Author: David Shama

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who saved pro basketball for Minneapolis and the region in 1994 by buying the team before it could be relocated, is overseeing the rebuilding of the franchise on the court and with its ticket base.  Despite a team record of 3-16, the worst in the NBA, and projections for losing $10 to $15 million this season, the Mankato-based businessman isn’t disappointed with the wins and losses, nor is he upset with the financial losses.

Taylor said there is a three part strategy for this season regarding the team and that the “measuring” doesn’t include wins and losses.  The plan is to first evaluate individual players, including the seven players on the roster who are first, second or third year players.  Then evaluations will be made of different groups of players and how they perform together. Finally, as the season progresses, Taylor and his basketball staff will evaluate whether the team is improving.

The Wolves owner dismissed the idea that the organization may want to finish low in the NBA standings to increase the likelihood of a higher draft choice next spring.  “We’re trying to win as many games as we can,” he said.

The Wolves haven’t been in the playoffs since 2004.  The franchise lost money the last two seasons and in one of those years Taylor said the financial deficit was similar to the $10 to $15 million he’s projecting for 2007-2008.  Still, Taylor accepts the losses and said the franchise could be in the black next season or the year after.   “I am not upset,” Taylor said.  “As a good businessman I don’t like it (losing money).  But I understand we took some risks to get in the playoffs (acquiring higher price talent).  I can’t go back and change it.”

Full season ticket totals are approximately 5,000, down from 6,200 last season, according to a Wolves source.  Partial season tickets are approximately 2,000, down from 2,500 last season.  The franchise is projecting average attendance of 14,500 after averaging almost 16,000 last season in the 19,356-capacity Target Center.

With the on-court disappointments of recent seasons and the off-season trade of main draw Kevin Garnett to Boston, the marketing challenge of selling tickets has been difficult in recent years but President Chris Wright and his staff have done an exceptional job attracting spectators.  If the franchise meets projected average attendance, the Wolves will be playing to about 75 percent of capacity.  Wright said the Wolves already have soldout two games this season.

Taylor said he’s been pleased to hear from fans who say they’re enjoying the new roster including a new lineup from last season.  The players have shown willingness to play hard and together.  Taylor added it’s a group that has i

New Twins general manager Bill Smith told Sports Headliners earlier this week that while emphasizing a group approach, final decisions on trades will be his responsibility.

The Johan Santana trade watch is in the news every day and earlier this fall the Twins made a major deal with Tampa Bay that included the acquisition of potential star Delmon Young, an outfielder with lots of upside as a hitter.  Any deals are based on extensive work by Smith and those who assist him.

“Ultimately I’ve got to make the decision but I don’t make anything in a vacuum,” said Smith whose advisors include former general manager Terry Ryan.  “We’ve got a tremendous group of evaluators. …We try and bring in a lot of information and sort through it. I try to let our evaluators go through it, sort it and come back with consensus opinions.  Sometimes all I do is make the (final) phone call.  They do all the work.  They come up with the answers that hopefully are going to make us better.”

Smith must consider a lot of information about players and some of that may not be consistent.  “You certainly get conflicting reports and that’s part of scouting,” he said.  “Sometimes you have to worry a little bit if all your reports are the same. Sometimes you want that different opinion. ….Sometimes you can piece it together when you get conviction from one person on one skill and another person on a second skill, and maybe even a third report. …”

Smith was asked if fans can expect a trade between now and late January when TwinsFest takes place, a potential opportunity to introduce new players at the Metrodome event.  “I hope so because at this point we’re not ready to open the season yet,” he said. “We’ve still got some holes.  We’ve still got to fill the third base spot. We’ve still got to fill center field. …”

Those needs could be addressed in any of three ways–trades, free agent acquisitions or promotions from within the Twins organization.  Should fans be optimistic about filling needs?  “We’re gonna have to fill them all,” he said. “We have to be ready to go on March 31st. We’ll get them filled.  We’re going to keep banging away and do the best we can to put a good product out there.”

Smith said the Twins goal is always to contend for the American League Central Division championship.

Although Rashad McCants is the Wolves’ second leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, his minutes are down from earlier in the season and so is his scoring average.  Lately he’s reportedly had some problems with his right knee but still observers wonder about his inconsistent numbers and decision making.  The third year shooting guard had a season and career high of 33 points earlier this season against Sacramento and a low of five on 1-15 shooting at Denver.  He ranks 35th in the NBA in field goals per 48 minutes but sixth in the league in turnovers per 48 minutes.  While he provides the Wolves much needed outside shooting, he is averaging 5.6 fouls a game per 48 minutes.

Harvey Mackay, the local New York Times best selling author, is working on a new book that will be published within five to six months.  Mackay was a civic leader in the building of the Metrodome.

Rivals.com has the Gophers football recruiting class ranked No. 22 in the country.  Ohio State, eighth, Michigan, 12^th, and Illinois, 16^th, are the only Big Ten Conference schools currently ranked ahead of Minnesota.

By mid-January viewers of the Gopher Web site, www.gophersports.com, can experience a “virtual” tour of the new TCF Bank Stadium, according to Phil Esten, associate athletics director.  Esten said all the concrete giving the stadium exterior its structure will be in place by late next summer.  The stadium opens in 2009.

The Gophers (6-1) play South Dakota State (3-5) tonight (Wednesday), starting at 8 p.m. in Williams Arena.  The Gophers are 10-0 in the series.  SDSU is led by sophomore forward Kai Williams, who is averaging 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 33 minutes per game.  After tonight the Gophers have only one other non-conference game at home, December 22 against Santa Clara, before the Big Ten Conference season begins.

Ken Lien, chairman of the Mr. Basketball Committee, said prep football superstar Michael Floyd of Cretin-Derham Hall is “one of the top” basketball players in the state.  The Mr./Miss Basketball awards banquet will be held on Sunday, April 27 at the Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel in St. Louis Park.

United States Tennis Association Northern Section president Jay Pfaender and executive director Mike Goldammer attended the recent Davis Cup matches in Portland, Oregon.  USTA Northern would like to help promote Davis Cup matches here.

Gophers’ freshman forward Mike Hoeffel has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals last Saturday in Minnesota’s 4-3 win over North Dakota.  He came into the game with one goal in his first 17 career starts.

Macalester senior forward Tom Conboy and St. Thomas freshman guard Tyler Nicolai have been selected by the MIAC as co-athletes of the week for men’s basketball. Macalester sophomore center Ann Baltzer has been selected for women’s basketball while the men’s and women’s hockey choices were Bethel sophomore goaltender Aaron Damjanovich and St. Catherine sophomore forward Aryn Ball.

Five-game ticket packages are on sale for the 2008 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five, March 20-22 at Xcel Energy Center.  Prices range from $60 to $145 and can be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at (651) 989-5151 or online at www.ticketmaster.com <https://www.ticketmaster.com>. To charge by phone using Ticketmaster TDD/TTY, call: 800-359-2525. Single-game tickets for the tournament will go on sale Monday, March 10.  Group tickets (12+) are available by calling 651-312-3486.