Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Vikes Get a Potential ‘Difference Maker’ Back With T.J. Return

Posted on October 27, 2024October 27, 2024 by David Shama

The Vikings, now with two consecutive losses after starting the season at 5-0, will get a potential boost in playmaking when tight end T.J. Hockenson makes his 2024 debut in the team’s next game—Sunday, November 3 at home against the Colts.

Hockenson hasn’t played since Christmas Eve of last year when he severely injured his knee with ACL and MCL tears. It’s been a long stretch of rehab and recovery after reconstructive surgery.

Anticipation was Hockenson might return last Sunday against the Lions or Thursday night for the Rams game. Unless something unusual happens, November 3 should see the return of the 27-year-old who prior to the season Pro Football Focus ranked as the fourth best tight end in the NFL.

T.J. Hockenson image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

An authority who was a front office leader with a couple of NFL teams emphasized the importance of having the sixth-year veteran on the field with his pass catching and running ability. “I think he might have been a difference maker (against the Lions),” he said. “(Sub) Johnny Mundt had a bad game. He had two holding penalties, had a dropped pass. Missed a block on a screen.

“He’s been an okay replacement for Hockenson as that kind of receiving tight end. … I think he (Hockenson) can take pressure off (wide receivers Justin) Jefferson and (Jordan) Addison, can open things up in the running game. He could be a difference-maker. “

Seven games into the season injuries complicate and compromise how the Vikings perform. Linebacker Blake Cashman has missed the last two games because of a toe injury. The authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Cashman’s absence is significant while referring to the former Golden Gopher as having a “Pro Bowl caliber season” and being a player “that kind of controls the middle of the field.”

Cashman’s availability for the Colts is TBD, but not for star offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw who suffered ACL and MCL tears in the Rams game and is out for the season. Replacement David Quessenberry struggled to keep pass rushers away from Viking QB Sam Darnold.

The season debut of Dalton Risner could help the offensive line outlook. Expected to be available for the Colts game after recovering from a back issue, Risner can play multiple positions on the offensive line. The same is true of starting left guard Blake Brandel whose career starts include time at left tackle.

Risner could slide into left guard while Brandel switches positions. Before Darrisaw’s injury it was thought Risner might provide competition for right guard Ed Ingram who has his critics. “He still has his struggles at times, but he is a pretty good run blocker,” the source said.

The Vikings coaches are likely sorting out multiple options for shuffling the o-line. Rookie Walter Rouse, a sixth-round selection, was impressive in the preseason and could move into the starting lineup. Possibly at right tackle with Brian O’Neill sliding over to fill Darrisaw’s spot?

The Vikings were talking about better execution after both the Lions and Ram games. Even with Darrisaw, and the team’s other potential Pro Bowl tackle, O’Neill, the offensive line has been part of the problem with its false starts and giving up sacks.

The Vikings, who didn’t give up 30 points in any of their first five games, have now lost games by scores of 31-29 and 30-20. Against the Rams, Minnesota had no sacks and few quarterback pressures.

Will GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah be shopping before the November 5 trade deadline? Looking for cornerback help, or offensive and defensive line additions. The Vikings don’t have much in future draft capital with only one first round and two fifth round picks for 2025.

A rumor with steam is the Vikings could trade for Dexter Lawrence II, the Giants’ defensive tackle who is among the best at his position in the NFL. The possibility enthralls Minnesota fans, but the source quoted here pours cold water on it. “Yeah, I think they’re dreaming.“

His reasoning? Yes, the 2-5 Giants are in free-fall and look to be rebuilding. But the club has Lawrence on a contract that reportedly has a value of about $22 million per year and getting rid of him would still leave the Giants responsible for “dead money”—meaning bonus money from the contract would go against the New York salary cap.

The source also sees Lawrence as “maybe their best player” and a rebuilding piece for the struggling franchise.

A more likely move to plug up holes in the defensive line could be a trade with the 1-6 Browns to bring back 6-3, 335-pound Dalvin Tomlinson. Now 30, Tomlinson was outstanding for the Vikings before signing with the Browns as a free agent in 2023 and might be available for a 2025 fifth round pick.

Worth Noting

Dallas Turner, before the season a favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year, is playing minimal snaps. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Turner is progressing in his development and “I think he’s going to make a big-time impact for us.”

The Big Ten’s reputation takes a hit in the preseason AP men’s college basketball national rankings. Despite expanding to 18 member schools, the league’s highest ranked team is Purdue at No. 4. Three other teams in the top 25 are: Indiana at 17, UCLA 22, and Rutgers 25.

Former Gopher Cam Christie, not unexpectedly, hasn’t played in the Clippers’ first two games. The 2024 NBA second round draft pick will be a developmental player just like former Gopher and Hopkins star Amir Coffey was, but now sees regular minutes for the Clippers. After two games Coffey is averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Former Twins outfielder Brent Rooker ranked No. 5 in the majors last season with a barrel rate of 16.6 percent, per an Mlb.com story last week. Barrel is a slugging stat that measures exit velocity from a batted ball and launch angle.

Ahead of Rooker in percentage are four players in the World Series: Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton.

Stew Thornley, the Minnesota-based author of many sports books, visited the grave of former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in Whittier, California earlier this month. At one time Thornley had visited the graves of every baseball hall of famer. There are now about 10 that he hasn’t.

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Bet on Taylor Short-term to Remain in Control of Wolves

Posted on October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 by David Shama

The Timberwolves open their regular season schedule tonight against the Lakers in Los Angeles with ownership of the franchise expected to be resolved in the next few months. A source with extensive pro sports ownership experience, speaking on condition that his name not be published, predicted current owner Glen Taylor will retain control of the Wolves and Lynx after the early 2025 resolution—but that may not be true a year from now.

Taylor is in litigation with potential majority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. The dispute is about whether Lore and Rodriquez met the obligations of a drawn-out sales process that began in 2021. A three-person arbitration panel (based in Minnesota) is expected to rule on the majority ownership in November.

Even if the panel rules in favor of Lore and Rodriguez, there will need to be a sale approval by the NBA. There are two reasons why the source believes the league will favor Taylor’s continued control of the NBA and WNBA franchises.

One is the familiarity and relationships NBA’s owners have with Taylor. He has owned the Wolves since 1994 when he bought the franchise for a reported $88 million. He founded the Lynx in 1999. Taylor has served on the league’s Board of Governors and knows commissioner Adam Silver well. The Wolves and Lynx have been stable franchises financially over the decades, while questions have been raised about the financial wherewithal of Lore and Rodriguez who in June reportedly reached agreement with billionaire Michael Bloomberg to join their group.

The second factor, seemingly in Taylor’s favor, is the litigation involves the original agreed upon sale price of $1.5 billion. Since the time that figure was decided, the value of NBA franchises has more than doubled. League owners don’t want to set a precedent of below market value for franchises, knowing that impacts their businesses.

Taylor, 83, has been showing interest for years in moving on from ownership. “I can see him (eventually) selling 50 percent of the franchise to Bloomberg,” the source said.

In that scenario the sale amount would be a market price well over $3 billion for the two franchises. Bloomberg becomes the majority owner at say a controlling 51 percent, while Lore and Rodriguez could keep what’s believed to be their present 36 percent or they might be bought out at a considerable profit. Taylor might want and accept five or 10 percent ownership, joining other small owners who have been part of his group in the past.

Worth Noting

The Timberwolves finalized their 17-man roster late yesterday with the most notable change from a year ago the absence of forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns who had played with the club for nine seasons. The youngest player on the roster is 19-year-old first round rookie guard Rob Dillingham. The oldest Wolves are guard Mike Conley and forward Joe Ingles, both 37.

Towns, traded this fall to the Knicks, will play for his new team tonight against the World Champion Celtics. The game is part of a nationally televised doubleheader on TNT that also includes the Wolves-Lakers game. With forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo, the two former Knicks debuting for the Wolves, the doubleheader will be a focus of national interest.

The Wolves are title contenders along with multiple other teams including the Thunder whose star players include Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren. The 7-foot-1 power forward-center averaged 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds last season, his first in the NBA. Holmgren, 22, could one day join a short list of native Minnesotans who played for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

Burdette Haldorson, an Austin, Minnesota native, played collegiately at Colorado and was a member of the 1956 and 1960 gold medal winning American basketball teams.

Lou Nanne, who had successful back surgery in July, is ready to resume playing golf in Florida, his second home. He’s had two holes-in-one over the years, with the most recent last year in the sunshine state.

The Minnesota hockey icon, long respected in the local business community, told Sports Headliners he has no interest, or the intention of being part of a group to buy the Twins.

Nanne predicts a healthy Wild team will make the playoffs. “Love what (Filip) Gustavsson is doing,” he said about the Wild’s hot goalie who has helped the team to a 3-0-2 season start.

The Wild plays at the Panthers tonight, facing a team Minnesota swept in two games last season. Florida, the defending Stanley Cup champs, is Nanne’s pick to win the NHL again.

Kevin Sumlin is on the staff of the Maryland football team that plays the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. The former Gopher assistant coach and head coach at Texas A & M and Arizona is associate head coach to Mike Locksley.

Minnesota, 4-3, is about a four-point favorite against the Terps who have the same record. This could be the last time the Gophers are favored in their remaining games, with matchups against Illinois, Rutgers, Penn State and Wisconsin remaining.

With membership in the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, alumni can save 25 percent on tickets for the Homecoming game against the Terps.

It wouldn’t be surprising if during the offseason the Gophers landed a center transfer in the portal allowing talented sophomore Greg Johnson from Prior Lake to switch back to guard where he played as a true freshman.

Happy 81^st birthday today to Minnesota sports icon Dick Jonckowski! His many honors include going into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame last month.

On Thursday Harvey Mackay, the longtime Gophers and University of Minnesota supporter, celebrates his 92^nd birthday. Former Gophers football coach Lou Holtz writes the foreword in Mackay’s new book, You Haven’t Hit Your Peak Yet!

A communicator and motivator extraordinaire, Mackay is a leading inspirational speaker, syndicated newspaper columnist and seven-times New York Times best-selling author. Among his treasured experiences was playing golf at the U for legendary coach Les Bolstad.

A focus for the Vikings Thursday night in Los Angeles will be stopping Rams running back Kyren Williams. He has a rushing touchdown in nine consecutive games including two on Sunday in a 20-15 win over the Raiders.

In their win over the Vikings last Sunday, the Lions took advantage of missing linebacker Blake Cashman who was out with a toe injury. The Vikings need his tackling and steady presence in the middle of the field against the Rams and future opponents. His availability for Thursday night hasn’t been announced.

The 2-4 Rams and 5-1 Vikings are likely to see the return of star receivers who have been out with injuries—wide receiver Cooper Kupp for Los Angeles and tight end T.J. Hockenson for Minnesota.

The game will be televised nationally by Prime and seen locally on Fox 9.

Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has 6,430 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2020. He is chasing the league’s all-time leaders through five seasons. Only Terry Holt with 6,784 yards and former Viking Randy Moss, at 6,473, had more receiving yards in their first five seasons.

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Put the Lions Down as ‘1A’ & Label Vikings ‘1B’ after Today

Posted on October 20, 2024October 21, 2024 by David Shama

It was entertaining and it was close. And it was the Vikings’ first loss of the season in a game where they were outplayed (slightly) by the Lions.

The Lions showed at least for now they’re the “1A team” in the NFC North and perhaps the entire NFC. Give the Vikings the “1B label” in the division with both teams owning 5-1 records and sharing first place in the North after today’s 31-29 Detroit win at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minnesota’s offense could produce only two touchdowns against the Lions defense. The Vikings had three field goals by flawless rookie kicker Will Reichard and a defensive TD run of 36 yards by linebacker Ivan Pace. Pace’s score put the Vikings ahead 29-28 with just under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings, though, couldn’t convert on a two-point attempt after Pace’s six points. And even more crucial the offense couldn’t take time off the clock when it went three and out late in the fourth quarter, prior to the Lions marching down the field to set up their winning field goal of 44 yards by Jake Bates with 15 seconds remaining.

The Lions had put themselves in a first quarter hole when a failed fake punt gave Minnesota the ball on Detroit’s 34-yard line. Shortly after, RB Aaron Jones ran 34 yards TD to put Minnesota up 6-0. Reichard converted the extra point and later in the quarter the Vikings went up 10-0 with his 57-yard field goal.

The Viking defense, like the offense, was spotty in a game where Lions running back Jaymyr Gibbs ran for 116 yards on 15 carries including two touchdowns. Detroit QB Jared Goff, often frustrating the Vikings’ famed blitz efforts, was 22 of 25 for 280 yards and two touchdown passes. The Lions, during the second and third quarters, put together four consecutive series where they scored touchdowns.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Viking head coach Kevin O’Connell talking on KFAN Radio after the game said there were too many “self-inflicted” things that impacted execution and cost his team the win. It was penalties and other failures including an illegal formation on the next to the last play of the game that pushed the Vikings even further out of miracle field goal range. With all the faith O’Connell has in Reichard (12 of 12 on field goals this season), he knew that about 70 yards was asking a lot.

The Vikings can feel better about themselves quickly because they are in Los Angeles Thursday night to play the Rams. That starts a schedule of games against the Rams, Colts, Jaguars and Titans. Those clubs have a combined record of 7-16 and their pedigrees pale in comparison to “1A”—a Super Bowl favorite who barely escaped with a win today in Minneapolis.

Gophers & College Football Notes

Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman finds it “incredible” to see the high-level true freshman Gopher Koi Perich is playing at. “He’s going to be a superstar by the time he graduates so I am happy for him,” Cashman told Sports Headliners.

Cashman was a walk-on with the Gophers after Eden Prairie High School and became a 2018 second team All-Big Ten linebacker. He is acquainted with Perich who has impressed with his play at safety and on special teams, already receiving Big Ten Conference and national awards. “…I got a chance to meet him. He seems like a great young man with a good head on his shoulders. So, he’s got a bright future.”

There’s been speculation Perich eventually might receive the opportunity to play on offense, running or catching the football—or both. “That would be amazing,” Cashman said. “You don’t often see that. That would be cool.”

Condolences to family and friends of Dick Larson who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Dick was a prominent quarterback for the Gophers in 1956 and 1957. The Roosevelt High School alum was a favorite of head coach Murray Warmath and Dick was an assistant coach for Warmath from 1958-1965.

Warmath and Dick were like father and son. He looked after Warmath’s affairs up until the time the national championship coach died in 2011 at age 98.

Dick had a sharp football mind and was highly personable. If he had stayed with coaching, instead of committing to a long business career, he might have been a great college head coach.

Members were beaming last week at the Twin Cities Dunkers program when 103-year-old Tom Swain, the oldest Dunker, came to hear new University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham. Swain, still sharp and remembering friends, was the first academic advisor for athletics at the U.

There are 618 athletes on the Gophers 22 sports teams this school year, with close to an even female-male split.

Undergraduate newcomers at the U Twin Cities campus total about 10,000 this fall, a source told Sports Headliners. That’s the highest such total, he said, since right after World War II. About 7,800 are freshmen, with the balance being transfers.

It was five years ago that LSU was making its way toward the national championship, eventually finishing 15-0 with a domination of foes that prompted admirers to say the Tigers are the greatest team in college football history. Vikings guard Ed Ingram told Sports Headliners that team could have won “one or two NFL games.”

“Great everything (offense, defense, special teams), we put everything together,” said Ingram who was on that LSU team with Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Joe Burrow, now a franchise record setter with the NFL Bengals.

Indiana is the envy of every fan who annually supports a hapless college football team. The Hoosiers, mostly a football graveyard forever, are 7-0, top 20 ranked and setting school records. Their season is a result of superb coaching, an influx of talented and experienced transfers and ideal scheduling.

First-year coach Curt Cignetti, 63, had been a big winner at lower stops before he reached Indiana and the Big Ten. Upon arrival he said: “I am excited to lead this program forward and change the culture, mindset, and expectation level of Hoosier football.”

And, man, has he. With a roster that includes transfers from his previous stop at James Madison, the players have responded to the demands of their coaches and executed at a high level. It’s also been a confidence builder that the nonconference foes were FIU (2-5), Western Illinois (3-4) and Charlotte (3-4). The Big Ten schedule, after four games, includes two teams with overall records above .500—Nebraska at 5-2 and Maryland, 4-3.

Vanderbilt, with its improbable 2024 win over then No. 1 ranked Alabama, is another “believe in miracles” story with beloved former Golden Gophers head coach Jerry Kill playing a big role. Kill is senior offensive advisor and chief consultant to head coach Clark Lea who led his Commodores over Alabama in one of the most notable upsets in college football history. Vandy’s drama specialist is quarterback hero Diego Pavia who played for New Mexico State last year when Kill was head coach there.

Aggie fans learned about miracles in 2023 when New Mexico State, historically even a worse program than Indiana or Vandy, defeated Auburn on the Tigers’ home field in another upset for the ages. Vandy is off to a 5-2 start to the season.

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