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.

At 24 Anthony Edwards Can Build Off Superstar Status

Posted on September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 by David Shama

Anthony “Ant” Edwards, only 24 years old, starts his sixth training camp with the Timberwolves this week and is one of the best basketball players in the world. Tim Connelly, the franchise’s president of basketball operations, told a media gathering Monday his superstar guard can become one of the “greatest players of all time.”

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Edwards might be in the best condition of his life after an offseason addressing his training and his skillset—preparing to take the next step in his elite career. That step could include an NBA MVP Award and lifting his franchise to a first ever NBA Finals.

What would it take to win his first league MVP Award after having twice been named All-NBA in his career? “We gotta win,” Edwards said. “I think all MVPs win at a high level (and) average a whole bunch of points.”

Michael Jordan won five MVP awards. The first came when he was 25.

This offseason an intermediary between Edwards and Jordan provided some input for the Minnesota MVP. Edwards said he picked up on the tip of using his back to lean in on a defender, rather than establishing leverage with his butt as he has done in the past. That was trademark positioning for the GOAT.

Edwards said his communications with Jordan are just beginning. “Nah, we don’t really have no relationship how y’all think we got one right now. It’ll come in years to come but right now it’s just through somebody.”

Edwards, Finch photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s been suggested that Edwards needs to be more consistent against mediocre competition. In the past his approach has been more about getting his teammates involved than himself. He predicted a change for this season to establish more consistency and production: “Try to get a career high in points,” he said. “…I think that’s how I am going to stay engaged.”

Edwards has been diligent this off-season and hinted at a new offensive move that could be used in crunch times of games. Coach Chris Finch sees that development as one of the ways Edwards can elevate his game.

What is it? “I can’t tell you. You’ll see,” Edwards teased.

Edwards did offer that improving his clutch work could tie to playing closer to the rim. He did add, however, that what he can do sometimes is dictated by frequent double teams that limit his options.

During the off-season Edwards, who admitted today he has a troublesome lower back, wore gloves while dribbling the ball and noted “I’ve never been able to handle the ball this good in my life. “

Edwards can be a dynamic scorer with his outside shooting and driving to the hoop, plus his playmaking for teammates. He doesn’t finish at the rim with the consistency he is capable of. Finch would also like to see more consistency in his gifted player’s defense, which can be suffocating.

One of the things that should benefit the Wolves this season is having second leading scorer Julius Randle and valued sub Donte DiVincenzo with the team from the beginning of training camp. The two joined the team just before last season in the famous trade with the Knicks sending Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Adjustments take time and both Randle and Edwards recalled, for example, posting up in the same space on the floor during a game. That kind of confusion should be less likely now, plus all the nuances that come from teammates knowing how to work and benefit from one another. Edwards said he and Randle have been in Minneapolis all summer, adding to their experience with one another.

Other teammates were in town early, in advance of camp. Edwards thinks that can give the Wolves an edge early in the season when other teams are trying to find themselves with changed personnel. The Wolves return six of their top seven players including the starting five.

The Wolves are coming off two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. Teams that go deep in the playoffs, Edwards believes, have togetherness. “They really care about each other,” he said.

And there’s no doubt Edwards’ teammates and the front office care about him. “He’s going to have another great year,” Connelly said about Edwards who averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game last season.

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Twins Surprise by Firing Veteran Manager Rocco Baldelli

Posted on September 29, 2025September 29, 2025 by David Shama

The Twins announced this afternoon that Rocco Baldelli will not return as the club’s manager in 2026.

The move is a surprise after the Twins in June reportedly extended the option on Baldelli’s contract for 2026. The Pohlad family owned franchise is known for its loyalty to employees, including those in management.

Baldelli, however, just finished his seventh season with a team that compiled a 70-92 record. It was the second consecutive disappointing season. Only once in the last five seasons has his team made the playoffs.

Fans were critical during his tenure of how he handled pitchers and made out his batting order. Critics also didn’t think he managed with enough fire.

The termination will appease a lot of fans and perhaps be one of the dominoes that will fall during the offseason, with team leaders hoping to revive interest in the club and improve performance on the field. The fanbase has become both apathetic and angry toward the team which has been spiraling downward in popularity since almost two years ago when ownership and upper management didn’t seize on the momentum of building even a better club than the 2023 group that made the American League playoffs.

Baldelli was hired by front office boss Derek Falvey who is still leading the Twins. Falvey led the franchise more into the world of baseball analytics and Baldelli was seemingly comfortable with that approach. The Twins job was his first as a manager at any level. Some will see his firing as being a scapegoat for the failures of others in the organization.

Baldelli was only 37 years old when hired. He was viewed at least for a time as a players manager, particularly when winning three division titles.

Jayce Tingler, the Twins bench coach and former manager of the Padres, could be one of the candidates to take over for Baldelli. The new hire will be huge for Falvey since he is already under fire for his perceived role in the team’s decline.

Named the 14th manager in club history on October 25, 2018, Baldelli leaves with the third-most wins in Twins history with a 527–505 (.511). He trails only Twins Hall of Famers Tom Kelly (1,140-1,244) and Ron Gardenhire (1,068-1,039). He managed Minnesota to three American League Central Division titles (2019, 2020, and 2023), including a 101-win season in 2019 when he was named American League Manager of the Year.

“Over the past seven years Rocco has been much more than our manager. He has been a trusted partner and teammate to me in leading this organization,” said Falvey (President, Baseball & Business Operations) in a prepared statement by the organization. “Together we shared a deep care for the Twins, for our players and staff, and for doing everything in our power to put this club in the best position to succeed. Along the way we experienced some meaningful accomplishments, and I will always be proud of those, even as I wish we had ultimately achieved more.

“This is a difficult day because of what Rocco represents to so many people here. He led with honesty, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our players and staff. He gave himself fully to this role and I have tremendous respect and gratitude for the way he carried himself and the way he showed up every single day.

“This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set. I take personal responsibility for that. After discussions with ownership, we determined that this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction. This decision is not a reflection of Rocco’s effort or leadership. It reflects where we are as an organization and the belief that a different voice is needed to help us move forward. …”

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Most Pressure to Win in This Town? It’s not the WNBA Lynx

Posted on September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 by David Shama

Our town demands little in terms of championships from its pro teams and the Golden Gophers. Maybe that’s part of why the championship cupboard is so bare.

Minnesota fans aren’t so nasty they would threaten a serious boycott of a team, or boo Santa Claus like the City of Brotherly Love once did.

With a population here raised on “Minnesota nice” and minds filled with sensitivity training, I question whether some state natives would even unanimously hiss and jeer Vladimir Putin!

The Lynx are favorites to win the WNBA title this fall but think again if you believe there’s public pressure on the Lynxers to win it all. Nope for a couple of reasons.

The Lynx have already produced four WNBA championships, and they keep exceeding expectations. Then, too, the public interest in the club isn’t as widespread, nor as deeply intense as for several other outfits in town.

The team that should be feeling the most pressure to rise ASAP to an elite level is the Twins. The struggling franchise that passed on the opportunity to take a step forward two years ago after exciting patrons with its playoff run has both pissed off and launched fans into anger and apathy.

The Twins close the regular season on Sunday as a franchise viewed by the public and media as in disarray. David Schoenfield, writing for ESPN.com Wednesday, graded the 30 MLB teams on their 2025 seasons. No one in Twins Territory should be surprised the Pohlad owned franchise was given an F.

Schoenfield wrote: “This is the kind of season that can set an organization back five years, where it kind of feels like the whole organization has given up. Ownership/management punted at the trade deadline, dealing away 10 players. …As always, the Pohlads never disappoint in their willingness to pinch pennies.”

It’s interesting that while the Twins head toward a final record of about 22 games under .500 (after plummeting with a second consecutive late season collapse), the Brewers from neighboring Wisconsin received the best grade of the season from Schoenfield. Playing in a similar size market, the Brewers will finish with close to 100 wins and easily the best runs differential in MLB.

The Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers football have no elite hardware to showcase this century, but they don’t face the scrutiny of the Twins who need a massive turnaround and pursuit of no less than an American league pennant.

Measure fan interest by game attendance, TV viewership, merchandise sales and sponsorship, and no one in this town likely comes close to the Vikings in decibel blowing devotion. On Sundays, it feels like only the newborn and comatose among us aren’t following the Purple heroes.

The franchise hasn’t been to the Super Bowl since Jimmy Carter was in the White House, but there’s not a win it all demand by the fanbase or “we’re done with you.” A competitive team, with entertaining players, is enough for the Skol-mad and beer fueled fans to rock all fall.

The Wolves and Wild claim no league titles in their histories which date back 35 and 25 years respectively. Yeah, Wolves fans would love to see coach Chris Finch hoisting the NBA championship trophy on a parade down Hennepin Avenue. But the fanbase of this mostly forlorn franchise is mesmerized by the last two springs when the club made the Western Conference Finals. Pressure to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy? Nah, not when the fanbase is honeymooning right now in unknown success.

The Wild fanbase is passionate and darn loyal, win or lose. Patrons would love a Stanley Cup but for starters many will welcome a deep playoff run next spring. Past post season success has been too minimal as has goal scoring. Disappointed fans have a way of returning for the next season and for now are preoccupied with seeing the contract of superstar Kirill Kaprizov extended. That’s where the franchise’s public pressure is for now. If Kaprizov departs and the club performs poorly for a season or two, then the pressure will be on like never before in the building we used to call the X.

Gopher football hasn’t shared a Big Ten championship since 1967. Minnesota couldn’t even win a division title earlier this century when it was grouped into the mediocre Big Ten West. Win-some, lose-some results in Big Ten games for a long time has driven away fans. Apathy hangs over this once proud program that during the first 70 years of the last century was a national power. A berth in the 12-team college football playoffs one day would bring a lot of fans out of the closet for the home state Division 1 football.

Not saying there isn’t pressure to win for this town’s teams, but nobody should be feeling it like the Twins! Santa Claus, though, probably wouldn’t get booed at Target Field. Tim Walz or Scott Jensen, maybe.

Worth Noting

Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Magazine is on newsstands and forecasts a 16^th place finish for Minnesota in the 18-team Big Ten standings. Concerns about coach Niko Medved’s first team at Minnesota include how well incoming players from mid-major programs will fare in the Big Ten.

The magazine’s top 10: Houston, Purdue, Florida, Michigan, Duke, Kentucky, St. John’s, Iowa State, Alabama and UConn.

The public is invited to a free men’s basketball Maroon and Gold Open Scrimmage at Williams Arena on Saturday, October 11. Start time will be 2 or 2:30 p.m., four hours before the start of the home football game with Purdue. That game time will be either 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and decided later. Following the one-hour scrimmage, players will sign autographs near the Williams Arena court.

Fans can enter the arena through the Maturi Pavilion Daily Entrance, located at 1925 University Ave. Tailgate lots for the Gopher football game are scheduled to open at noon or 12:30 p.m. that day

News came yesterday that 6-8 forward Erick Reader, the sophomore forward from Bloomington and New Life Academy who played minimally in the past for the Gophers, is leaving the program to focus on academics. He is replaced by 6-3 walk-on guard RJ Spencer from Blaine and Totino-Grace.

Congratulations to hockey icon Lou Nanne who will be inducted Tuesday into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the JX Event Center in Stillwater. The former Gophers All-American, North Stars player, GM and president, has an impressive broadcast resume.

Nanne’s broadcast experience includes the Stanley Cup, Olympics, NCAA Frozen Four and the Boys’ State High School Hockey Tournament. He offered game commentary for 60 years of Minnesota high school state tournament games. He makes a KFAN radio appearance one day a week with Dan Barreiro.

Saint John’s senior defensive end Zach Frank and St. Olaf senior linebacker Noah Barret are semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® which is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.

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