Author: David Shama

 The “welcoming committee” will likely be friendly and probably forgiving when bad boy Randy Moss returns to the Metrodome on Monday night August 14. 

At least that’s the opinion of WCCO Radio’s Dark Star who scooped his media brethren forecasting the Moss trade to the Oakland Raiders weeks before it happened in 2005.

Star predicts applause for Moss, adding that fans loved the Viking wide receiver and don’t hold a grudge against him.  “He was the most exciting Viking ever to watch,” Star explained.

 Moss, 29, was a super star receiver with the Vikings but injuries and ineffective quarterback play produced a mediocre season in Oakland in 2005.   He holds the NFL record for most 1,000 yard seasons by a receiver in his first seasons, topping that mark in each of his first six years with the Vikings, according to statistics from Wikipedia encyclopedia.  Three times in his seven year career with the Vikings he caught 15 touchdown passes or more and entering this season his career average of 12 + touchdown passes per year is the best in NFL history. 

 He and Daunte Culpepper were going to become the two-some leading the Purple to the Super Bowl, or was it supposed to be Super Bowls?  Star was among their admirers.  “They were as good as I ever saw in my lifetime.  Nobody threw it up in the air better than he (Culpepper) did and nobody could get to it faster than Randy Moss could.  With Culpepper’s arm and Randy Moss’s speed and hands it was the best combination I ever saw.”

 Star had a solid source with the NFL who assured him there was interest in sending Moss to Oakland.  “We had this about a month before it happened and anytime you get the drop on Sid Hartman it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

 Why did the Vikings part with Moss?  Legions of fans can recite his troubles including exiting the field in 2004 before the game against the Washington Redskins ended. 

“I think he was traded because it was time for him to go somewhere else and earn his living,” Star said.  “I think you get to a point where you wear out your welcome.  He’s a gifted kid, a tough kid, a street kid.  He never got in a position where he was coachable to the point where they could handle him being around. And when they got to the end of it, I think they said I don’t care how much talent he’s got, he’s got to go.”

 The Raiders won four games last season and prospects for better results in 2006 may not be much better.  With all those seasons of NFL pounding, and maybe not as much desire, perhaps prospects for Moss are not so bright either. 

 Star said he feels sorry for Moss.  “Randy is probably cooked.  He might be at the end of it.  Sometimes the real good ones like Randy Moss they play for five-six years and all of a sudden they are not that interested in playing.  I don’t think this kid wants it as bad as he used to.  And he’s in a bad situation in Oakland and I just expect him to go dog city.”

Scott Simpson, in town for the 3M Championship, plays golf with St.  Paul Saints owner and movie star Billy Murray.  The two play together in the ATT& Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and recreationally.  

 Simpson said Murray plays to win but having fun is a priority, too.   A wisecrack may never be too far away and Simpson recalled the time a guy from the gallery called out the name of Murray’s high school.  “I hope you graduated,” the comedian responded.

 Simpson said the star of “Caddyshack” knows his golf.  “He was once an assistant groundskeeper,” Simpson recalled.

 The winner of the 1987 US Open, Simpson finished second here at Hazeltine in 1991.  Now the San Diego native is enjoying the champions tour including the 3M Tournament.

 Should we watch for Jack Nicklaus here at the 3M Championship anytime soon? “I don’t think he has played anywhere this year,” Simpson said.  “Jack and Arnie (Palmer) always seemed different to me.  Arnie loved to play. . . and I think Jack loved to win.  He loved to play but with the object being to win tournaments and stuff. . . I don’t see him playing much again.”

It was three years ago (August 11, 2003) that Herb Brooks, 66, was killed in an auto accident.   He was a friend for many years.  In 1980, shortly after he had coached the “Miracle on Ice” win over the Soviet Union, I asked him to speak at the banquet for the Minnesota high school all-star football players.   Even though Brooks was in demand and commanding large speaker fees, he wouldn’t accept any payment for being the featured speaker at the banquet.

 Dark Star talking about Red McCombs’ conservative spending while owning the Vikings.  “Red McCombs was not the greatest owner who ever lived.  He was one of the great car dealers of all time.” 

 Here’s a prediction the Packers will have the NFL defensive newcomer of the year in former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.   Whether you like the “cheeseheads” or not, you have to admire Hawk’s ability to cover the field and deliver a blow.   The Packers ranked seventh in total defense in the league last season but with ace defensive coordinator Jim Bates gone the guess here is that the performance slips.   And don’t think a lot of Packer fans are happy to see erratic Brett Favre return at quarterback, preferring to see the legend retire and a replacement developed.  

 Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, wasn’t interested in applying for the new position supervising the Twins baseball stadium.   His passion is multipurpose facilities such as the Metrodome and the executive director position of the Minnesota Ballpark Authority is initially only for three years.  

Condolences to KFAN talk show host and Canterbury Park announcer Paul Allen on the recent passing of his mother Shirley Smith. 

Geoff Young, the new Gopher men’s tennis coach, is the son-in-law of Coldwell Banker Burnet president Robin Peterson.   Her daughter Dana is married to Geoff and they were the women’s and men’s tennis coaches at Denver University.  Peterson’s son Derek, playing for Apple Valley High School, lost in the Class AA state tennis finals last spring.

 Bob Knight, the Texas Tech basketball coach, while in town for a fund-raiser this week, said on WCCO Radio that Star Tribune sports columnist Sid Hartman is the best ever at what he does.