Posted January 21, 2008
Scribbling Notes on the Florida Beach
Musings from a Florida vacation after enjoying sun, sand and surf, plus watching television and my growing waistline. …
The geriatric crowd has arrived at the beach. I witnessed walkers and wheelchairs navigating near the sands of Sarasota.
Florida has a new state song: “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky.” I read it twice and tried to sing it once. I sounded like an American Idol first round reject.
With or without Johan Santana, Twins pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Fort Myers on February 17. The prediction here: Santana is gone before April, probably to the New York Mets.
Eddie Guardado, who pitched for the Twins from 1993-2003, signed a one year contract with Texas earlier this month. The former American League all-star, 37, had elbow surgery in 2006 and had 15 relief appearances last season with a 7.24 ERA pitching for Cincinnati.
Minneapolis native Walt Jocketty, former baseball executive with St. Louis, has joined Cincinnati as special advisor to president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini. Jocketty will advise and assist Castellini in every facet of baseball operations, according to a Reds news release.
Bert Blyleven, again turned down in voting for the baseball hall of fame, can find support among friends and fans. The former Twins pitcher and now TV color commentator is among the franchise’s most popular alums ever.
Former Vikings Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel and Gary Zimmerman, all three of whom played together in the early 1990s, are pro football hall of fame candidates in February. Carter played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls as a wide receiver from 1993-2000. McDaniel set an NFL record by participating in 12 straight Pro Bowls as an offensive guard from 1989-2000. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame team of the decade for the 1990s. Zimmerman played in four Pro Bowls while with the Vikings as an offensive tackle from 1987-1992.
The Tampa Bay Rays have plans and hopes for a new 34,000 seat retractable roof stadium in St. Petersburg, moving the club from its dome home, Tropicana Field. The project hasn’t been finalized but there’s talk of opening the stadium in 2012.
Former Gopher tennis player Gene Sperling is an economic adviser to Hillary Clinton. Sperling also advised former president Bill Clinton.
Johan Santana
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins
Eddie Guardado
Worth Noting
USA Today ranks Centennial No. 10 in the country among girls high school basketball teams. The Blaine school is No. 1 in the newspaper’s rankings of teams in the Midwest.
Sophomore forward Damian Johnson, probably the Gophers’ most improved player, is an early choice for my All-Big Ten defensive team. The 6-7 forward is second on the Gophers in steals with 1.76 per game, plus he may deflect six or more basketballs in a game. Johnson ranks fifth in the Big Ten Conference in steals and Gopher freshman Al Nolen is first with 2.44 per game. Johnson had 14 steals in 28 games last season while averaging 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 points per game. This season those averages are: 4.5 and 7.1.
With the crowds increasing and the temperatures plummeting, how about opening the doors at Williams Arena 90 minutes before game time instead of one hour?
Rick Majerus, who had loyalists here promoting him for the Gophers job last year, coached his St. Louis team to a 49-20 loss earlier this month. The 20 points was the lowest in NCAA Division I basketball since the clock shot inception. When Majerus was at Utah he coached in the 1998 national championship game against Tubby Smith’s Kentucky team. Majerus is featured in a recent Sports Illustrated article that conveys his colorful (understatement) language, temper and also generous nature. Michael Doleac, who starred for Majerus at Utah and now is a reserve with the Timberwolves, describes Majerus as the best coach he’s played for, high school, college or pros.
Texas Tech’s Bobby Knight, who had his boosters too for the Gophers job, won his 900th career game recently, but didn’t express much pleasure about it at a news conference. How can a man have so much success and seem so unhappy?
Freshman Cole Aldrich isn’t starting but is contributing for No.3 ranked Kansas. The former McDonald’s All-American from Bloomington Jefferson has yet to start a game for the Jayhawks but is averaging 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
John Bell Wilson, the former Gopher basketball manager and official scorer, includes Portland’s Joel Przybilla among his friends. Wilson said the former Gopher center blends his skills and unselfishness with whatever players are on the floor. Przybilla’s numbers are modest, 4.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but he’s an effective role player for the young Blazers who are among the NBA’s surprise teams.
It’s anyone’s guess what Pryzbilla’s assignment and whereabouts will be next season when 2007 NBA No. 1 draft choice Greg Oden rejoins the Blazers after missing this season with a micro fracture knee injury. Wilson said there are reports that Oden’s weight has increased to 290 pounds.
Former Minnesota Timberwovles center Dean Garrett, now living in the Minneapolis area, told Sports Headliners he wants to work for his old team. Garrett played with the Wolves from 1996-2002.
Damian Johnson
Tubby Smith
Extra Innings
Former Vikings and Arizona head coach Denny Green still doesn’t have an NFL job but his protégés are numerous. Among them is Tony Dungy who is likely to announce his retirement from Indianapolis any day. The former Gopher quarterback and Vikings assistant appears on course to devote more time to family and causes to help others.
If Dungy retires, you wonder about the future of 70-year-old offensive coordinator Tom Moore. The former Gophers assistant coach has been working for Dungy since Dungy joined the Colts in 2002.
Jack Del Rio was counted as a potential head coaching casualty before the season in Jacksonville but he led the Jags to an 11-5 record and wildcard position in the playoffs. Former Vikings coach Mike Tice is an assistant head coach for the Jaguars who scored the fourth most points in the AFC last season.
A Denny Green alum who could be looking for work before the next president takes the oath of office is Ty Willingham. A Green assistant from 1992-1994, Willingham is 11-25 after three seasons as the University of Washington head coach.
Before his career is over, you wonder if former Vikings assistant Monte Kiffin, another Green alum, might work for his son Lane, the former Bloomington Jefferson graduate and head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Monte, 68, is defensive coordinator for Tampa Bay.
Don’t give up yet on Nolan Brewster, coach Tim Brewster’s son, accepting a scholarship to play for his dad at Minnesota. Recruiting expert Tom Lemming rates Nolan, verbally committed to Texas, among the top 25 prep football players in the nation.
Sporting News lists Wayzata’s James Laurinaitis among five favorites to win the Heisman Trophy next season. The Ohio State junior linebacker won’t opt early for the NFL, instead returning to the Buckeyes who could make the national title game for the fourth time in seven years.
Attention college football fanatics: the Buckeyes are at Southern California on September 13 in a game almost certain to have mega impact on the BCS standings. Stubhub.com lists a ticket price range of $379 to $9,999.
Marian Gaborik has played in 42 of the Minnesota Wild’s 47 games. He played in only 48 games last season because of a groin injury.
Tim Brewster
Marian Gaborik
