Worth Noting

The Wolves’ Kevin Love is one of 20 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.  The final 12-man roster will be announced later this year.

Timberwolves president Chris Wright told Sports Headliners the organization has been contacted by Chinese ad agencies wanting to buy advertising in Target Center for the February 10 game against Dallas.  That game will be televised in China in about 19 different markets.

Former Hopkins and Gophers forward Royce White is impressing so much that a January 16 article in the Des Moines Register included comparisons to Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett and Jamal Mashburn.  The 6-8, 270 pound White has scored, rebounded and passed his way on to a list of potential All-Americans in his first season playing for Iowa State.

The Gophers will AGAIN change the look of their football uniforms and helmets.  Minnesota has been switching outfits and colors for about 50 years.  Memorable outfits (pleasant or not) have included eras when the Gophers dressed like the USC Trojans, coach Cal Stoll’s all-gold teams, and coach Tim Brewster’s infamous white helmets and white uniforms creation.

Although TCF Bank Stadium was the site of a U2 concert last summer, don’t expect anything but football on campus in 2012.  “This next year is going to be a tough year for anything additional to football games because of the construction of the light rail,” said Joel Maturi, Gophers athletic director.  “It’s tough to get in and out of here as it is, almost impossible when they start ripping up this last section here. …”

Glen Mason admired Penn State’s Joe Paterno so much that Mason wore a coat and tie on the sidelines the first time he coached Minnesota against the legendary Nittany Lions coach.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association will hold its annual Hall of Fame Banquet on March 31 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.  Going into the Hall of Fame are: Earl Bauman, St. Michael-Albertville; Paul Gasner, Totino-Grace; Dick Hanson, Burnsville; Steve Nunnink, Brainerd; Terry Ogorek; Kittson County Central; Tyrone Wacker, Jackson and Gaylord.

There will be eight winners of the Butch Nash Outstanding Assistant Coach Award: Joel Baugarten, ROCORI; Michael Boomer, Cook County; Rick Haley, Delano; Thomas Pink, Northome; Patrick Rieder, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton; Mark Ritter, Eden Prairie; Will Wackman, Spring Lake Park; Ralph Weber, Anoka.

Welcome to the 21^st century.  NCAA Division III policy makers have voted to allow text messaging in recruiting.  Texting will be regulated similarly to phone calls, e-mails and faxes. “This is very important for us,” said Brad Marshall, St. Catherine head women’s hockey coach. “As far as my sport goes, it seems like if you text a prospect, she’ll get back to you 45 seconds later. …”