Author: David Shama

If the Vikings are winning games and Adrian Peterson is making lots of big plays, the rookie running back could be on his way next fall to becoming the most popular sports figure in this town since Kirby Puckett of the Twins. 

The Sporting News rates the Vikings’ Kevin and Pat Williams as the best defensive tackle pair in the NFC.  The publication describes them as “arguably the NFL’s best running stop duo.” 

Here’s a popular view on 30-year-old Randy Moss: his physical skills have diminished but coach Bill Belichick will be so smart about how he uses Moss that he’ll receive enough production out of the controversial former Viking to make New England’s trade acquisition from Oakland worthwhile. 

The NBA Draft Lottery will be Tuesday, May 22 at the NBA Entertainment studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.  The Timberwolves hope to improve on their No. 7 position. 

The last three NBA MVP awards have been won by foreign players, Canada’s Steve Nash (twice) and Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki.  The influx of European players will grow but what’s really interesting is the development of players in China.  The world’s most populous country may be exporting many players in the next 10 years including a “young Pete Maravich.”  

My proposed name of Wheaties Field for the downtown baseball stadium drew some support from Twins players but they were more ready to express concerns about playing outside in cold weather during April. 

The Twins have been running a fan poll on their web site asking whether Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer or Mike Redmond should be the No. 3 hitter in the lineup while Joe Mauer is on the disabled list.   

Kent Hrbek’s Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout is a new book by the former Twins first baseman.  He will autograph copies from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 in the Barnes & Noble store at the Mall of America, according to kenthrbekoutdoors.com. 

Brian Lawton, the local player agent, interviewed last week for the Phoenix Coyotes’ general manager position.  Lawton was the first American ever drafted No. 1 when the Minnesota North Stars chose him in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. 

The Minnesota Wild has begun season ticket renewal and historically the rate has been 95%-plus, tops in the NHL. 

The University of Minnesota has sent out season ticket renewal forms for men’s basketball tickets earlier than any time in memory.  Conversation about Williams Arena often includes talk about the obstructed view seats in the corners of the lower level but some season ticket holders sitting near the court have partial views too. Customers sit so low that when looking up at the players their views are obstructed by coaches and referees. 

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster and director of football operations Randy Taylor made time recently to visit 94-year-old Murray Warmath, head coach of the 1960 Minnesota national champions. 

Look for the Gophers to use some trick players next fall in their new spread offense.  

Rick Majerus boosters were proven right when the 59-year-old coach with a history of health problems accepted the St. Louis University basketball coaching job in late April.  When his name was mentioned as a candidate for the Gopher job supporters said he would be a great hire, while doubters countered that Majerus wasn’t interested in a return to college coaching. 

Canterbury Park has a new promotion, Extreme Race Day on July 22 involving camel and ostrich races.   

Did you know America’s three most popular sports in the first half of the 20^th century were baseball, boxing and horseracing? 

Tickets, ranging in price from $102 to $32, are on sale for the Matt Vanda–Kenny Kost 10 round middleweight fight scheduled for Friday, June 15 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the auditorium box office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 651-989-5151.

With veteran Brad Johnson long gone since last season and backup-labeled Brooks Bollinger as the main competition, it looks like Tarvaris Jackson is the Vikings starting quarterback in 2007.  How that works out for Jackson may have a lot to do with the way he’s coached. 

That’s the opinion of former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton, now a pro football media analyst.  Dalton is an admirer of Jackson, the second year quarterback who played in four late season games in 2007.  His numbers looked like this: 81 pass attempts, 47 completions, two touchdown passes and four interceptions.  

In fairness to Jackson, not only was he a rookie looking for experience, but he was leading a team ending a disappointing season.  He started the last two games, both losses, as the Vikings worked their way to a 6-10 season.  He showed a strong arm, quick release and ability to scramble. 

“He didn’t really bring a big rally in the last couple of games of the year, but I think what his teammates and coaches respect is his incredible work ethic,” Dalton said.  “Not just physically in the weight room and out on the field, but his study habits and all the intensity he puts into the game.  He truly is developing himself as a student of the game and he has a fabulous attitude about learning, and kind of a natural innate leadership skill.  So he’s unproven and that’s why there’s still skepticism until he goes out on the field and produces and leads the team to success. But he has all the tools and intangibles to do just that.” 

Two years ago Jackson was playing for Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference against teams like Alcorn State and Grambling State.  Now he’s in the NFL facing teams like the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.  Can he successfully transition from Division I-AA to the graduate level of the NFL?  Questions will include whether he has the ability to read defenses correctly and make changes. 

“He doesn’t lack the ability to do it (read defenses),” Dalton said.  “He lacks the repetition of the experiences of doing it.  He hasn’t been out there. … Everything is faster (than college).  Everything changes drastically and he’s not prepared for the nuances of pre-snap reads and making adjustments during the course of the four to five seconds of play as it unfolds in front of him. So that can only happen with experience. …” 

Dalton thinks Jackson can have a successful year in reading defenses and other decision making.  “I think it’s realistic if the coaching staff…make sure they don’t put too much on his plate,” Dalton said.  “They have to make sure they simplify their very complex offensive system to the level where he can go out and execute the system.  I think if they give him too much or rely on him too much that could be trouble.   

“I would like to see the Minnesota Vikings especially (after) adding (first round pick) Adrian Peterson to the stable of running backs… establishing themselves as a running team and simplifying the passing offense to the level where he can go out and execute it successfully, and not relying on him too much and giving him too much, too soon.” 

Dalton, who has been excelling at media work nationally and locally including for FSN North, made a point about Ben Roethlisberger’s success as a rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 when he won every regular season game he started.  “They (the Vikings) need to rely on Tarvaris Jackson to manage the offense and not to carry the offense,” Dalton said.  “And that will be incumbent on the coaches to do that.  The reason Roethlisberger had so much success as a rookie was that they established a strong running game and relied on play action passing and didn’t force situations and scenarios and, of course, they also had an outstanding defense.”