Look for the Wild to take American players in the upcoming NHL draft. The Wild’s roster is expected to have more U.S. players in the years ahead, according to the source who commented about Budish, Leddy and Schroeder.
Gophers football coach Tim Brewster said the athletic department has turned down an offer to play at Michigan in 2010. The two teams would have met in a non-conference game because Michigan and Minnesota aren’t scheduled against each other in 2009 and 2010. The Gophers said no because the week prior to the proposed 2010 game Minnesota plays annual national title contender USC at home. The Gophers have significantly improved the quality of nonconference opponents they’re scheduling with 2009 opponents including Air Force and California. The 2010 nonconference home schedule still has two openings.
Brewster will have Garrett Brown, Eric Decker, and Lee Campbell as his player representatives at the annual Big Ten media gathering this summer in Chicago.
Brewster and Vikings coach Brad Childress were the high bidders at a charity event for a trip for four to Costa Rica. Brewster said it’s most likely the trip will wait until next year.
“Wally the Beerman” (Wally McNeil) and wife Joyce will celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary this Sunday at Canterbury Park where the two are race horse owners. Although their anniversary date is June 23, the two will celebrate with family on Sunday. This has been a difficult spring; McNeil had triple bypass heart surgery on May 18.
Former Vikings assistant Dean Dalton, who coached running backs here, believes wide receiver-runner Percy Harvin, the team’s No. 1 draft choice, will put “schematic” pressures on opposing defenses when he takes direct snaps from the center in a “wildcat” or shot gun offense. A quick insertion of Harvin into the game will change the Vikings from a conventional quarterback under center offense to one where Harvin could run, pass or hand the ball off to All Pro running back Adrian Peterson.
“Wow, what a great talent (Harvin),” Dalton said. “He’s got tremendous ball skills and just an explosive nature. And an elusiveness in space with the ball in his arm. …”
Baseball historian Dave Mona said no A’s player has won a batting championship since the franchise relocated to Oakland in 1968. The team’s home field, the Oakland Coliseum, has more foul territory than any other park, giving pitchers a significant advantage over hitters. Mona said that by contrast he’s been told the Twins’ new ballpark, Target Field, will have the second smallest foul ball territory after Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Twins finish their four game series in Oakland today, having won two of three games so far.
You wonder whether having left handed hitters Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel bat in consecutive order is something the Twins need to abandon permanently. The threesome makes it easier for managers to maneuver their relief pitchers against them.