Erik Nelson
@eanelson.bsky.social
Sports reporter/photographer for Elk River Star News (Elk River, MN) and Union-Times of Princeton, MN. U of M-Twin Cities alum. 2025 Minnesota Newspaper Association award winner. Opinions are my own. Reposts aren't endorsements.
Italy would have to win 9-0 against Norway tomorrow. Otherwise, the Azzuri will have to go through the UEFA playoffs. Look at what happened in 2018 and 2022.
Caption: This is after Sweden beat Italy to qualify for Russia 2018. Ironically, Sweden failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Caption: This is after Sweden beat Italy to qualify for Russia 2018. Ironically, Sweden failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
November 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Italy would have to win 9-0 against Norway tomorrow. Otherwise, the Azzuri will have to go through the UEFA playoffs. Look at what happened in 2018 and 2022.
Caption: This is after Sweden beat Italy to qualify for Russia 2018. Ironically, Sweden failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Caption: This is after Sweden beat Italy to qualify for Russia 2018. Ironically, Sweden failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Does anybody else hate the 2026 World Cup logo? I do. It's just the number 26 with the World Cup logo. FIFA should have done much better. On the left is the 2022 World Cup logo, which is fantastic.
November 13, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Does anybody else hate the 2026 World Cup logo? I do. It's just the number 26 with the World Cup logo. FIFA should have done much better. On the left is the 2022 World Cup logo, which is fantastic.
20 years ago today, A.J. Pierzynski, former Minnesota Twin catcher, helped the Chicago White Sox win the 2005 World Series over the Houston Astros, ending an 88-year curse. The Cubs would win their first title in over 100 years 11 years later.
October 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
20 years ago today, A.J. Pierzynski, former Minnesota Twin catcher, helped the Chicago White Sox win the 2005 World Series over the Houston Astros, ending an 88-year curse. The Cubs would win their first title in over 100 years 11 years later.
Here is the Wild's 25th anniversary logo. There will be four 25th anniversary games during the 2025-26 season, including a game against the Florida Panthers on Hockey Day Minnesota 2026 in January.
August 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Here is the Wild's 25th anniversary logo. There will be four 25th anniversary games during the 2025-26 season, including a game against the Florida Panthers on Hockey Day Minnesota 2026 in January.
Fifty-nine years ago today, England won the 1966 World Cup on home soil. Will the Three Lions capture the World Cup after 60 years next summer? Let me know in the comments below.
July 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Fifty-nine years ago today, England won the 1966 World Cup on home soil. Will the Three Lions capture the World Cup after 60 years next summer? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy 61st birthday to 3-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Stevens, a New Jersey Devils icon.
April 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Happy 61st birthday to 3-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Stevens, a New Jersey Devils icon.
This year marks 20 years of Washington Nationals baseball.
March 27, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This year marks 20 years of Washington Nationals baseball.
Next year, Philadelphia will also be celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Citizens Bank Park.
March 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Next year, Philadelphia will also be celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Citizens Bank Park.
Could this be the scene again this year? We'll find out this October.
March 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Could this be the scene again this year? We'll find out this October.
This article appeared days after the Phillies won the '08 World Series. It was also the day my cousin, who is now in college, turned 4 years old.
March 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This article appeared days after the Phillies won the '08 World Series. It was also the day my cousin, who is now in college, turned 4 years old.
The champs are back. Argentina will look to defend its World Cup title in the summer of 2026, with or without Lionel Messi.
March 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The champs are back. Argentina will look to defend its World Cup title in the summer of 2026, with or without Lionel Messi.
It was 20 years ago today that The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered on Disney Channel. It was one of my favorite Disney shows. Let me know what your favorite moment from the series was. My favorite is when Mr. Moseby costs the Red Sox a game against the Yankees and all of Boston goes after him.
March 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It was 20 years ago today that The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered on Disney Channel. It was one of my favorite Disney shows. Let me know what your favorite moment from the series was. My favorite is when Mr. Moseby costs the Red Sox a game against the Yankees and all of Boston goes after him.
Tomorrow is MLB's first regular-season game between the Dodgers and the Cubs. Here's me at 11 years old in 2006 playing baseball. Looking forward to a great season!
March 18, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Tomorrow is MLB's first regular-season game between the Dodgers and the Cubs. Here's me at 11 years old in 2006 playing baseball. Looking forward to a great season!
Happy belated 30th birthday to the queen of skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin. If healthy, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will be her fourth.
March 16, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Happy belated 30th birthday to the queen of skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin. If healthy, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will be her fourth.
Happy 19th birthday to Gopher women's hockey defender and former Elk Carly Humphrey. She was born on this day in 2006.
March 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Happy 19th birthday to Gopher women's hockey defender and former Elk Carly Humphrey. She was born on this day in 2006.
My face after seeing cupcakes during a news meeting.
February 3, 2025 at 10:22 PM
My face after seeing cupcakes during a news meeting.
This weekend, the Gophers women's hockey team celebrated the 10th anniversary of its 2015 national championship. The Gophers won the Frozen Four at Ridder Arena 10 years ago. Could they do it again this March? Only time will tell. Between 2012-2016, Minnesota won 4 NCAA titles in five years.
February 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
This weekend, the Gophers women's hockey team celebrated the 10th anniversary of its 2015 national championship. The Gophers won the Frozen Four at Ridder Arena 10 years ago. Could they do it again this March? Only time will tell. Between 2012-2016, Minnesota won 4 NCAA titles in five years.
At work today: Let's go over this week's budget. All of a sudden, the associate editor brings in cupcakes, a card that says Happy Birthday on it. I had just won an MNA award. Turns out, they wanted to celebrate my birthday two months early because everyone was in the office at the same time. Wow!
February 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
At work today: Let's go over this week's budget. All of a sudden, the associate editor brings in cupcakes, a card that says Happy Birthday on it. I had just won an MNA award. Turns out, they wanted to celebrate my birthday two months early because everyone was in the office at the same time. Wow!
The Houston Astros wore a Columbia patch during the 2003 season, and possibly the 2004 one as well.
February 2, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The Houston Astros wore a Columbia patch during the 2003 season, and possibly the 2004 one as well.