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.

Mr. Football Announcement Comes Sunday

Posted on December 8, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Committee chair Rick Sutton said it was a challenge determining the winner of the 2011 Mr. Football award. The committee recently chose a winner from three finalists and the name will be announced on Sunday at the Mr. Football Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.

A couple of weeks ago 10 candidates for the award were announced. “This was the most difficult year in coming up with 10 finalists. Then we struggled with the final three to pick the winner,” said Sutton who has been on the committee all eight years of the Mr. Football program.

The 10 finalists announced on November 20 were: Beau Bofferding, Marshall; Jonathan Harden, Cretin-Derham Hall, Trey Heid, Lakeville North; Andrew Larson, Eden Prairie; Andre McDonald, Hopkins; Nate Meyer, Rocori; Phillip Nelson, Mankato West; Jonah Pirsig, Blue Earth Area; Sam Sura, South St. Paul; Tyler Vaughan, Braham. All players had to be high school seniors.

Gophers fans have a particular interest in Nelson and Pirsig, the two candidates among the 10 listed above who verbally committed to play for Minnesota in 2012. The guess here is at least one of the two was among the final three candidates.

Nelson could be the Mr. Football winner. He’s considered by some prep observers to be the best Minnesota high school quarterback since Joe Mauer played for Cretin-Derham Hall 11 years ago. Nelson was also recently named the Minnesota Associated Press Football Player of the Year. At Mankato West he threw 94 career touchdown passes and rushed for 41.

Pirsig, 6-9, 300 pounds, played defensive end and offensive tackle for Blue Earth. He’s projected as a “road grader” type offensive tackle in college. Although he didn’t play against the strongest of high school competition, Pirsig drew interest from Minnesota and other major colleges.

The Mr. Football program is sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Vikings. Sutton is an association leader and Eagan High School football coach.

The printed banquet program includes quotes from the coaches of the 10 finalists. Here are some program quotes edited for brevity:

Mankato West coach Mark Esch on Nelson: “His combination of arm strength, quick release, size and speed make him the best quarterback I’ve ever coached. He is a leader and has a bright future at the next level playing for the Gophers.”

Blue Earth coach Randy Kuechenmeister on Pirsig: “Jonah is a physical player who moves exceptionally well for his size. He moves people and makes things happen up front.”

Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant on running back Andrew Larson: “We have never had a better player at Eden Prairie and this includes multiple Division I players and a few who played in the NFL.”

Hopkins coach John DenHartog on wide receiver Andre McDonald who has committed to Vanderbilt: “Andre’s skill set is something that doesn’t come along very often in high school football. He has a unique ability to be big, fast and very quick. Andre is a great competitor who refuses to be tackled and believes he is going to score every time he touches the ball.”

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Worth Noting

Posted on December 8, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Although not popular with the masses, Matt Capps might be of more help to the Twins next season than anticipated. He was targeted by boo-bird fans last season (4-7, 4.25 ERA), but he had a sore right forearm. Capps has sometimes achieved impressive numbers as a big league closer. He had ERA’s of 2.28 and 3.02 with Pittsburgh and 2.74 for Washington before joining the Twins.

The Twins have acquired right-handed pitcher Daniel Turpen from the Rockies as the player to be named later in the Kevin Slowey trade. Turpen, 25, had a 2-4 record and 4.83 ERA with 11 saves in 48 appearances (one start) at Double-A Tulsa last season. He will be assigned to Triple-A Rochester’s roster.

With a 7-2 record and goals against average of 2.14 and save percentage of .932, Josh Harding is probably the Wild’s MVP so far. Harding has seven of the team’s 18 victories and helped the Wild to the most wins and points in the NHL. He’s been given the most extensive playing time in his career by new coach Mike Yeo.

This team is building confidence by the week, receives scoring from various players and has shown a franchise-rare ability to come from behind in wins. The Wild have won five straight games and play the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday night.

At home the team has sold-out only two games, the opener and the day after Thanksgiving game, according to a Sports Headliners source. Past disappointments, high price tickets, and even HDTV are reasons the franchise that used to automatically post sell-out signs is no longer doing so. The Wild haven’t made the playoffs for three years.

Coach Don Lucia’s Gophers hockey team, 13-4-1, is the only team in the country with 13 wins. Minnesota has 20 WCHA points for the first time in 12 games since the 2006-07 season. The Gophers, 10-2 in the WCHA, host Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ch. 23 will show Saturday afternoon’s St. Thomas-UW-Whitewater Division III football semifinals playoff game from Whitewater, Wisconsin. The telecast will be produced and shown nationally on the ESPN3.com Website. The game can also be heard on WCCO Radio.

Tommies coach Glenn Caruso is a Division III finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. This is the first time in St. Thomas history the football team has advanced to the Division III semifinals.

Concordia, St. Paul senior offensive left tackle Tyler Hendrickson is a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award. Last year Hendrickson, from St. Paul, finished third in the voting which recognizes the top junior or senior offensive and defensive linemen in the nation. The winner will be announced on January 22.

Defending Class 4A champion Hopkins plays Cretin-Derham Hall starting at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in one of many games that are part of the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Minnetonka. That game is on the Main Court while at 7:45 p.m. Tartan and Apple Valley on the West Court.

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Vikings Kicker Wants to Qualify for Golf’s U.S. Open

Posted on December 7, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Ryan Longwell wants to play in next June’s U.S. Open if his off-season golf plan develops to his liking.

The 37-year-old Vikings placekicker has a passion for golf, learning the game at an early age from his father, a club pro. Longwell said his handicap as of last July was “+ 0.4.” Not bad for a guy who didn’t play high school or college golf.

Longwell told Sports Headliners that during the off-season he will work with a PGA instructor, learn how to play tournament golf and track his progress. The approach will be to have a golf plan “versus just try to go and play and get good.”

Longwell, who makes his home in the Orlando area, hopes to play smaller tournaments in Florida during the next football off-season. “Get some tournament experience and then see where we are in May-June ─ (maybe) make a run for qualifying for the Open,” he said.

Longwell failed to qualify for the Open last year but hopes his plan involving the PGA instructor will lead to a different outcome. The U.S. Open will be June 11-17 in San Francisco.

Longwell signed a new four-year contract with the Vikings this year, and plans to be with the team next season. But eventually there will be life without football and golf intrigues him.

“I would love to try it (the PGA Tour),” he said. “I guess the thing I’ve always held on to is I have never been able to play year-round being in Green Bay and Minnesota (as a player). I would like to give it maybe two full years type of thing. See how good I could get. See if my game really improves. I mean it may not, but I think chances are it could. …”

Longwell will start the golf project the first week in January. Although he acknowledges his inexperience with tournament golf, he also knows the pressure he’s mastered as an elite NFL field goal kicker is an asset.

“I do think I have a huge advantage mentally ahead of a majority of people,” he said. “It’s one thing to hit balls on the range and another thing to go play tournament golf ─ and dealing with pressure ─ I certainly understand from this job. …”

A visitor suggested one day he might be on the Champions Tour. “… I gotta do some damage before that if I want a shot on the senior tour,” Longwell said.

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