Author: David Shama

Washington coach Joe Gibbs is 8-1 in his career against the Vikings. Former Gopher Anthony Montgomery plays defensive tackle for the Redskins.

The Wild’s Jacques Lemaire coached in his 1,000th NHL game Tuesday night, becoming the 14th coach in NHL history to reach that level. Scotty Bowman is the  all-time leader with 2,141 games. Lemaire has a career coaching record of 476-365-160, including 229-206-91 with the Wild in six-plus seasons. The Wild’s 209 wins in the first six seasons is the most among the nine NHL expansion teams since 1991. Lemaire led the Wild to its fourth straight winning season in 2006-07 with a 48-26-8 record, setting franchise records for wins and points (104). Lemaire also coached in Montreal and New Jersey, and has never been fired as an NHL coach.  He’s participated in 11 Stanley Cups as a player, coach and executive.

This week coach Tim Brewster signed four junior college players to national letters of intent who were pursued by other major college football programs, according to a news release from the University of Minnesota. Safety Tramaine Brock was recruited by South Carolina, Mississippi and Mississippi State. Quarterback David Pittman’s offers included Arizona State, UCLA and Washington State.  Linebacker Rex Sharpe committed to Auburn coming out of high school and more recently was pursued by Colorado. Cornerback Traye Simmons’ offers included Florida, California and Purdue.

The Gopher basketball team plays its last non-conference home game tomorrow (Saturday) night against Santa Clara, a team that lost by 26 at Stanford earlier this week. Santa Clara, 7-4, won at Utah by 15 in November.  Center John Bryant is averaging 20 points and 8.6 rebounds.  The Gophers are 7-1 and have three non-conference games on the road next week, all in Las Vegas in the “Duel in the Desert” tournament.

Minnesota’s subs have out scored opponents in each of the eight games this year. The Gophers hold a cumulative 270-120 bench scoring edge. A Gopher has scored at least nine points off the bench in every game, led by Blake Hoffarber’s 21 points against Colorado State.

Former Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Steve Aschburner, now writing for www.sportsillustratedcnn.com, has an article this week about Craig Smith who has scored 20 points or more three times in his last eight games, including 30 and 36 point performances. Aschburner named Smith to his NBA Second Round All-Star team.  The Wolves selected Smith on the second round of the 2006 draft.

Assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg said the Timberwolves franchise is trying to put a “foundation” in place of quality core players who will be with the team for several years, similar to the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs model.  “Pieces” can be added, Hoiberg said, but it’s important to have continuity on the roster.

Gustavus has seven teams ranked in Division III national polls.  Those teams are women’s golf (No.2), men’s tennis (No.5), men’s golf (No.6), women’s hockey (No.8), men’s swimming (No.11), women’s tennis (No.11), and women’s swimming (No.24).

USA Hockey will host its annual women’s Holiday Camp from December 26 – January 1 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. Of the 56 players invited to the camp, 12 have University of Minnesota connections. The Gophers will have current team members Rachael Drazan, Gigi Marvin, Erica McKenzie, Anya Miller, Jen Schoullis and Emily West participating at the camp. Former Gopher Natalie Darwitz will also participate, plus Gopher recruits Sarah Erickson, Alyssa Grogan, Anne Schleper, Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux. The training camp serves as a tryout and training session for the U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team, both of which participate in world championships in the early part of 2008.

Joe Mauer had hernia surgery about three weeks ago at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, according to his grandfather Jake.  The Twins catcher has been bothered by hernia problems in the past including last season but Jake said his grandson is “doing real well” now. “He’s pain free and ready to go,” Jake said.

Earlier in the fall the plan was no surgery. However, more recently it was determined the severity of the hernia warranted surgery, Jake said.

Joe is at his home in Florida, working out, playing golf and relaxing.  He will continue conditioning in Florida next month, following a brief Christmas stay in Minnesota, according to his grandfather.

Not only did Joe have a hernia problem last season, but he missed several weeks with a quadriceps injury.  He was in 109 games, after playing in 140 in 2006.    The American League batting champion in 2006 with a .347 average, he hit .293 last season.  The Twins missed his home run and RBI production, too, with those numbers declining from 13 home runs and 84 RBI in 2006, to seven home runs and 60 RBI.  Regarded as one of baseball’s better catchers, Mauer’s defensive and leadership skills were missed by the Twins when he wasn’t healthy or able to play.

Jake said Joe was “down on himself” because of the injuries.  Some may describe Joe as an old-fashioned athlete who doesn’t complain and keeps frustrations to himself.  Jake said Joe told him he has to have a better season in 2008.

The 24-year-old Mauer is regarded as one of baseball’s most valuable properties.  A story earlier this year in the Sporting News named Mauer as THE player to build a team around.  Six of the 12 baseball evaluators (including major league general managers) preferred Mauer as the player to start a franchise with.

Jake said Joe doesn’t say a word about the Twins roster changes that include the departure of Torii Hunter and possible trade of Johan Santana.  His view is the Twins “know what they’re doing,” according to Jake.

Watch the Timberwolves on TV, at Target Center or in their locker room and it’s evident the players like one another.  They also have more than a collective clue about relating to the public and media.  The Wolves are at an all-time low after 23 games with a 3-20 record, but they’re ahead in personality from last season’s crew.

The Wolves have 10 new players on the roster from last season. They also have seven players who are first, second or third year players.

So far the record is dismal with Seattle having the next poorest record in the NBA at 7-18.  The poorest Wolves team record for 23 games prior to this season was 4-19 in December of 1991.

Center Michael Doleac, acquired in the trade with Miami earlier this year, has played with six NBA teams.  He describes his new teammates as a good group and added that “chemistry” is definitely not a problem in the locker room.

Guard Marko Jaric is in his third season with the Wolves and he agrees with Doleac.  “I think this team is made with a lot of good guys,” he told Sports Headliners last week. “They’re trying to work.  They’re trying to sacrifice for the team. We don’t have on and off the court a problem.  I think we have a very good chemistry. …”

Jaric knows a lot of fans and media are discouraged with the team’s start.  He said the club has played aggressively on offense and defense, and coach Randy Wittman has done a “good job” of teaching a team that includes inexperienced players.  But the “pieces” haven’t come together, Jaric said.  With 59 games remaining, he said there’s time to change the results for the better.

Obviously this isn’t a comfortable beginning to the season for Jaric and others.  “This is a tough year,” Jaric said.  “I didn’t play in too many winning seasons (before) but this is definitely so far the worst start.  But, you know what? I know that can change and I strongly believe in that.”

Although the Wolves are 1-9 in their last 10 games and have a five game losing streak, Doleac said last week that losses aren’t going to deter this team. “I don’t think anyone’s confidence is going to be hurt,” he said.

The Wolves have lost five games by four points or less.  “We need to learn how to win,” Fred Hoiberg, assistant general manager, said on Monday.  “Everybody has seen how many close games we’ve had.  We need to experience winning.  We need to get it rolling in the right direction.”