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.

What to Know After Viking Close Call in London Today

Posted on October 6, 2024October 6, 2024 by David Shama

Cheerio, London. The Vikings hung on to defeat the Jets today, 23-17, and keep their season record perfect at 5-0. Here’s what to know:

On a day when the offense was too often MIA, the defense and rookie kicker Will Reichard carried the crew.

QB Sam Darnold was off on his throws and the Minnesota running game went south after RB Aaron Jones had to leave the game in the first half with a right hip injury. Jones had seven carries for 29 yards rushing while Ty Chandler, his sub, ran 14 times for 30 yards.

Jones, who caught one pass for 24 yards, will ideally heal up during the bye week on the schedule that has the Vikings not playing again until October 20 in a NFC North showdown against the Lions. The Vikings aren’t even close to being as dynamic without the 29-year-old Jones who joined the team as a free agent last off-season.

Darnold, who threw one interception and completed 14 of 31 passes for 179 yards, faced a Jets defense that specializes in pass coverage. Jets head coach Robert Saleh, a defensive guru, had his team using schemes to not only challenge Darnold but provide sticky coverage on Viking receivers including superstar Justin Jefferson who was limited to six receptions despite frequent targets.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

After the game Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell said during his news conference heard on KFAN Radio in Minneapolis that his defense “was lights out” when picking up the team as needed. That was exemplified in the closing minutes of the game when the Jets, trailing 23-17, were driving for a potential winning score and extra point. Twice the Vikings put pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers before Minnesota corner Stephon Gilmore intercepted a game-ending throw near the Viking 10-yard line.

The Vikings defense, known for disguising its intentions, dominated the Jets in the first half (leading 17-7 at the break) before Rodgers had success with quick throws for short gains as New York scored three points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth.

Still, the Vikings leave London giving up a total of 76 points in five games—an average of 15.2. That’s the best in the NFC.

The offense produced one touchdown with the defense being able to match that thanks to outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel’s 63-yard interception for a score in the first quarter. Reichard, the rookie kicker from Alabama, produced Minnesota’s first points of the game with a 54-yard field goal, then followed that up with field goals of 51 and 43 yards in the fourth quarter. For the season he is a perfect nine of nine.

It’s not too soon to speculate Reichard could turn out to be the franchise’s best kicker ever and was more than a smart move by Minnesota drafting him in the sixth round last spring.

No one, at least externally, saw the Vikings’ fast start to the season coming. And they’ve done it against two teams, the 49ers and Texans, who rank with the better clubs in the NFL.

Other than the Jones injury today and worry about his health going forward, the Vikings have been fortunate with injuries. Before leaving for London last week tight end Johnny Mundt told Sports Headliners something Vikings fans will like:

“I just think we’re a special team. Got the right DNA of a championship team. As long as we can keep healthy and keep doing what we’re doing I think there’s a lot of positive things that we’ll achieve.”

Reeve Looks Like Hoops Genius Again

The Minnesota Lynx had a 19-21 regular season record in 2023 and were eliminated in a first-round playoff series. After that president of basketball operations and head coach Cheryl Reeve had a decision to make about the 2024 team, along with team owner Glen Taylor.

The choice was trying to build an immediate winner or have a 2024 record that would position the club for higher draft choices. “And together we decided we were going to go for the winning,” Taylor told Sports Headliners.

Minnesota finished the regular season at 30-10, the most victories in franchise history. The record was also the second best in the league, trailing only the 32-8 New York Liberty. As of today (Sunday), the No. 2 playoff seeded Lynx are up 2-1 in the best of five semifinals series against the Sun. The teams play in Connecticut today and if a fifth and deciding game is needed it will be Tuesday evening in Minneapolis.

A series win would send Minnesota to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017 with a chance to win the franchise’s fifth league crown. All under Reeve who has a gift for identifying talent and coaching those players to success.

Reeve transformed the 2024 Lynx roster by signing key free agents Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith, re-signing forward Bridget Carleton, and trading for valued reserves Natisha Hiedeman and Myisha Hines-Allen. Minnesota led the league in assists per game (23.0) and three-point percentage (38.0%) with three players in the top 10 for three-point field goal percentage: Bridget Carleton (44.4), Cecilia Zandalasini (44.3) and Kayla McBride (40.7). Defensively, the Lynx held opponents to a 41% field goal percentage, best in the league.

Late last month the WNBA announced Reeve as the league’s Coach of the Year (fourth time) and Basketball Executive of the Year (second). She is the first coach in league history to receive the Coach of the Year Award four times and is only the second person to be selected for both awards in the same season.

Taylor hired Reeve in 2009, partly at the recommendation of Bill Laimbeer who was head coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. Reeve was the team’s general manager and an assistant coach.

“She has asked in all these years to report directly to me which has been fine…and we work together I think very well, and she’s got real good results and so I am very supportive of her,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Reeve “is all business” when they talk which is fine with him because he appreciates the efficiency. Reeve is on a multi-year contract that reportedly pays her $700,000 annually. Taylor said she has never “threatened” to leave and the two have been able to agree on contracts. “I just talk to her, and we get it worked out.”

With more opportunities for women in men’s professional sports front offices, it’s not wild speculation to think Reeve could receive an NBA offer. Taylor said it hasn’t been that direct in their conversations, but he thinks Reeve has implied “she could do that if the opportunity came.”

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How Twins Can Address Their PR Problem with the Fans

Posted on October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 by David Shama

If retiring NBA star Derrick Rose buys full page newspaper ads thanking fans in six cities (Minneapolis included) for their support, certainly the Minnesota Twins can purchase advertisements in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press apologizing for their performance.

That suggestion is a first step in handling the franchise’s faltering relationship with its customers. The Twins have a public relations problem seldom before seen in this town and the question going into the off-season is how leadership will respond.

Fans are rightfully angry about developments stretching back to last off-season. After the Twins ignited passion among its followers by winning the AL Central Division and advancing through the first round of the playoffs, ownership announced payroll would be cut. The off-season saw the departure of staff ace Sonny Gray via free agency and the trade of infielder Jorge Polanco in a move with the Mariners that didn’t help Minnesota during the 2024 season.

That off-season left a lot of Twins fans with an icy attitude toward the club going into the spring and summer. After a 7-13 start to the season, the Twins went on a long stretch of winning baseball and by August had over a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs. Still, attendance was mediocre for most games and perhaps the only electric atmosphere of the season came on August 9 in a night game at Target Field against the division leading Guardians. The Twins swept a day-night doubleheader with their evening win played before over 28,000 fans.

The Twins had a 65-50 record the morning of August 10 but when the season ended last Sunday, the late summer collapse was so bad Minnesota finished with an 82-80 record and fourth place in the division with the Guardians, Royals, and Tigers all playoffs bound. The many fanbase skeptics not only found fault with the hitting, pitching and managing, but also jumped on the front office for not making meaningful acquisitions to the roster before the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

Twins officials, including Joe Pohlad, the lead man for the Pohlad ownership group, held an oddly timed news conference during the Vikings-Packers game last Sunday to address the fallout including budget cuts. He frequently referred to how he had a “business” to run while addressing a small group of reporters.

Fans don’t want to hear about financials, they want to be told their team wants to compete for championships. They want to know if the club falters, resources will be provided to improve the product. And they want accountability regarding baseball decisions, personnel and outcomes.

The Twins haven’t played in the World Series since 1991. The club has won nine division titles since then. Minnesota, though, has won one playoff series since 2002.

A former MLB insider, who asked that his name not be published, said it appears the Twins’ mindset is to most seasons offer a product competitive enough to hold interest among fans while employing budget restraint. “If the end goal is to win a World Series, you can certainly argue that they’re not doing enough, not putting enough of the pieces in place to get that done,” the source said.

Without damage control it’s going to be a mega challenge to sell tickets for 2025. A status quo in patron perception of the organization regarding commitment to win and roster management will result in the season ticket base falling off, with expectations that single game and group sales will trend the same—perhaps dramatically.

Even if the Twins had some way staggered into the playoffs, there was a missing buy-in with fans. A feeling that “I am not going to pay $12,000 (for playoff tickets) to enrich the Pohlads.”

Some fans, or former fans, are already apathetic toward the franchise. Those customers are the most difficult to win back. Disappointment with the team goes back years with fans, including the 2022 season when Minnesota also collapsed as fall approached.

What to do at Target Field headquarters? First, take out those newspaper ads and say “we’re sorry” for the actions and results of the last 11 months. In that messaging tell the fans there is a commitment this offseason to increase payroll and make quality player acquisitions via trade or free agency.

Get the word out in a personal way to the season ticket base and other key customers with openness. Make a pledge to acquire talent not only before but during the season if needed. And make it known that all of this is part of a renewed position by ownership to hang another World Series banner at Target Field. “It’s a new era in Twins Territory.”

Let the fans know ticket pricing will include options for those with tighter budgets including families. And no price increase for season tickets—full or partial packages.

Tell the customers their favorite promotions will be back at Target Field in 2025. Then come up with attractive new offerings including giveaways.

And get the games on Minnesota television sets at affordable prices for customers. As well documented, part of the PR mess of 2024 was games weren’t available for many fans during much of the season.

The Pohlad ownership group is advised to adhere to this wisdom: spend money to make money. They have assets in place including a unique product (only 30 MLB teams) and a playing venue among the best in the country. Their ballpark amenities and stadium customer service are superb.

Those are givens and ownership needs to decide how to improve the roster and whether they have the right leadership in charge of the club on the field and in the front office.

The Pohlads are advised to look at the business from the perspective of “if we do better by the fans” the annual bottom line may often improve. And their overriding approach should recognize a couple of other enduring realities:

They are stewards of major league baseball in this town and state. With that comes the responsibility of best practices with their product.

The other reality—and now we get back to business—is that the money to be made in ownership comes from increased value of the franchise over time. Carl Pohlad bought the team in 1984 for a reported $44 million. Forbes said the 2024 Twins franchise is worth $1.46 billion, reportedly millions more than in 2023.

The Pohlad family and their varied assets are worth billions of dollars. Years ago, they put up millions to help finance the building of Target Field which opened in 2010. That created new revenue streams for the club and a better baseball experience for their customers.

“They have money to spend,” said another sports insider familiar with the Twins.

Time to renew ownership’s commitment to Minnesota. Not just with words, but also actions.

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Flip’s Ties to Timberwolves End with Towns Trade to Knicks

Posted on October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by David Shama

Notes, quotes and observations from the Timberwolves beat as the team opens practice this week.

The last connection to the Flip Saunders era is gone now with this week’s trade sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks. Saunders, the beloved former U point guard, Wolves coach and president of basketball ops, made Towns the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft before tragically passing away in October of that year.

Saunders was 60 years old when he died from cancer. He left behind a plan to make the Wolves a playoff contender, with the versatile and deft shooting 7-foot Towns as the center piece.

There was debate before the draft whether Towns or 6-10 Jahlil Okafor was most worthy of going No. 1. Saunders made the right selection in taking Towns who became Rookie of the Year averaging 18.3 points per game, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Okafor had a disappointing NBA career and last played in the league in 2020-2021.

Towns, who turns 29 in November, is one of the best shooting big men ever but his lack of consistency in big games has tarnished his reputation. Still, he was coveted by the Knicks and is reunited with coach Tom Thibodeau, a demanding leader who several years ago coached Towns with the Wolves.

The Knicks fill their center position with an All-Star while the Wolves receive an All-Star big man in power forward Julius Randle, versatile guard Donte DiVincenzo, and a future first round protected draft choice via the Pistons. “Minnesota gets two quality players,” Vinny Del Negro told Sports Headliners.

Del Negro, a former NBA player and executive, said the deal “made sense for both teams.” The Wolves were able to reduce salary, saving millions in payroll and luxury tax penalties, and stabilizing their financial outlook.

Karl-Anthony Towns photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves.

There is no certainty whether the trade makes the Wolves even more likely to make a deep playoff run or take a step back. Towns’ talent is enormous, including his defensive presence that contributed so much to knocking the defending NBA champion Nuggets out of last spring’s playoffs. Whether the 2024-2025 roster is more talented than last year’s version may not even be the determiner in whether the Wolves can go beyond the Western Conference Finals as they did this year. Results could depend on how everyone blends together and key players avoiding injury.

“…We think we can play with anybody,” said Tim Connelly, the Wolves president of basketball operations. He indicated the Wolves want to be positioned financially to win now and in the long term. He also said he’s impressed with the offseason work done by the players making themselves the best “versions of themselves.”

While the players had an emotional bond with Towns, they also understand the NBA is a business that includes trades. “We have all the trust in the world in Tim and what he’s been able to do for this team in a short period of time, and where we’ve been able to get to,” said veteran point guard Mike Conley. “…From my understanding, they handled it better than probably any organization has probably ever handled trading somebody. Super professional and the way they worked their business. …”

The Wolves’ development may now be more than ever in the hands of 23-year-old All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, generally considered a top 10 player in the league. Last season, his fourth in the NBA, he averaged a career best 25.9 points per game and played for the gold medal winning US Olympic team in the summer.

“We continue to challenge Anthony because we think he can be one of the best players ever,” Connelly said. “We don’t say that lightly. With that expectation comes tremendous responsibility. Not just the last 20 games (of last season), he’s grown tremendously as a leader.

“He’s starting to find his voice where he’s more comfortable calling guys out in a very positive way. He’s one of the more positive great players I’ve been around. There’s no skipping steps. … I think when Anthony is locked in defensively there is no better on the ball defender in the NBA. And we’re just unbelievably encouraged by his development and really proud of him.”

Asked about the “one of the best ever” comment, Edwards replied: “Yea, I think he right.”

Edwards acknowledged that in addition to his all-around physical skills, he must have a superb work ethic to reach the highest levels of achievement and show he’s coachable. His goals over the summer included being in the weight room as much as possible “and take some fat off.”

Edwards said he begins training camp in the best physical shape of his pro career. Part of that is attributed to the physical challenge of preparing for and playing in the Olympics where his teammates included LeBron James, arguably one of the two or three greatest players ever.

Edwards didn’t offer details, but he said James has “like this little thing he do before every game.” Whatever it is, Edwards said it’s a great routine “that I stole.”

Edwards made 35.7 percent of his three-point shots, down from a career high of 36.9 the prior season. He made catching the basketball and shooting three pointers an offseason priority.

Among Edwards’ new teammates is veteran guard-forward Joe Ingles. He’s admired Edwards’ talent for awhile while playing for other teams and was attracted to signing with the Wolves as a free agent. “Obviously they’ve got ‘Ant’ who is probably more than likely going to be the face of the league soon,” Ingles said. “Just a great roster, a great coaching staff.”

Ingles turns 37 tomorrow (October 2) and for a short while will be the oldest player on the roster. Conley turns 37 on October 11.

Ingles has played with three other NBA teams including with the Jazz where he and Conley excelled in working pick-and-rolls with now Wolves center Rudy Gobert. Ingles, who will come off the bench to give the team spot minutes and hopefully a frequent playmaking spark, knows his presence in Minneapolis isn’t about stroking his ego.

“It’s about the team. It’s about winning. I am too old and too over the hill to be worried about myself at this point.”

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