Lurtsema said choosing a player in the first round of the NFL draft doesn’t guarantee later performance. “One-third will be total busts,” he said. “One-third will be mediocre.”
Among the Vikings draft choices last year was tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round. The 6-6, 258- pound Rudolph impressed in part-time work during 2011 and Lurtsema described him as “the steal of the draft.”
Congratulations to the Fitzgerald family, including Larry Sr. and Larry Jr., for ongoing efforts to raise money for charities involving breast cancer, HIV and urban education. The eighth annual Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund Benefit was held last Friday at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley.
In its March 26 baseball preview issue, Sports Illustrated predicts the Angels, who play at Target Field this afternoon in the Twins home opener, will win the American League pennant and defeat the Giants in the World Series.
The magazine reports that Albert Pujols’ new 10-year contract with the Angels includes a bonus payment of $7 million if he hits 763 career home runs, breaking the major league record of 762 held by Barry Bonds. The 32-year-old Pujols has hit 445 home runs in his big league career that began in 2001.
Pujols ranked No. 3 nationally in Majestic jersey sales in 2011, according to a MLB.com news release last week. The Yankees’ Derek Jeter was No. 1 with the Phillies’ Cliff Lee No. 2. The Twins’ Joe Mauer ranked No. 12.
Despite numerous media reports linking Gophers assistant coach Ron Jirsa to the head coaching search at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said he expects no change in his staff for next season.
Smith had only two scholarships available for his 2012 recruiting class. The two incoming recruits, Wally Ellenson and Charles Buggs, will attend summer school at Minnesota.
Smith is an “11-12” handicapper and would love to play Augusta National Golf Club.
Gophers senior Ralph Sampson III is expected to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this week. Also attending the pre-NBA draft event is Bloomington native and Badgers player Jordan Taylor, according to the tournament website.
The April 9 issue of Sports Illustrated includes a college basketball top 10 for 2012-13 and Indiana is ranked No. 1. The other schools in order are Louisville, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Syracuse, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Arizona and Memphis.
Charlotte coach Paul Silas was an NBA forward whose 16-year playing career began in 1964. He’s impressed with the Wolves’ Kevin Love who in his fourth season is often referred to as the best power forward in the league. “If he continues to do like he’s doing, for a good portion of his career, he’s going to be one of the best ever because you just don’t see anybody in this league scoring like he does and rebounding the way he does,” Silas said.
The Wolves are hosting three free TV viewing parties this month including Wednesday night’s game from Denver. The games aren’t on local TV and will be seen via NBA League Pass. The Wednesday night party begins at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen at Champps Americana in Eden Prairie.
Defending MIAC football champion St. Thomas opens spring practice on Wednesday. The Tommies spring intrasquad game will be on May 12 starting at 1 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
Bethel’s Nicole Wriedt (volleyball), Gustavus’ Benjamin Ceder (soccer) and Brad Kruckeberg (football), and St. Thomas’ Dan Chapman (football) are among 58 women and men the NCAA announced have won postgraduate scholarships. The grants are $7,500 each.
The Gophers baseball team was 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference before losing three games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to Ohio State in Columbus. In a preseason coaches’ vote, the Gophers (3-3) were predicted to finish No. 3 in the conference behind Michigan State (3-3) and Purdue (7-2).