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.

Pack My Bags, Sports Trips Beckon

Posted on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 by David Shama

I need to credit Jay Buckley’s Baseball Tours for today’s column idea. The company is promoting a September weekend in Seattle where customers can watch the University of Washington Huskies, Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners—and I am tempted to sign-up.

I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle and the surrounding area. High on my wish list is seeing a UW game at iconic Husky Stadium overlooking Lake Washington. The venue is among the more revered in college football.

I am always up for visiting stadiums and arenas. My wife doesn’t share the same curiosity and enthusiasm, but she didn’t balk Sunday when I suggested stopping in Jordan, Minnesota to have a look at the “Mini Met.” First time visitor, but planning to go back and see the hometown baseball Brewers.

I give my wife a thumbs up for a planned trip to Athens, Georgia this fall. Her niece and husband will be hosting us for the Georgia-Auburn football game. I’ve always wanted to sample the hoopla of an SEC Conference football game and my day arrives on November 10.

I am excited to see the gameday atmosphere and the competition on the field between the Bulldogs and Tigers, two teams that could be in the chase for the national championship. And the anticipation of this trip also involves a stop in Atlanta to see the College Football Hall of Fame. I have visited the halls of fame for pro football, baseball, basketball and hockey but not the college shrine in Atlanta where there is sure to be some Golden Gophers memorabilia.

With inspiration from the Jay Buckley folks and my wife, I am listing below baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey and tennis trips I am all in on—time, money and other priorities allowing.

Baseball

Cooperstown. I made a visit a long time ago and have always wanted to return. I could wander the halls of baseball’s shrine for days, and the town of Cooperstown is a charmer.

Fenway Park. The quirky home of the Red Sox has beckoned for years but despite a couple of trips to Boston I have yet to experience Fenway. Great town, great food and the basketball hall of fame is only a few hours away. Sign me up now.

AT&T Park. I haven’t been to San Francisco since the Giants opened their beautiful waterfront stadium at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. Give me a couple of days at the park, and then on to the wine country a short drive away.

Basketball

I have seen games in Madison Square Garden and the old Boston Garden so I am happy to check those off my list. NBA teams change venues so fast that 28-year-old Target Center falls into the “grandpa” category. The league doesn’t have any venues that make my heart pound so I will stick with the college scene.

Phog Allen Field House. This isn’t where the first peach basket was hung, but Wilt Chamberlain played there for the Jayhawks and the address is 1651 Naismith Drive. A “Beware of the Phog” banner looms on the north end of the court. “Rock, chalk, Jayhawks!”

Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke’s home arena would top most any poll of college fans for a “must-see” venue. You can count on my vote. It’s kind of crazy that this place doesn’t even seat 10,000 but is referred to as a stadium. Seems like the Dukies have almost that many championships.

Football

This is where the list could get unmanageable, but here is my Fab Five.

Bryant-Denny Stadium. The home of the Alabama Crimson Tide probably ranks No. 1 on any list of future trips. I hear part of the gameday presentation includes a video clip of Bear Bryant growling, “I ain’t nothin’ but a winner.”

Michie Stadium. It’s been a long time since I toured West Point and I’ve never seen the Black Knights of the Hudson play in their football home since 1924. That has my attention and needs to change.

Rose Bowl. I saw Minnesota defeat UCLA, 21-3, in the 1962 Rose Bowl. Very sad the Gophers haven’t been able to earn their way back to one of the most majestic venues in sports. I am ready to return to Pasadena without them.

Lambeau Field. I write this with embarrassment. Never been to Lambeau but I will change part of that in June when we visit the stadium—while wishing it was fall and the Packers were playing.

Husky Stadium. We covered this in paragraph two, but permit me to add how cool it would be to arrive at the stadium via boat on Lake Washington. Prefer by yacht, if not asking for too much.

Hockey

Bell Centre. This choice is a little tricky. Let me explain. Years ago I was at the Montreal Forum, referred to by many as the “most storied building in hockey history.” But the Forum has been in decline for a long while and the NHL Canadiens have made the Bell Centre their 21st century home. So while I feel no urgency to see the Bell, a trip to Montreal rekindles memories of the Forum. Then, too, Montreal is the closest you come to experiencing a European city while still in North America. My wife likes that.

Tennis

Wimbledon. I have been a tennis fan and player most of my life. My wife loves London. What else is there to say?

Golf

The Masters. No golf event gets me in front of the television with more passion and pleasure than the Masters. It’s not just the great tradition and the gorgeous golf course. The April tournament signals to Minnesotans the snow season will end soon.

Amen.

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U in Position to Win Big Ten Title

Posted on May 13, 2018May 13, 2018 by David Shama

John Anderson turns 63 on Wednesday, and his Golden Gophers can give him a nice birthday present by winning the Big Ten title next weekend.

Minnesota won two of three games from Michigan State the last three days including Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Spartans. The wins, part of the Gophers’ last regularly scheduled homestand of the year, moved Minnesota to a conference best 16-4 record.

The Gophers are at 7-14 Rutgers starting on Thursday for a three-game series that ends their league regular season schedule. Second place Michigan, 15-5, has three games on the same days at third place Purdue, 14-6.

Before the weekend’s series against the Spartans Anderson had seen enough of his team to offer this compliment: “It’s probably as well rounded—pitching, hitting and defense—as…any of the teams that I’ve had. We’ll see how they finish up.”

This isn’t a team of superstars like long ago when the Gophers boasted a Paul Giel, Paul Molitor or Dave Winfield. There are pro prospects but this team is defined by balance and competitiveness. Saturday Minnesota scored eight runs in the seventh inning for a comeback win over the Spartans.

The Gophers also displayed their fight a week ago today when they completed a series sweep of early season Big Ten title favorite Indiana at Siebert Field. Minnesota trailed the Hoosiers 6-3 in the eighth inning but rallied to win 7-6 in 10 innings. The Gophers hit three home runs in the eighth to ignite the comeback.

In that game Minnesota also got a first inning home run from shortstop Terrin Vavra, the son of former Twins coach Joe Vavra. “He’s probably the best player in the league,” Anderson said of his junior leader.

Vavra benefits from being part of a baseball family that includes older brothers who excelled in baseball. “His baseball IQ is really high,” Anderson said. “He’s talented, don’t get me wrong. But I think the intangibles—the baseball IQ, the work ethic that he puts in, the way he handles adversity and bounces back, and his ability to make the big play— I mean that’s special talent. …”

A 2018 regular season Big Ten title would be the 10th for Anderson who has been Minnesota’s head coach since 1981. His teams have won nine Big Ten Tournament championships. Seven times he has been Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Anderson is one of only three head baseball coaches at Minnesota in the last 72 years, having succeeded Dick Siebert and George Thomas. Tradition means a lot to Anderson and so do people who helped his career. Siebert and Thomas gave him coaching opportunities on their staffs. Giel, as athletic director, hired Anderson as head coach. To this day Anderson keeps mementoes of the three in his baseball binder.

Gopher Baseball Notes

At Saturday’s home game members of the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Big Ten champions, and others affiliated with those teams, were honored by the Gophers.

This is the 130th year of Gopher baseball. The program is the oldest intercollegiate sport at the University of Minnesota.

Like many fans, Anderson would welcome a return to wooden bats in college baseball. He also wants to see collegians use the same baseballs as in the majors. “It would be much easier for people to evaluate kids,” he said. “Much easier for kids to make the jump from college to professional baseball. I wish we’d just all do the same thing.”

Anderson said cost isn’t the obstacle in eliminating aluminum bats, but that Power Five conference coaches are tied into marketing commitments they don’t want to give up.

Wisconsin is the only school in the 14-member Big Ten Conference not participating in baseball. Anderson would welcome the Badgers because the Big Ten could create two seven team divisions.

Anderson spoke at the CORES luncheon last Thursday and he recognized Dick Jonckowski for his 30 years as the Gopher baseball public address announcer. The coach presented Jonckowski with a No. 30 Minnesota baseball jersey.

Jonckowski, who for years has emceed events like the CORES gatherings, is co-authoring a book about his life with Jim Bruton that is expected to be on sale in July. Copies of It’s All about Me will be available, with Jonckowski’s signature, at the September 13 CORES program when Gustavus Adolphus football coach Peter Haugen speaks to the group. CORES (coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans) meets at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington.

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PGA to Take Over Tapemark Tourney

Posted on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 by David Shama

The Klas family is ending its 47-year commitment to the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am in June. Sports Headliners has learned the Minnesota PGA will take over the golf tournament in 2019 and beyond.

The inspiration for the tournament was Frances Klas, who was born mentally retarded in 1951. Her dad and mom, Bob and Sandy Klas, learned about organizations available to assist children like Frances, and they wanted to help raise awareness and funds for them. To accomplish those goals, Bob started the tournament with Tapemark company partner Tom Cody.

Bob Klas Jr., who is CEO of the nonprofit Pro-Am, said after the 2018 tournament more than $8 million will have been raised through the years to assist agencies serving Minnesotans with developmental disabilities. That total will include revenues from bingo operations in West St. Paul.

Bob Jr. said the tournament that attracts many of Minnesota’s best professional golfers has through its funding and publicity made many lives better for people with disabilities. “I find it fulfilling to know the time, energy and effort allowed us to support the agencies in a very tangible way,” he said.

With his executive position at the West St. Paul based Tapemark company, and work on behalf of the Pro-Am, Bob Jr. has been busy over the years. The last couple of years he began to question whether he had the energy to continue his leadership of the golf tournament. He had his 65th birthday earlier this year, and his dad is 91 and unable to help much with the tournament now. “The odds of me getting younger are less than 50-50,” Bob Jr. joked.

Conversations started awhile ago to transition the tournament over to the Minnesota PGA. “There is never a perfect time to walk away, but this seems right,” Bob Jr. said. “It feels good to know it will be taken over by an organization that wants to do a first class golf tournament.”

Plans are for the Minnesota PGA to keep the tournament at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. As the only tournament that section pros participate in, it is important to the PGA to see the tournament continue. The PGA will direct revenues to causes important to that organization including junior golf and college scholarships, Bob Jr. said.

Among the successful pros who have won the tournament multiple times are Don Berry and George Shortridge. Then there is a fellow named Tom Lehman who was starting his pro career in 1990 when he won the Tapemark. He went on to become the only golfer ever claiming title to the British Open, Scottish Open and Tapemark championships.

This year’s men’s tournament will be June 8-10, with the women’s event June 10.

Worth Noting

Bill Fitch, the former Gopher coach who went on to win an NBA title with the Celtics, is retired and living in the Houston area. He follows the NBA closely and was asked about the Timberwolves. “I’d let them know they’re better than what they’ve shown,” he said to Sports Headliners.

The Wolves were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and there is speculation team unity might be an issue. Fitch said if he were coaching a group with chemistry problems there would be an offseason team party at his house, a planned wake-up call. The message: if the players aren’t on the same page in training camp, they will wear out the court from all the running ordered by the coach. “You can’t win without it (unity),” Fitch said.

How do the Timberwolves improve their personnel? Add another big player to push center Karl-Anthony Towns in practice and help him in games, Fitch suggested. “You never have enough strong big men,” he said.

Former Timberwolf Mike Miller, the South Dakota native, is an assistant coach on the Memphis Tigers staff. Ex-Wolf player and coach Sam Mitchell might also join new head coach Penny Hardaway with the Tigers.

It’s been whispered for months Oklahoma State will be the Gophers opponent in a December men’s basketball game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Media reports Tuesday confirmed that information. The Tulsaworld.com also reported Minnesota will play a game with OSU during the 2019-20 season at Tulsa’s BOK Center.

Although no date has been given, it’s believed the Gophers-Cowboys game at U.S. Bank Stadium will be on Saturday, December 1. A second game involving Division I teams is expected to be played on the same date.

The St. Thomas and Wisconsin-River Falls men’s basketball teams will play a Division III game at the stadium Friday, November 30.

The Tommies’ incoming freshmen next season will include Sam Vascellaro, a 6-4 forward who is the son of WCCO TV’s Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santaniello.

The Gopher women’s basketball team’s incoming group of five scholarship players includes no one from the state of Minnesota. Look for that to change for sure in future years under new head coach Lindsay Whalen who will have strong relationships with state prep coaches. Whalen recently added Utah native and point guard Mercedes Staples to the incoming class.

The Twins are on a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season, and all the wins have come on the road. Their 10-game, 11-day road trip continues tonight in Anaheim against the Angels with Jose Berrios, 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA, starting for Minnesota. See if Berrios relies a lot on his fastball and avoids too many breaking pitches.

The Cardinals, who the Twins swept earlier this week, drafted Paul Molitor as a high school player at Cretin-Derham Hall but he chose to attend the University of Minnesota before eventually joining the Brewers organization.

Molitor and Derek Falvey, the Twins chief baseball officer, speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers group on May 23.

The Dunkers recently awarded more than $120,000 to Minneapolis and St. Paul high school athletic programs, according to the Dunkers website. Over eight years close to $600,000 has been given to help supplement athletic budgets.

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