Author: David Shama

Sunday’s Super Bowl will be played in the Phoenix area, continuing an almost exclusive pattern of warm weather sites for the NFL’s showcase game.  Since the game’s inception in 1967, only three games have been played in northern cities, two in the Detroit area and one in Minneapolis in 1992.

Could another Super Bowl be played here?  It’s certainly possible, according to Vikings executive Lester Bagley who is a leader in the effort to build a new stadium on the Metrodome site.  The Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission are hoping for a legislative bill in 2009 that will authorize a $950-plus million retractable roof stadium.

Bagley told Sports Headliners that as progress is made on the stadium issue, there may be a visit here from NFL officials talking about a future Super Bowl.  “When Detroit got their new facility (Ford Field), they got a Super Bowl (2006),” Bagley said. “There’s no guarantee.  It’s a vote by the owners, but we would make the case internally that a Super Bowl is going to be a huge economic return to the state of Minnesota.  It’s a $200 to $300 million return to the communities that host it every year.

“So it’s very important not to the Vikings, but for the community.  … In order to have that, we’ve got to solve the problem (of a new stadium).  The facility has to have a retractable roof because we’re not interested in a fixed roof, and the league has got to step up. But I think that the feedback that we’ve gotten has been positive.  There’s no guarantee but commissioner (Roger) Goodell…he’s had conversations with folks in Minnesota about the likelihood of getting a Super Bowl back in Minnesota once we solve the facility problem.”

The Vikings have been lobbying for a new stadium since the 1990’s, a span that covers three ownership groups.  There’s a growing acceptance of this position: Zygi Wilf and his group will NOT move the franchise if a new stadium doesn’t become a reality.  Instead, the speculation is the present owners might sell the club and new ownership could move the team from Minneapolis where the Vikings’ stadium lease expires after the 2011 season.

Bagley praises the Wilf group saying this ownership group will invest money in building the new stadium and developing the surrounding neighborhood, plus continue a commitment to spend resources to have a winning team.  “If we can’t solve this issue with these guys as owners, we never will,” Bagley said. “…There may be a point where they throw in the towel, but right now I think they feel confident. …  I think 2009 is a crucial year for us.  We understand 2008 is going to be difficult (for gaining legislative approval) but we need to move our issue forward and try to set it up, resolve it in ‘09.”

The Vikings have for years ranked among the lowest of the 32 NFL teams in stadium revenues, despite consistently selling out the Metrodome.  Bagley said 25 of the 32 franchises have new or renovated stadiums since 1992.

With University of Minnesota football recruiting being noticed nationally and locally, coach Tim Brewster is excited about announcing his 2008 class on Wednesday, February 6.  Although NCAA rules prohibit Brewster from talking about specific individuals who have verbally committed to signing National Letters of Intent, he can speak collectively about a group rated No. 26 in the country by rivals.com and might be even better.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with this recruiting class,” Brewster told Sports Headliners.  “It will (help) re-establish the Gophers as one of the elite teams in college football.”

The athletic department is sponsoring a “Signing Day ’Sota Social” on February 6 at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex on campus beginning at 5 p.m. with Brewster previewing the 2008 class at 6:30 p.m.  (Tickets are $10, and include food and beverages. Fans must register for tickets through the Goal Line Club at www.goallineclub.com by February 5.)

Brewster has been traveling like a man without a home during December and January. “It’s incredible where I’ve been,” he said.  The Gopher coach has been visiting homes of all the players who have verbally committed to the Gophers, plus he’s been working on the 2009 recruiting class.

Last week he was in Atlanta, Houston and Cleveland.  On Saturday he was headed to California, and Philadelphia was on his short-term itinerary, too.

The Gophers’ recruiting class is expected to have at least six players with four star ratings, according to rivals.com.  The overall class is ranked fourth nationally among Big Ten teams after Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois.

Minnesota’s 2008 recruiting class may be the school’s best since 1964 when a group that included future NFL standouts John Williams and Charlie Sanders came to Minneapolis.  That class was the core of the 1967 Big Ten title team, the school’s last conference champion.

Brewster has already announced the signings of junior college players to National Letters of Intent.  Included in that group are three defensive players.  Those players, along with high school defensive players who have verbally committed, are expected to give the Gophers an improved defense over last year when Minnesota ranked last among Big Ten teams during conference play giving up almost 500 yards per game.

Before the Twins open their new ballpark in 2010, it’s likely that baseball will already have been played in the downtown facility.  Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners that college baseball teams could help test out the new park prior to the first major league game.

Near the close of spring training some teams leave Florida or Arizona early to play final exhibition games.  This year the Giants and Athletics will play in the Bay Area, and the Angels and Padres will also play exhibition games in California.  The Royals will play in Milwaukee.  St. Peter said for now the Twins like their model of staying in Florida right through spring training. The Florida weather is more reliable than other places, plus the Twins benefit from sold out crowds at spring training headquarters in Fort Myers, he said.

Prep basketball expert Ken Lien’s latest rankings of the state’s top 10 boys’ teams are: Hopkins, Osseo, Minnetonka, Shakopee, Stillwater, Wayzata, Cretin-Derham Hall, Crosby-Ironton, St. Cloud Tech and Tartan. Lien, chair of the Mr. Basketball program, compiles his top 10 based on who he considers the best teams regardless of school enrollment size.

From the braggadocios, look how great I am department comes this scene following the Celtics-Wolves game Friday night:  Kevin Garnett grabbing his jersey, thrusting it toward the crowd as if to say, “Look at me and what I did!”

The annual Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic is scheduled for March 27-29 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park and the Bierman facility on the University campus.  Speakers will include head coaches Tim Brewster of the Gophers and John Gagliardi of Saint John’s. The clinic is a partnership between the Gophers and the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.  More information is available at www.mnfootballcoaches.com

A friend reported that former Gustavus Adolphus star Eric Butorac and his dad Tim watched from James Blake’s box seats at the Australian Open last week when Blake lost a quarterfinals match to Roger Federer.  Eric and partner Kevin Ullyet lost in the third round of doubles at the open.