Cup, so hopefully, I get to wear it all summer long. I have a Lamine Yamal jersey
No matter who wins the Bills or Broncos game on Saturday, either my aunt (a diehard Broncos fan) or me (who loves Jailee, my celebrity couple name for Allen-Steinfeld), will be happy.
January 13, 2026 at 8:38 PM
No matter who wins the Bills or Broncos game on Saturday, either my aunt (a diehard Broncos fan) or me (who loves Jailee, my celebrity couple name for Allen-Steinfeld), will be happy.
Oilers star Connor McDavid is 29 years old today. After devastating losses in the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup finals to the Florida Panthers, does CM97 win gold at Milano-Cortina 2026? Will he win a Stanley Cup before he turns 40? Reminder: Ray Bourque was 40 when he won in 2001 with the Avalanche.
January 13, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Oilers star Connor McDavid is 29 years old today. After devastating losses in the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup finals to the Florida Panthers, does CM97 win gold at Milano-Cortina 2026? Will he win a Stanley Cup before he turns 40? Reminder: Ray Bourque was 40 when he won in 2001 with the Avalanche.
Taylor Heise, at last, is an Olympian.
Heise, who turns 26 on March 17, was named to Team 🇺🇸 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Heise, who turns 26 on March 17, was named to Team 🇺🇸 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
January 9, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Taylor Heise, at last, is an Olympian.
Heise, who turns 26 on March 17, was named to Team 🇺🇸 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Heise, who turns 26 on March 17, was named to Team 🇺🇸 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
I'm saddened to hear of the death of Tatiana Schlossberg at the age of 35. My condolences to her family.
December 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I'm saddened to hear of the death of Tatiana Schlossberg at the age of 35. My condolences to her family.
My New Year's resolution for 2026 is to work out more, watch as many World Cup games as possible, and to celebrate our country's 250th birthday. Let me know your resolution for 2026 win the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.
December 30, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My New Year's resolution for 2026 is to work out more, watch as many World Cup games as possible, and to celebrate our country's 250th birthday. Let me know your resolution for 2026 win the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.
Please continue to support local newspapers and all responsible news sources in 2026. We are the fourth estate and also provide cool stories about sports, culture and human interest.
December 30, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Please continue to support local newspapers and all responsible news sources in 2026. We are the fourth estate and also provide cool stories about sports, culture and human interest.
Dear Star News and U-T subscribers. Thank you for reading my work in 2025.
I promise to keep improving and striving to be better in 2026. It should be an epic year for sports fans with the World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the World Baseball Classic all in the same year.
I promise to keep improving and striving to be better in 2026. It should be an epic year for sports fans with the World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the World Baseball Classic all in the same year.
December 30, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Dear Star News and U-T subscribers. Thank you for reading my work in 2025.
I promise to keep improving and striving to be better in 2026. It should be an epic year for sports fans with the World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the World Baseball Classic all in the same year.
I promise to keep improving and striving to be better in 2026. It should be an epic year for sports fans with the World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the World Baseball Classic all in the same year.
Nearly eight years after the Parkland Massacre, one of the survivors has unfortunately died by suicide. The anniversary is on Valentine's Day 2026. We can and must do better. Trauma after a shooting is not a joke and must be taken seriously.
www.huffpost.com/entry/parkla...
www.huffpost.com/entry/parkla...
Parkland School Shooting Survivor Dies Nearly 8 Years After Massacre
Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer is the latest Parkland survivor to die due to trauma from the mass shooting.
www.huffpost.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Nearly eight years after the Parkland Massacre, one of the survivors has unfortunately died by suicide. The anniversary is on Valentine's Day 2026. We can and must do better. Trauma after a shooting is not a joke and must be taken seriously.
www.huffpost.com/entry/parkla...
www.huffpost.com/entry/parkla...
In six months, the greatest show on earth begins. June 11, 2026, is the opening day of the FIFA World Cup.
December 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
In six months, the greatest show on earth begins. June 11, 2026, is the opening day of the FIFA World Cup.
The opening game of next year's World Cup will be a rematch of the opening game of the South Africa World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. In fact, it will be 16 years to the day after that tournament began.
December 11, 2025 at 3:22 AM
The opening game of next year's World Cup will be a rematch of the opening game of the South Africa World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. In fact, it will be 16 years to the day after that tournament began.
Also, Mandy Moore deserved to win an Emmy for "This is Us."
December 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Also, Mandy Moore deserved to win an Emmy for "This is Us."
I know that Ariana Grande deserves a nomination, but this will sting for a few months until the Oscar nominations are released.
December 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I know that Ariana Grande deserves a nomination, but this will sting for a few months until the Oscar nominations are released.
I didn't watch Sinners (not a horror fan), but shame on you Hollywood Foreign Press Association for not nominating Hailee Steinfeld for Best Supporting Actress. I'm a member of the Steinfam for life. She can act. She can sing. Disappointed. She worked extremely hard, as did that entire cast.
December 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I didn't watch Sinners (not a horror fan), but shame on you Hollywood Foreign Press Association for not nominating Hailee Steinfeld for Best Supporting Actress. I'm a member of the Steinfam for life. She can act. She can sing. Disappointed. She worked extremely hard, as did that entire cast.
Can you imagine if England won its first World Cup in 60 years on American soil on July 19, in the USA's 250th year of independence? That would be unreal. That is what Alexi Lalas doesn't want to happen. And there's a chance it could.
December 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Can you imagine if England won its first World Cup in 60 years on American soil on July 19, in the USA's 250th year of independence? That would be unreal. That is what Alexi Lalas doesn't want to happen. And there's a chance it could.
Seven months to go until the USA's 250th Independence Day/birthday: July 4, 2026.
December 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Seven months to go until the USA's 250th Independence Day/birthday: July 4, 2026.
Panini cards released their 2026 World Cup sticker collection, and I will be purchasing one. I didn't in 2022.
December 4, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Panini cards released their 2026 World Cup sticker collection, and I will be purchasing one. I didn't in 2022.
My dream World Cup group: Argentina, Norway, Morocco and Curacao.
December 4, 2025 at 1:21 AM
My dream World Cup group: Argentina, Norway, Morocco and Curacao.