Breaking News: TastyGate!!!!

(Minneapolis, MN) An anonymous email recieved at The Frozen Shamrock newsroom is sending shockwaves through the Twin Cities.

In a covert operation at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome a Philadelphia Eagles fanatic accessed the Minnesota Vikings locker room and placed the "Tastykake Curse" on the team just days before their NFC Wildcard game against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

The informant claims the curse was activated by secretly placing an opened box of "Taskycake Butterscotch Krimpets" somewhere inside the Viking's Metrodome locker room.

A photograph shows the box is a special edition package emblazoned with the Eagles logo.

Pictures that accompanied the email provided visual proof the curse that bears the name of the Philadelphia made snack cake is place. The "Tastycake Curse" dates back to the 1980 World Series when when a package of "Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes" was discovered by an equipment manager above the locker of Kansas City Royals Willie Wilson. Wilson ended up striking out to end the the World Series and hand the Phillies a championship.

NFL Security is currently searching for the hidden snack cakes and mastermind behind the latest curse.

Hometown vs. Hometown

It's funny how football works. At the beginning of the day I was just happy to learn I would be able to watch my Philadelphia Eagles on television for their last regular season game.

I don't get to see many games since I live in the Twin Cities and I usually work Sundays so today was a treat.

The Eagles were playing for their playoff lives. I told my wife that their chance of making it to the playoffs was about 10 percent. Well since both Tampa Bay and Chicago lost and the Eagles put a spanking on the Cowboys...the Eagles have made the playoffs. And they're coming to Minnesota next Sunday. My hometown playing my NEW hometown.

So 8 hours later I am getting frantic calls from family and friends looking for tickets and trying to get flights from Philadelphia for the weekend. I am sure it will be a week of trash talking and mudslinging with my friends from the Twin Cities.

Although I live here now I can't say I'm ready to throw my allegiance to the Vikings. If it were any other team I would......but this is the Eagles. I bleed green....see you all at the game ..I'll be the one with the Donovan McNabb jersey on.

UPDATE: Orphan Annie

Orphan Annie going to a foster home

I am happy to report "Orphan Annie' the Golden Retriever who was shot twice with a rifle in rural Minnesota is going to her new foster home. She'll be cared for by Dayle Stubbs, Foster Coordinator for Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota. (RAGOM)

Dayle Stubbs and Annie

Annie's journey started when she was found in a snow bank by a passing motorist blood-covered and shivering in sub-zero temperatures. She was taken to the Pope County Humane Society, then to a local vet hospital and eventually to the University of Minnesota's Veterinary Center. So far no one has come forward as the dogs owner as police investigate the shooting. They have few leads.

This gorgeous 2 year old dog underwent complex surgery and a week in the ICU recovering. Meantime, her story has captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. Donations from 1 to a thousand dollars have come in to help pay Annies staggering vet bills. Last week doctors gave her a 60-percent chance of survival. 6 days later she's now wagging her tail and headed off to her new foster home in Minneapolis. RAGOM officials will now decide which lucky family out of the hundreds of applications will adopt Annie as their family dog.

To Donate to Annie's fund or adoption information click

http://www.ragom.org/

Winter is finally here...

For the rest of the country winter arrived on December 21st.

Here in Minnesota-it arrived in September.

So far this month, we've had more than 11 inches of snow.

But if there's one thing I've learned about living in the Land of 10,000 (frozen) Lakes is that you have to embrace the weather. So, Cheers!!! Here's to winter!!!!

Orphan Annie

As a TV reporter I see the best and worst in society. Today I witnessed both in 1 story.

We found out that a beautiful 2 year old Golden Retriever had been found in a snow bank covered in blood on a country road in Pope County Minnesota. Veterinarians quickly learned the dog had been shot twice with a rifle. No one knows who owns the dog. No one knows who shot the dog. I just can't imagine who would knowingly pull the trigger on a helpless innocent dog. That's the bad news.

The good news is the dog has been taken to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Center here in the Twin Cities. Vets have been working around the clock to save the dog they have now dubbed "Orphan Annie". She is in the ICU and is not out of the woods just yet. The more time passes the better Annie's chances of survival.

I knew this story would tug at the heart strings of a lot of people-especially dog owners. So far many people have come forward with donations to help pay for Annie's $15,000 medical bills after a complex surgery and 24 hour care. The organization "Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota" is taking on the task of taking care of Annie and eventually her adoption.

Donate to Annie's cause:

http://www.ragom.org/ .

Here's a link to my story on KSTP.com

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S710956.shtml?cat=1

Merry Christmas from Minnesota!!

White (trash) Christmas in Minnesota

photo by Dawn O'Connell

Another subzero night at the office....

It's nights like these where my job-quite frankly- sucks. A winter storm blew through the Twin Cities and I got the lucky assignment to do the obligatory live shot next to a highway telling viewers about what they can already see outside their kitchen window. It's snowing and you shouldn't be outside. On this night the wind chill was 20 below zero. And it got even colder the following night.

Photographers Jason Hanson and Kevin Bubach were with me this night broadcasting from I-94 in St. Paul. It got so cold that my eyes teared up and instantly froze my eyelids shut. Pretty nasty bone chilling weather..On days like these I just wonder why I moved from Florida where the wind chill today was 75..