Author: David Shama

Pro tennis exhibitions were held at Xcel Energy Center in 2002, 2003 and 2004.  General manager Jack Larson told Sports Headliners he remains interested in more exhibitions.  Larson said there’s been discussion about an exhibition between legends Pete Sampras and John McEnroe but an agreement hasn’t been made. 

Roger Federer?  “We would be interested if the financials are attractive enough,” Larson said.

He also said in 2005 Xcel looked at Federer but the “price” was too high.  Larson’s intent now is to see if it’s possible to bring the man who has won seven of the last eight Grand Slam events here for an exhibition. 

The problem is tennis’ biggest stars don’t play many exhibitions and their guaranteed asking prices are often more than promoters are willing to risk.  Federer appeals to both the passionate and casual tennis fans here.

In his championship singles run at the Australian Open earlier this year the phenomenal Federer didn’t even lose a set!  He has now won 10 Grand Slam titles and his triumphs include being the only player ever to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon three consecutive years. 

Count former University of Minnesota player and coach Jerry Noyce among those in awe of the 25- year-old Swiss native.  “The best athlete of our time in any sport,” Noyce said.  “No one has dominated his sport as he has.  He probably has played against as strong a field (of competition) as anyone ever has.” 

Who is the most attractive box office opponent for Federer here?  Make it Sampras, a great player who because he is 10 years older never developed a rivalry with Federer.

Noyce said Sampras has announced he will be playing 35 and over tennis.  Sampras’ skills and ticket selling appeal are vibrant enough to make him Federer’s opponent here.  Sampras won a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles.

Past headliners in exhibitions at Xcel have included Anna Kournikova, Andy Roddick, and McEnroe.

Anyone who knows basketball understands success is predicated on effective point guard play.  No question the performance of Timberwolves’ point guards Mike James and Randy Foye will determine whether the team makes the playoffs this year for the first time since 2004. 

So far neither James nor Foye have consistently played like point guards who can transform the Wolves from their malaise of .500 basketball.  The Wolves’ play during the first half of the season has been characterized by losing close games, not winning against inferior teams and inconsistent team performance.  A careless pass, a misguided dribble, even stepping out of bounds at a game determining moment has too often defined the Wolves’ point guards.  A problem, too, is that neither James nor Foye has inspired much praise as a defender. 

Evidence of the team’s frustrations with losing close games is dramatized by the record since Randy Wittman became coach on January 23.  The Wolves are 2-5 under Wittman with four losses by three points or less. 

The opportunity remains for James and Foye to make the Wolves better.   But will it happen? Although James was a coveted off-season free agent acquisition, talk is that Toronto, his former team, wanted to change him from a starter (he averaged 20.3 points, 5.8 assists last season) to a reserve.  As the Wolves’ starting point guard his play and statistics (11.1 points, 4.1 assists) have been mostly underwhelming and his star season with Toronto looks more like an aberration than a sign of results to come.   

Foye, the team’s No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, understandably plays at times like the rookie he is, making mistakes in judgment and execution that cause problems.  His stats (8.9 points, 2.5 assists per game) are somewhat impressive when compared with others in the NBA’s 2006-07 rookie class but they aren’t of the quality that will fast track the team to the playoffs.   

Neither James or Foye are highly creative playmakers, the kind of players who look like they will ever stir comparisons with Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, and, yes, former Timberwolf Stephon Marbury, the best Wolves point guard ever.  James or Foye can’t play with flash but by simply improving their shooting, setting up their teammates and providing solid leadership, including in game deciding moments, they can give the Wolves a better chance to win (example: see former Timberwolf Chauncey Billups in Detroit).

A USA Today feature last week on Tony Dungy described the Super Bowl coach’s temper problem as a youth in Jackson, Michigan.  As a student spectator at a University of Minnesota basketball game at Williams Arena, Dungy and Purdue coach Fred Schaus engaged in a surprising argument.  Dungy is now as highly regarded as a person as he is a coach. 

The Vikings hold the record for the fewest net yards gained in the Super Bowl, 119 against Pittsburgh in 1975.  Better known is that the Purple and Buffalo, both 0-4, have the worst Super Bowl records. 

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote the following last week:  “Several NFL people have expressed skepticism about whether Daunte Culpepper—whose decision-making and ability to make quick reads have been questioned—will be a good fit for Cam Cameron’s offense.”  (Note: Cameron is the Miami Dolphins new head coach who was an assistant with San Diego and once was head coach at the University of Indiana where his record was 18-37).    

General consensus now is the Timberwolves are enjoying the better of their trade with the Celtics last winter.  The Wolves have two players who became starters, Ricky Davis and Mark Blount, while the Celtics’ Wally Szczerbiak has missed time because of injury and since returning to the team has been a sub.  Davis and Blount, at 16.1 and 13.3 points per game, are the Wolves’ second and third leading scorers.   Szczerbiak averages 15.9 points per game. 

Former Gopher wide receiver Lewis Garrison refereed his first Division I basketball game late last month.  A college referee for eight years working in conferences such as the MIAC, Garrison officiated the Division I game in Fargo on January 28 between North Dakota State and Utah Valley State.