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.

‘Incredible Fans’ Can Take a Bow for Vikings’ Record

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 by David Shama

Enjoy a holiday notes column focused on the Vikings.

The Vikings’ Cinderella season has happened for a lot of reasons on the field and via the front office but don’t discount the fans in the success story. U.S. Bank, now in its ninth season of hosting Viking games, is counted among the NFL’s loudest venues.

“I mean the fans at U.S. Bank are incredible,” Minnesota quarterback Nick Mullens told Sports Headliners earlier this year. “Anytime we can play at U.S. Bank, we’re all for that, for sure.”

Regarding NFL teams playing away from home, including in Minneapolis, Mullens said: “On the road your communication has to be on point. It has to be increased as far as the silent count goes and things like that. So, everybody has to just lock in a little bit more for the most part.”

The noise in the building can be deafening. It was at a rock concert like level against the Texans earlier this season. The fans earned praise after the game for making the venue so loud it forced the Texans into mistakes as they lost 34-7 to the Vikings in September.

The advantage of a home game can often be overly hyped in football, but the U.S. Bank effect is legit and could certainly be in play Sunday when the Vikings host the Packers in a renewal of their border rivalry. Minnesota is 7-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming against the Lions, 31-29.

The Vikings will hope to start fast Sunday like they did earlier in the season when they jumped to a 28-0 first half lead at Lambeau Field. Putting the Packers in the hole early will not only send the crowd into a frenzy, but also could force the Green Bay offense to become more one dimensional as quarterback Jordan Love goes pass-happy in trying to score points.

Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman says that kind of situation “creates a lot of opportunity for a defense.” It can become easier to “dial in” the pass rush and mix coverages.

The 13-2 Vikings, BTW, are 12-0 when Cashman isn’t injured and sidelined.

The Vikings and 11-4 Packers are similar in sack totals, at 44 and 43, but different in styles. Minnesota blitzes much more frequently than Green Bay, which relies on its front-four to deliver pressure.

Love, presumably, will be healthier than when the two teams played in Green Bay on September 29. His mobility was noticeably compromised in that game because of a knee sprain.

Love, 26, has moved into the category of better quarterbacks in the NFL. He sat for three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers before becoming the starter last season.

Drafting Love late first round in 2020 was controversial but has proven to be among the savvy moves of general manager Brian Gutekunst. The son of former Golden Gophers head coach John Gutekunst, Brian has rebuilt the Packers into not only one of the league’s elite teams, but he also has the youngest roster in the NFL.

The Vikings can emerge at season’s end with a 15-2 record, NFC North title and first round playoff bye by defeating the Packers Sunday and Lions in Detroit on January 5. Although the Vikings have won eight straight and are playing at home, the game is seen as a tossup because the Packers are impressive, too, after winning their last two games by a combined score of 64-13.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, whose team was only supposed to win 6.5 games, is considered the national leader for NFL Coach of the Year. He is the third NFL coach ever to win at least 13 games in two of his first three seasons, joining the Packers’ Matt LaFleur and 49ers’ George Seifert.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the conversation for Executive of the Year but probably won’t win. Still, there is no discounting his value including saying no to a staggering contract for Kirk Cousins and then using the money to acquire difference making free agents on defense and the in-season acquisition of offensive left tackle Cam Robinson.

Sam Darnold image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold is a dark horse for NFL MVP, even though entering the last two games of the season skeptics are still waiting for him to revert to the poor quarterback play that characterized much of his early NFL career with other teams.

In 11 games Darnold has at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season. He could become the fourth player in league history with 12 such games in a season. Others are Rodgers (14 games in 2020 and 13 in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018) and Matt Ryan (12 in 2016).

Fox will televise Sunday’s game nationally with its lead team of Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.

Dave Mona was recognized earlier this month by the Vikings for 50 years serving as the team’s press box announcer.

Vikings’ legend Scott Studwell will speak to the Capital Club breakfast group Thursday, January 9 at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Carley Knox, Lynx president of basketball operations, is the latest guest on “Behind the Game.” She offers input about her career, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and the rise of women’s sports. Co-hosts are Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5y8LAhdLA.

Comments Welcome

Kevin O’Connell’s Post-Game Speeches Drawing Attention

Posted on December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 by David Shama

ABC TV’s Good Morning America featured Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell today, recognizing the 39-year-old’s success in leading the Vikings to a 12-2 record that ranks with the best in the NFL. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/vikings-head-coach-talks-nfls-youngest-coaches-116858495

Part of the focus was O’Connell’s postgame speeches, with GMA describing them as “rousing and viral.” The public has seen those speeches on YouTube and they offer a glimpse into the leadership of the third-year Viking leader.

O’Connell told GMA: “Everybody thinks that he must rehearse those things, or think about what he is going to say long before. That could not be more further from the truth.

“The emotion of the moment might drive me to use a word or two I probably shouldn’t. May be I am getting better at it. …

“When we recently beat the Atlanta Falcons, as I kind of finished up, I kind of felt like maybe they (the players) expected a little more. Did I not deliver in that moment? It was the first time ever I couldn’t wait to watch it back to critique myself.”

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

O’Connell certainly delivered last night in the locker room after the team’s 30-12 win over the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Speaking in front of the players and others including franchise owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. O’Connell both praised his team for its 12-2 resume and warned them that three games remain and they “have to grind” to close the season with the ultimate success. He ended his talk by telling the players he loves them.

During the speech he also gave out game balls to linebacker Blake Cashman, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, running back Aaron Jones, kicker Will Reichard, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsGKD7HXkA

Worth Noting

Vikings’ long snapper Andrew DePaola, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, cornerback Byron Murphy and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are leading NFC vote getters by fans at their positions for the AFC- NFC Pro Bowl Games in February in Orlando.

It might be the most emotional scene all season at Target Center when the Timberwolves host the Knicks Thursday night. The game will be the first regular season game between the two teams since the blockbuster early fall trade that sent center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, with power forward Julius Randle and combo guard Dante DiVincenzo coming to the Wolves.

Towns, who played nine seasons with the Wolves, told Newsday.com yesterday he didn’t know what to expect from the fans but said regarding his time with Minnesota “…I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent.” Towns will likely hear a few boos but more so applause as he returns to Minneapolis averaging 24.8 points and a career high 13.9 rebounds for the 16-10 Knicks.

Towns will be determined to play at a high level, as will Randle and DiVincenzo for the 14-11 Wolves. If any of the three are subpar in their performances, they will potentially have the satisfaction of being on the winning team.. The two teams will play one other time this season, January 17 in New York.

The emotions likely go beyond the three players and fans. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, once the Wolves head coach and president of basketball operations, could take extra satisfaction from a New York win. So, too, might former Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas now a senior vice president with the Knicks. Both men were fired by the Timberwolves earlier in their careers.

The NBA certainly thinks it’s a big game because Wolves-Knicks will be nationally televised by TNT.

Longtime Twins president Dave St. Peter talking about season tickets for 2025: “We’ll be north of 90 percent on season ticket renewal. Whether or not we’re going to get to 95 percent, which is where we were last year, I think is up in the air. But it’s still early on that and we have a lot of offseason left.”

Twins’ infielder Royce Lewis, 25, was a wunderkind in 2023, his first full season in the big leagues. He delivered some of the club’s most timely hits back then, and finished with a .309 batting average, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 217 at bats.

Lewis, frequently troubled with injuries during his limited career, managed 292 at bats in 2024. Although he homered 16 times and drove in 47 runs, his batting average plummeted to .233. Over the last 30 games he hit .171.

St. Peter reminded fans Lewis is still a young player and that “baseball is hard, and it will humble you.” He added that it will be interesting to see how Lewis works during the offseason and prepares himself for 2025.

“I am optimistic he’s going to have a big bounce back,” St. Peter said. “We see the talent. We certainly see the enthusiasm, and when he puts in the work, I think he’s going to have a lot of success.”

Fan voting for the Twins Hall of Fame ends today, December 17. Candidates for 2025 are former players, but the 2026 ballot will be non-players meaning that historical figures like legendary club broadcaster Halsey Hall can be voted for. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

Jeff@MNTwinsZealot recently posted on X the concession prices for 1983 Twins games at the Metrodome. Almost every item was under $2, with prices ranging from .60 cents for coffee to the highest price on the board: $2.75 for a large beer.

Creative Charters, the Stillwater-based company that has promoted Golden Gophers trips since 1993, will take fans to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech on January 3. The three-night trip leaves Minneapolis on January 2 and returns travelers home on January 5. Part of the trip’s offerings include a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Creative Charters is a Sports Headliners advertiser (see ad toward top of the page).

Comments Welcome

Correa Loves Minnesota, No Concerted Effort to Trade Him

Posted on December 14, 2024December 14, 2024 by David Shama

The Twins have made it clear the club will listen to any offer from another team regarding a trade. That translates to anyone on the roster including their highest paid player, shortstop Carlos Correa.

But that stance doesn’t translate into a desire by either the franchise or Correa to part ways. Longtime Twins president Dave St. Peter made that clear in an interview with Sports Headliners.

“…There’s no concerted effort to move Carlos Correa, nor is there an effort from Carlos Correa to get out of Minnesota. We signed him (as a free agent in 2023) to help us win a lot of games. When he’s played, he has helped us win a lot of games. We’re hopeful for 2025.”

Trading Correa has drawn speculation locally and nationally. Speculators have thought the Twins might want to reduce their payroll by moving on from Correa and add coveted young prospects from another team. It’s been fair to wonder if Correa’s injuries the last two seasons have discouraged the Twins, or if the 30-year-old shortstop, who wants to win championships like he once did with the Astros, would prefer a new start.

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

“Carlos loves playing for the Twins,” St. Peter said. “He loves living in Minnesota. He’s very focused and excited about the 2025 season with our team. He sees the potential with so many young players that he’s already played with, and he knows our farm system is ranked No. 1 or 2 in all of major league baseball. So, this clearly is where Carlos wants to play.

“He was one of the top 10 players in baseball the first half of last season and unfortunately he was hurt at the break (All-Star Game period) and we didn’t get him back until late. But when he played last year, Carlos Correas was one of the premier players in our game. We have to make sure we put him in a position to play more games in 2025.”

Correa played in 86 games for the Twins last season. In 2023 the total was 135 but he played hurt a lot of the time. He suffered from plantar fasciitis in 2023 (left foot) and 2024 (right foot).

St. Peter said numerous doctors have been consulted and there’s been some “different training” approaches to cope with the problem. Optimism currently prevails. “Carlos is in a really good spot right now and he’s certainly expected to come to spring training full go, ready to play.”

The Twins played much of last season looking like a lock to be in the playoffs after winning the Central Division in 2023 and winning a postseason series against the Blue Jays. There remains a core of roster talent that perhaps isn’t valued enough on the outside because of a poor finish to the 2024 season.

“…Through the middle part of August that was a pretty good roster,” St. Peter said. “One of the better ones in the American League. So, I think that the challenges we experienced late in the season I am hoping are going to resonate with our young players, (and) they’re going to learn from it. They’re going to grow from it. But, yeah, we’re looking to make the team better and try to shore the team up with probably a focus on additional pitching.”

Wild Owner Doesn’t See A Kaprizov ‘Drawn Out Negotiation’

Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is a favorite to win the NHL’s Hart Trophy recognizing the league’s MVP. The 27-year-old electric playmaker has been special since his first season in 2020-2021 but production has gone to another place this fall.

“We’ve never seen Kirill at this level,” Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners after being asked if his superstar is entering his prime. “What we don’t know is what else does he have left? What more does he have to give?

“…He’s definitely getting into his peak years and he’s a special player. We all know that. We talk about it, and we’re lucky to have him on our team and we look forward to re-signing him for eight years.”

Next summer the Wild can talk about extending Kaprizov’s five-year $45 million contract that he signed in September of 2021. The Russian native will move into the company of the NHL’s best paid players. Right now his contract value of $9 million per year doesn’t rank in the league’s top 30 of highest paid players.

Leipold doesn’t see a “long drawn out negotiation,” but adds he’s been wrong before regarding contracts. Still, his words are indicative of how much he values Kaprizov.

“He’s bringing other players with him,” the Wild’s owner said. “Challenging them, bringing them up to his level.”

That “level” has been an extraordinary team start for the Wild. Minnesota is near the top of the NHL standings and ESPN.com has the Wild No. 1 in its power rankings.

The Wild didn’t even qualify for the playoffs last season and the franchise has never won the Stanley Cup. Leipold describes the team’s hot start as a “little unexpected” but understands how it’s happening. Kaprizov and others are scoring goals and accumulating points, the goal tending has been superb, and the defense strong on a team that gets along well with each other, bonding on and off the ice, and benefiting from the direction of second-year coach John Hynes.

”I don’t think any team I’ve owned has ever been in first place this late in the season. One-third through the season. …I want to get used to it,” said Leipold who has owned the Wild since 2008 and before that the Predators.

These are heady times even for the Wild’s employees in the team’s office. “When the team is playing well, you see it in every aspect of our business. You come in and the employees are all up. Everyone of our employees are all hockey fans first. They love the game. They love being part of our organization, and when you’re winning like we are, it’s fun. … I think they all recognize that we’ve got a really good team and we’re really young so our window is wide open for a long time.”

Leipold cautions, though, that his team needs improvement. “For sure penalty killing and power play are two areas that we need to improve on. It will happen. We’re not at the level we want to be or need to be in order to sustain being a top five team in this league. You’re going to have to have a good power play and a good penalty kill, and right now we don’t .”

Comments Welcome