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
Neal: Gobert’s brute force serves well when subtleties aren’t connecting
The Timberwolves couldn’t make shots, especially the three-pointers they count on. Enter their big man for 27 points and 24 rebounds.
May 1, 2025
Neal: Hopefully that wasn’t the last we see of Marc-Andre Fleury
One of the best goaltenders of all time, Marc-Andre Fleury will see his illustrious career come to an end once the season concludes. It would be a shame if Tuesday was his last time on the ice.
April 30, 2025
Neal: Draft decisions by NFC North chasers show they’re supporting QBs as they pursue the Lions
In this Quarterback Above Everything era, the Vikings appear to have given J.J. McCarthy more help than the Bears gave Caleb Williams and the Packers gave Jordan Love.
April 27, 2025
Neal: Wild center Marco Rossi is easy to root for
Rossi is rolling with the punches as his team takes a 2-1 lead in their playoff series with Vegas.
April 25, 2025
Neal: Lee is thrown into the fire with Twins in need of help
With the Twins shorthanded and struggling on offense, third baseman Brooks Lee didn’t get a minor league tuneup coming off the IL.
April 24, 2025
Neal: Lakers won, but Timberwolves still hold the advantage in playoff series
For about a quarter and a half Tuesday, Minnesota languished. Nothing else that happened matters as much as this: The Wolves will play three of the next four games at home.
April 23, 2025
Neal: Wild’s Gaudreau bounces back, lands in prominent playoff role against Vegas
Now the team's No. 5 scorer, he struggled through the 2023-24 season and was asked for more in 2024-25.
April 19, 2025
Neal: Gophers gymnast Mya Hooten will end her NCAA career with a special reunion
To close out her college career, Hooten and her good friend from Rochester, Abby Mueller, will be in the same rotation this week at the NCAA gymnastics championships.
April 16, 2025
Neal: Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson gets the point, cedes the net to Marc-Andre Fleury
After the Wild clinched a playoff berth, a future Hall of Famer made an overtime cameo in his final regular-season game.
April 16, 2025
Neal: As Lynx teams of legend crowd the Basketball Hall of Fame, we recall the good times
Four of the five starters from the 2015 and 2017 WNBA champions, “the best show in town,” will be in soon.
April 12, 2025
Neal: Like Faber before him, prospect Buium could give Wild a late-season lift
Defenseman Zeev Buium is playing with Denver as it tries to defend its NCAA title, but he might soon be helping the Wild.
April 10, 2025
Neal: When the major league Twins falter, there’s not-so-minor help just across the river
Pitchers David Festa, Zebby Matthews and Andrew Morris already are indicating they’re ready to cross the Mississippi to the majors.
April 6, 2025
