Although it hasn’t been announced, look for Johan Santana to be the Twins season opening game pitcher on Monday, April 2. Santana, twice a Cy Young award winner, will be making only the second opening game start of his career.
The guess is the Twins will come up with the extra money needed to help Hennepin County pay for acquisition of the land for the new ballpark near Target Center. An alternate land site will not be pursued.
Target Center announced this week it will be the site of a boxing card featuring an IBA America’s heavyweight title fight on Friday, April 6, the third boxing promotion at the building in the last several months. The Xcel Energy Center, with a card headlined by St. Paul’s Jason Litzau, will host boxing on April 25.
“There’s a boxing war going on,” said Rob Leer of Leer Communications, publicist for the Target Center event. “Xcel is tired of seeing St. Paul boxers fighting in Minneapolis.” Xcel Energy Center general manager Jack Larson said, “I don’t think there’s a boxing war going on. I think both buildings are trying to build up boxing.”
Lou Nanne is providing analysis on telecasts of the state hockey tournament for the 43rd year. He has four grandsons, ranging in age from 11-16, who want him to continue in future years with the possibility one or more will be playing while grandpa is in the TV booth.
Nanne said a strong Minnesota Wild run in the playoffs will depend on the goal tending and defense. He’s been pleasantly “surprised” by the play of rookie goal tender Niklas Backstrom.
Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said players came to him this winter and said they wanted to adopt the following motto for the 2007 season: “We will make history again.” Minnesota’s football resume includes 18 Big Ten Conference championships and six national championships.
The Gophers began spring football practice on March 1, the earliest start anyone can remember. The annual spring game, open to the public, is Saturday, April 7 at the Metrodome.