Gregg Wong on Tennis, Sportswriting, the Miracle on Ice, and More

Longtime tennis lover Gregg Wong worked at the Saint Paul Pioneer Press from 1969-2002.

If you’re a Minnesota sports fan, you know the name and the face: Gregg Wong, Pioneer Press.

From 1969-2002, Gregg Wong told us the stories that shaped our local sports landscape. He got the interviews when others didn’t. Wong, a Minneapolis native and standout athlete himself, covered everything — the Miracle on Ice, the ‘87 and ‘91 Minnesota Twins World Series, and a weekly tennis column to name just a few.

“When Gregg Wong was on a beat you knew it was going to be covered,” said Patrick Reusse, a former colleague at the Pioneer Press and current Star Tribune sports columnist. “He was incredibly thorough and never missed a deadline. He also had an amazing ability to get along with people…even the irascible Herb Brooks.”

“Gregg was a terrific reporter for lots of reasons, but foremost were the relationships he had with sources,” said Charley Walters, a former colleague and current sports columnist at the Pioneer Press. “He was a standout athlete in high school so he talked their language. Sources knew they could trust him and that he would be fair with him. And he’s extremely likable.”

Wong’s tennis-playing days  — and he played a lot of tennis, even with Herb Brooks — are behind him. But he’s still giving back to the sport he loves. Wong has been a longtime volunteer for Saint Paul Urban Tennis, a nonprofit that now serves 2,700 youth with free and low-cost tennis programs.

We caught up with Gregg to talk about his sportswriting days, Saint Paul Urban Tennis, and more.

How long have you known Michael and Mimzy Lynne?

It’s been a long time. I first got to know them when they opened the shop (in 1990). I came over to look around, and I'm involved with the Saint Paul Urban Tennis program. Mike always donates gear and equipment from his shop.  He saves it for us to give to the kids. So I’ve known them a very long time

What do you do for Saint Paul Urban Tennis? What is the organization all about?

At one time, I was president of the board. Now I'm just a volunteer. I pick up equipment from Mike and I bring it over for the kids.

It's mostly kids on the East Side. They do whatever they can to get them involved in playing tennis. They can provide racquets and gear to the kids, which is a lot of the stuff that Mike and Mimzy donates. They provide instruction, lessons, camps and things like that. It’s a great program that has touched a lot of lives.

You used to write a weekly tennis column and played a lot of tennis yourself.

Yes, I was a tennis guy when the program started (in 1991). Sandy Martin, who went on to become the mayor of Shoreview, was the president and she helped get the organization started. She was a friend of mine, and she basically told me, “You will be involved with Saint Paul Urban Tennis.” And ever since then you know, one way or another, I’ve been involved. I was on the board for a while.

Tennis is a great sport. I used to play a lot of tennis. I mean a real lot of tennis. I love playing. It's a good way to meet friends and get some exercise.

You had a good relationship with Herb Brooks and played tennis with him, even though he was known to be somewhat difficult with the media.

I knew Herbie very well. He was coaching Gopher Hockey and I was covering them at the time. Then he became coach of the 1980 Olympic team, and I was sent to Lake Placid to cover the Olympics. But the main reason they sent me over was to cover Cindy Nelson, who was a great skier, and she was from northern Minnesota (Lutsen). So I was set to cover skiing, and then this hockey team came out of nowhere, and they caused a miracle.

Patrick Reusse said you were able to get along with everyone, even Herbie.

Well, Patrick was just the opposite (laughs). I worked with him for many years and he’s been a great, great friend for a long time. We often had a different outlook on things.

Gregg Wong covered some of the biggest moments in Minnesota sports history, including the Miracle on Ice and the 1987 and 1991 World Series. Photo credit: Jean Pieri, Pioneer Press

How stunned were you when the U.S. beat the Soviets?

Well, it really was a miracle, because nobody expected the U.S. to even contend, let alone beat the best team in the world. Not even Herbie. Anybody that knew anything about hockey was absolutely stunned. And of course there were a bunch of Minnesota guys there who played for the Gophers, so I already knew them. It was simply a miracle — there’s no other way to put it. I just happened to be there at the right time.

You’ve been going to Mike Lynne’s for 34 years. What’s the key to their longevity?

They have great service. They have all the equipment a tennis player, padel player, or a pickleball player would want. And they're good people.

That's the bottom line: they're good people.