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.

Ex-Gopher Expects ‘Big Things’ in Football

Posted on April 27, 2012April 27, 2012 by David Shama

Matt Spaeth played for the Gophers from 2003-2006. The tight end from St. Michael, Minnesota was on the 2003 team that finished 10-3 and fourth in the Big Ten. The 2006 season was his last at Minnesota and it was also the final year for head coach Glen Mason.

The program went backward under coach Tim Brewster with his 2007-2010 teams finishing 11^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th. Spaeth was disappointed. “I am a Gopher fan forever. It was frustrating to watch them for awhile to see where that program went, and the things that happened on the field. It was tough for awhile.”

At the end of spring practice last week Spaeth, who now plays for the NFL’s Bears, told Sports Headliners the Minnesota program isn’t back to the level it was under Mason. “…I think they’ll be there soon. When I played with coach Mason he had some really tough teams. We had a team there the one year (2003), (if) we don’t blow a fourth quarter lead against Michigan, we probably go to the Rose Bowl. …”

How long before the Gophers return to a level of winning season records and at least approach .500 in the Big Ten Conference? “They’re headed there and they’re headed there fast,” Spaeth said. “I really think so. I expect big things in the next couple of years.”

Spaeth believes some day the Gophers can compete for a Big Ten championship under coach Jerry Kill, now in his second season at Minnesota. “You gotta hope to be a team that wins eight, nine games every year, and then every once in awhile you get a good team and compete for a Big Ten championship,” Spaeth said. “I hope people have patience because Big Ten championships just don’t happen in a conference like this.”

Kill has impressed many former Gophers who believe the former Northern Illinois coach is the person to revive the program and make it better than it has been in decades. “…I think he’s a great football coach, but he’s a better person,” Spaeth said. “I think it’s really important to have a guy like that as the head of your program to be a good person.

“It makes a difference when parents are thinking about sending their kids off to school and they’ve got a guy like coach Kill you can trust. He’s a good guy and I am very excited about where they’re going.”

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Not All Sold on Kalil for Vikings

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

The Vikings may use the third pick in tomorrow night’s NFL draft to choose USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil but that doesn’t mean general manager Rick Spielman didn’t look vigorously at options with other teams to trade down.

Spielman said yesterday at a news conference that his contacts with other teams have picked up this week and there’s enough volume of calls to “create potential” for a trade. He wouldn’t specify how many calls he’s received.

Former Colts executive Bill Polian, writing for ESPN.com, suggested a Dolphins and Vikings trade. The Dolphins would move up to No. 3 and draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Vikings would receive Miami’s No. 8 pick in the first round, plus second and third round choices from the Dolphins.

While Kalil is the consensus No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft, opinion is the 6-7, 300-pound left tackle might still be available at No. 8. Iowa’s Riley Reiff is another left tackle option, according to Polian.

Profootballweekly.com praises Kalil’s work ethic, describing him as an “excellent pass protector” and “good functional” run blocker. The website doesn’t consider Kalil a “wow” prospect on tape, questioning his leverage and strength in his hands.

The Vikings are much in need of a more than competent left tackle they can plug in for the next 10 years. Last season’s starter, Charlie Johnson, isn’t suited for the position and could move over to left guard. With the talented pass rushing right defensive ends in the NFL, an above average left tackle to protect the quarterback rates high on any team’s needs list.

While drafting Kalil at No. 3 is probably a safe move, the team has a lot of needs and Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King thinks the Vikings should draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. While taking a cornerback at No. 3 is unusual, King writes in the April 23 issue of Sports Illustrated that the Vikings have to play six games a season against NFC North quarterbacks who will throw a combined 100 touchdown passes each season.

“Minnesota’s secondary is horrible—even worse than its offensive line,” King writes in his mock draft article. “The Vikings don’t need a corner. They need two.”

That’s the point of those who argue the Vikings should trade the No. 3 pick to acquire more draft choices than the 10 they have and will use from Thursday-Saturday. The team has needs in all areas on defense, and is looking for offensive linemen and wide receivers (don’t be surprised if the Vikings draft Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon at No. 3).

Yesterday Spielman acknowledged Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon as the players the Vikings are looking at for the No. 3 pick. He said there are “no negatives” with the three.

Because of his promotion to general manager, this will be the first draft where Spielman has been the final drafting authority for the Vikings. Talking yesterday Spielman made it evident he’s a “perfectionist.”

“I expect to hit (be successful) on all 10 (picks),” Spielman said. “I am not going to be satisfied with anything less.”

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Worth Noting

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

The Vikings Draft Party tomorrow night at Mall of America Field opens at 4 p.m. Admission is free to season ticket holders. For others the cost is $10.

The Vikings are viewed as the fourth place team in the NFC North, although Bears tight end Matt Spaeth wouldn’t say that. He said with injuries and other variables it’s difficult to predict where teams will finish. “They’ve (the Vikings) got a lot of good players so they could be good,” the former Gopher told Sports Headliners.

Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice is the new Bears offensive coordinator. “Coach Tice’s offense is going to be a tight end friendly offense so I am excited about this year,” Spaeth said.

Spaeth, who has been a part-time starter during five previous NFL seasons, likes the improvement the Bears have made during the offseason. “We’re going to definitely contend (in the NFC North),” he said. “The Packers are tough. It’s going to be a tough deal for us, but we’re going to be good.”

Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters undergoes right shoulder replacement surgery tomorrow. “Too many fastballs,” the former Twins pitcher said. He won’t be writing again until May 7.

Nick Blackburn, the Twins losing pitcher last night, is 0-6 in his last nine starts dating back to July 25, 2011.

Twins starters now have a combined ERA of 6.73.

New Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague signed a five-year contract in 2011 with a base pay of $240,000 at Virginia Commonwealth University, according to a story posted Monday by the Richmond Times-Dispatch website. Teague, according to Minnesota media reports, will earn $400,000 in base salary, plus incentives, at the University of Minnesota.

Former Gophers running back Darrell Thompson, who runs the Minneapolis-based Bolder Options program, will hold his organization’s annual dinner at TCF Bank Stadium on May 17. WCCO Radio’s Dave Lee will be master of ceremonies with the keynote speech given by Terry Hitchcock, who at age 57 in 1996 ran the equivalent of 75 marathons in 75 days. More information on the dinner is available at the Bolder Options website.

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso notes that he, Vikings center John Sullivan and former Twins infielder Tim Teufel (now the Mets third base coach) are all from Greenwich, Connecticut.

Long range TV calendar planning: The summer Olympics begin on NBC July 27, and CBS will televise the Notre Dame-Navy football game from Dublin, Ireland on September 1.

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