Author: David Shama

Larry Fitzgerald was asked earlier this week if he might lobby ownership on behalf of much criticized coach Dennis Green (2-9 this season, 13-30 in three seasons coaching the Arizona Cardinals).  “I don’t know what the appropriate thing to do is,” Fitzgerald said.  “I think the best way to defend his name is to go out and play hard for him every Sunday.”

It’s a typical reaction for players to be loyal to their coaches but Fitzgerald, the 23- year- old wide receiver from Minneapolis, has ties to Green that are unusual.  Fitzgerald was a ball boy when Green coached the Vikings. He is appreciative too of the opportunity Green provided in Arizona where Fitzgerald developed into a Pro Bowl player after last season, his second in the NFL.  

Green and Fitzgerald’s father, Larry Sr., are friends.  Larry Sr. said he and Green talk weekly.  He considers Green one of his closest friends and wouldn’t speculate on the coach’s future with the Cardinals after Arizona lost to the Vikings on Sunday. 

With replacement names being discussed across the country, few observers would say it’s highly likely Green will return as coach.  Regardless of who coaches the team in the future, though, there is reason for optimism because of skill position players such as Fitzgerald and quarterback Matt Leinart. 

Fitzgerald missed three games this season with a hamstring injury.  Rookie Leinart was a contract holdout during preseason.  Because of their newness to one another, Fitzgerald said he and his quarterback are still working on their “chemistry.” 

He also indicated they will be together for a long time and will soon develop the connection gifted quarterbacks and wide receivers have for one another.  Fitzgerald and Leinart are both hold-your-breath performers who can make the outcome of a football game a last minute scene. 

That was what happened Sunday when the Cardinals were driving for a last minute potential winning touchdown against the Vikings.  Fitzgerald caught 11 passes for 172 yards in the game and was a threat on the last drive to give the Cardinals a victory. 

“There wasn’t anybody on that other sideline taking a sigh of relief as long as Larry was in the game and had the opportunity to make a play,” said Steve Loney, Cardinals offensive line coach.

Francisco Liriano, who will miss next season because of elbow surgery, is expected to receive a modest salary increase for 2007 to $350,000 or more, according to a major league baseball source.  Liriano reportedly earned $327,000 in his rookie season of 2006.  His salary is not eligible for arbitration until after the 2008 season. 

After finishing with three wins in the Big Ten Conference this fall, Glen Mason’s 10 year career conference record is 32-48.  The Gophers’ 2006 12-game schedule was considered one of the most difficult in the country.  Opponents had a combined record of 92-63. 

The leading active NFL coaches with the best winning percentages since 2000 in the month of November are Philadelphia’s Andy Reid and Indy’s Tony Dungy, the former Gopher quarterback and Viking defensive coordinator.  Dungy’s percentage is .758 (22-7); Reid .724 (21-8). 

Will much criticized wide receiver Troy Williams be given one more off-season to improve his pass catching before the Vikings decide whether to keep their No. 1 draft choice from 2005? 

More athletes could emulate Timberwolves center Mark Madsen who makes a noticeable effort to briefly stop and greet fans between the court and locker room on game nights at Target Center. 

Former Gopher football coach Murray Warmath will have his 94th birthday on December 26.  He coached the 1960 Gophers to the national championship and had a three year record from 1960-1962 of 22-6-1. 

Among the new books from Nodin Press in Minneapolis is “The Great Dan Patch and the Remarkable Mr. Savage.”  Author Tim Brady will appear at a book signing on Saturday, December 2 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Minnesota Historical Society.  The book tells the story of Minnesota’s famous pacing horse and resourceful owner.

Four years ago this week Dave St. Peter, then age 35, was named president of the Minnesota Twins.  In 17 years with the organization he has advanced from intern to president and helped steer the franchise through difficult times while winning division championships and seeing the dream of a new stadium become reality. 

Not bad for a guy from Bismarck, North Dakota who doesn’t turn 40 until January, majored in public relations in college and never aspired to be president of a major league baseball team (most baseball presidents have backgrounds in business, law or finance).  His “dream job” was to become the sports information director at a college.   

Instead of being on a college campus, St. Peter works about 365 days a year for the Twins overseeing strategic business planning and various departments including ticket sales, marketing, broadcasting, stadium operations and finance.  Twice during the last four years the Twins have been honored as the Organization of the Year by Baseball America. The Atlanta Sports Council recognized the Twins as the Professional Sports Organization of the Year in 2002.  St. Peter has been included on lists of who’s who among leaders under 40 years old. 

In the late 1980s he landed an internship with the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL.  From there he accepted an internship with the Twins.  While still an  intern he was presented a challenge and opportunity by the Twins.  Although he aspired to work for the team in public relations, he was offered a job managing the Twins’ retail store at the Hub Shopping Center in Richfield. 

St. Peter describes his willingness to accept the position as the “best decision” he ever made.  He went to the Hub with the attitude of showing the organization he deserved a public relations position in the team’s Metrodome offices.  Directing a retail operation provided valuable experience in management, staffing and customer relations. 

The retail experience advanced his career with the Twins, earning his way into a public relations position.  St. Peter said the organization’s willingness to promote from within has contributed to his advancement over the years, too.

“When a front office person leaves, we have a tendency not to go outside the organization. …and in some ways my success with the Twins is all about that,” he said during a recent interview with Sports Headliners.