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.

Williams Wants to Help Set Legacy at U

Posted on September 6, 2013September 6, 2013 by David Shama

Redshirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams impressed with his blocking and also making a difficult touchdown catch in last week’s Gophers win over UNLV. He hopes the win and his four seasons of eligibility is the beginning of a new era for Minnesota football.

“I want to know I was part of something that became great,” Williams told Sports Headliners. “I think that would be one of the best things that I can do. I helped build that program.”

The 6-4, 254-pound Williams from Waconia High was recruited by other schools including Gophers’ rivals Wisconsin and Iowa but he was never serious about any college but Minnesota. He realized he wanted to help turn around a program that has struggled for decades trying to win Big Ten games.

He also has affection for his home state. “I love it here,” Williams said. “It’s where I always wanted to be.”

Williams’ dad, Brian, played football for the Gophers and so did his uncle, Ron Goetz. His mom, Rochele, was a volleyball player at the U. Those “bloodlines,” as Jerry Kill described them, had the Gophers coach almost gushing about Williams the other day, talking about “great instincts” and the running ability of his 19-year-old tight end.

Williams impressed Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson a few years ago. Nelson’s Mankato West team beat Waconia three consecutive seasons. “He was the whole offense,” Nelson said. “When Waconia was running the ball he was the running back. When they were throwing it he was either the tight end or the quarterback. I’ve known since day one that guy can make plays. I think he’s going to be a big role in this offense.”

Nelson said injuries held Williams back last season but now there is an opportunity for the two to help improve a Gophers offense that often struggled last season and at times against UNLV. Test No. 2 comes tomorrow night in Las Cruces when Minnesota plays at New Mexico State.

Worth Noting

The Aggies better not conclude from scouting the Gophers in the UNLV game that they have seen all of Minnesota’s offense. Nelson said his team “probably showed about 50 percent of the offense” in last week’s opener. “We’re always kind of switching things up running our offense,” he said.

The Gophers may use some no-huddle offense during the season, according to Nelson.

Sophomore Rodrick Williams, who may start tomorrow night at running back in place of the injured Donnell Kirkwood, is nicknamed “Nugget” because he ate so many chicken nuggets on his recruiting trip to Minnesota while in high school. Linebacker James Manuel is nicknamed “Mule” because of his physique.

With Kill declaring Andre McDonald off the team indefinitely, the Gophers are now without three wide receivers who a year ago looked like major contributors for a few seasons. McDonald, A.J. Barker and Devin Crawford–Tufts are no longer with the team.

It’s for certain the Lions will try to exploit the inexperienced Vikings cornerback group including Josh Robinson (two years experience) and Xavier Rhodes (rookie) on Sunday in Detroit. “This is going to be a big week for them (the cornerbacks) but they’ll do a good job,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. “They’ll be ready.”

Former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick said yesterday morning on ESPN Radio with hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic that Adrian Peterson had a “stunning” total of 33 runs of 20 yards or more last season. “At best, a team will average 11 or 12 a year,” said Billick, who will provide commentary on the FOX telecast of Sunday’s game.

Peterson, who was NFL MVP for the first time after last season, said yesterday he deserved to win the award earlier in his career.

Former Gopher Keith Ballard believes controversial and aggressive forward Matt Cooke will play a major part in the Wild’s success next season. Ballard told Sports Headliners any grievances Wild players had with Cook in the past will be forgotten in the locker room. Both Cooke and Ballard, a defenseman who contributed to national titles with the Gophers, are off-season acquisitions. The Wild open training camp next Thursday.

St. Thomas, hoping to compete again for a Division III national football championship, opens its season tomorrow with a 1:10 p.m. home game against UW-Eau Claire. The Tommies home and away games will be broadcast on WCCO Radio.

Comments Welcome

AD Boston: Aggies Can Upset U Again

Posted on September 4, 2013September 4, 2013 by David Shama

New Mexico State upset the Gophers two years ago in Minneapolis, winning 28-21 in the second game of Jerry Kill’s career as Minnesota head coach. McKinley Boston, the former Gophers athletic director who now holds the same position at New Mexico State, believes the Aggies can win again when the two teams meet on Saturday night in Las Cruces, although Minnesota may enter the game as a three touchdown favorite.

The Aggies are 4-20 since their big win in Minneapolis with the most recent loss a 56-7 pounding by Texas last Saturday night. “It’s obvious we’re struggling but (new head coach) Doug Martin has created a lot of enthusiasm,” Boston told Sports Headliners on Monday. “Now you and I know words and hype are one thing. You need a big win. I am very excited about the possibility (of defeating Minnesota).”

Martin was the offensive coordinator two years ago when the Aggies pulled off an upset that was big news in the Big Ten Conference and back in Las Cruces where football glory has been mostly absent through the years. The Aggies are using a no-huddle offense and are likely to fill the hot sky with footballs on Saturday night. Temps in Las Cruces on Saturday, including early evening, are likely to be in the 90s.

New Mexico State had 242 yards passing and only 104 yards rushing last Saturday against Texas in Austin. The Aggies trailed 14-7 at the half before the Longhorns scored 42 unanswered second half points on a field where the temperature was 110 degrees. “I think we just ran out of gas,” Boston said. “I think we’re improved (this season) on both sides of the ball.”

Among the Aggies’ issues in the past has been a defense that gave up over 40 points seven times last season. Against New Mexico State the Longhorns had 715 total yards in offense, 359 rushing and 356 passing.

But Texas has a talented roster and hopes for returning to the elite in college football this fall. The Gophers, who are 10-14 since their loss to the Aggies, are still building their resume.

Hosting the game in New Mexico plays a part in Boston’s optimism and excitement about Saturday. The game is being advertised as the first ever visit to Las Cruces by a Big Ten opponent and from a business perspective a win over the Gophers will mean more future ticket sales and revenues.

Boston said there’s “no ifs, ands or buts” about the total importance of the game. “The fact we beat them before, a lot of people believe we can win,” he said.

Worth Noting

Boston is predicting attendance in the mid-20,000 range for the game, about 5,000 short of capacity at Aggie Memorial Stadium (capacity 30,343). On Friday night and at the game he will entertain friends with Minnesota connections including Leon Trawick and Curt Wilson, both former teammates of Boston with the 1967 Big Ten champion football Gophers.

Boston said September 7 “will be the only Saturday of the year” he’s not cheering for the Gophers.

Twins president Dave St. Peter talking to Sports Headliners about Terry Ryan: “I wouldn’t trade him for any other general manager in the game.”

Ryan is closing in on 24 months since he took over the franchise’s general manager role for a second time in his career. Ryan’s desire for a less demanding lifestyle drove him away from the job in 2007. “I have no indication he won’t come back (for next season),” St. Peter said.

Although Twins phenoms Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano won’t be among the minor leaguers recalled in September, both will be in spring training camp with Minnesota next year, according to St. Peter. He also said Buxton will play in the Arizona Fall League and Sano will participate again in winter baseball in his native Dominican Republic.

Although former Gophers guard Al Nuness is a distant cousin of Tyus Jones, it was coincidence the two were in Waco, Texas last weekend. Nuness arrived last week and is still in Waco celebrating the first birthday (today) of granddaughter Jasmine Nuness. She is the daughter of Jared Nuness who is Al’s son and works as director of player development for the Baylor men’s basketball team that is recruiting Jones.

“I am not involved and have never been involved in Tyus’ recruiting process,” Al said.

Jones, rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 prospect in the country for the class of 2014, made an official visit to Baylor a few days ago. Joining him in Waco was his friend Jahlil Okafor, the No. 1 rated prospect. It’s almost certain the two players, Jones a point guard from Apple Valley High School, and Okafor, the center from Whitney Young High in Chicago, will attend college together.

The Vikings won’t make the playoffs, according to the September 2 issue of Sports Illustrated. The magazine’s pro football issue predicts the Vikings will have a 9-7 record, finishing second in the NFC North behind the Packers, 10-6. The Vikings are ranked No. 8 among NFC teams, four listings behind the Packers, one ahead of the Bears and seven in front of the Lions.

The publication’s article on the Vikings (no surprise) focuses on quarterback Christian Ponder. “Ponder, 25, must prove he’s the club’s unquestioned No. 1 quarterback,” writes Don Banks.

The Patriots will defeat the Seahawks, 30-23, in the Super Bowl, according to Peter King who leaves the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson off his list of predicted NFL individual award winners. The Patriots’ Tom Brady is the pick for MVP, the Titans’ Chris Johnson Offensive Player of the Year and the Packers’ Eddie Lacy Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Vikings open the regular season in Detroit on Sunday against a franchise Minnesota has dominated historically and in more recent years. The Vikings are 68-33-2 all-time against Detroit. The Lions have only six wins versus the Vikings dating back to 1998.

Comments Welcome

Rocky Marciano Lived a Knockout Life

Posted on September 2, 2013September 2, 2013 by David Shama

If Rocky Marciano were alive, he would have celebrated his 90^th birthday yesterday. Marciano died in a small airplane crash near Newton, Iowa on August 31, 1969 and although the former boxing great has been dead for a long time he is fondly remembered by many fans including Twin Cities public relations professional and fight fan Dennis McGrath.

One day back in 1969 McGrath was having lunch at a place called the Front Page in downtown Minneapolis when he saw a guy that looked like Marciano. McGrath recognized a man with the retired heavyweight champion, a local fighter named Joe Schmolze who he knew.

“What the hell is he (Marciano) doing in Minneapolis?” McGrath wondered.

The retired Champ was in town on business, representing a union involved with an insurance company. “I told Joe it would be great to meet Rocky,” McGrath recalled.

Marciano graciously introduced himself, as if McGrath didn’t know who the legendary fighter was. “He says, ‘Hi, I am Rocky Marciano.’ I am shaking the hand of the guy that knocked out Joe Louis.”

A few months later Marciano, who was born on September 1, 1923, was dead, just a day before his 46^th birthday. Ironically, about the same time Schmolze was killed in a car accident in Columbia Heights.

While Schmolze’s death was news locally, the passing of the Rock shook the nation. “This is the saddest news I ever heard,” Louis said.

That quote is from the 2002 book The Rock of His Times by Russell Sullivan. His Marciano biography is the story about one of America’s most beloved heroes during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when boxing was near the top of the entertainment charts in this country.

When you were the heavyweight champ, the nation was watching. With Marciano people liked what they saw — fans, sportswriters and even guys the Rock hurt in the ring including the incomparable Louis who to this day is considered by some historians to be the greatest heavyweight ever.

Louis was African-American while Marciano was Italian-American, but regardless of race other fighters and those associated with the sport liked Marciano. “The nicest guy (Marciano) you ever wanted to meet,” Angelo Dundee said in Sullivan’s book. “A gentleman.”

For years Dundee was Muhammad Ali’s trainer. Dundee ranks Marciano among the 10 best heavyweights of all time, according to Sullivan who also quotes writer Jimmy Breslin as saying, “I don’t know who was better.”

During a pro career that started in 1948 and ended in 1956, Marciano compiled a 49-0 record with 43 knockouts. From 1952-1956 he was the undisputed champion of the world and retired as the only undefeated and untied heavyweight champ ever.

In the early part of 1969 Marciano filmed a fake fight with Ali who was then only 27 years old. Marciano, 45, got in shape and wore a toupee for the filming. The two men worked out in the ring while cameras recorded their movements and blows. The purpose was to make a film for commercial profit but neither Marciano nor Ali knew at the time who a computer would judge the winner.

What fight fans ultimately saw when the “Super Fight” movie was released in 1970 was Marciano winning with a 13th round TKO. It was the Rock’s “last fight” and even in a film he remained undefeated. A disappointed Ali is said to have suggested the computer was from Alabama.

Marciano was a blood and guts fighter. He was a slugger, not a fancy boxer, and he often looked awkward in his movements. Only 5-11 and well under 200 pounds, Marciano didn’t have a long reach or more size than opponents but he hit with devastating power and was capable of even killing another man. He could weather a blow from foes like few others and was only knocked down twice in his career.

The Champ had something else, too. Incredible determination to succeed. A Depression era baby, a young Marciano wanted success and when he washed out as a pro baseball player he knew boxing was his last ticket to earning wealth in athletics.

Marciano’s will to succeed was evident in how hard and effectively he trained. Sullivan writes that supposedly even voluptuous movie star Jayne Mansfield couldn’t distract the Champ during training for one of his fights. “What is he, crazy?” Mansfield reportedly asked. “He didn’t want anything to do with me.”

After retiring from boxing, Marciano kept busy with business affairs including speeches. He didn’t want to lose his place among the famous and he also wanted to make sure the kid who grew up so poor in Brockton, Massachusetts always had plenty of cash.

Sullivan said it’s believed there are still places around the country that Marciano hid his money. It was a hunger for money, recognition and helping friends that had Marciano on the move after his boxing career ended. He often travelled by private airplane and was trying to fly from Chicago to Des Moines when he and two passengers were killed in 1969.

“Rocky lived life lately like it was the 15^th round and he was behind on points,” Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray wrote only days after Marciano’s death. “Every time I saw him of late he was on the dead run.”

For Dennis McGrath and others who met Marciano, they are now just grateful to have known him.

Happy birthday, Champ.

Comments Welcome