Tight end Jim Kleinsasser, 32, is the only player on the Vikings’ roster that was with the team 10 years ago.
Among the likely stories coming out of Vikings’ training camp will be the dream of free agent rookie running back Ian Johnson to make the team. He’s well-known for helping Boise State team to its dramatic 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma and making a marriage proposal after the game. Not so documented, though, is Johnson being an accomplished musician who plays the trombone and is learning the piano.
The Twins are 18-6 against the White Sox in the Metrodome since the beginning of 2007 and are 14-2 in the last 16 games. The Twins are 21-12 versus the American League Central.
The inconsistent collective performance of the Twins’ starting pitchers this season was predictable. None of the five pitchers in the regular rotation had more than one full season entering this year.
The late inning relief of Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan has been impressive. When the starters falter early, though, the Twins are like most teams in that they can’t consistently put their middle inning pitchers on the mound and expect to shutdown the opposition. Nathan has converted on 29 of 32 save opportunities this season. Guerrier has an ERA of 0.33 in his last 30 appearances.
Anthony Slama, 25, is a pitcher worth tracking in the Twins’ farm system. The right- handed reliever is pitching for Double A New Britain in the Eastern League and has a 4-2 record with 80 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.
In a 2009 NBA point guard dominant draft, the Wolves’ Jonny Flynn was the “class of the class” in summer league play in Las Vegas earlier this summer, according to Sports Illustrated. A July 27 article praised Flynn’s decision making and ability to penetrate. An Eastern Conference scout predicted future All-Star status for the 20-year-old Flynn who the Wolves selected with the No. 6 pick in the June draft. Flynn averaged 15 points and 7.4 assists in the summer league.
Internet and radio reports earlier this week have been saying that former Wolves’ point guard Stephon Marbury is behaving irrationally and ate Vaseline. Marbury is a free agent but listed on the Boston roster.
The Wolves’ “Early Bird” promotion, that includes season tickets for $5 per game, ends on Saturday.