Using a search committee for administrative and coaching hires has been typical at Minnesota, although there was no such committee in 2010 when football coach Jerry Kill was hired.
Twins first baseman Chris Parmelee turns 24 today. With so many questions about Justin Morneau’s health, fans may wonder if Parmelee could play even more games than he did (21) during his rookie season last year. Parmelee hit .355 with four home runs and 14 RBI.
It wouldn’t be surprising if this is pitcher Francisco Liriano’s last season with the Twins. He’s working on a one-year contract reportedly worth $5.5 million. If the inconsistent 28-year-old left hander has a similar season to last year (9-10, 5.09 ERA), the Twins may have minimal interest in re-signing him. If Liriano were to approach his electrifying 2006 stats that included a 2.16 ERA, he presumably could command a contract too rich for the Twins.
Former Gophers golfer and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay was featured on a recent cover of Speaker, the magazine of the National Speakers Association. The article said Mackay speaks “about once a week to Fortune 500-size companies and associations.”
The Big Ten is the best basketball conference in the country, according to a February 20 article in Sports Illustrated. The story praises the execution, toughness and defense of Big Ten teams.
“I’d almost bet my life…the Big Ten is as good as it’s been in a long time, top to bottom,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo when he was in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.
Gophers coach Tubby Smith talking about his team’s 66-61 loss to Michigan State on Wednesday night: “We just folded at the end of the game.”
The Gophers are 5-10 in the Big Ten, 17-11 overall and have lost four consecutive games. “He (Smith) coached better than I did,” Izzo said. “They’re good enough to be in the tourney.”
Gophers’ women’s basketball guard Rachel Banham ranks sixth in Big Ten scoring at 16.3 points per game and first among league freshmen.
Larry Bird told ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons in a February 8 interview he’s an admirer of the Timberwolves twosome of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. Bird played on three NBA championship teams in Boston including the 1986 team that ranks with the best for passing and unselfish play. Rubio and Love would fit perfectly on that team.
Love will be the first Timberwolf ever to participate in the NBA’s three point contest when he competes tomorrow in Orlando as part of All-Star Weekend activities.
Rookie forward Derrick Williams will be in the slam dunk contest tomorrow.
This week’s National Junior College Athletic Association poll has coach Jay Pivec’s first year Dakota County Technical College team ranked No. 8 in the country among Division II men’s teams.
The Wild will wear custom-designed camouflage jerseys during warm-ups on Sunday prior to Minnesota’s home game against San Jose. The jerseys will be available for bid via online auction starting Tuesday at www.wild.com. Proceeds benefit Defending The Blue Line, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization created by Minnesota National Guard soldiers. The charity assists military families with costs associated with hockey.
State tennis historian and author Jim Holden reported via email that Kevin Rust, the former coach at Rochester Lourdes, has been inducted into the Minnesota State High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.