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.

‘Fair Chance’ for Vikes’ Retractable Roof

Posted on June 25, 2012June 25, 2012 by David Shama

Vikings executive Lester Bagley, who for years has been the franchise’s lead advocate on the new stadium, told Sports Headliners there’s a “fair chance” the new downtown facility will have a retractable roof.

The agreement reached this spring between the NFL club, the state and city of Minneapolis left the issue of a retractable roof undecided. Bagley said before the stadium bill was passed the Vikings tried to negotiate sufficient funding for a retractable roof but instead facility builders will have to see if it’s possible to have that amenity within the $975 million budget.

“We want to have, if possible, a retractable feature,” Bagley said. “Have the walls on the ends open to the downtown, to the plaza, or a roof, or window, or some retractable feature to kind of maximize the gameday fan experience.

“We have a $975 million budget and there’s a lot of things that have to be in the facility. It’s gotta be ready for baseball, soccer and NCAA basketball. So it’s gotta have all these other non-football elements that add to the cost and are going to drive that budget.”

If the stadium has a retractable roof it will most likely open and shut over only a portion of the facility — just the playing field. Bagley expects the issue to be decided in the next six to nine months after a stadium architect is hired and a design plan is finalized.

Whether a fixed roof or retractable roof facility is approved, the new building is expected to be impressive. “We need to build a world-class facility,” Bagley said. “The only anxiety I have left is we want to make sure that when this building opens that the public has the reaction they had when the new (Twins) ballpark opened: What a great facility. We want to make sure that it’s iconic. That it fits this market.”

Bagley also said the Vikings are already “getting in line” with NFL officials regarding a Super Bowl for the stadium. Minneapolis hosted the 1992 game and impressed league representatives with local planning and hospitality.

The Vikings are also considering the future of their training facility and executive offices at Winter Park in Eden Prairie. “It’s an okay facility but it by no means is NFL standard,” Bagley said. “It’s not nearly as nice as the Gophers facility.”

Bagley said the Vikings owners are considering various options including whether to keep their facility at Winter Park.

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Worth Noting

Posted on June 25, 2012June 28, 2012 by David Shama

NBAdraft.net projects the Wolves taking St. John’s freshman forward-guard Moe Harkless with the No. 18 pick in the first round of Thursday night’s NBA Draft. Harkless, 6-8, averaged 15.5 points per game for the Red Storm and was Big East Rookie of the Year.

The website predicts the Wolves will choose 6-4 senior Temple shooting guard Ramone Moore with the No. 58 pick on the second round. Moore was first team All-Atlantic Conference, leading the Owls in scoring at 17.3 points per game and finishing third in the league. Moore is scheduled to work out for the Wolves today at Target Center.

The draft will be televised on by ESPN and the Wolves are expected to make their selection about 8 p.m. Minneapolis time. The draft begins at 6:30 p.m.

Joel Maturi, who retired as Gophers athletic director earlier this month, is an admirer of Twins general manager Terry Ryan. “Terry Ryan is a great person,” Maturi said. “We’ve had a relationship since I’ve been at Minnesota.”

Twins super prospect Miguel Sano is only hitting .239 for Beloit but the third baseman is tied for the Midwest League lead in home runs with 15 and is third in RBI with 51.

Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak’s belief in Bigfoot is the subject of a feature in the June-July issue of the Twins magazine sold at Target Field.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said on his 1500 ESPN show yesterday he’s used 10 different starters this season. It has been a situation of “desperation” at times because of injuries and ineffective performance.

Gardenhire said Matt Capps’ sore shoulder could result in the closer going on the disabled list and this morning that development was confirmed. He also said the need to have Joe Mauer’s bat in the lineup may result in limiting Mauer’s catching to three or four games per week.

This Saturday the Twins are giving away Minneapolis Millers pennants to the first 20,000 fans in recognition of the former Triple-A franchise that played at Metropolitan Stadium before the Senators relocated here from Washington, D.C. The Twins will wear Millers uniforms while the Kansas City Royals will be in Kansas City Blues uniforms as part of a “turn back the clock” promotion.

Brad Childress, the former Vikings head coach and now the Browns offensive coordinator, will be 56 on Wednesday.

Former Gophers offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar is the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois. Ex-Gophers defensive coordinators Ted Roof and Everett Withers are coordinators at Penn State and Ohio State.

Passionate Gophers fans are looking forward to watching redshirt freshman defensive end Thieren Cockran, who admirers think could become one of Minnesota’s best pass rushers in years.

Former Gophers football All-American John Williams, who recently had a kidney transplant, reported on his CaringBridge site on Friday that he’s been cleared to go home and is “feeling pretty good.” https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnbjwilliams

The 39^th annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game will be played on Saturday at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud starting at 1 p.m. There will be 78 players from 31 conferences selected by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. Jeff Schlieff (Spring Lake Park) will coach the North while Bill Ihrke (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) coaches the South.

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After 44 Years Maturi Skips a Sunday

Posted on June 22, 2012June 22, 2012 by David Shama

Joel Maturi didn’t go into the office for the first time in 44 years last Sunday.

The workaholic former high school coach and college administrator made it a habit to go into his office every day — regardless of whether the day was even a weekend or holiday including Christmas or the Fourth of July. If Maturi was in town, he could be found in his office, at least for a short time.

“That goes back to my high school coaching days, not just at Minnesota,” he told Sports Headliners. “Every place I’ve been.”

What went through the 67-year-old’s mind as he faced a different Sunday this week? “I just said it was time to retire as the A.D.,” he answered. “I was okay. I’ve always been pretty good at playing the hand I was dealt. The fact of the matter is that I am no longer the athletic director at the University of Minnesota. The fact of the matter is that I am transitioning to slow down and I am okay with that.”

So on Monday morning instead of getting out of bed at his usual 4:30 a.m. Maturi rose at 5:30. He spent part of the day preparing for aUniversity of Minnesota course on sports facilities and event management that he will be teaching later this year. By late afternoon he was driving to the Bruce Smith Golf Classic in Faribault where he was the after dinner speaker.

Well-wishers were numerous including members of the Gophers Alumni Band who inspired the crowd with the “Minnesota Rouser” and “Minnesota Hail to Thee.” Maturi talked about athletics but perhaps at no time did he impress the audience more than when he said this past school year 74 percent of Gophers athletes graduated, and last semester they had a cumulative GPA of 3.2. Both figures are all-time highs at Minnesota.

In the next several days there will be a few more public appearances at places around the state where Maturi will represent the Gophers, but soon that will all be the responsibility of new athletic director Norwood Teague who started work on Monday. Maturi will be deciding how to use his time differently than when he coached for 19 years in Madison, then worked in college athletics administration for athletic departments at Wisconsin, Denver, Miami and Minnesota.

“I’ve always been a routine person,” Maturi said. “It hasn’t been easy (physically) for the last months or for the last year. It isn’t as easy to get up at 4:30. I am more tired than I used to be but I did it because that’s who I am. I gotta find a routine. Once I get one down I will be fine.”

Maturi hasn’t been a golfer but now he’s been fitted for clubs. He’s hoping to receive lessons from Gophers golf coach John Carlson before early July when a family get- together takes place in Grand Rapids.

Maturi and wife Lois have bought a home on Silver Lake in St. Anthony. They’re renovating the house and also looking forward to putting a boat in the water that the grandchildren can enjoy. “As I say to Lois, the next move is to the nursing home,” Maturi said. “So this is our final move. We’re looking forward to this. It’s close to campus.”

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