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.

Worth Noting

Posted on December 27, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Minnesota starters tonight are expected to be forwards Julian Welch and Rodney Williams, center Ralph Sampson III, guards Austin Hollins and Maverick Ahanmisi. Williams will be one of the Big Ten’s best solo defenders.

The Gophers and North Dakota State have played each other six of the last seven seasons, and are scheduled again in 2012. All games have been in Minneapolis and Bison coach Saul Phillips has invited the Gophers to play in Fargo, but so far no promises from Minnesota. “I’ll (even) cook for them,” Phillips joked.

Tom Wistrcill, the former Gophers senior associate athletic director and now athletic director at Akron, made headlines last week with his hire of Terry Bowden as the new Zips football coach.

The December issue of Sporting News Magazine ranks new Ohio State hire Urban Meyer as the No. 1 coach in college football. Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Wisconsin’s Brett Bielema were the two other Big Ten coaches who made the list.

In the same issue, USC coach Lane Kiffin claims his father Monte, the Trojans defensive coordinator, starts his day in the office by 5:30 a.m. and works until 2 a.m.

Rumors that Vikings defensive coordinator Fred Pagac will be let go after the season lead to speculation that linebackers coach Mike Singletary will succeed him.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was asked this question yesterday about quarterback Joe Webb: “Is Joe best used in a role where he takes a series or two here and there? If he starts and defensive coordinators can game plan for him, is the impact of how he plays gone?”

“That does factor in when you’re not preparing for him and all of a sudden he comes in the ball game,” Frazier answered. “It definitely makes a difference from a coordinator standpoint because they (Webb and Christian Ponder) are similar quarterbacks but dissimilar in so many ways. You almost have to have two game plans if you think Joe is going to play, and people do.

“They (opposing coaches) have a Joe Webb package because they know we use him for certain snaps and they have a defensive package for when he is on the field. It’s a little bit different when he starts or he comes into the ball game and he’s a true quarterback for a number of snaps. Those are some of things we’ll talk about as we go forward.”

“America’s Team” is nearby, Vikings fans. The Packers have replaced the Cowboys for that title, according to a story on NFL.com. The Public Policy Polling’s national survey reported 22 percent of voters regard the Packers as their favorite NFL team, followed by 11 percent for the Cowboys and eight percent for the Bears, Giants and Steelers.

Eden Prairie Class 5A state championship football coach Mike Grant will be the speaker on Thursday, January 12 at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon in Bloomington. C.O.R.E.S. members can contact Jim Dotseth for more information, dotsethj@comcast.net.

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Love’s Off-Season Lessons Shape Leadership

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Kevin Love’s off-season surgery on his jaw and time spent with family were defining developments in his progression as a leader, according to Timberwolves president Chris Wright.

New coach Rick Adelman wants the fourth-year forward to emerge as a team leader. It’s a role the 23-year-old Love has said he’s prepared for and Wright told Sports Headliners he agrees.

Love had surgery on his jaw to correct his bite. The rehabilitation provided opportunity for quality time with his parents.

“Stan and Karen, Kevin’s mom and dad, they’re phenomenal people,” Wright said. “Kevin did some growing up this summer. He was wired up for awhile and he could only sort of drink his food rather than eat his food. During that rehab he spent a lot of time with his parents, and I think they spent really good quality time. Stan, I am sure, talked to him about leadership and what it means.

“We love his family and we love the kid. He’s not a kid any more. He’s growing up into a real man. I believe Kevin Love will go down as one of the best young men and one of the best leaders we’ve ever had on this team.”

Love lost about 25 pounds during the off-season and he almost looks like a different person including because his jaw is set differently. “He looks to be in absolutely fantastic shape,” Wright said.

Love said he improved his diet during the off-season that was longer than normal because of the NBA labor dispute. He also conditioned himself playing beach volleyball during an eventful off-season.

Last Saturday night at Target Center he had 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Wolves’ opening preseason game, a 117-96 win over Milwaukee. Wednesday night in Milwaukee he and the Wolves play their second and final preseason game. Then come 66 regular season games to show Love’s leadership and build on the past months of emotional growth.

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Gophers Basketball Notes

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

It will be a year ago this coming Friday that Gophers freshman forward Maurice Walker injured his right knee against South Dakota State. Walker missed the rest of the season because of a torn posterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, and he’s yet to play this fall.

Coach Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners he is uncertain when the 6-foot-10, 289-pound Canadian will play again. “We don’t have one (a timeline),” Smith said. “Every day he’s getting better. He’s working out now. He’s doing some running with some drills. …We just want to take it along slow.”

Smith said there’s a possibility of Walker playing this season but more evaluation will be made after Christmas. With the inconsistent play of 6-11 Ralph Sampson III and 6-11 Elliott Eliason, the Gophers could certainly use Walker’s size.

Walker averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Gophers in 12 games last season. He’s a three time member of the Canadian Junior National Team.

Meanwhile, the Gophers (11-1) end their nonconference schedule on Thursday night at home against North Dakota State (8-2), a team that lost by three points at Arizona State and lists seven Minnesotans on the roster. The Bison will be looking forward to the game and a possible upset.

Smith is happy with his team through 12 games. “I am fired up,” he said. “I like our kids. I like the way they’re playing. They really, I think, genuinely enjoy each other’s company. They all have the passion, the competitiveness, but now they’re starting to play for one another. That’s something I was really concerned about. Because you get guys, and you gotta get them to be willing to play (together). You gotta get them to be willing to sacrifice some things. We got very unselfish players. …”

Smith said there is no update regarding progress to fund and build a new practice facility adjacent to Williams Arena. Minnesota and Northwestern are the only schools in the Big Ten Conference without such a facility. The Minnesota facility will be used by both the men’s and women’s teams, and ease the use of Williams Arena for practice while providing a more attractive venue to show recruits.

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