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.

Vikings Must Count on KOC, Flores for Difference Makers

Posted on June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 by David Shama

A common wagering figure this spring is the 2024 Vikings will win seven to eight games (7.5). That prediction is likely more acceptable in other parts of the country than in Vikings land where expectations are more like nine or 10 wins.

Still, only the giddiest of Purple fans—perhaps high on too much aquavit—will argue their favorites have an uber talented roster. The production from the all-important quarterback position is unknown, while the output from the interior offensive and defensive lines, edge rusher and cornerback group belong in the uncertainty category as well. Go ahead, too, and throw in speculation about the quality of the punting and kicking specialists where newcomers loom. And, yes, the schedule is challenging.

There are excellent playmakers at wide receiver, tight end and running back who play with two potential All-Pro tackles in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. Star power is lacking on defense where the unit’s biggest name from last season, pass rusher Danielle Hunter, left in free agency.

Scrutinize the roster and it’s evident if the Vikings exceed expectations the personnel will have to play beyond their potential. And that’s where head coach Kevin O’Connell, leading the offense, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores need to be difference makers.

There’s no questioning the coaching chops of either. In the two previous seasons leading the Vikings O’Connell proved his worth as an offensive schemer and play caller. Flores, in his first season leading the defense last season, lived up to his superb reputation after previous assignments as an assistant and head coach in the NFL.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

With two unproven quarterbacks in Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, O’Connell will need to be efficient in devising an offense that makes a defense think, without being too exotic. This offense could be run focused to the extent the quarterback is asked to throw 22 to 26 passes a game.

Power running with multiple tight ends and even two running backs might be how the Vikings often line up. The addition of running back Aaron Jones, the free agent signee who three times in seven seasons with the Packers rushed for over 1,000 yards, could see the Vikings use him as a bell cow softening up defenses before Darnold or McCarthy hit wide receivers Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison with a big pass play. Whatever the formation, with or without pre-snap motion, count on KOC to provide an edge in deception and play calling.

Variation of scheme and play calls are likely to be trademarks of Flores’ defense, too. It wouldn’t even be surprising if the unit lined up in a five-man front instead of a three. Flores’ blitzes will be part of the defensive package and expect him to mix his personnel to take advantage of individuals’ strengths and keep players fresh.

It looks like with the players the Vikings have added on defense in the offseason they will collectively be a faster unit than in 2023. That’s exemplified with new linebacker Blake Cashman, the 28-year-old former Gopher whose speed allows him to excel in pass coverage. Rookie Dallas Turner is 6-3, 247, but can motor and may make an impact next fall as a big play pass rusher.

When the Vikings open training camp late next month, the tutoring by O’Connell, Flores and the other coaches will begin as they work with a revamped roster that counts seven rookies and 12 key new NFL veterans. The time will go quickly and must be used wisely as the Vikings prepare for their regular season opener September 8 at the Giants.

A quote from O’Connell last week fit what lies ahead for the staff: ”…There’s an hourglass going for 32 teams the moment that we all come back to training camp and how we use that time—how we prepare the team, I’ve learned is a huge part of the early season.”

Worth Noting

Espn.com posted a story this week about the NFL’s highest paid players and the list included two Vikings and two others with Minnesota ties. Categories used were three-year average (APY) compensation and guaranteed money.

Viking wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s new deal has him at $35 million APY and an NFL record of guaranteed money for a non-quarterback—$110 million. Viking T.J. Hockenson, who agreed to a new deal last summer, is tops among tight ends in guaranteed money at $42.5 million and third in APY at $16 million.

Former Gopher All-American Antoine Winfield Jr., playing for the Bucs, is No. 1 among safeties with $21.03 million APY and $45 million guaranteed. Minnesota native Frank Ragnow, playing for the Lions, is tops among centers in both APY at $14 million and guaranteed money, $42 million.

The highly respected Phil Steele Publications has seven Golden Gophers among its college football preseason honorees. Offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery is a third team preseason All-American, while kicker Dragan Kesich made the fourth team.

Both Gophers are first team All-Big Ten selections along with wide receiver Daniel Jackson. Defensive lineman Danny Striggow and cornerback Justin Walley are second teamers, with linebacker Cody Lindenberg on the third team and punter Mark Crawford the fourth team.

Ryan Burns, the Gopher football authority from GopherIllustrated, counts cornerback transfer Ethan Robinson from Bucknell among new players he will analyze this fall. Burns told Sports Headliners Robinson had “copious amounts of opportunities” from other schools including USC.

Robinson will be a senior and figures to start with Walley, a three-year starter and senior. Burns said the potential is present to have “two play making corners there that’s going to help you immensely.”

Greg Gagne, son of former Gopher great and legendary pro wrestler Verne Gagne, is a partner and co-founder of PowerTown, a company producing “original collectible wrestling action figures comprised of legends of the sport from the past eight decades,” per the website. Greg wrestled for his father’s American Wrestling Association years ago and gained tag team wrestling fame with fellow Minnesotan Jim Brunzell. https://powertownwrestling.com/

Former Gophers public address announcer Dick Jonckowski reports he has been cancer free for about 18 months. He has battled and overcome non-Hodgkin lymphoma three times, and celebrates his 81^st birthday in October.

Jonckowski was honored earlier this year by the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association with its distinguished service award for his many years promoting the sport including as the public address voice at state tournaments.

The Twins could use a right-handed hitting corner outfielder as they try to overcome a disappointing start to the season and chase the Guardians in the race to win the Central Division title. Ironically, 29-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder Brent Rooker is in town with the lowly Athletics, and he is a club leader in home runs with 13 and 41 RBIs. The Twins drafted Rooker in 2017 but gave up on him after the 2021 season. Before the MLB trade deadline on July 30, he will be rumored to join a contending club.

Luis Arraez, the former Twin leading MLB in batting average at .329, can become the only player in the modern era to win three batting titles with three different teams. With Minnesota, Arraez won the American League championship in 2022, topped the National League last season with the Marlins and could lead that league again playing for the Padres.

Meanwhile, pitcher Pablo Lopez, who came from the Marlins in the Arraez deal, is struggling and not producing numbers like a staff ace. Lopez is 6-6 with a .533 ERA. In his last seven starts he is 3-4 with a 6.34 ERA.

The club’s best starter in 2024 is Joe Ryan, 5-5 and 3.24 ERA. In his last seven starts he is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA.

Can’t beat these baseball names for pitchers: Scott Blewett and Janson Junk are two names brought to attention by friend Dave Mona. Blewett is one of the Saints’ better relievers with a 3-2 record and 2.41 ERA. Junk is also a reliever and the Brewers recently optioned him to their Nashville farm team after compiling a 9.00 ERA in three games and five innings.

That was Minnetonka High School graduate and Kansas senior Gunnar Broin impressing at the U.S. Open yesterday with a two-under 68 that enabled him to make the cut in Pinehurst, North Carolina. After two rounds he is in contention to finish as the low amateur. He played in the 2023 North and South Amateur at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club so he is familiar with the course.

It was sad to hear of Jerry West’s death this week. The NBA icon was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1960, shortly before the franchise moved to Los Angeles. West teamed with Elgin Baylor, who got his start with the Lakers in Minneapolis, to form one of the most prolific scoring duos in NBA history.

The Lakers picked up their legacy of great teams in Minneapolis after their move to California. During the 1960s their playoff games were sometimes televised back to the Twin Cities by owner Bob Short who used his trucking company, Admiral Merchants, as a sponsor.

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Golden Gophers Sit Tight on Ben Johnson’s Contract

Posted on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 by David Shama

There has been postseason anticipation about Ben Johnson’s contract as University of Minnesota head men’s basketball coach. That suspense goes back to late March when Johnson’s Golden Gophers posted the best record in his three seasons of leading the program at his alma mater.

Athletic director Mark Coyle told Sports Headliners there will be no changes in Johnson’s contract this offseason. The deal has three years remaining (ends April 30, 2027) and Coyle believes longer contracts are a thing of the past because of the flux in rosters with basketball players and other athletes coming and going. The transfer portal and influence of NIL money can change rosters on a dime.

Minnesota will have two returning starters, Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell Jr., from the 2023-2024 team that finished 9-11 in Big Ten regular season games and 19-15 overall. The conference record was good for ninth place in the 14-team league standings.

That was a major improvement over Johnson’s first two seasons when his teams had consecutive last place conference finishes and a combined 6-33 league record. That prompted public criticism of Johnson during his first experience as a head coach after being a career assistant college coach at Minnesota and elsewhere.

“We made great, great strides,” Coyle said during an interview at his campus office. “I’ve talked to Ben about if we go .500 in conference play, we’re going to be in the NCCA Tournament more times than not if you play a decent nonconference schedule.

“So, our goal is to continue to support Ben and help him take the next step. I think Ben is very excited about the roster he brought in. A lot of thanks to (program booster) Bob Klas and the people that support our NIL initiative. …Ben is in a really good spot, so we did not do a contract extension.”

The Gophers—who are bringing in eight new players including six transfers—lost three starters with remaining eligibility from last season’s team. It’s believed Pharrel Payne and Elijah Hawkins left for more lucrative NIL money. Cam Christie is pursuing the NBA Draft.

Coyle said Johnson and other coaches are in his office on a regular basis to discuss NIL. Working with the Dinkytown Athletes collective, the Athletic Department has seen a surge in money benefiting athletes from many sports since DA started almost two years ago. Coyle didn’t offer a figure as to how much money Johnson has had to work with in 2024 but an informed estimate by Sports Headliners is “north” of $1 million.

“I don’t think we know what our peers are at,” Coyle said. “You hear rumors what our peers are at but then you see them lose two or three starters, too.”

Money is a centerpiece of Johnson’s responsibilities. A Big Ten contending team in this market could command among the higher ticket prices in college hoops and those revenues would shoulder a big load in a department where the only programs making money are football, men’s basketball and men’s hockey.

The Gophers averaged 8,139 in home attendance last season, ranking 12^th in the Big Ten. That was down from 9,451 the previous year.

A spokesman from the Athletic Department emailed that the Gophers made $5 million from men’s basketball this past year. The potential, he said, was to make $2 million more.

On a side topic, a visitor asked Coyle about the disruption of play by TV commercials during major college basketball games including in the Big Ten. Combined with frequent timeouts by coaches, there are almost constant stoppages of play.

Coyle, who is a member of the Division I Basketball Committee, remembered a game in 2024 where the teams played through two designated media timeouts because nothing happened to stop the game clock. A price was paid, though, when the timeouts finally came. In about a five-minute span the action on the floor consisted of a couple of free throws.

Coyle said “we need to have that conversation” about the disruption in flow of men’s college games.

Worth Noting

Christie, who played one season as a freshman for the Gophers, doesn’t turn 19 until July 24. If he is drafted later this month by an NBA team it will almost certainly be in the second round.

This what NBA.com, courtesy of RotoWire, said about the younger brother of Lakers reserve Max Christie: “Christie stands out due to his energy and shooting ability but needs to devote more time to improving on the defensive end of the court to reach his ceiling. Don’t be surprised if he starts his career in the G League. Given the similarity of traits, Christie could end up having a similar career to his brother.”

Richard Pitino, who preceded Johnson as Gophers coach, received an extension this spring that will pay him $1.2 million next season and rise to $1.4 million in 2028-2029, the last year of the contract. When Pitino started his career as Minnesota coach in 2013 his compensation was $1.2 million.

As of yesterday, Stub.com listed some tickets for more than $1200 each for the Lynx’s home game July 14 against phenom Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves, Twins and Wild band together to televise their games next fall and beyond after the fallout this spring between Comcast Xfinity and Bally Sports resulted in no Twins games on local cable TV.

It was a spirited and heartfelt tribute yesterday for the late Jim Carter at 7 Vineyards and Winery in Dellwood. Nicknamed “Hurricane” while at the University of Minnesota playing football and hockey in the late 1960s, the South St. Paul native was a fierce competitor in sports, business and life. He was a dedicated friend to many people including those in recovery from addiction.

Close pal and Gopher football teammate Bob Stein was among those speaking at the celebration of life for Carter who passed away in November from cancer. Stein recalled Carter not liking a penalty call in a hockey game and storming out on to the ice with a chair in hand. A game official recognized Stein who was seated near the ice, and asked for an intervention with the 6-4, 250-pound Carter. “Are you crazy?” Stein said.

Stein, a defensive end, and Carter, a fullback, faced each other one-on-one many times in practice drills. Stein likened it yesterday to Bighorn Rams butting heads in the popular Dodge Ram TV commercials. He said after the drills both players would go back to the frat house with headaches, and then rest while needing to get ready for that evening’s party.

Stein spoke of Carter’s “humility,” interest in others and their welfare, saying it didn’t matter what a person’s stature in life was, he wanted to know about you. Emcee Dick Jonckowski recalled that several years ago Carter approached him and said he heard the Gophers baseball public address man had cancer. Carter asked Jonckowski about the financial impact on his life and he acknowledged there was uncertainty. Not long after a check from Carter arrived in the mail.

Former teammates and other friends were in attendance including ex-South St. Paul goalie Gaylen Bicking who played with Carter. He told the gathering that while efforts haven’t been successful yet, the will is there to name the South St. Paul High School football facility after the former Packers great: Ettinger Field at Jim Carter Stadium.

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The Amazing Mr. Lewis: ‘As Positive as They Come’

Posted on June 9, 2024June 9, 2024 by David Shama

An interviewer referred to Twins wunderkind Royce Lewis as the “amazing Mr. Lewis” last week when talking to Minnesota president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. This was the morning after the third baseman and hitter extraordinaire homered in his return to the lineup after more than a two-month absence with his right quadriceps strain.

“It never ceases to amaze you when he has these moments, when he hasn’t played in two months and he keeps going,” Falvey said Wednesday morning after Lewis’ performance.

Lewis was injured in the team’s March 28 season opener, a game in which he was two-for-two at the plate, including a home run. Then in his return last Tuesday night he walked twice and hit a home run. Add it up, Falvey pointed out, and his 25-year-old star didn’t make an out in his first five plate appearances of the season.

Now the baseball world is watching to see if Lewis will experience more than a curtain call this season. ACL injuries, a troublesome hamstring and oblique and quad strains have sidelined him during his professional career that began with the Twins drafting him No. 1 in 2017. In three regular seasons of work with the Twins, he has only played in 75 games and had 272 plate appearances.

But what a brief resume he has compiled! In an era where .300 averages are difficult, his career mark is .309, plus an attention grabbing 20 home runs and a .937 OPS. He has homered about 13 times per plate appearance and that’s among the best in MLB history for a minimum of 250 at bats.

And there are unforgettable moments such as last October when he became the third player in MLB history to homer in his first two postseason at bats. He set the stage for the dramatic during the regular season by hitting four grand slams in a 20-game span as he helped the Twins win the AL Central Division title.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-handed hitting, right-handed throwing California native is a poster boy for the age old five-tool definition of a baseball player: speed, power, hitting average, fielding and arm strength. Yet, there is something else almost as intriguing about Lewis and that is his attitude toward life including its perils.

Lewis has consistently confronted the health issues in his life with an attitude that could make Mother Teresa proud. “He’s as positive as they come,” Falvey said. “When he’s been rehabbing, I’ve been shocked by it and there have been moments where candidly I have said to him, it’s okay to feel bad…to be a little disappointed in what you’re dealing with. And he does certainly (do that) in quiet moments, I am sure.

“But at the same time, what he does such a tremendous job with is focusing on the things that he can control—which is how do I go about my rehab? How do I take care of today? How do I get myself on a better track? Ultimately, every day he focuses on that. …”

Falvey admitted “sometimes we have to push and say, hey, Royce, I am not sure you’re as honest about this as you think you are. We know him well enough at this point to push him on that.”

Lewis dedicated the offseason to flexibility and movement training, only to be confronted with another physical setback on opening day. Falvey said: “He and I talked about it in spring training, and he felt like he was running as well as he ever had, knowing that he had dealt with some of these issues before. …”

Despite hard work and the best of intentions, there doesn’t seem to be an explanation for the Lewis health misfortunes. There was, for example, due diligence by various authorities trying to find the cause of the quad strain while running to third base.

“I wish we could (explain it),” Falvey said. “We tried. Everyone looked at it. You know, obviously watched a lot of video. Watched how he kind of hit second base (before running to third on his hit). Felt like one of those freak injuries that you don’t really anticipate because just a week before in spring training he had gone hard first to third in almost the exact same manner. …”

After all the Lewis mishaps it’s human nature to wonder about whether he has a freaky susceptibility to injuries. Falvey said Lewis isn’t any more tightly wound in his muscles than peers and that everyone is a little different in their makeup. There have been different causes, different issues with the setbacks. “He’s a tremendously strong and flexible kid,” Falvey said about the player who has had advice on everything from strength building to hydration to flexibility to nutrition.

Lewis has the sort of talent, determination and charisma to become the face of not only the Twins but perhaps baseball. Since returning to the Twins lineup, he has hit .333 with an OPS of 1.345. He no doubt would trade that success for a few wins, with the Twins having lost five straight since his return.

After playing last Tuesday and Wednesday, he rested for Thursday’s game in New York against the Yankees. In the weeks to come there “will be thoughtful” discussion, Falvey said, about how often Lewis is in the lineup.

There will be a mix of playing third base and filling the DH role. Rest may come after two games, or three or four. A lot of factors will be involved including how the general recovery is progressing, whether Lewis ran more than usual or had to stretch himself out on a defensive play in a previous game, as he builds “volume” in a return to full time play.

Falvey and GM Thad Levine were hired by the Twins in the fall of 2016. Their first MLB Draft for Minnesota came with the overall No. 1 selection. The brain trust saw, Falvey said, a “tremendous athlete” who was still “pretty raw” at age 17. He observed that “this kid’s makeup was a little different” in how dedicated he was to the game, how much he cared and how charismatic he was.

Falvey said when injuries hit Lewis in the minor leagues, he wondered how that missed time would impact the youngster’s development of fundamentals. “So, I was a little bit worried about that, candidly—that he didn’t get the reps and the routine in the minor league journey. However, the thing that kind of impressed me more than anything else is it just feels like when he has those less fundamental moments or routines, there’s a special play in there somewhere along the way that he finds a way to maybe do it a little differently than everyone else does. And when the lights turn on and the big moments are there it seems like he shines.”

There is the hope, of course, that the Amazing Mr. Lewis will shine for a long time—free of mishaps that can slow or even derail his star lined destiny. The physical talent, combined with his exemplary attitude, has Lewis positioned to become not only the face of the team but also its clubhouse leader eventually.

“(Twins) players feel it in the clubhouse already, even at a young age (for Lewis),” Falvey said. Minnesota counts veterans Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton among its current leaders. Falvey said players like Correa can help Lewis continue to grow as a leader who the whole organization looks up to.

Falvey said: “There’s not that old school approach that, hey, if you’re young just stay in the corner. Be quiet. I’ve heard that a lot … (With the Twins it) is a little bit of, hey, you’re here to help us. You’re here to make us better.

“Now you’re (also) here to be respectful. You’re respectful…of every teammate, but it doesn’t matter if you have had a day in the big leagues or 10 years in the big leagues, you’ve got to be part of this team and be the best version of yourself.

“But I think what Royce has adapted is… (he’s the same player) you see every day on the TV. That’s the kid we see inside, too, even when the doors are closed, too. He’s just a fun loving (player who) enjoys baseball, loves being there, loves trying to help people left and right. And hopefully he can grow into that kind of leader you’re identifying.”

That’s part of why he’s the Amazing Mr. Lewis.

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