The Free Press, Mankato, MN--Brian Ojanpa http://www.mankato-freepress.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:59:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_033005841.html Billboard flap speaks to a much deeper hurt http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_033005841.html In the final accounting, their anger is about much more than a big yellow Jesus billboard. Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:19:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_019011249.html Ashes to ashes, dust to... cardboard? http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_019011249.html Minnesotans — conservative lot that we are — may not be ready for bare-bones funerals just yet. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:46:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_334234810.html So many toothpastes, so little time http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_334234810.html The human mouth contains 32 teeth, but Crest markets 42 varieties of paste with Colgate right behind at 40.Some might call this an absurdity. But then, absurdity becomes a moot point when companies are battling for the hearts and mouths of consumers. Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:36:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_230003427.html In Silicon Valley, the rich get itchier http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_230003427.html If you don’t think wealth is relative, then you haven’t heard about the so-called working-class millionaires of Silicon Valley. Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:59:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_202205720.html Torii can even have his own parking space http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_202205720.html A certain 87-year-old Minnesota sportswriter has a brilliant idea to ensure Torii Hunter’s continued employment with the Minnesota Twins: Some kind of post-baseball job with one of Twins owner Carl Pohlad’s many companies. Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:26:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_196012623.html The day a leery Aaron got some Minnesota Nice http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_196012623.html Once upon a time, retired Mankato teacher Darrill Miller had the opportunity to show baseball legend Hank Aaron how nice Minnesotans can be. Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:28:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_181182727.html ESPN goes to the ’Dogs on July 11 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_181182727.html The Mankato MoonDogs franchise will take a large leap forward in a couple of respects on July 11. Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:41:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_168004009.html Base ball circa 1860 gets its day in July http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_168004009.html Members of the Rochester-based Roosters and Mankato Baltics will square off in an old fashion baseball contest. Sat, 09 Jun 2007 22:01:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_160220030.html Hit off Feller was of Faustian proportion http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_160220030.html ... But then the 86-year-old can hit you with this — “I got a hit off Bob Feller in high school” — and your head snaps to attention. Sun, 27 May 2007 01:48:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_147014757.html Cinderella this: UNO in the D-II World Series http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_147014757.html Top-seed Minnesota State’s baseball loss to No. 6 seed and fellow North Central Conference member Nebraska-Omaha in the opening game of the regionals last week was a bitter pill. Sun, 20 May 2007 01:30:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_140012043.html Greed’s need leaves World Series out in the cold http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_140012043.html Reggie Jackson, the player dubbed “Mr. October” for his World Series performances, was born a generation too early. Sat, 19 May 2007 00:33:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_139002224.html Guy’s garage defense spoken through pursed lips http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_139002224.html Husband and wife discover that a man's purse is as sacred as the contents of a woman's purse. Sun, 13 May 2007 01:15:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_133011429.html Don’t give Hunter train ticket just yet http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_133011429.html The Minnesota Twins would be wise to keep center fielder Torii Hunter around a bit longer. Sat, 05 May 2007 18:05:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_125180451.html Baseball and beer — a great tap dance team http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_125180451.html Baseball manager Casey Stengel once defended his hard-drinking players this way:“They say some of my stars drink whiskey, but I have found that the ones who drink milkshakes don’t win any ballgames.” Sun, 29 Apr 2007 01:20:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_119011941.html Two Gustavus students break down baseball’s ‘juice factor’ http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistBOJ/local_story_119011941.html When Gustavus Adolphus basketball player Tyler Kramer went down with a knee injury midway through the season, he began homing in baseball.