Author: David Shama

In a recent interview with Sports Headliners, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor discussed Kevin Garnett including his possible future with the team.  Taylor includes Garnett, 30, among the best players in the league, and while he indicated his super star forward will remain with the team he didn’t say a trade is out of the question.  Taylor also thinks Garnett can provide more team leadership. 

The prospect of the Wolves missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season is extremely frustrating to Garnett and Taylor.  Garnett has voiced some criticism about the franchise but hasn’t been outspoken and Taylor believes Garnett wants to remain a Timberwolf.  Taylor’s opinion is based on a presumed buy-in from Garnett that the Wolves can build a better team around him soon, and that Garnett’s mega salary demands narrows the list of teams who could add him to their rosters and those teams may not be better than the Wolves on the court. 

Taylor seems more interested in building around Garnett than trying to trade him.  He talked about how trading Garnett could dictate adding three more young players in addition to Wolves rookies Randy Foye and Craig Smith, and second year player Rashad McCants.  “Then you’re saying that’s a commitment for another few years if you’re going to do that,” Taylor said. “But we’ll look at all things. …” 

Taylor values his relationship with Garnett.  He and his group of investors took ownership of the franchise in 1995, the same year Garnett joined the team after being drafted out of high school.  “I would say Kevin has been very up front with me and talks to me about all his feelings,” Taylor said.  “When he is upset with something…he doesn’t hold back, he tells me.  …” 

How does Taylor assess Garnett?  “There’s two parts,” he answered.  “No. 1 is that without question you take just a handful of people (in the NBA) and Kevin is in that top group.  Are there ways that Kevin could still do better?  Team wise, other things wise?  There’s still room for improvement on Kevin.” 

Asked to be more specific, Taylor said if a team has problems coming together as a unit than the “leader of the team has some of that responsibility on their shoulders.”  Taylor is looking for answers and everyone is accountable, particularly leaders in the organization. “I don’t think you can have a team that hasn’t lived up to its potential and just go around and say all that blame is on (vice president Kevin) McHale,” Taylor said.  “I think that blame has got to be on a number of people who are in leadership. …I think KG will be challenged and looked to (to) improve and help bring along younger guys and stuff like that.  I don’t think it’s a lack of effort on his part but I think it’s a learning experience.” 

Taylor said one answer to improving team chemistry could be to add the type of player who can share a leadership role with Garnett.

Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos coach, attended Gopher football practice yesterday and spoke to the team.  “He is the best coach in the world today,” Gopher coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners Tuesday.  Brewster was an assistant on Shanahan’s staff before becoming Minnesota coach. 

Former Minnesota North Stars executive Lou Nanne describes Patrick White of Grand Rapids as a “terrific hockey player.”  White, a Gopher recruit, has been named the Associated Press state Player of the Year.  “White’s got unbelievable skill to handle the puck along the boards, in the corners,” said Nanne.  “He’s got great balance.  He’s really heady and he can shoot the puck.  He’s just a terrific all around player.” 

Since 2004 the Twins’ Joe Nathan ranks third in saves among major league relief pitchers with 123.  Mariano Rivera of the Yankees and Trevor Hoffman of the Padres each have 130. 

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who led the major leagues last season in hitting from June 8 with a .362 average, had 94 two-out RBI’s in 2006, the best total in the American League. 

Viking football players began off-season conditioning at Winter Park Monday and will continue through mid-May.

Except for perhaps “American Idol,” many people will tell you the hottest viewing on TV is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  For me, “Idol” gets my vote every time. Why? Fewer commercials. 

Among the discerning, Division I college basketball is a game with flaws that need fixing.  Doesn’t matter whether it’s the NCAA tournament or regular season, college hoops should be a better game to watch and play. 

The frequency and length of the TV timeouts is abominable.  Every four minutes a TV timeout is imposed so that networks and athletic departments can line their pockets with money.  Not only can you count on the TV timeouts, but it’s pretty likely, too, the coaches will call one or two timeouts during these four minute periods.  In a span of five minutes real time we can be “treated” to three commercial breaks! 

The result is college games don’t have much non-stop action and that’s an affront to the beauty of basketball.  For participant and spectator alike, basketball is best played and watched during multiple minutes of uninterrupted action.  Instead of a game that flows, too often we see a product that seems like a tease to make us watch a tiresome babble of advertising messages. 

While the takeover of college basketball by the TV bean counters and Madison Avenue creative teams is a relatively new development, NCAA hoops is also off its game with the five foul rule for disqualification.  First, the college game is over officiated and too many fouls are called, particularly violations close to the basket where more contact should be green light, not red light.  Second, fans come to see the best players compete, not watch them spend inordinate amounts of time on the bench because of fouls.   

Ohio State and other Big Ten Conference basketball fans can tell you about the numerous games this season when they watched freshman phenom Greg Oden be charged with early first half fouls and then sit on the bench.  It will likely be no different for Oden, Texas superstar Kevin Durant and other star players during the NCAA tournament.  Gee, do I turn on these games to watch the likes of Oden and Durant, or do I view them to see a second stringer? Please, change from five fouls to six and loosen up the calls.   

College basketball could be improved, too, by adding four minutes to its games. Use two 22-minute halves, or four quarters with periods of 11 minutes each.  Keep the same darn number of TV commercials (please, don’t add any) and spread the ads over more minutes than presently available with two 20-minute halves.  We’re probably dreaming on this next one, but reduce the coaches’ allotment of game timeouts from five to four.  The longer games will provide more entertainment for fans, a better flowing game for spectators and players, and perhaps more playing opportunity for reserves.