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.

No Forgetting Herb Brooks Friendship

Posted on January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 by David Shama

Random thoughts and notes one day after a vacation in southern California.

The Golden Gophers team that won the NCAA Hockey title in 1979 was honored last night at 3M Arena at Mariucci when Minnesota and Wisconsin played their second game in as many nights in Minneapolis. The Gophers won the school’s third men’s hockey national title on March 23, 1979 in Detroit with a 4-3 victory over North Dakota.

Unfortunately, legendary coach Herb Brooks, who died in 2003 at age 66, wasn’t there to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this special team. Brooks won three national championships in a six year period, with the last in 1979.

Brooks would orchestrate the “Miracle on Ice” for the U.S. a year later in 1980. That Olympic team stunned the world with its upset victory over the Soviet Union. Shortly after the Winter Olympics, I asked Brooks to speak at a banquet for a non-profit organization. He refused to accept a payment for his speech, despite his celebrity status that allowed him to earn large speaker’s fees in corporate America.

Brooks was a friend for decades, always available to meet or talk, and most often offering the most comprehensive of answers to questions. He was one of those individuals (we all have them) who you never stop missing.

Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle was the latest local sports newsmaker to be interviewed on “Behind the Game,” the Twin Cities cable TV program co-hosted by Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. No one received more praise from Coyle during the program than first-year women’s basketball coach Lindsay Whalen. “I am not sure I have met a more competitive person,” he said.

Coyle hired Whalen last spring despite the former Gopher Final Four guard having no previous coaching experience. During the program he talked about how Hall of Fame Connecticut coach Geno Aureimma endorsed a potential Whalen hire on the telephone.

Whalen’s team cruised through the nonconference schedule but has been struggling in league games (13-6 overall, 2-6 Big Ten). Still, the Whalen mystique as a Minnesota native and former star for both the Gophers and Lynx sustains her popularity with fans and media.

All that adoration over the years never has inflated Whalen’s ego. On “Behind the Game” Coyle described his coach as “low ego, high output.”

In addition to cable, the Coyle interview can also be viewed on YouTube.

Men’s college basketball authority Jay Bilas, writing last week for Espn.com, ranked Iowa No. 24 and Minnesota No. 57 in his national listing of the top 68 teams. The Hawkeyes and Gophers play late today at Williams Arena.

In his article Bilas describes former Apple Valley star point guard Tre Jones, now a freshman at Duke, as a “next level defender.”

It’s a rewarding time for Mike Max who has been named sports director at WCCO TV, succeeding Mark Rosen. Hard work has characterized Max’s 33-year media career covering Minnesota sports. He exercises everyday and has missed only a half day of work all these years.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association will induct Max into its Hall of Fame on March 30.

On WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” program this morning Max introduced the local weather forecast by quipping, “It’s colder than a Sid Hartman handshake.”

It was a contrast (understatement) returning to Minneapolis after vacationing in the Palm Springs-Palm Desert area with all blue skies and temps in the 70s. From personal experience and research of warm climate temperatures, my opinion is that part of the country has the best January weather in the continental United States.

During the first several days of our trip we did encounter cloudy and rainy weather in Carlsbad, California (about 35 minutes north of San Diego). Then when we drove Highway 74 through the mountains to Palm Desert, we got the surprise of our vacation.

Descending from about 3,000 feet on narrow, twisting, two-lane highway, we found ourselves surrounded by dense clouds. Visibility was about 30 feet in front of the car. There were no taillights to follow from a vehicle ahead on this harrowing drive down into the Palm Desert basin. All I could see to guide our way were the yellow lines dividing the road. A mental lapse here or there and we could have collided with another vehicle, or driven off the cliff.

We survived and went on to enjoy our time in the Coachella Valley including attending the Desert Classic in La Quinta. The PGA tournament has known many names through the years including the Bob Hope Desert Classic. This year the tournament celebrated 60 years while featuring southern California native and legend Phil Mickelson.

“Lefty” is a personal favorite, which of course hardly makes me unique. Ironically, he shot an opening day 60 on the Classic’s 60th birthday. He led the tournament going into the final day on January 20, but lost by a couple of strokes.

The tournament has a celebrity-filled history that includes famous names from both Hollywood and Washington, D.C. Presidents Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush all played as amateurs in the 1995 tournament. Arnold Palmer won more Desert Classics than any other golfer, with his last championship coming in 1973.

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Pressure on Vikings in 2019 Draft

Posted on January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 by David Shama

Enjoy a Friday notes column.

Expectations couldn’t be more intense among Vikings observers to see if the club uses its No. 18 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to select an offensive lineman. There is anticipation, too, about the franchise prioritizing offensive linemen in the subsequent rounds of the draft which will be held in Nashville, April 25-27.

The disappointing performance last year of the offensive line was a major factor in the club compiling an 8-7-1 record and missing the playoffs after preseason hype established the Vikings among Super Bowl favorites. Absence from the 2020 postseason is not an acceptable scenario to much of the club’s fanbase, and likely it’s not for the franchise’s owners who in the next 12 months have to decide about the futures of head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.

Not surprisingly, Cbssports.com projected on Wednesday that the Vikings will choose Oklahoma tackle Cody Ford with their first round pick. This might be just an okay year for offensive line talent, with the CBS website forecasting four linemen being chosen among the 32 first round picks.

Offensive guard, tackle and center are very demanding positions to learn as NFL rookies. Former Vikings center Matt Birk reaffirmed that to Sports Headliners, but there are rookie exceptions. “It definitely can happen,” he said.

Birk referenced Colts rookie guard Quenton Nelson who has been part of a unit that for five games gave up no sacks. Nelson is the first Colts offensive lineman since 1983 to be named to the Pro Bowl.

Zimmer has had the Vikings more focused on choosing defensive playmakers in recent drafts, however that seems all but certain to change in 2019. The Vikings did have success with rookie tackle Brian O’Neill who they drafted in the second round in 2018.

Birk has been doing live comedy performances for about a year to generate funds for charity. He said working in front of a live audience was somewhat intimidating at first but he enjoys the performances which now total about 10. His next gig is January 19 at Union 32 Craft House in Eagan. More at Eventbrite.com.

Birk will be among the speakers at the annual Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic March 28-30 at the DoubleTree in St. Louis Park.

This year is the 150th anniversary of college football and it will be interesting to see what Big Ten marketers, including the Gophers, do to celebrate the milestone. Minnesota had a glorious football history between 1900 and 1970 including seven national championships, with that total still among the best in the country.

The Gophers want to sell more tickets for their high profile sports and yet over the years there are too many scheduling conflicts with Minnesota’s pro teams. Last Sunday the women’s basketball team tipped off at Williams Arena about 30 minutes after the Timberwolves-Lakers game began at Target Center. On the final Sunday in December the men’s team was playing at home the same afternoon as the Vikings and Bears were at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The MLS Draft starts at noon (today) in Chicago and Minnesota United CEO Chris Wright told Sports Headliners his club expects to be active during the league’s four rounds. That could mean a trade for better positioning including during the first round where the United currently has the No. 7 pick.

The United opens its first season at Allianz Field on April 13 in a match against New York. Wright said the club has capped its season ticket sales at 14,500 and has a waiting list of about 5,000 to purchase season tickets. Dates and details for purchase of single game tickets, stadium ribbon cutting and opportunity for the general public to see the new facility will be announced soon.

Wright, the former Timberwolves and Lynx president, grew up in England and has a passion for soccer as a former player, coach and front office executive in the sport. He has been involved with professional sports front office work for about 40 years, mostly with the Timberwolves. He said Minnesota’s MLS franchise is “the right place” for him now. He joined the franchise in October of 2017 but this will be the first draft and offseason where he has been fully positioned to make a greater impact on the club’s future success.

The Wild are home tomorrow night (Saturday) against the Red Wings, a team Minnesota is 6-3-3 against in the last 12 games. Seven of those games have been decided by one goal.

It will be interesting to see if the Rochester John Marshall basketball team can be a surprise entry in the state tournament and showcase its senior front court superstar Matthew Hurt. The Rockets haven’t qualified for the tourney during the Hurt era so most hoops fans have never seen the five-star recruit who ranks among the best basketball preps ever to play in Minnesota.

The Gophers’ lone men’s basketball commit so far for their class of 2019 is Marvin “Tre'” Williams III. The 6-5 guard from Dallas is currently enrolled at Wasatch Academy in Utah in 2019. Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is likely to expect immediate help from Williams, whose mother Kelly is from St. Paul and played basketball at Harding High School.

Between now and the home opener March 28, the Twins front office will probably focus on finding pitching help, rather than position players where the club appears pretty well set.

Anyone want to forecast the 2019 final stats for Twins cornerstones and comeback candidates Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano?

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Hoiberg Return Here Makes Sense

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

Fred Hoiberg could have a future in Minneapolis, and perhaps not with the Timberwolves like most everyone is speculating.

If Golden Gophers coach Richard Pitino moved on after this season, it doesn’t require much imagination to think athletic director Mark Coyle has Hoiberg’s name on a list of potential candidates who interest him. Coyle, who didn’t hire Pitino, has shown a willingness to change coaches in his department since taking over as Minnesota’s AD in the spring of 2016.

Pitino, 36, has a 33-61 Big Ten record in five-plus seasons, and one NCAA Tournament appearance. Going into this season basketball media considered him a coach on the “hot seat.” Minnesota’s overall record this season is 12-3 and 2-2 in conference games after last night’s home loss to Maryland.

In past years rumors had other schools pursuing Pitino for head coaching jobs. He has East Coast roots and maybe it’s possible an impressive season this winter by the Gophers will prompt a job opening that interests him more than Minnesota.

It’s common policy for athletic directors to maintain lists of potential replacements for coaches leaving their positions. Hoiberg’s qualifications make him a “layup” for the job at Minnesota, if it opens and he is interested.

Hoiberg’s name is known throughout this state for his playing career with the Timberwolves and front office work with the franchise. His first entry into coaching was a huge success at Iowa State, where he made the team a Big-12 power with an up-tempo offense led by transfers from other schools including ex-Gopher Royce White. While at Iowa State, Hoiberg’s name was prominently connected to the Gophers’ coaching opening in 2013 but apparently he wasn’t interested at that time in leaving the Cyclones.

Iowa State was a homecoming for the Ames native who had been a legendary player for the Cyclones. He won about two-thirds of his games (115-56) in five seasons before leaving for the NBA’s Bulls. He never got the Bulls into the playoffs and in December was terminated because the club was playing so poorly. His supporters argue he never had the personnel to turn the Bulls into a winner.

Hoiberg told ESPN on Monday he prefers to pursue college or pro coaching opportunities, rather than work in an NBA front office. Zach Lowe wrote that Hoiberg’s passion is with coaching, and that he isn’t prioritizing either the NBA or college coaching for his next stop.

Hoiberg also has the name recognition, appearance, charm and communication skills to be a TV basketball authority. At 46, he has considerable hoops experience and yet he is young enough to be attractive to potential employers.

“The Mayor,” as he is known in Ames, has options and they’re not in politics. Last I heard he still had connections to Minnesota including a lake cabin in the state. My impression years ago was that he and his family liked living here—a lot. While there are rumors UCLA wants him for its basketball opening, the Midwest seems like home for the “one of us” Hoiberg.

The Gopher job (if it becomes available) is attractive because the state is almost oozing with talented high school players. Keep most of them home and the Gophers could just about be Big Ten title contenders each year. The decades ahead might be special for the program.

At Iowa State Hoiberg had to fight off Iowa and other nearby programs for talent. The Gophers, though, are the only Division I basketball program in the state of Minnesota. That means a leg up in recruiting and support from the public including ticket buyers and donors. The program has a high ceiling in every way including an iconic arena and state-of-the-art practice facility.

Think of the recruiting pitch Hoiberg could make to recruits if he returns to a college program. He can talk about his own playing career, success in college coaching and extensive experience in the NBA. Known for his expertise in player development, Hoiberg could convincingly tell recruits he knows the formula for getting them to the NBA.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor may have deliberately taken a proactive step regarding Hoiberg when he fired coach Tom Thibodeau on Sunday. Taylor has known Hoiberg for about 15 years and I am sure likes him. Both are gentlemen and it’s easy to see how strong their bond could be in working together.

Taylor has to know admirers are already lining up at Hoiberg’s doorstep. It could be the two have already had conversations about a Hoiberg role with the organization. It’s easy to imagine the comfort level and rapport they might have.

Coming back to Minneapolis to work for Taylor and the Wolves is likely appealing to Hoiberg, who would be an expensive hire. He reportedly had a five year, $25 million deal with the Bulls so he’s already established a potential market price on his next job. In either a coaching or front office position with the Wolves, he will need to earn his money and that will be challenging because the team is far from being an NBA champion.

The roster has one future title level piece on the roster in 23-year-old center Karl-Anthony Towns. With his versatile skills at both ends of the court, including outside shooting, he seems like a perfect fit in a running, free flowing offense like Hoiberg would be expected to use.

Hoiberg won’t take a job with the Timberwolves without assurances regarding his authority. He might not have dual titles like Thibodeau had as coach and president of basketball operations, but there is no doubt his word on personnel decisions would be considerable. However, if Hoiberg is coaching he can only do so much, and current general manager Scott Layden, another likeable fellow, might be someone Taylor and Hoiberg want around.

Thibodeau was the Bulls coach before Hoiberg succeeded him in 2015. Now it seems like a strong possibility Hoiberg will again follow Thibodeau’s path, and perhaps soon.

That might be the direction Hoiberg wants to follow, but it appears he could more easily establish a winning team in college basketball where he can identify and recruit talent, rather than being in the NBA system of drafting players, and trying to sign and retain free agents. UCLA or other college programs should make that pitch.

As of this week 32-year-old Ryan Saunders is the Wolves interim coach. Despite his youth and inexperience (Wolves Summer League team was his only previous head job), Saunders has been respected in the organization for years and viewed as an ascending talent. He could turn out to be a “players’ coach” and if he can improve the club’s defensive performances he might get another title, too: “Genius.”

Much to the delight of his supportive players, Saunders won his debut game last night against the Thunder, 119-117.

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