The next big Twins contract could be first baseman Justin Morneau, but then again, maybe not. Morneau’s six year deal runs through 2013 and is worth $80 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. The Twins first baseman, who will be 29 in May, has some injury history and his body may not be as durable as hoped.
Last year Morneau’s back injury didn’t allow him to play in the final weeks of the team’s drive for the Central Division championship. He’s struggled with his stroke in spring training, hitting .171. By 2013 the Twins front office will certainly know if the 32-year-old Morneau is worth a mega contract.
Kevin Noreen from Minnesota Transitions Charter school has been named the state’s Mr. Basketball for 2010. The 6-10 power forward helped his team to the Class 1A state title last week. He is the state’s all-time leading scorer with 4,086 points, and as a senior averaged 38.6 points, 16.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.2 blocks. The announcement of Noreen’s honor was made yesterday by Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien and his committee.
Braham’s Isaiah Dahlman has been a “spectator” in Michigan State’s four NCAA tournament games, playing briefly in only one game. The senior guard, though, will have the best seat in Lucas Oil Stadium (on the bench) when his Spartans make their second consecutive Final Four appearance on Saturday.
College basketball has been slowed to a crawl by the TV enforced timeouts and all the timeouts called by coaches. At best, viewers see game action for about four minutes before a series of commercials streams across the screen. At worst, there’s a timeout within the first minute of a half, followed by another team timeout and then the TV timeout. A beautiful game that once offered several minutes of continuous play has almost become programming that is secondary to commercials. Suggest performing your Pilates exercises, or write memoirs during the constant interruption of basketball.
Eden Prairie’s Ryan Wittman, Cornell’s Ivy League Player of the year, has range and accuracy on his jump shot. He might be a second round pick in this June’s NBA draft.
The Big Ten Network will offer the most comprehensive coverage of Big Ten spring football with programming beginning April 14 and continuing through April 28. Coverage consists of studio shows and televising six spring games.
Those who follow college hockey have to wonder if the next men’s power coach to be hired will be Wisconsin women’s coach Mark Johnson whose father Bob coached at Minneapolis Roosevelt High School and built the Badgers men’s program into one of the best.
The Wild is 15-4-0 when Mikko Koivu has two assists in a game as he did on Monday night in the team’s 3-2 win over Los Angeles. His 48 assists and 68 points this season are new career highs.
Owen Nolan is now tied for 98th place (with Peter Forsberg) on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 885 points. His 155 power play goals ranks one behind Mike Modano for fifth place on the NHL active player list.
“Black Out Breast Cancer” will be the theme on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center when the Minnesota Swarm host a game against the Edmonton Rush. Swarm players will wear pink and black uniforms, and pink helmets. A helmet auction will generate revenues for charity. More at https://www.mnswarm.com/news/news.asp?news_id=699