Author: David Shama

Interested in a road trip? Just because the unofficial end of summer has come and gone with Labor Day, that doesn’t mean travel has to stop.  Here are seven sports destinations to ponder:

Chicago.  Now that schools are back in session, getting a ticket to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field should go as smooth as the Old Style you’ll enjoy while sitting in the sun-soaked bleachers. Beer, hot dogs and eye candy like the ivy-covered outfield walls make cozy Wrigley Field arguably baseball’s most charming facility.  While you’re in town dine at Charlie Trotter’s restaurant, recommended in my 2003 edition of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.  Let your boss or rich uncle treat.

Kentucky. Why the Bluegrass state?  First, visit historic Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.  Then head over to Lexington and try for a Tubby Smith sighting. Next, make your way to Campbellsville and Clem Haskins’ farm while listening to a CD of “Nothing But a Heartbreak” by the Flirtations.

Collegeville, Minnesota. Wait for the fall colors to peak in central Minnesota and then make the drive to Saint John’s University. The campus is spectacular, the football better and the legendary coach the best. John Gagliardi is 80, going on 40, and in search of his fifth national championship.  They ought to put this place on the national list of historic places.

Madison.  This is a great mid-sized town and a fun atmosphere to experience major college football. If you don’t believe that, ask the UW Madison alumni who make their home in Minneapolis-St. Paul. They’ll probably tell you all the things that are wonderful about the state of Wisconsin including Badger football.  What I don’t get is how come all those alums live here instead of in Dairyland? Give the Mad Towners and other Wisconsinites their due, though.  They know how to party.  “Roll out the barrel…”

Iowa City.  A former Gopher football player told me he almost chose the Hawkeyes but “there’s not much to do” in Iowa City.  Oh, I don’t know about that.  When I watch Iowa games on TV that water tower in the background of Kinnick Stadium looks pretty exciting.  Kinnick, by the way, with its proximity to the playing field, might be the best stadium in the Big Ten Conference.  Maybe the lack of glitz explains why two things are evident about the Iowa coaching staff.  One, Kirk Ferentz and company can coach with the best in America.  Two, they can’t recruit great players to Iowa City. On November 10 the Gophers try to get their first win in Iowa City since 1999.

Green Bay.  After the Gopher game, head to Green Bay for the Vikings-Packers game on November 11.  Before entering the city limits of Green Bay remove your shoes in a display of reverence for St. Vincent Lombardi and Lambeau Stadium, the Packer shrine.  My friend Ken Lien made his first Lambeau Field pilgrimage last month, traveling from Minneapolis to Green Bay. “Lambeau Field has got to be the ‘mecca’ of any level of football viewing,” Lien wrote in an e-mail. “The stands/fans are close to the field…we could dang near hear the players/coaches talking. But I’ll tell you, Dave, those fans treat that team like it’s a damn ‘cult,’ or like another high school or college team. It’s unbelievable. …”  While you’re at Lambeau, visit the Packer Hall of Fame.  If you dare, keep an eye out for the ghost of Lombardi.

Baton Rouge. For those with extra time and gas money, head to Bayou country. There’s no Minnesota connection, but go anyway.  Tiger Stadium, home of the national championship contending LSU football team, has been known for decades as a house of horrors for visiting teams and fans.  The noise is deafening and the electricity can be seen all the way to New Orleans.  Rumor has it that even Alabama’s Paul Bear Bryant, the greatest college football coach of all time, was kind of scared in Death Valley. That’s really something because Bryant was so brave he once wrestled a bear.

The Minnesota Twins hosted an impressive public groundbreaking party for their stadium last week featuring celebrities, fireworks, and a fly over salute by military planes.  An estimated crowd of 5,000 attended, enjoying $1 brats, $5 beer and a concert, plus autographs from Twins alumni, speeches and the witnessing of history as shovels broke ground on the $522 million project in the downtown warehouse district. 

The event had been rescheduled from earlier in August because of the 35W bridge tragedy.  The postponement added to the cost, according to a Twins spokesman, but he declined to identify a figure.  Another source said the original event budget was about $130,000.  Corporate sponsors helped the Twins cover much of the expense. 

Speculation continues as to how much the final cost of the stadium land will be.  A condemnation panel set the value at almost $24 million late last month but that decision is likely to be appealed.  That’s about $11 million more than Hennepin County was prepared to pay and it’s been known for some time that while the county will not pick up the difference the Twins will be involved.  A source at the groundbreaking event suggested that the city of Minneapolis could be a revenue source, contributing money from two nearby city owned ramps expected to generate about $7 million annually.  However, another source said the city will not use those revenues for that purpose but could help the stadium project, including infrastructure, with a new Minneapolis ticket tax expected to generate about $3 million annually. 

Among those absent from the groundbreaking ceremonies were governor Tim Pawlenty, mayor R.T. Rybak and a number of Twins players.   Pawlenty reportedly declined to attend, perhaps sensitive to the bridge tragedy and flooding crisis in southern Minnesota.  Rybak had a conflict and attendance at the event was optional for Twins players.

Joe Mauer probably generated the biggest cheers from the crowd, some of whom booed commissioner Bud Selig, no doubt recalling the days several years ago when major league baseball considered contracting the Twins franchise.  Mauer, who grew up here watching indoor big league baseball, talked about how excited he is to play outside in the new stadium.  Selig described the Twins as a special franchise because of its successful history including two world championships and said the team’s “front office is the envy” of baseball for its intelligent management.  He told the crowd the new stadium ensures the Twins will be in Minneapolis for the “next two or three generations.”

The vision for the 40,000 seat ballpark, scheduled to open in 2010, includes making the facility one of the best in America.  Planners are in the advantageous position of coming at the end of a major league baseball stadium era that began in the early 1990s and they can pick and choose from the best features.

Bert Blyeven, who won 287 games during his 22-year major league career, believes Francisco Liriano needs to modify his pitching delivery before he resumes his comeback from elbow surgery next season.  Blyleven, now the Twins TV analyst, described Liriano’s delivery as “violent,” noting that the 23-year-old left hander even had arm trouble as a minor league pitcher with the San Francisco Giants.  Liriano had a 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA last season as a rookie sensation before injuring his arm.  Blyleven suggested Liriano can improve his mechanics in a few ways including using more of his lower body and not placing so much strain on his left elbow. 

Just a sports columnist’s intuition but I don’t think Torii Hunter will re-sign with the Twins.  He can make too much money elsewhere on what will likely be the last and most mega contract of his career.  Hunter had an exceptional August hitting .325, with five homers, 21 RBI and 19 runs scored.

The Minnesota Wild will hold its media day on Thursday, September 13 and open training camp on Friday, September 14.  The first pre-season game is Wednesday, September 19 against Detroit at Xcel Energy Center.

Former Gopher women’s athletic director Chris Voelz and men’s hockey coach Glen Sonmor will be among 13 inductees into the M Club Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 27.  The event will be at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the University’s west bank campus with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the program.  Ticket information is available by calling  612-624-4497, or 1-800-846-7437.

From the strange but true department: Former Gopher coach Glen Mason was at Maynard’s restaurant in Excelsior earlier this summer when he accepted a spontaneous invitation to join Dan Barreiro on-air.  For years Barriero was probably Mason’s No. 1 media critic but the twosome chatted away during a KFAN remote broadcast from Maynard’s.

The public can see the Viking football team tonight (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. in the Rotunda at the Mall of America.  Head coach Brad Childress will address the crowd following team introductions and designated players will speak. Coordinators Darrell Bevell, Leslie Frazier and Paul Ferraro will answer questions from team play-by-play man Paul Allen.  A few players will sign autographs later in the evening at mall locations to be announced at the Rotunda event.

Childress received an autographed copy last week of Murray Warmath’s biography, “The Autumn Warrior.”  The former Gopher head coach and Viking assistant, now 94, has an open invitation to attend a Viking practice.  

The guess here is the Vikings lost 8,000 to 12,000 season tickets during the off-season.

Gopher Athletic Director Joel Maturi said his department will receive $7.5 million from all TV revenue sources, including the new Big Ten Network.