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.

‘Brutal’ Waiting on Tiger for 3M Open

Posted on June 9, 2019June 9, 2019 by David Shama

Hollis Cavner runs the 3M Open and just like other Minnesota golf fans he’s anxious to know whether Tiger Woods will play in the new PGA Tournament July 1-7 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

“He does not tell anybody until the Friday before,” Cavner said in an interview with Sports Headliners. “He never commits. It’s just the way he is, except for the majors. He commits to the majors. It’s brutal having to wait.”

Cavner has a home in Jupiter, Florida. That is the area where the 43-year-old Woods, who has earned a spot on “golf’s Mount Rushmore,” also resides. The Woods is the name of Tiger’s restaurant in Jupiter where Cavner is a customer.

“Go to The Woods and you run into Tiger quite a bit,” Cavner said. “He’s…very friendly (and) says ‘hi’ to everybody. It’s kind of cool to go to his restaurant and see him.”

Of course, Cavner’s patronage of the restaurant and friendly relationship with Woods won’t guarantee an appearance at TPC Twin Cities. The 15-time majors champ has long been unpredictable as to the tour events he stops at and with a history of physical issues he can be more selective than ever now while choosing to focus on the biggest of challenges like The Masters which he won in April.

The 3M Open already has commitments from some of golf’s biggest names including Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson. Koepka is the No. 1 player in the world, having won four majors in less than two years and setting scoring records.

“It’s incredible,” Cavner said. “There’s a ton of buzz about Koepka. He’s a phenomenon. You think about it, nobody has done what he has done (of late). The only person who has done anywhere close to that is Tiger.”

Mickelson at almost 49 years old is in the late stages of a brilliant career that includes winning five majors. He will be a favorite to watch along with players such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day and Patrick Reed. Minnesotans Tom Lehman and Tim Herron will also participate.

The 3M Open replaces the 3M Championship, the senior tournament played for years at TPC Twin Cites. Cavner, whose Pro Links Sports company manages PGA Tournaments and corporate golf events, said the course setup at TPC will be much more challenging than in the past when the 3M Championship was planned as “a birdie fest.”

“This is going to be set up a lot more difficult,” Cavner said. “A lot longer.”

3M Open organizers are looking for birdies but also “train wrecks,” Cavner said. There are going to be par fours of over 500 yards and also water challenges.

What about the greens? Cavner predicted they will be solid for putting. “I think we have the best greens around,” he said.

There was no spectator admission charge for the 3M Championship but there is for the new tournament. Yet, Cavner predicts attendance will double the old tournament total, with the final number of fans expected to be in the 180,000 to 200,000 range. Whether Woods plays, of course, will be a significant factor.

Cavner said some ticket packages are sold out and he estimated the total presale at 25,000 to 30,000. His staff has been working for months in organizing details for the 3M Championship.

The work and scope of the new tournament dwarfs Minnesota’s past pro golf experience. Cavner said his staff is working “daylight to dark” with arrangements for the 3M that will command over 46 hours of live TV coverage on the Golf Channel and the CBS Network, plus international coverage.

“I laughed about it the other day. Last year the media center for the 3M Championship was the size of where we feed the media this year,” Cavner said. “Our media center is four times the size (of last year).”

Cavner has a seven year commitment from the PGA for the 3M Open that can prove again Minneapolis-St. Paul is an exceptional golf town after wowing media and players with support of past events like the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. (Up next is the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship that begins June 18 at Hazeltine National.)

For Cavner, who was behind the Minnesota senior stop that started almost 30 years ago, these are exciting times. “I think this will probably be the most excitement of any of our events just because of how long it took to put it together, and it’s 28 years now. We’re very excited.”

Just imagine how excited Cavner will be if he receives good news from Tiger on Friday, June 28—just days before the tournament starts.

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Wolves Rosas Watch Offers Intrigue

Posted on June 6, 2019June 6, 2019 by David Shama

It’s going to be an interesting June and summer observing new Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas.

Rosas is on record about being aggressive and creative in running the Minnesota NBA franchise that has one playoff appearance since 2004. “One thing I’ll bring from Houston is we’re going to question the norm with everything that we do,” Rosas said at his news conference last month.

By reputation and appearance, Rosas is a confident and determined leader. “He thinks he is the smartest guy in the room,” said an NBA source who asked that his name not be used.

Northing wrong with being the “brightest bulb” in the organization, but that indicates Rosas is likely to have his imprint all over a franchise which again missed the playoffs in 2019. The source mentioned above and others believe Rosas, the former Houston Rockets vice president now in his first all-powerful assignment leading an NBA club, will be giving strong direction to everyone with the Wolves including 33-year-old head coach Ryan Saunders. It’s expected Rosas will have plenty to say about who are Saunders’ assistant coaches with vacancies already in place.

The Wolves have an NBA All-Star for the next 10 years in 23-year-old versatile center Karl-Anthony-Towns who impacts games at both ends of the floor. Despite a heavy payroll expected to pinch NBA salary cap restrictions, the rest of the team’s roster is nothing special and includes liabilities.

Rosas has personnel work to do starting with the June 20 NBA Draft where, other than center, the Wolves can benefit from selecting potential contributors in the first and second rounds. Rosas is known for his analytics background and maybe that experience will help him identify undervalued talent when the Wolves draft at No. 11 and No. 43 in the first and second rounds respectively.

Rosas’ expected aggressive style may result in draft night trades that could see his club changing positions in the selection process. Also, trades involving existing NBA players seem more than a possibility as the weeks progress from summer toward fall. It’s certainly plausible the club wants to move mediocre veterans Jeff Teague and Gorgui Dieng, who are among the more expensive players on the payroll.

After Towns, the Wolves have the most contract money tied up in 24-year-old Andrew Wiggins who was the first player chosen in the 2014 NBA Draft. Wiggins has been mostly disappointing during his Wolves career but the trade market might be too limited and club officials still too intrigued by his potential for Minnesota to give up on him this summer.

A smart move by coaches could be to give Wiggins a long look in training camp and early in the season at shooting guard. He has often been a small forward in his Wolves career but at 6-foot-8 and with superb athleticism, he might effectively exploit smaller defenders at shooting guard. The NBA mantra is take advantage of individual mismatches and the Wolves could be sitting on an opportunity with Wiggins who also needs to become more aggressive on the floor.

Almost six years ago the Dallas Mavericks hired Rosas as their general manager, reporting to the team’s head of basketball operations and owner. A few months later Rosas went back to the Rockets for reasons that are mostly unknown other than reportedly having differences with the Mavericks top decision makers.

This time there is no one above Rosas in the basketball department. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, one of the real gentlemen in the NBA, is most likely an easier guy to work for than flamboyant Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Still, the brief 2013 tenure of Rosas in Dallas just adds a bit of intrigue to the Rosas watch in Minneapolis this summer.

Worth Noting

A CBSsports.com article yesterday said an “advanced computer model” forecasts “under 9 wins” for the Vikings next season. The offensive line is seen as a major liability.

Timberwolves reserve forward Anthony Tolliver will be inducted into the Creighton University Athletics Hall of Fame August 24 in Omaha.

Mark Lundgren, the former Golden Valley football coach, remembers attending college at UMD when the Green Bay Packers trained there. After practice a crowd of young fans were waiting for the Packers players, hoping for autographs. Lundgren said a couple of the pricier Packers avoided the kids but not classy quarterback Bart Starr who spent about two hours greeting them and giving autographs. Starr, who died last month, was a hero’s hero—a great player, a better person.

University of Minnesota athletics director Mark Coyle, speaking at a Gopher fan event this week, said his program is No. 6 in the current Directors’ Cup standings that each academic year ranks the top performing NCAA sports programs across the country.

Talking at the same event, basketball coach Richard Pitino said the Gophers program hasn’t had a player drafted by the NBA since 2004. “We don’t want to be known for those records,” Pitino said.

Pitino is optimistic about his incoming recruiting class and said it’s been ranked as high as fourth best in the Big Ten. Among those getting attention is Isaiah Ihnen from Germany who is ranked a top 100 player. “I think if Isaiah were in the States he would probably be more like a top 50 recruit,” Pitino said. “That’s how talented he is.”

The Gophers have one more scholarship available for next season and speculation is it could go to North Texas transfer Ryan Woolridge, a guard who as a junior averaged 11.7 points, six rebounds and five assists last season. He would be expected to provide immediate impact next fall.

Paul Bunyan’s Axe was on display at the fan event held at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. The Gopher football team defeated Wisconsin to win the rivalry trophy last fall for the first time since 2003. It was also Minnesota’s first victory in Madison since 1994.

The Badgers have been among the elite programs in the Big Ten for years and when Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck spoke to the crowd at the Arboretum he made a bold statement about the surprise win in Madison. “Because that game, in my opinion, set the entire tone for the next two, three decades of Gopher football,” said the 38-year-old coach whose team beat the Badgers 37-15 and then defeated Georgia Tech 34-10 in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Fleck has verbal commitments for future recruiting classes that he referenced in front of the fans including the 2021 group that lists 247Sports four-star quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis from Illinois. That three-man 2021 class has been ranked so far as No. 4 in the nation by 247Sports.

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Amir Coffey’s Future a Mystery

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by David Shama

A pro basketball source who didn’t want his name printed was asked about the chances of Amir Coffey being selected in the second round of the June 20 NBA Draft.

“Slim,” he replied.

Coffey announced last week he will forego his senior season of eligibility with the University of Minnesota to play pro basketball. It might be that Coffey’s next basketball team will be part of the NBA’s player development league, or playing professionally overseas.

The source, whose career experiences include college and pro basketball, is unsure if Coffey will receive a free agent offer from an NBA club and then an assignment to the G League. His thinking is that if Coffey has the option of choosing between the development league and overseas, it’s to his benefit to be in the United States where he will be more visible to NBA franchises.

Coffey, 6-foot-8 and about 205 pounds while in college, is a multi-positional player who was among the Big Ten’s best in March, but during three seasons with the Golden Gophers he didn’t show consistent outside shooting including three point scoring. “If you don’t shoot the three-pointer (well), it’s hard in today’s NBA,” the source said.

Coffey has been training for a couple of months for a pro career. He has received feedback from NBA evaluators who didn’t invite him to the prestigious NBA Draft Combine last month in Chicago involving 66 draft eligible prospects.

“I think he has a chance (of being drafted). He’s doing really well in the workouts,” Gopher coach Richard Pitino said last night at a U fan event. “Obviously, he is 6-8, he is skilled (and) so we’re rooting for him.”

Neither Coffey, nor Reid Travis, another Minnesota native, is predicted to be drafted in either the first or second round by Nbadraft.net. The Timberwolves are projected to select North Carolina small forward Nassir Little with their No. 11 selection.

Worth Noting

That website’s mock draft for next year has Duke’s Tre Jones projected as the No. 28 selection on the first round, but incoming Blue Devils teammate and fellow Minnesotan Matthew Hurt isn’t included among the first or second picks.

Hurt will be a freshman this fall while Jones returns to Duke for his sophomore season. Hurt’s absence in the mock draft didn’t surprise the pro basketball source mentioned above who believes the former Rochester John Marshall five-star recruit must fill out his 6-foot-9 frame (about 215 pounds) and become stronger.

Kevin Warren is a history maker. He became the NFL’s first African-American Chief Operating Officer with the Vikings, and today in a surprise announcement was introduced as the sixth commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.

Minnesota Wild goalie Alex Stalock and Canterbury Park race caller and KFAN radio personality Paul Allen are among the owners of the filly One Famous Ocean who will race in Canterbury’s $57,000 Gopher State Derby on June 8. She qualified for the Derby by running the third fastest time in late May quarter horse trials involving 34 three year olds.

Bud Grant’s annual garage sale starts at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and he guarantees that at age 92 this will be his last. He gave that promise and other details on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle show Sunday. The sale is at his Bloomington home, 8134 Oakmere Road, and is expected to continue into Thursday and Friday.

Former Gophers tight end turned professional singer Ben Utecht performs the best of Andy Williams October 11 and 12 at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres.

The Twins were No. 2 behind the Astros last week in ESPN.com’s power rankings of MLB clubs. What single move could take Minnesota to No. 1?

The signing of star closer and free agent Craig Kimbrel is perhaps the surest answer if he could approximate past performance after a spring of game inactivity. He won’t come cheap but his signing will give credence to the longstanding contention of Twins executives that the Pohlad family is willing to spend big money when the situation is right.

It’s a good guess the Twins will be announcing all tickets are sold for the three-game celebration of Joe Mauer’s career June 14-16, with standing room a likely bet for the June 15 game when his jersey is retired.

Trevor Larnach, the Twins’ first-round draft selection a year ago, is the Florida State League Offensive Player of the Week, according to an article yesterday by Sam Dykstra with Mlb.com. He was 10 for 20 with hits including two home runs, two doubles and seven hits during the period of May 27-June 2 playing for Class A Advanced Fort Myers.

Former Gophers Big Ten championship basketball coach Jim Dutcher was honored recently by Alpena (Michigan) Community College where he coached early in his career. Dutcher, who turned 86 in April, was named Alpena’s 2019 Fellow of the College.

WCCO Radio Sports Huddle show co-host Dave Mona, along with his wife Linda Mona, are promoting another Camden’s Concert and looking for on-site and online auction items. Among items already secured are tickets to the Vikings-Packers game at Lambeau Field September 15. Auction suggestions can be sent to l.mona@creativeenvironments.net. Country western singer and song writer Suzy Bogguss will entertain at the July 16 concert at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Money raised from the concert helps research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

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