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.

Twins President: ‘We’re Better Than What The Public Thinks’

Posted on January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 by David Shama

The Twins want a bounce-back season in 2025, and it’s been suggested the club has the potential to not only win the American League Central Division but also have the best roster.

“I agree with that,” club president Dave St. Peter said yesterday. “We’re better than what the public thinks we are right now. And I recognize…it’s rooted in frustration with payroll, and the fact that we haven’t added (players) to the team. But when you look at the core roster, and particularly the pitching—assuming we stay healthy throughout the roster—we’re going to have a really quality baseball team.

“And again, we have to stay healthy. I think that’s going to be critical for our best players to be on the diamond, (Carlos) Correa, (Byron) Buxton, (Royce) Lewis. And assuming they are, I like our chances to not only win the division but challenge in the month of October (postseason).”

Shortstop Correa, center fielder Buxton and right fielder Matt Wallner are on the short list of the better MLB players at their positions. If Lewis hadn’t experienced a slide toward the end of last season he would be in that company at third base.

Lewis, a .300 hitter prior to last year when he slumped to .233, was frustrated late in the year with not only his hitting but also reportedly the experiment to have him play second base. St. Peter told Sports Headliners Lewis, 25, will play third base in spring training, but didn’t rule out games at second during the season.

St. Peter sees the challenge of last season as being a positive for Lewis’ development. An experience that contributes to his growth and improvement. “…I think we’re seeing that out of Royce, and we believe Royce is really positioned to bounce back in a big way from what we saw at the conclusion of the 2024 season.”

Led by executive Derek Falvey, the Twins are looking for potential opportunities to improve the roster via trades or free agent signings. St. Peter said because of pitching’s importance that category is always a priority, and he mentioned first base as a position the club might bolster.

It’s been suggested a right-handed hitting center fielder to back up Buxton could be a need, too. St. Peter acknowledged that but also said reserve right-handed hitting Austin Martin has “all the tools” and will have an opportunity in spring training to show what he can do in center.

“We have good players,” St. Peter said. “We like our roster. We think we’re in a really good, interesting spot. This is an exciting time I still believe to be a Twins fan. There’s a lot of familiarity and stability within this roster. So, we just can’t wait to get started.”

The Twins began and finished the season poorly in 2024. The culprit in the closing weeks was lack of run production as Minnesota lost eight of its last 10 games and finished with an 82-80 record after winning the division in 2023.

From the new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte and manager Rocco Baldelli there will be emphasis in spring training to have players better prepared at the plate. The focus on improved offense is expected to include better situational hitting to advance runners and score runs.

Minnesota started last season 7-13. St. Peter said in spring training there will be a “mindset” and intensity to achieve a winning record in April. Urgency is expected to be conveyed in spring training that starts next month in Fort Myers.

Worth Noting

St. Peter said there is no “definitive timetable” on the sale of the franchise but there is significant interest from potential buyers. “That should not surprise anybody,” he said. “This is a great market. We have a world-class ballpark. Really solid organization.

“The baseball organization is in a really good spot with a really competitive major league team in a very winnable division. So, all that leads up to a lot of interest and the reality that this is a gem of a franchise.”

February 11 is the first day fans can sign up to watch Twins games via streaming. The cost is $99.99 for the whole season, or $19.99 monthly.

St. Peter is “highly confident” there will soon be an announcement of what channels to watch games on via cable and satellite. Between streaming and cable/satellite he thinks 10-12 spring training games will be available for viewing.

He added there is also the possibility of some games being available free via over-the-air broadcasting.

Minnesota Breakfast attendees in Naples, Florida recently heard from Minnesota Wild newsmakers Bill Guerin and Matt Majka. Guerin, the Wild’s GM, praised John Hynes for helping the team get off to a “strong start” during his first full season while noting the head coach’s commitment to “detail” in preseason training and practice sessions.

While bemoaning “another season filled with injuries” to at least a half-dozen key players, Guerin said the team has a “solid foundation” with young players on the squad and top prospects in the farm system. The Wild, who missed the playoffs last season, has one of the NHL’s top point totals with 64 but is only 4-6 in the last 10 games.

CEO Majka, who’s been with the franchise since its inception, previewed proposed renovations to the 25-year-old Xcel Energy Center. Even though the facility is in good shape, Majka said, upgrading is a “top priority” to keep the aging facility competitive with other venues, particularly Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, as well as to serve the team’s “terrific fan base.”

The 61-year-old Minnesota Breakfast group was started by Minnesota snowbirds and transplants. In winter months, the group hears weekly from prominent speakers. University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham is the scheduled speaker this Friday. https://mnbreakfast.org/schedule/?yr=2025

Reporting from Naples on much of the above via email was Marshall Tanick, the prominent Minneapolis-based attorney who also writes articles for Minnesota and Florida publications.

Tanick offered the following observations about the NFL’s NFC North Division in 2024:

“All season long we were told that the NFC North —the old Black & Blue (B & B) Division—was the best in the NFL—based upon the records of the top three teams: Lions, Vikings, Packers.

“Seeing how the trio performed in the playoffs—each blowing their games by double digit scores—that evaluation needs revision, huh?

“In fact, the B & B has not had a team in the Super Bowl since the Packers won in 2011. In the meantime, every other division in the NFL, except the AFC South (Jacksonville, Houston, Indianapolis, and Tennessee), has had at least one team make it that far. …

“Could it be that the Black and Blue division is over-rated?”

Denny Schulstad, the 80-year-old former Minneapolis City Council leader and retired Air Force Brigadier General, winters in Arizona where he plays tennis “4-6 times each week.”

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And How Was Your California Vacation, Mr. Shama?

Posted on January 28, 2025January 28, 2025 by David Shama

Random shots after 19 days of vacation in southern California.

The weather was sunny almost every day, with daytime temps in the 60’s and 70’s in Palm Desert and Del Mar. Yes, I sent sympathies to Minnesotans suffering through windchills of minus 20 and worse.

The devilish cold brought back memories of walking through howling winds on the U campus to attend Gopher basketball games. I never did so much backward walking before or since. Other strategies could have included a scary ski mask and finding a big lug to walk ahead of me and break the wind.

The show inside cozy Williams Arena was more than worth the trek, though. Last century Gopher basketball was often the best entertainment in town with nationally ranked teams, great players, colorful coaches and deafening crowd noise inside historic Williams Arena.

Alas, the show is no more.

The silver lining? Escaping for weeks in January from Minneapolis prompts no second guessing about missing swaths of the Gopher basketball schedule. Yes, I know the 2025 lads have awakened from the ashes (poor start to the season and last place Big Ten finishes two of the last three years) and won three consecutive games. Sorry, but a below .500 conference record and half empty arena won’t make up for lost ground or wake up the ghosts of Williams Arena.

Where have you gone, Kevin McHale and Bobby Jackson? The coaching trio of Bill Musselman, Jim Dutcher and Clem Haskins is no more.

But back to the trip: I’m appreciative of California adventures including safe travel on infamous state Highway 74 across the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains. The two-lane road with hairpin turns rises from the Coachella valley to over 4,000 feet. In addition to gorgeous views, there are discarded car skeletons in plain sight—presumably vehicles whose drivers encountered disastrous outcomes.

Other than potholes, switchbacks and steep drop-offs driving was a breeze (ha!). BTW, I have a history with the highway including a drive coming down to the valley in deep fog!

My mental acuity on the trip was otherwise most challenged by golf. After years of pulling out my hair and restless nights, I’ve ditched the how-to videos on YouTube and in print. The new mantra is move the body back in the swing, keep the head down and follow through. And: compress your irons, sweep your woods.

Voila. Sign me up for the PGA Tour Champions.

Now if I can just get back on the tennis court. A friend from Edina, also visiting southern California, is of a similar age and is playing five times per week.

My hero!

From two time zones away, it doesn’t seem like a lot has changed on the Minnesota pro sports scene. The Wild still has a promising season and the Twins aren’t making headlines regarding personnel or the franchise sale.

The Timberwolves and Vikings are ongoing soap operas.

The Wolves miss their KAT. Their Ant seems as likely to be fined by the NBA as he is going off for 40.

The Vikings quarterback soap opera is part of the stuff that fuels fan interest and keeps Skol scorching even in the dead of winter.

Coach Kevin O’Connell received his no-brainer contract extension. The love affair between coach and the organization is real. I’ll bet my last bitcoin ownership never brought up during contract discussions that in three seasons KOC has lost the three biggest games he’s coached.

Harry Peter Grant lost four Super Bowls and we adored him.

Various media allowed me to track hometown teams but the most enjoyable reading on the trip came from the Wall Street Journal. WSJ offers the fairest and most accurate newspaper coverage that I know of. In an age of media bias that slips over from the opinion pages to the news columns, the WSJ is a model for professional journalism.

The publication is known for its political and business coverage. The newspaper also provides lifestyle, entertainment and sports reporting and opinion. And the WSJ comes up with stories and angles that both inform and entertain.

Did you know there is a black market for gallstones from cows? A front-page WSJ story last Wednesday was headlined:

“Cow Gallstones Drive A Smuggling Frenzy. Worth twice the price of gold, they are prized in Chinese traditional medicine.”

I’ll never look at cattle the same way again.

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Even More Success Could Be Next for Gophers Football

Posted on January 4, 2025January 4, 2025 by David Shama

What’s the ceiling now for University of Minnesota football?

P.J. Fleck has established a winning program since taking over in 2017. The latest triumph was last night’s 24-10 Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Virginia Tech in Charlotte.

The Gophers entered the game about a 10-point betting favorite. With superior talent, a savvy college football authority told Sports Headliners he thought Minnesota might “play not to lose.”

But rather than take a conservative approach, the Gophers were aggressive on both sides of the ball. The authority, a former Big Ten and NFL player who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the offensive play-calling was “creative and fun,” while speculating the Gophers used more trick plays last night than in Fleck’s previous eight years leading the program. Defensively, the Gophers were aggressive with blitzes and sacked Tech quarterbacks five times.

“This was a really good football team,” the source said about a program he follows closely.

The victory made Fleck’s bowl record at Minnesota 6-0 and was Minnesota’s eighth straight post season win. Since Fleck arrived at Minnesota his teams are 24-3 against nonconference opponents including bowl teams. That’s one of the best marks in college football.

The Gophers finished 2024-2025 at 8-5. During the last four seasons Minnesota has averaged eight wins per season. This season and in three of the last four the Gophers had winning records in Big Ten games, with a cumulative mark of 19-17.

Fleck’s eight-year record is 58-39. He is fourth in program history in Big Ten wins (34) and is fifth in overall wins. His 597 winning percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games leading the program.

Being the head coach at Minnesota is far from a cushy assignment. With limited Big Ten prospects among the high school ranks, and no adjacency to states with hotbeds of talent to recruit from, attracting elite personnel has long been a challenge for Gopher head coaches. In reality, his assignment probably is more difficult than any other coach at the U or professional coach in this town.

Fleck has established success despite the challenge, too, of more limited Name, Image and Likeness money than much of his competition. Not so long ago, Fleck could only wish a transferring player from his program good luck as he capitalized on NIL.

But through the efforts of Minnesota’s official collective, Dinkytown Athletes, that situation is improving. It’s believed the football program now has a few million dollars in NIL money with which to compete.

Revenue sharing with college athletes is expected to begin this year, and the Gophers will have similar money to their rivals with which to pay players. Power Four athletic departments are expected to devote about $20.5 million to revenue sharing with athletes in several sports. Minnesota will divide its money among football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey and women’s volleyball. Speculation is athletic departments, including Minnesota’s, could allocate $12 million or more annually to football players.

The revenue share model is a very positive development for programs like Minnesota. Fleck acknowledged as much recently when he expressed gratitude to the U administration and indicated the money will be a difference maker when recruiting against non-Power Four programs who don’t have the money to share revenue like the big boys.

“The SEC and the Big Ten have major TV contracts that allow that money to be real, allow that money to be there,” Fleck said. “Our NIL and collective with Dinkytown Athletes, that money is there. It’s real. I can’t say that for everybody around the country, you know?”

The marquee football schools will still have a money advantage over the Gophers because of NIL resources. As Fleck says, it’s the thing “that separates” parity for all.

“But I think that you’re starting to see us being able to get a high-quality athlete, retain a high-quality athlete, and a student-athlete that we can (get),” Fleck said.

The Gophers have 14 transfer players coming in and the group is ranked No. 14 in the country by 247Sports. Fleck credits his current players for the job they do as hosts in selling recruits on the Gophers program.

The thousands of players in the transfer portal each year has been a positive development for the Gophers. Minnesota has had few key losses in recent history, while adding talent such as they did a year ago with quarterback Max Brosmer and cornerback Ethan Robinson.

Truth is the portal can help the “have nots” of college football dramatically. While the Gophers had 13 transfers come in last year, Indiana had 30 under new coach Curt Cignetti. The formula worked with Indiana improving from a 3-9 team to 11-2 and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

Along with revenue sharing and the transfer portal, the expansion of the playoffs to 12 teams is another development that raises the ceiling for Gopher football success. A Big Ten team can now finish fourth, or even fifth in the standings, and potentially receive a playoff invitation.

Participation in the playoffs would be a huge lift for Minnesota’s program. The fanbase would be energized and grow in numbers. NIL dollars would flow like never before (not to mention athletic department donations and general giving to the U).

More revenue would be welcome in so many ways including football staff salaries. The Gophers are known to rank near the bottom in money paid to assistant coaches.

Despite that situation, Fleck has one of his better staffs during his eight years at Minnesota headed by offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.

Give Fleck credit for those hires and the many other things he has helped to accomplish with his leadership, IQ and non-stop energy.

Even brighter days could be ahead for Golden Gophers football.

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