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.

Kevin Love Impressive Role Model

Posted on March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 by David Shama

When Kevin Love played for the Timberwolves, I talked to him a couple of times and liked him. I also watched and admired his skills many times, but never have I appreciated him more than this week when he wrote openly and emotionally about mental health.

Love’s essay posted on the Playerstribune.com is a must-read for any thoughtful sports fan, including those who influence young athletes. Love details how he had a panic attack early this season that caused him to flee the court during a game. It was an experience unlike any the 29-year-old Cavs star had ever known, and it ultimately prompted enough self-examination to see a therapist for the first time in his life.

In macho America, boys and men have forever been taught to bury damaging feelings including guilt and shame. Love writes that during his life he never wanted to show emotional weakness but he knew something was very wrong that night last year when he panicked and experienced shortness of breath.

Love has been seeing a therapist and he’s targeted some personal issues including one he shares in detail. He writes about his grandmother Carol who lived with the family when he was growing up. Carol was still alive during part of the time he played for the Wolves and she had planned to visit him in Minneapolis at Thanksgiving one year. The trip was cancelled, though, because Carol was hospitalized and shortly thereafter she died unexpectedly. In therapy Love came to realize how he had not adequately grieved about his grandma’s death.

In and out of athletics this is a mixed up world with a lot of confused and troubled minds. Love writes this warning in his article: “Everyone is going through something that we can’t see.”

It’s true and so many people, whether involved with sports or other parts of society, need help. Troubled with burdens real and imagined, they frequently don’t receive help. (See the latest news on opiate use, or school shootings). There are no easy answers but there is always someone out there—family, friend or stranger—willing to give support and encourage a person to seek assistance.

Love, a former NBA All-Star and contributor to the Cleveland Cavs 2016 league champions, has long been known as one of basketball’s better passing front court players. This week he might have made his biggest “assist.”

Worth Noting

Credit Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher in making one of his best moves signing center Eric Staal to a three-year free agent contract in June of 2016. Staal, 33, is tied for fourth among NHL players in goal scoring with 36, and is a valued leader on a team with a need in that department.

Staal has been exceptional at the right time, producing 21 points last month while helping the Wild to a 9-2-2 record. He’s a catalyst for a team that sometimes prompts doubt about qualifying for the playoffs.

Now it looks like the Wild will make the playoffs (at times the team falters when the schedule gets busy and the ages of players shows). How far they go in the postseason appears tied to—no surprise—whether goalie Devan Dubnyk is hot.

While the Wild seem likely for the playoffs, the Timberwolves can be labeled iffy. The club was on track to make the postseason for the first time since 2004 before Jimmy Butler went down with a knee injury sidelining him indefinitely. He is the team’s best defender and fourth quarter big shot and big play specialist. This is a less capable and confident team without the 28-year-old Butler, who may deserve a place among the top 10 players in the NBA and is in his first season with the Wolves.

In the competitive Western Conference race for eight playoff spots, the Wolves will probably have to earn a surprise win or two in this immediate schedule stretch that starts with games against the Celtics and Warriors tonight and Sunday at home. There are only 16 Wolves games left in the season. If the season ended today, the Wolves would have one of the eight Western Conference playoff spots but the competition to be part of the field is intense.

The Wild is averaging 19,006 fans per game at home—seventh best in the 31-team NHL, according to Espn.com. The Timberwolves, according to the website, average 16,811—ranking No. 22 in the 30-team NBA.

I once argued with Lou Nanne about whether this was a better pro basketball or hockey town. Guess which position Nanne took? What I know is the Wolves set an NBA single season attendance record in the franchise’s first year of 1989-90 and despite a mostly poor product this century have been pretty successful at the box office. Decades ago the basketball Golden Gophers led the Big Ten and even the nation in attendance.

Former Gopher Natalie Darwitz, now coaching at Hamline, has the Piper women’s hockey team in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time ever. Hamline has a 20-4-3 record including a 4-1 win over the Gusties in the MIAC Playoff Championship game last Saturday at Gustavus. The Pipers will play their opening NCAA game Saturday against the winner of Friday’s Gustavus and Wisconsin-Eau Claire game.

Two of the five finalists for the 2018 state Mr. Basketball Award will be Gopher freshmen next fall but it’s difficult to think Apple Valley’s Tre Jones won’t win the honor. Jones, a McDonald’s All-American, is the best all-around Minnesota prep guard I’ve ever seen.

Other nominees are guards Owen King from Caledonia and Calvin Wishart of Delano, and future Gophers Gabe Kalscheur from DeLaSalle and Daniel Oturu of Cretin-Derham Hall. As a center or power forward, Oturu seems likely to emerge as Minnesota’s best rim protector on next season’s team. Kalscheur gives the Gophers a big guard off the bench playing behind senior Dupree McBrayer.

It’s surprising there is still no announcement identifying who the Gophers will play in next December’s nonconference game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The game (date not known) will be an operations rehearsal for the 2019 Final Four in Minneapolis.

Will the December date include not only the Gophers, but a second men’s game?

A ticket lottery for the 2019 Final Four opened this week and continues through May 31. The tournament dates are April 6 and 8, with tickets priced at $210 per sessions (a steal compared with the Minneapolis Super Bowl pricing). More at Gophersports.com, or Finalfourminneapolis.com.

The Twins home opener is four weeks from today, April 5 against the Mariners. The weather forecast is for a high of 52 with a “little afternoon rain,” according to Accuweather.com.

Comments Welcome

Nick Foles Unlikely to Land Here

Posted on March 6, 2018March 6, 2018 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column:

With the clocking ticking toward today’s 3 p.m. deadline for NFL teams to put the franchise tag on players, it’s still unclear what the Vikings’ quarterback strategy is. It doesn’t appear the organization will tag Case Keenum and give him the mega contract that goes with that decision.

Case Keenum (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

NFL free agency begins later this month and the Vikings may still work out a deal with Keenum, the super sub who was 11-3 for last year’s surprise team. The coaches know what they have in Keenum, who showed an accurate arm and leadership in helping the Vikings to a season that almost ended in the Super Bowl.

There has been speculation Eagles No. 2 quarterback Nick Foles, who beat the Vikings in the NFC title game, could land in Minnesota. That doesn’t seem likely, though, for a few reasons.

The Eagles want to be sure starter Carson Wentz’s recovery from ACL surgery is on schedule for the 2018 season before moving Foles who has one more season before free agency. Then, too, the NFL Network said this morning the Eagles will want a first round future draft choice for Foles. Not only might the Vikings balk at that, but Minnesota is unlikely to have a high first round pick in the next few years.

Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, carries a reported $7.6 million salary. That’s a lot of money for a QB the Eagles hope doesn’t play in 2018 but do the Eagles really want to trade him to a key NFC rival who they could face again in the playoffs? And do the Vikings want to wait around to see when the Eagles are in the mood to trade Foles?

Not likely. Look for the Vikings to sort out their quarterback situation soon.

Except for pitcher and designated hitter, the Twins could have the same opening day lineup in 2018 as last season. Ervin Santana is injured and unavailable to pitch, while newcomer Logan Morrison is all but certain to replace Robbie Grossman as DH. Manager Paul Molitor hasn’t named his starting pitcher.

It’s going to be interesting following Isaiah Washington in the offseason and beyond. The Gopher freshman point guard experienced some lows in his first season at Minnesota and there was speculation he might transfer but the talk has quieted after late season games where he played better.

In Minnesota’s finale, a 65-54 loss to Rutgers last week in New York City, Washington led the Gophers in scoring with 18 points. In seven of the last nine games he scored in double figures. Coach Richard Pitino was asked about the former New York state Mr. Basketball during the Minnesota postgame radio show.

“That’s the silver lining,” Pitino said. “As hard as this was to endure, I thought Isaiah…I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to make it here. I really wasn’t, and I think the last month he has taken a major step forward just as a basketball player and as a person.”

Washington finds himself compared with former Maple Grove all-stater Brad Davison who made the Big Ten All-Freshman team this season while starting for Wisconsin. Even as a first-year player, Davison emerged as a leader and popular player for the Badgers. He finished second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game.

The Gophers need Washington as a successor to Nate Mason at point guard. If Washington isn’t around then the point guard job might go to either shooting guard Dupree McBrayer or small forward Amir Coffey. A missing Washington would not only leave Minnesota looking at other options for point guard, but further reduce team depth which was lacking this season and must improve in 2018-2019.

With a 4-14 Big Ten record, and 15-17 overall, the Gophers fell hard after national rankings last fall had them No. 12 nationally. The disappointment figures to show up at the box office next fall and in other ways. For example, KMGK in Glenwood, a longtime radio network affiliate, will not carry games next season.

Eden Prairie football coach Mike Grant, known for his dry wit, has won 11 state titles with the Eagles. His past honors have included national coach of the year and he was asked Monday if any new awards have come his way. He said no, and what he is happy about right now is his name was selected for a license in the state’s spring turkey hunting lottery. “That’s more important than any awards,” Grant told Sports Headliners.

Asked if his father Bud will hunt with him, Grant said, “He can’t plan that far ahead.”

Bud, who turns 91 in May, will be holding another of his well publicized garage sales at his Bloomington home this spring. Mike said the sale dates will be near or on his dad’s May 20 birthday.

Gopher football practice begins today and will continue through April 16 but you won’t hear from the quarterbacks competing to be the starter. Coach P.J. Fleck isn’t making his quarterbacks, early enrollees and injured players available to the media this spring.

It looks like redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan and sophomore transfer Victor Viramontes could lead a four-man competition during the 15 spring practices. Don’t expect a starter to be named until sometime in August.

The annual spring game (open to the public) is Saturday, April 14 at TCF Bank Stadium and begins at noon.

Former Gopher running back Mo Forte, who turned 71 earlier this month and was a college coach, is retired and living in Nova Scotia.

Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal faces the organization that drafted him tonight when Minnesota plays Carolina at Xcel Energy Center. The Hurricanes selected him No. 2 overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and in 2006 he helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup. He is No. 1 on the all-time Carolina list for winning goals with 47. That total was compiled in 12 seasons.

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Gopher Great Given National Honor

Posted on March 4, 2018March 4, 2018 by David Shama

Jerry Noyce, the retired Minneapolis business executive and former Gophers tennis coach who years ago should have been named the University of Minnesota’s athletic director, was honored recently when the The National Fitness Foundation announced its inaugural Honorary Board.

The Foundation is the official charity of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition. The Honorary Board that was announced last week honors Noyce and 26 other former members of the Council—spanning the administrations of eight American presidents. Other honorees include track great Jackie Joyner-Kersee and legendary college wrestling coach Dan Gable. The Foundation said in a statement that “the new Honorary Board is designed to commemorate the dedicated service of proven health and fitness leaders.”

Noyce is humbled by the recognition. “It is really a wonderful honor and caps off my career in sports, health, fitness and athletics,” he said in an email.

Noyce served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport from 2006-2008. He was named to the volunteer organization by then President George W. Bush while heading up a nonprofit promoting health and wellness. Noyce was the first health and fitness industry representative appointed to the Council. In his Council membership role, he appeared at events and spoke on behalf of the President and Department of Health and Human Services.

An Illinois native, Noyce was an outstanding tennis player for the Gophers in the 1960s. As Minnesota’s men’s tennis coach from 1973-1988, he directed a program from last to first place in the Big Ten and saw all but three of his players earn degrees from the University. He established the Gophers as a conference power and in 1986 was recognized as Division I college tennis coach of the year.

Through the years Noyce had various business experiences including CEO and President of the Northwest Health Clubs. The clubs were founded by former Timberwolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner. Noyce helped turn those Minneapolis-area facilities into one of the largest health club chains in the country.

With a resume of excellence in athletics and business, Noyce was a favorite more than once of Gopher loyalists to become Minnesota’s athletic director. He not only had career skills but also the charisma and personal relationships to become a power broker AD who saw the potential in Gopher athletics including the long floundering high profile sports of football and basketball.

Back in the 1990s it looked like Noyce would be hired as his alma mater’s athletic department boss. He had big plans for the department including resurrecting the football program that slumped badly after the departure of miracle-worker coach Lou Holtz in 1985. Noyce was planning to make a great coaching hire in football and he had the downtown Minneapolis business connections to help with any money that was needed to run a championship program. Although Noyce was a finalist for the AD job back then, he wasn’t hired.

In 2011 University regent Dave Larson was promoting Noyce’s name as the successor to athletic director Joel Maturi who was retiring. Instead, the U administration hired Norwood Teague who made questionable hires in the department, clashed with head football coach Jerry Kill, struggled with fundraising and resigned in 2015 amid sexual harassment complaints.

A favorite slogan in the athletic department these days is “Row the Boat,” but those that know will tell you the Gophers missed the boat when they didn’t hire Noyce who might have become the school’s best AD ever.

Worth Noting

Renewal notices have been sent out for Gopher basketball season tickets. It seems likely that even with some new sales, the public season total will be down next fall after the team’s disastrous 4-14 Big Ten record in 2017-2018. The athletic department sold about 7,100 public season tickets for this last season, including over 950 new tickets.

The Gophers averaged 11,850 fans per game in 17 home dates in 2017-2018, ranking 10th among 14 schools in the Big Ten. The prior season Minnesota averaged 10,308 and ranked 11th in Big Ten attendance. Minnesota’s Williams Arena has a capacity of 14,625.

Minneapolis-based Jostens, or Tiffany & Co., are expected to make the Super Bowl rings for the Eagles who defeated the Patriots last month at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jostens has produced most of the past rings including all of the Super Bowls won by the Patriots. “It’s a beauty contest,” an industry source said about the competition to design the most attractive ring and win the bid for production.

Jostens produced the new Jeff Sauer WCHA Championship Trophy to be awarded annually to the league’s postseason tournament winner starting this month. The trophy replaces the Broadmoor Cup and is named for Sauer, a Minnesota native and USA Hockey Hall of Fame coach. Sauer coached at two WCHA schools, Colorado College and Wisconsin, and is the league’s all-time winningest coach with 665 wins. Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup is the corporate sponsor of the trophy that is more than three feet tall when on its base.

The roster for the Vegas Golden Knights, who early last month set an NHL expansion team record for wins, has been put together by general manager George McPhee who won the Hobey Baker Award in 1982. At that time the award was presented by the Decathlon Athletic Club in Bloomington and McPhee, a forward from Bowling Green, was recognized as the nation’s best college hockey player.

“One of the smartest hockey players I have ever been around,” said John Justice, a longtime local hockey enthusiast and in 1982 director of operations for the Hobey Baker Award.

Star Tribune columnist and WCCO Radio personality Sid Hartman will be 98 years old March 15.

Ervin Santana’s injured right finger has him out indefinitely, but with a lot of open dates in the first part of April the Twins might get away with using a four-man starting rotation for awhile.

Among the Twins’ promotions at Target Field this season will be June 8 Prince Night. Co-branded Prince-Twins caps will be given away in recognition of the Minneapolis entertainer who died in 2016.

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