Author: David Shama

These are the end times, according to many Minnesota Twins fans.  Taking a “Chicken Little:the Sky is Falling” approach, the Metrodome roof will be collapsing, figuratively if not literally, next spring when the Twins open the 2008 season against Torii Hunter and the Los Angeles Angels.

Listen to fans in the days since Hunter was traded and they will make you feel like the Twins are in a nosedive comparable to the stock market.  Hunter is gone.  Johan Santana, Joe Nathan and Carlos Silva won’t be around much longer.  Even Justin Morneau, the doomsdayers contend, won’t play a game in a Twins uniform in the new downtown ballpark that opens in 2010.

The facts are the Twins aren’t as good without Hunter and they were a team with hitting and player position needs before he took the $90 million contract and headed west, deciding that $45 million wasn’t enough to make a life that he wanted.  The reality, too, is the Twins may lose more players either through free agency or trades, but the truth also is no one knows at this moment what the opening day roster will look like.

Patience and perspective, not panic, is the recommended prescription for ailing Twins fans.  The organization ranks among the winningest teams in the American League in recent years and the Twins have made the playoffs four of the last six seasons. (Since the 2001 season only six major league teams have won more games than the Twins and just two are from the American League, New York and Boston).

The front office team has used a philosophy of developing talent in the minor leagues and filling other needs with effective trades.  The results have made the small market Twins, using budget restraint, the envy of some other organizations.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners on Monday that the organization is determined to field competitive teams now and in the future including when the new ballpark will provide additional revenues that he said will be invested back into players.  What’s his definition of competitive?

“A team that has an opportunity to advance to post season play and contend for a world championship,” he said.  “Of course, we’ve been to the post-season four out of the last six years.  We’ve been in that position.  We failed to get it done once we got there but getting there in baseball is obviously a significant accomplishment. …That’s our intent.  It’s not to be .500.  It’s not to win 85 games.  It’s to get to get to the post-season. …”

St. Peter said the franchise’s same baseball leaders, including Terry Ryan, Bill Smith and Tom Kelly, are still with the Twins.  The goal is to return to the playoffs where a team can get hot and go on a winning streak as Colorado did this year, surprising almost everyone by participating in the World Series.

St. Peter said he shares the frustration of the public about Hunter and understands it, but he hasn’t been hearing that the 32-year-old outfielder is worth $90 million to the Twins.  What about the gloomy feelings of many fans?

“It’s a reaction to people’s feelings toward Torii who was a player that obviously connected with people,” St. Peter said. “I fully understand that and get that.  At the same time, despite his departure, it is not an organization that has the cupboard bare. …It’s a franchise that has a solid nucleus of players.  Now, do we have holes? Yes. … The final chapter has not yet been written.  I continue to believe we will go to spring training with a team that is much more dynamic offensively than the team that we had in 2007. …That’s our intent. …”

The Wild are at home tonight playing the team Lou Nanne describes as the “surprise of the NHL.”  The former Minnesota North Stars president said the Phoenix Coyotes were a pre-season pick for “last” among the NHL’s 30 teams, but “no name guys” have come through and the Coyotes are in fourth place in the Southwest Division with an 11-10 record including 22 points, four fewer points than the Wild. Minnesota is in second place  in the Northwest Division with 26 points.

Among the contributors to Phoenix’s success is 19-year-old Bloomington native Peter Mueller.  The young center has six goals and four assists in 20 games. He is one of the leading goal scorers on a team that has won four consecutive games. Defenseman Keith Ballard, 25, from Baudette, is the other native Minnesotan on the Phoenix roster.  His two goals have him tied for 30^th among NHL defensemen in that category.

Goalie Ilja Bryzgalov, claimed off waivers from Anaheim earlier this month, is having an impressive start to the season. He ranks sixth in the NHL in goals against average at 2.08.

Wayne Gretzsky, “The Great One,” has been a part owner for several years and the team’s coach since 2005.  The franchise is working on three consecutive last place finishes in the Pacific Division and hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2001-2002 season. That’s why this season’s start has caused attention.

Gretzky, hockey’s greatest player, has inspired various tributes to his career performance including monuments.  Nanne said hockey came so easy to Gretzky it may at times be difficult for him to relate to his players.  “I would think that’s his biggest challenge,” Nanne said.

Nanne said Gretzky is doing his best coaching job this season.  He is “getting players to play together.”

The Wild had lost three of their last four games before winning on Saturday against        Nashville. Nanne said injuries to key players like forwards Pavol Demitra and Mikko Koivu have held a “good team” back. “They’re not go

Nanne said the Minnesota North Stars book that debuted in early October is now in its third printing, with 3,000 of the next 5,000 books already committed.  The first two press runs of Minnesota North Stars: History And Memories With Lou Nanne were for 10,000 books each. Nanne said the coffee table sized book has information that “people don’t know” and its pages are filled with “600 great pictures.”  He and author Bob Showers have several upcoming book signings including Friday, December 7 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble in Edina’s Galleria.

Nanne’s granddaughter, Bianca Lettieri, is a member of the Timberwolves dance line. She’s the daughter of former Minnesota Kicks soccer star Tino Lettieri.

Last Friday the Wild had a record number of visitors, about 2,000, at The Hockey Lodge inside Xcel Energy Center.  People were purchasing holiday gifts during the Wild’s afternoon game with Columbus.  Another 3,000 visitors were at the Wild’s Mall of America store.  Derek Boogaard jersey sales are the best among Wild players.

The Wild’s new yearbook became available last week and has been well received by fans. Cost is $10 at the Hockey Lodge.

The Wild’s game tonight against Phoenix is the first of four straight at home, St. Louis (Friday), Vancouver (Sunday) and Philadelphia (next Wednesday).  The Flyers are coming to Xcel Energy Center for only the second time in Wild history. They played the first-ever regular season game here in October of 2000.

When the Timberwolves broke their five game losing streak Monday night and won their second game of the season, there were experienced players on the floor late in the fourth quarter.  The players were Antoine Walker (11 years NBA experience), Greg Buckner (eight years), Marko Jaric (five years), Sebastian Telfair (three years) and Al Jefferson (three years). The Wolves, 2-10, play the Mavericks in Dallas tonight before facing the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs at home on Friday night.

There are only 15 players in the NBA averaging more fouls per game than Wolves guard Rashad McCants. He is averaging 3.5 fouls.

UMD’s Jordan Nuness, son of former Gopher guard Al Nuness, has already made two all-tournament teams this fall.  A senior shooting guard from Eden Prairie, Jordan has been averaging about 22 points per game.

The Vikings, who play against Detroit Sunday at the Metrodome, have been dominant against the Lions in Minnesota through the years, holding a 32-12-1 record.

The Vikings have five interception returns for touchdowns this season, one short of the best record in team history (six in 1992).

Vikings safety Darren Sharper needs 17 yards or more to reach 1,000 yards in career interception yardage.

Saint John’s senior quarterback Alex Kofoed and St. Thomas senior wide receiver P.J. Theisen have been named as two of the 10 finalists for the 15th annual Gagliardi Trophy. The award, presented to the outstanding football player in NCAA Division III, honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is sponsored by Jostens, Inc. and conducted by the J-Club of Saint John’s. This year’s winner will be announced on Monday, December 10 and will be presented on Thursday, December 13 in Salem, Virginia.