Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are members of the Pacific Division of the league's Western Conference. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have won 16 NBA championships, their last being in 2010. As of 2015, the Lakers are the second most valuable franchise in the NBA according to Forbes, having an estimated value of $2.7 billion.

The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Initially a member of the NBL, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America and winning five of the next six BAA and NBA championships in Minneapolis after the NBA formed in 1949. The team was propelled by center George Mikan, who is described by the NBA's official website as the league's "first superstar". After struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikan's retirement, they relocated to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis (ⁱ/ˌmɪniˈæpəlɪs/) is the county seat of Hennepin County, and larger of the Twin Cities, the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, containing approximately 3.8 million residents. As of 2016, Minneapolis is the largest city in the state of Minnesota and 46th-largest in the United States with 407,207 residents. Minneapolis and Saint Paul anchor the second-largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago.

Minneapolis lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river's confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state's capital. The city is abundantly rich in water, with twenty lakes and wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls, many connected by parkways in the Chain of Lakes and the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. It was once the world's flour milling capital and a hub for timber, and today is the primary business center between Chicago and Seattle, with Minneapolis proper containing America's fifth-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. As an integral link to the global economy, Minneapolis is categorized as a global city.

Minnesota Valkyrie

The Minnesota Valkyrie was a sports team that played in the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League). Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the team played their home games at the Target Center. On March 23, 2011, it was announced that the LFL would add an expansion team to Minneapolis. On April 4, 2011, the team was officially named Minnesota Valkyrie. The LFL announced that it would suspend operations of the American teams for the 2012–13 season. The LFL returned for summer 2013. Tony Nguyen was the head coach for the first season (2011–12). Benson Manento was the head coach in 2013. The team folded in December 2013.

2011-2012 Schedule

2013 Schedule

Roster

References

External links

Ulmus americana 'Minneapolis Park'

The American Elm cultivar Ulmus americana 'Minneapolis Park' was a selection made by the Minneapolis Park Department as being particularly suited to boulevard planting.

Description

The tree has a relatively high number of stiff, upright branches creating a broad pyramidal shape.

Pests and diseases

'Minneapolis Park' was ultimately found to be very susceptible to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

First advertised for sale in 1958, but owing to its susceptibility to disease it is unlikely the tree remains in cultivation. However, some authorities regard the tree as identical to 'Moline', an example of which survives at the Morton Arboretum.

Synonymy

References