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.

‘Ant’ Rubbing Elbows with LeBron, Jordan & Oscar

Posted on April 16, 2024 by David Shama

Anthony Edwards is in elite company after finishing the regular season on Sunday with 2,049 points, 430 rebounds and 405 assists.

At 22 years and 253 days old, Edwards became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to total 2,000 plus points, 400 plus rebounds and 400 plus assists in a season. The others are legends LeBron James (three times), Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

Edwards finished the season as the only player in franchise history to average 25 plus points, five plus rebounds and five plus assists. His 2,049 points rank second in Wolves history to Karl-Anthony Towns’ 2,061 in 2016-2017.

Edwards’ value was significant defensively, too, helping the Wolves to a second-best franchise record of 56-26. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly told Sports Headliners that Edwards and teammate Jaden McDaniels (23-year-old starting small forward) “are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league.”

The Wolves finished the season No. 1 in scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 106.5 points per game. They also led in defensive field goal percentage, allowing 45 percent. It’s a franchise first for Minnesota to finish a season ranked first in either category.

The defense, which also led the NBA in advanced defensive rating, is led by 7-1 center Rudy Gobert. He’s the favorite to win his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and is part of a total team commitment limiting scoring by opponents.

“When you have that many guys committed to playing defense…it’s infused through your team and everybody buys in,” head coach Chris Finch told Sports Headliners.

As the No. three seed in the playoffs, the Wolves will need to play better defensively and offensively against the sixth seeded Suns who swept them during the regular season including an embarrassing 125-106 loss in Minneapolis Sunday. The Wolves, trying to drive the basketball where there were no openings and throwing errant passes, committed a ghastly 19 turnovers leading to 26 points in the first half.

The Suns, 49-33 during the regular season, present matchup problems for Minnesota. Point guard Mike Conley is only 6-foot tall and faces a Phoenix backcourt with 6-6 Devin Booker Beal and 6-4 Bradley Beal. Up front the Suns have 6-11 shot master Kevin Durant who was guarded by the Wolves’ 6-6 Edwards on Sunday.

The Suns have mobile and effective scorers in Beal, Booker, Durant and 6-4 small forward Grayson Allen. That raises questions about whether the Wolves can play Gobert and 7-foot-power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, the Twin Towers, for long stretches defensively.

Offensively, on Sunday the Suns constricted offensive opportunities for Edwards, who averaged 25.9 points per game this season. Double teams and constant attention resulted in just seven field goal attempts and 13 points for Edwards.

The NBA is all about adjustments from game to game and it will be pivotal for the Wolves to not only create more opportunities for Edwards to score but also move the basketball better to present better opportunities for other players.

The Wolves, who were resoundingly defeated by the Suns in all three games this season, have home court advantage in the potential seven-game series starting with Saturday’s opener in Minneapolis. The Suns are about a two-point underdog for Saturday.

The Wolves, who finished 42-40 last season, have a strong Coach of the Year candidate in Finch. Edwards will draw some attention for NBA MVP and power forward Naz Reid is a legit contender for Sixth Man of the Year.

Quoting Kevin O’Connell on QB Hunt and Justin Jefferson

The Vikings have a lot of voices providing input as they evaluate quarterbacks for the upcoming NFL Draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell offered insight yesterday when asked about a situation where the Vikings could be trying to decide on who to draft when a couple of quarterbacks are almost equally valued by them.:

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“Yeah, I mean, luckily, we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this building and between Kwesi’s (GM Adofo-Mensah) staff and our coaching staff, the process has been really good. The quarterback position is one where you may have 10 really smart coaches or personnel folks watch the same cut-up, and you might come away with 10 different opinions on a player.

“That’s why we have to spend a lot of time together. That’s why we spend a lot of time with the players themselves and really envision not only what they’re going to be like as an NFL quarterback, but what are they going to be like as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings if we’re able to get one of these guys. …”

Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t attend yesterday’s first voluntary offseason workout program. That’s not unexpected from an uber talent who is in a year of contract talks.

O’Connell is unsure when Jefferson might participate in workouts, with volunteer days now and mandatory activities ahead. “… I know I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin throughout even the early part of this offseason and leading up. So, you know, my hope is we can get him around the team.

“He’s obviously such a special player, but it goes beyond that. Especially this time of year because of just the energy and the flat-out way he comes in when he’s in this building and he goes to work and how his teammates respond to him.

“So, I want him here as much as we can have him, but also understand that there are a lot of factors involved. And like I said, there’s nobody I love having more around on a daily basis, just because of how he elevates others. Truly a special, special player.”

Comments Welcome

Give Kevin O’Connell Final Authority on QB Draftee

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

Who will have the final word in the draft room next week when the Vikings presumably select their future starting quarterback? If this is a movie, leading roles go to GM Kwesi-Adofo Mensah, new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and owners Zygi and Mark Wilf but the star of the drama figures to be head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The evening of Thursday, April 25, is potentially a franchise transformative night for the Vikings who haven’t been able to lock in long term on a superlative quarterback this millennium. The chatter has been ceaseless about who the Vikings will draft and whether they can move up from their No. 11 spot in the first round.

Despite the likelihood of taking a quarterback in the first round, there is no guarantee that will happen. But the Vikings will take a quarterback at some point in the NFL Draft and when they do it makes no sense for anyone to have as much say as O’Connell who could see attributes in a prospect that others can’t. He will also be tasked above all others in the newcomer’s development.

With other pro teams a heavyweight GM could have the most clout in the QB process, but Adofo-Mensah is about two years into his role as front office boss. His background is in business, data and analytics and he’s never played football or coached it. He and O’Connell work closely together including the deep-dive process for preparing for this draft and selection of a quarterback but their backgrounds and experience are different.

The Wilfs, as in the past, will know what their organization leaders are doing and will be aware of final recommendations. But why would they dictate the decision of who to draft when that’s the job of those they hired?

McCown’s input will be highly valued. He was hired this year after being the Panthers’ quarterback coach last season where he worked with rookie QB Bryce Young. McCown has nearly 20 years of QB playing experience in the NFL and a past relationship with O’Connell.

McCown and others will have O’Connell’s ear but ultimately, he figures to have the final decision whether it’s a consensus or contrarian choice. In two years as Minnesota’s head coach he’s earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s brightest young offensive strategists and teachers. The 38-year-old has the demeanor and knowledge to make the most out of whoever the Vikings count on to lead them at quarterback, the NFL’s most important position.

With O’Connell’s wherewithal and resume that should give him the biggest soap box in the draft room. He not only deserves it but his future security as head coach depends on it.

Worth Noting

The Twins announced this morning they have returned left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar to the roster after his rehab assignment at AAA St. Paul and reinstated him from the 15-day Injured List. Right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala has been optioned to St. Paul to make room on the 26-man roster.

The Twins are averaging 22,448 fans in their first five home games, per ESPN.com, and expect to draw two million or more this season.

As of late last week, fewer than 1,000 tickets remained for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, at Target Center June 27-30.

The Holy Family Catholic High School football program, losers of 23 straight games until last season’s turnaround 7-4 season, returns seven starters each on offense and defense. Also back will be head coach Dan O’Brien, the former Gophers assistant coach, and veteran assistants Dave Nelson and Jeff Ferguson.

Nelson is assistant executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association that had a record number 1,660 registrants for its annual clinic earlier this month in St. Louis Park.

The Twin Cities Dunkers celebrate their 1,000^th speaker program on May 14 when Golden Gophers baseball coach John Anderson, who is retiring after this season, speaks to the club. It will be Anderson’s 14^thas the lead speaker, the most in Dunkers’ history. The organization began as the Minneapolis Dunkers in 1948.

That was former Golden Gophers head football coach Glen Mason’s 74^th birthday last Tuesday.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s 83^rd birthday is Saturday (April 20).

Condolences to the family and friends of Gordy Genz who passed away earlier this month. He was a hockey coaching icon at Warroad and Alexander Ramsey High School. A superb athlete at Hamline, he scored 11 points in a 1959 hockey game against Augsburg, according to Hamline.edu.

Comments Welcome

Randy Shaver’s Prep Football Bond Likely to Continue

Posted on April 9, 2024 by David Shama

Ron Stolski was on the verge of tears Friday night when talking about Randy Shaver’s Prep Sports Extra. Stolski, executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, was speaking at the organization’s annual clinic in St. Louis Park and referencing 40 years of the KARE11 Friday night show that is imbedded in the state’s football culture.

“Thank you for four decades of the discipline, the dedication and commitment and effort to make our Friday nights special,” Stolski told Shaver and the audience of state high school football coaches.

Prep Sports Extra followed the 10 a.m. news in the fall and for a long time was the most viewed program in its time slot in the metro area. When the lights went out at prep football games in the state, players, coaches and fans could relive and forever remember many of the evening’s most enduring moments. “You and Prep Sports Extra have always been our fifth quarter,” Stolski told Shaver before presenting him with an award.

Stolski, the retired Brainerd High School football coach and one of the state’s winningest coaches ever, talked about the fraternity among coaches and others involved with high school football. He saluted Shaver for his legacy and what his show has meant to prep football in the state, telling his friend that he will forever be “in the huddle of the keepers of the game.”

Shaver came to WTCN (now KARE11) at 24 years old in January of 1983. A former high school football player in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he worked his way up from sports reporter and weekend sports anchor to sports director, and since 2012 has been co-anchor on the evening news at the station. He announced this winter that he will be retiring from the station after his 6 p.m. June 28 newscast and ending 43 years total in the TV industry.

The departure includes an end to the Prep Sports Extra which last year celebrated its 40^th anniversary. Shaver opened up to the clinic audience Friday evening and said ending the iconic show that he started, produced and anchored was a decision he “had to make for the sake of the show.”

Then he added: “This last year, our resources, as in every walk of life right now, got cut back. And I have to be honest, I only know one speed for the show. I only know one way of doing it.

“So to ask me to find other ways to fill the show or do the show (won’t work). I did it last year because I wanted to get it to 40 but I also realized that it’s time for either someone else to do it and do it differently…I don’t know. But for me to try…and to piece it all together just didn’t work.

“That and the fact that it was time for me to walk away from the news side of what I am doing in my life right now. So, I really do appreciate this (the honor at MFCA).”

Shaver’s passion for high school football is off the charts and has been for decades. No high school sports show in this market has endured like Prep Sports Extra. “You know it’s just been a labor of love,” Shaver told Sports Headliners. “I never made a dime more for doing it—for all the extra time I put in to make it as great as it could be.

“I just loved Friday night. …I loved more being there until 3 in the morning logging all the video that we would shoot. That to me was the most enjoyable part. To be able to log all that video and to watch all of it. Stuff that we didn’t use on the air. I’ll miss that part.”

But the football community likely hasn’t seen the last of Shaver. He told the clinic audience he’s working “behind the scenes” to stay connected to them and prep football. Perhaps a podcast is next.

“I don’t want this connection to end because it’s so special for me. So just know you might hear something in July that I am popping up someplace and hopefully that’s just the beginning of something I can continue. “

Shaver has been approached about coaching football. “I don’t think that’s in the cards,” he said. “I think it’s going to be something more media related. I am working on trying to figure out what that looks like and feels like, and hopefully by July I’ll have it all figured out.”

During Shaver’s adult life he has twice been a cancer survivor. In 2003, he started the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. That charity has benefited from the MFCA’s Tackle Cancer initiative.

About half the state’s high schools, most of the MIAC and Northern Sun member schools, and the Gophers and Vikings have raised money via Tackle Cancer. After 12 years almost $3.5 million has been raised. “It’s been amazing,” Shaver said.

Stolski credits another prep coaching icon, Dave Nelson, with extraordinary efforts in making Tackle Cancer so successful. “My nickname for Dave Nelson is ‘Bulldog’,” Stolski told the clinic audience. “You get Dave Nelson on a project, on a challenge, on an issue, and I’ll tell you he’ll get it done.”

About a year ago the two men gave a presentation on Tackle Cancer at a national football coaching gathering. Attendees were impressed, with some saying they couldn’t duplicate the initiative back home. Stolski said Nelson and Minnesota’s prep coaches made it happen and that there is a difference between “can’t and won’t.”

Nelson told the audience 92 percent of Tackle Cancer fundraising goes for research and patient assistance. “Cancer touches us all and as Randy (has) said doing nothing is not an option,” said Nelson who was a longtime metro area high school football coach and is now an assistant coach at Holy Family.

A symbolic check in the amount of $566,626 was presented to Shaver on Friday night, the latest contribution from the Tackle Cancer initiative.

Nelson implored coaches who aren’t involved to form a committee and get started. Both he and Shaver emphasized Tackle Cancer isn’t just a Minneapolis-St. Paul initiative. “It’s never been a metro thing,” Shaver said. “Cancer doesn’t know what that is and it doesn’t care.”

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