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.

Leipold Says Boudreau Top 5 Coach

Posted on February 3, 2019February 3, 2019 by David Shama

Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners coach Bruce Boudreau’s job is secure even if the Minnesota NHL team doesn’t make the playoffs. Fans and media have speculated about Boudreau’s future for multiple reasons including the presence of new general manager Paul Fenton.

General managers often prefer to hire their own coaches. Leipold replaced Chuck Fletcher with Fenton after last season with the intent of making the Wild a better performing playoff team. The franchise has earned its way into six consecutive playoffs but is known for early exits.

Boudreau was hired as the Wild’s coach in 2016. His first two Minnesota teams exited the playoffs in the first rounds. As of today, the Wild has played well enough to be fourth in the Western Conference standings with 56 points. The team has won four more games than it has lost, reflecting inconsistent results but enough success to make the playoffs if the season ended now.

Boudreau had previous head NHL coaching jobs with the Capitals and Ducks. His teams had some playoff struggles and never made the Stanley Cup finals. That, too, was part of the reason Leipold was asked late last week if his coach’s job is safe if Minnesota doesn’t earn its way into the playoffs this spring.

“The answer is absolutely his job is safe,” Leipold said. “To be honest, we plan on making the playoffs, but there’s a lot of competition for those playoff spots, and I think Bruce has done a great job. (Defenseman Matt) Dumba going down for the season has hurt us obviously, so there are a lot of other issues if we don’t make the playoffs.

“Bruce is a spectacular coach. I still regard him as a top five in the league, as do most people. I look at it occasionally where I see a comment where a writer might say, ‘Is Bruce’s job on the line?’ Absolutely not.

“I don’t see that happening, although honestly, Paul and I have not even spoken about it. I feel certain Paul has the same feeling that I do about it.”

Leipold isn’t second-guessing his coach and general manager, nor is he doing that about the mega contracts he gave to forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter in 2012. The two free agents signed 13-year, $98 million deals.

“It was a game changer at that time,” Leipold said. “They are two special players. They continue to perform at very high levels. So the answer is unequivocally, if I had to make that decision over again, I would have made it even quicker than I did at that time. “

Parise leads the Wild in goals with 20 and in points with 45. Suter is fourth on the team in points with 34. Their skills, experience and leadership have not only paid off on the ice, Leipold said, but also financially for a franchise that regularly sells out its home games.

“They’re two players that are not lazy players,” Leipold said. “They give 100 percent all the time. The leadership that they have on the team is priceless. I wouldn’t be surprised if Suter, the way he is playing, he can play until he is 45. I am not going to be surprised if he wants another contract after this one expires.”

Parise is 35 years old, Suter 34. With several years remaining on their contracts does Leipold feel boxed in on payroll flexibility to improve his roster?

“You know I think at some point it might (be a factor), but it’s not right now,” Leipold said. “Because the average of their contract(s) is now really right on par with what top teams are paying their top players. The players now that are coming out to unrestricted free agency are making a lot more money than these two players did at that time.

“So, sure it takes $15 million (on the payroll) that we’re paying two players but the contributions that they make are well worth that money that we’re paying every year. So I have no regrets. None at all about that signing.”

Worth Noting

Although the sale began just last Friday, about 10,000 tickets have already been sold to the public for the October 19 Saint John’s-St. Thomas football game at Allianz Field in St. Paul. A source involved with the game said about 4,000 tickets remain in the 19,500 seat facility that opens later this year as the home of soccer’s Minnesota United. Almost 5,000 seats are being held for a sale later in the year to students from both schools.

More than 1,000 VIP and ringside seats at an average price of $85 have been sold for the February 23 boxing card at the Minneapolis Armory. The card includes Minneapolis welterweight Jamal James, ranked No. 3 in the world by the World Boxing Association, against Janer Gonzalez of Colombia, winner of 19 bouts with only one loss and a draw. The main event matches Andre Dirrell (32-1-1) against once-beaten Avni Yildirim (21-1) for the vacant WBC World Super Middleweight title.

Coincidences: former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson and ex-Twins center fielder Lenny Green both died this year on their birthdays. Wilson, 60, died on February 1, while Green, 86, passed away on January 6.

A player Vikings fans can look at with envy tonight in the Super Bowl is Rams offensive left tackle Andrew Whitworth. During the 2017 offseason he was a free agent after playing for 11 seasons with the Bengals, where Mike Zimmer once was the team’s longtime defensive coordinator. It’s believed the Vikings and their head coach were among the courters for Whitworth, trying to patch up a still to this day leaky offensive line. Whitworth, 37, is a force on the Rams offensive line and a high character guy.

The NFL had a 29 percent decrease in reported player concussions during the 2018 regular season, according to the January 25 issue of USA Today.

Augsburg hockey forward Alex Rodriguez is having a news making senior season while leading the MIAC in goals. Among the nation’s top Division III goal scorers, the Miami transplant has three hat tricks this season and is featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section of the early February issue.

Dick Jonckowski has ordered another 500 copies to be printed of his book, It’s All About Me, Dick Jonckowski: A Minnesota Treasure. The Shakopee-based emcee and public address announcer originally had 1,500 copies printed. Jonckowski autographed 200 copies of the book at a Twins event last week at Target Field.

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TV Work Maybe Next for Thibodeau

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019 by David Shama

Hopefully rising outdoor temperatures and a Friday notes column will warm you up.

Tom Thibodeau told Sports Headliners he isn’t ready to talk to the media about his coaching career that ended abruptly with the Timberwolves firing him early last month. He did say in a brief telephone conversation Wednesday that a national TV basketball role could happen for him. Since his dismissal by the Wolves he has spent time with family in Connecticut but was back in Minneapolis this week.

Thibodeau was fired about halfway through his third season with the Timberwolves. It’s been reported he will receive the balance of a $40 million, five-year contract he signed in 2016 to become the franchise’s head coach and president of basketball operations. Thibodeau is respected among basketball authorities with an NBA background that includes head coaching jobs with the Bulls and Wolves.

If interim head coach Ryan Saunders isn’t rewarded with the job at season’s end, it seems a solid bet that Fred Hoiberg, who is liked personally by owner Glen Taylor, could take over. Hoiberg, who was let go as Bulls head coach in December, told ESPN’s Zach Lowe last month that he prefers to coach again, rather than work as an executive for an NBA team. Hoiberg played for and once worked in the Wolves front office.

It’s unusual for NBA franchises to have the same person serve as head coach and president of basketball operations. It’s a good guess that during the next offseason Taylor will make decisions dividing up those duties. If so, one name the owner might consider to head the front office is Brent Barry, the vice president of basketball operations for the much admired Spurs organization.

While Barry’s name has yet to draw media speculation, former Timberwolves player Chauncey Billups has been mentioned to possibly lead a new front office for a franchise that is struggling to make the playoffs after participating in postseason play last year for the first time since 2004.

Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns will appear as himself in Paramount’s new movie “What Men Want,” a comedy featuring Taraji P. Henson. She plays a female sports agent who gains an unexpected edge over male rivals with the ability to hear their thoughts. The movie will be in theaters nationwide February 8.

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners he needs surgery for an infection in his right hip but he can wait to have a procedure after the season. He had surgery on his left hip for an infection last year.

Leipold is back in the states after enjoying time at his vacation home in Exuma, part of the Bahama Islands. He’s an enthusiastic booster of Exuma. “The beaches are spectacular,” he said.

It will be interesting to see how the Golden Gophers men’s hockey games against Michigan draw this week in 3M Arena at Mariucci. The program’s home attendance has been struggling but last Saturday’s game against Wisconsin set an announced attendance record at Mariucci of 10,686.

Jim Carter, long a critic of outgoing University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler, is “hopeful” about incoming president Joan Gabel. Carter, the former Gophers football captain who at one time was interested in being elected to the U Board of Regents, likes the background of Gabel and what he has read about her regarding both academics and athletics.

Gabel is coming to Minnesota from her position as provost at South Carolina, a Southeastern Conference school with a big appetite for football. Carter thinks her experience at South Carolina might be indicative that “she gets it” in terms of athletics being important at SEC and Big Ten universities. He also likes her academic experience at Missouri where she was dean of the business school. Carter said he hopes Gabel will be a “transformational” leader at his alma mater.

Condolences to family and friends of devoted Golden Gophers football supporter Dick Ames, 89, who died earlier this week. Ames, who founded Minnesota-based Ames Construction in 1962, loved the Gophers and even during frustrating times continued his generous financial support.

Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck will be among the keynote speakers at the February 22-24 USA Football National Conference in Orlando. Minnesota Football Coaches Association Executive Director Ron Stolski will also be a speaker. Stolski, head coach at Brainerd High School, begins his 58th season of prep coaching in Minnesota this summer.

Dick Jonckowski, the former public address announcer for Gophers basketball, is available as a celebrity PA man for high school basketball games in the state. He will be in St. James on February 8 to announce boys and girls games.

Fran Tarkenton’s hometown is Atlanta, where Sunday’s Super Bowl will be played between the Patriots and Rams. Sunday will be the 79th birthday of the former Vikings quarterback who led the team to three Super Bowls in the 1970s.

If the Rams defeat the Patriots, head coach Sean McVay at 33 becomes the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. That distinction currently belongs to Mike Tomlin, the former Vikings defensive coordinator, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win at age 36 in 2009.

Jim Bruton, the local author who has written many books with Minnesota sports celebrities including Tarkenton, told Sports Headliners his new book with Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer is scheduled to come out early next year.

UMD All-American linebacker Alex Helmer, from Prescott, Wisconsin, is a name to keep track of later this year when NFL teams bring in free agents. He is training for pro tryouts in Woodbury.

After winning 12 games total the previous three seasons, the Hamline women’s basketball team is 11-9 overall and 6-7 in MIAC. Alex Focke, whose brother John Focke is the radio studio host for Timberwolves games, is the head coach in his second season at Hamline.

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Murphy Earns a Spot with U Greats

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by David Shama

After last Sunday’s game against Iowa, Gophers senior Jordan Murphy is now the second leading career rebounder in Big Ten Conference history with 1,150 rebounds. As of Monday morning he was also the nation’s fourth leading rebounder while averaging a Big Ten best 12 rebounds per game.

In an upset win over No. 19 ranked Iowa Murphy had 23 points and 11 rebounds, a typical double-double performance for the power forward who ranks among the nation’s leaders in that category. He is Minnesota’s all-time leader in not only rebounding but double-doubles. He is closing fast on the end of his college career at Minnesota where he is the team’s leading rebounder each of the last four seasons and has moved into the top 10 for career points in Gopher history.

Where does Murphy rank with the program’s greatest players ever? Will he have his jersey number retired with Randy Breuer, Jim Brewer, Dick Garmaker, Lou Hudson, Kevin McHale, Chuck Mencel, Whitey Skoog, Mychal Thompson and Trent Tucker?

I watched all of those players except for Garmaker, Mencel and Skoog. Yet if I could “draft” one former Gopher to start a team, my choice is Bobby Jackson. He has yet to be honored with the other nine greats because he played on the 1995-96 and 1996-97 teams whose seasons have been erased from the record books as part of the NCAA enforced penalties of the coach Clem Haskins era.

Jackson was the best clutch player I ever watched at Minnesota. He played point guard, the most important position in college basketball, and when the Gophers needed a late game impact play on offense and defense he answered the challenge like few players have in Big Ten history.

Another ex-Gopher I would take in a heartbeat over some of the jersey-honored players is point guard Archie Clark from the 1960s. Clark was similar to Jackson, a terrific defender, scorer and clutch player. Clark was overshadowed at Minnesota by teammate and forward Lou Hudson, probably the most gifted multi-skilled player in program history.

Jordan Murphy photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletic Communications.

At Minnesota it seems like the priority factor for players getting their jersey numbers retired is having impressive statistics as measured against others who have been in the program. In that regard, Murphy should one day stand on the Williams Arena floor and watch his No. 3 jersey find a place in the rafters among the great players who preceded him at the U.

Murphy is the reigning Co-Big Ten Player of the Week after Minnesota’s most recent games with Michigan and Iowa. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds in a loss at now No. 5 ranked Michigan, and against Iowa he had a career high six assists and earned his 13th double-double of the season. “He’s a heck of a player,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said earlier this month after his Terps defeated the Gophers in Minneapolis.

Robbie Hummel, the former Purdue star and ex-Minnesota Timberwolf, has watched Murphy play while working as a game analyst for the Big Ten Network. “I am not sure I remember a guy who rebounds the way that Jordan does,” he told Sports Headliners. “His motor is so phenomenal. …He’s really been one of a kind. I am trying to think of the really all-time great rebounders in this conference. He’s right up there with any of them.”

Jerry Lucas, the legendary center from Ohio State, is the conference’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,411 rebounds. He played during an era (1959-62) when freshmen weren’t eligible so his remarkable total was accomplished in three seasons, while Murphy has played in almost four. That’s an example of why statistics can be somewhat misleading in college basketball where today’s players participate in more seasons and games than many of their predecessors.

There’s no denying, though, that history will judge Murphy as a special Gopher. Somewhat undersized at 6-foot-7 (or perhaps 6-foot-6), the husky 250-pounder has a gift for rebounding on both defense and offense. “He gets up (in the air) before everyone else can get there, with his quick hops off the floor,” Mike Grimm said.

Grimm is in his 13th season as the Gophers’ radio play-by-play man. He ranks Murphy among the Big Ten’s elite players this winter. “I think if you had a draft somebody should pick him in the top five,“ Grimm said.

Murphy isn’t flashy in style of play, or personality. He’s a grinder and not without weaknesses in his game. He certainly can have his awkward and not so productive moments. At the top of any such list is a tendency to foul too much, including early in games.

That sends the team MVP to the bench, and it’s frustrating to watch because often his infractions seem so unnecessary, while other times he’s the target of blown calls by officials. The Gophers aren’t the same team without Murphy’s rebounding and low post scoring.

The opinion here is the soft-spoken and likeable Murphy has gone through his college career under appreciated in this town and beyond. Grimm pointed out that awhile ago the Big Ten Network listed its top five forwards and centers in the Big Ten and didn’t include Murphy. Then the network acknowledged that the San Antonio native probably should have been among the elite.

Why the slight? “I think he’s quiet. I don’t think he’s flamboyant,” Grimm said. “He’s not going to knock your socks off by hitting seven threes in a night. Now he can dunk and he moves well, but I don’t think he’s one of those guys that’s going to come flying from the free throw line and throw one down either. He works hard to get his points. A lot of his points come on putbacks where he has worked to establish position.”

Winning teams help players receive recognition. Two of the past three seasons have been disasters for the Gophers but Murphy’s sophomore year the team was 24-10 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten. He was selected third team All-Big Ten that year and second team a year ago when he led the league in rebounding and the nation in double-doubles. This fall he was named first-team Preseason All-Big Ten.

Minnesota goes into tonight’s game at home against Illinois with an overall record of 15-5 and 5-4 in the Big Ten. If the Gophers can finish toward the top of the league standings and advance to the NCAA Tournament, regional and national honors are more likely for Murphy who is on the 25-man list of candidates announced this month for the Wooden Award, recognizing the nation’s best Division I player.

After leaving the Gophers Murphy will try to make an NBA roster. Because of his minimal height for a front court power position player and limited shooting range and ball handling, he is suspect as an NBA draft choice. Nbadraft.net, for example, doesn’t list Murphy on its 2019 mock draft for either the first or second rounds.

Former Gophers head coach Jim Dutcher sent McHale, Thompson and Tucker to the NBA and successful careers but he’s uncertain about Murphy’s pro future. “If you project him (Murphy), I don’t know where the pros…would put him,” Dutcher told Sports Headliners. “He’s not an outside player and in the league (NBA) he’ll have trouble scoring with the size of those (big guys).

“So he’s kind of a mystery guy, but you look at him as just a college player, he’s gotta be one of the better guys ever to play (at Minnesota). With his versatility, his double-doubles, his being the all-time rebounder.”

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