Author: David Shama

Tight end Jim Kleinsasser is in his eighth season with the Vikings.  Except for Matt Birk,  he has more continuous service with the team than any player on the roster.  Last week he was asked to appraise the 2006 team and how good the season will be. 

“That’s something we’re trying to figure out ourselves,” he said. “We’ve got tons of talent, got a system in place, (it’s) just a matter of showing up on Sunday and taking care of business. That’s the biggest thing. Any day you can beat anybody and any day you can get beat by anybody. So you just have to come every week and hope things pan out.” 

Kleinsasser said with a new coaching staff and system the team is still trying to find its identity.  In the past, he said, the Vikings made a habit of “shooting themselves in the foot” by making mistakes.  Now the Vikings are making progress in not beating themselves, he added. 

Kleinsasser, 29, has only caught six passes this season but said his health is good.  He missed most of the 2004 season with a knee injury.  “I am all right,” he said.  “I am just getting old.  The body doesn’t jump back as quick at it used to.”

Asked to evaluate his play Kleinsasser said, “It’s doesn’t really matter what I think about anything.  It’s what the guys upstairs (coaches, front office) think.”

The Vikings have nine remaining opponents on their schedule.  Those teams have a combined record of 23 wins, 35 losses.  Eliminate the Bears’ 7-0 record and the Vikings’ opponents are 16 and 35. 

Why didn’t the Vikings draft former Gopher Laurence Maroney, a Rookie of the Year candidate with New England?  Just a guess but a home town player is so nearby the organization may see more of his faults than players elsewhere.

Maroney on his biggest adjustment to playing in the NFL:  “Reading defenses is about the hardest for me.  Just going out there and reading the defenses and seeing where everybody else is lined up.”

The Gophers announced an attendance of 62,845 for the North Dakota State game on October 21.   Until September 5, anyone who wanted to buy a ticket for that game also had to purchase a ticket to the Iowa game on November 18.  Athletic Director Joel Maturi e-mailed that about 4,500 of the two-game package tickets were sold. 

Ann Carroll, Fox Sports North reporter and anchor, is the sister of former KARE 11 sportscaster Steve Carroll.  Ann, a graduate of Edina High School, came to Minneapolis to work for FSN in July after spending four years in St. Louis.

Fred Hoiberg, recently named a Timberwolves assistant general manager, said the team receives inquiries about trading Kevin Garnett.  “He’s talked about a lot,” Hoiberg said. “People call and say, ‘is he available?’ And we say, ‘no,’ and we move on.” 

Rumors of a Garnett trade have increased this year as the team struggled on the court.  At 30 and with a mega contract, speculation the Wolves will trade their super star is understandable.  In theory such a trade might not immediately return the Wolves to the playoffs after a two year absence but would help to build a title contender with young players and draft choices. 

“He’s not going anywhere,” Hoiberg said.  “Hopefully, he will retire as a Timberwolf.  You just can’t get equal value back for a player like him.” 

It’s no secret Garnett was frustrated with the team’s disappointing 33-49 record last season.  Someone said he looked like a player “carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.”   

Now as the Wolves ready themselves for their season opening game Wednesday night at Target Center, Garnett is rejuvenated.  Hoiberg said Garnett “had a great summer” and he talked about how the Wolves’ leader brought teammates together in August to practice for three hours a day.  Then he would host the players for dinner at his house.  Garnett was working at building team unity. 

“He’s in great spirits,” Hoiberg said.  “Right now he has a smile on his face again.  He looks like he is having fun playing basketball again. …I really see a good year out of him.” 

A Wolves player for two seasons, Hoiberg, 34, announced his retirement earlier this year.  He has had heart problems and he will use a pacemaker for the rest of his life.  “I have a 100% heart block so every time my heart beats it’s because of my pacemaker,” he said.  He can live a normal life except he can’t lift weights (concern with his aorta.)