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.

Prep Star Jones Still Looking at Gophers

Posted on December 5, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

There’s no truth to speculation Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones is not “seriously” considering the Gophers as his college choice, according to his mother.

Debbie Jones told Sports Headliners she didn’t “know where people are getting their information” when discussing her son, a high school sophomore who national observers consider the best at his position in the country. “Oh, yeah, he is definitely considering Minnesota,” she said.

Programs that Jones is seriously looking at include Ohio State, Michigan State, Duke and Arizona, as well as Minnesota. Except for Duke all have offered scholarships.

About a month ago family members including Tyus and his mother were at Ohio State for a first out of town unofficial visit. Debbie said they met Buckeyes coach Thad Matta and attended an exhibition game.

She also said multiple factors will weigh on her son’s ultimate college choice and that staying home to attend school has appeal. While the Gophers haven’t been winning for years like Ohio State and others on his list, that won’t necessarily tip a decision to choose a school other than Minnesota, according to Debbie.

Her sister and brother-in-law, Darcy and Greg Cascaes, made the trip to Columbus. Debbie said family will influence the consideration of a college choice but ultimately the decision will be “what Tyus wants to do, no doubt.”

Apple Valley opens its season tomorrow night against Eden Prairie at home. Apple Valley hopes to be among the state’s best teams this season and in a prep jamboree last month beat defending Class 4A champion Hopkins. “Our kids played fabulous,” Debbie said.

Comments Welcome

Worth Noting

Posted on December 5, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

The 1962 Vikings lost seven consecutive games, the most in franchise history for one season. The 2011 team, now on a four game losing streak, could break the record by losing its last four games including the season finale at home on January 1 against Chicago.

Former Gopher wide receiver Eric Decker talking about his Denver quarterback teammate Tim Tebow who directed the Broncos to another close win yesterday against the Vikings: “He’s a miracle maker. He brings a positive attitude and optimism that has rubbed off on the guys. He does a great job.”

The Gophers 1972 Big Ten championship basketball team was honored at halftime of Saturday’s Minnesota-USC game at Williams arena. Among those in attendance were Ron Behagen, Jim Brewer, Corky Taylor, Clyde Turner, Greg Troland and Dave Winfield.

The Gophers were coached by the late Bill Musselman who loved to intimidate opponents and motivated his players by playing war songs in the locker room.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith after being asked about Rodney Williams’ spectacular 360 degree dunk in Saturday’s win against USC: “I didn’t see it. What did he do?”

The Timberwolves could put a starting lineup on the floor with players who were all top five draft choices. Forward Derrick Williams and center Darko Milicic were No. 2 overall choices, guard Wes Johnson a No. 4, and forward Kevin Love and guard Ricky Rubio both were No. 5 picks. Michael Beasley, who could win a job ahead of Williams, was also a No. 2 draft choice.

St. Thomas won its home football playoff game on Saturday against St. John Fisher and advances to the Division III semifinals but a less than capacity crowd was a disappointment.
The Mr. Football banquet will be Sunday afternoon at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The 10 finalists for the award are: 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. The Mr. Football program is sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Vikings.

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. C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

The Wild announced that in partnership with West Bend and Kincaid’s Classic American Dining, the Wild About Children event last month raised $150,000 ─ the second largest fundraising total in event history. Over eight years, more than $814,000 has benefitted Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Comments Welcome

Broncos Found Right fit for Tim Tebow

Posted on December 2, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

With Tim Tebow it isn’t worth getting caught up in the statistics usually used to analyze quarterbacks.

The Broncos second year quarterback has led Denver (6-5) to five wins in six games since becoming the team’s starter. Win No. 6 could come on Sunday afternoon at Mall of America Field against the Vikings (2-9).

It should come as no surprise that the born-again Christian does some of his best work on Sundays. It’s just the way he often looks doing the job that is unconventional by NFL quarterback standards. With a throwing motion only his mother could love, Tebow doesn’t look too pretty and neither do his stats. His passer rating is 80.5, way below the best in the NFL who are over 100, and Tebow has only tossed eight touchdown passes in six games.

But winning five of six games — often in dramatic fashion — is a pretty nice story for the Broncos who also have an improved defense and are contenders to win the AFC West. The five Tebow-led wins have come by a total of 21 points. Four of the triumphs are by a combined 14 points.

Tebow points toward the heavens on Sundays and Broncos fans gesture toward No. 15 as a savior (so far). The 24-year-old quarterback, who averages 5.8 yards rushing and has scored three touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy and played on two national championship teams at Florida.

Tebow’s college success gave him a stage for promoting his faith. He’s spoken up for God in front of prison inmates and converts halfway around the world. In football locker rooms teammates have recognized his leadership and rallied around him.

Good things seem to happen for Tebow who at 6-3 and 236 pounds looks like a fullback trying to play quarterback. Playing with Tebow, the Broncos have bucked the NFL pass-happy formula to success — instead relying on a few timely throws, a lot of running (including by No. 15) and a tight defense. It all seems to work out even if Tebow has produced minimal yards and points. He’s only been intercepted once and although he’s fumbled five times, he’s recovered four.

The Broncos run the spread-option offense Tebow had so much success with at Florida. To Vikings veteran placekicker Ryan Longwell the switch to that offense is a smart move of fitting personnel to a scheme, not the other way around.

“I think the thing is there are so many people in this league that are so stubborn about running their system, no matter what the player can do well,” Longwell told Sports Headliners. “You gotta give credit to the Broncos and (head coach John) Fox and those guys for knowing they have a special, special player who can do something really well, and they’ve tweaked their offense to do it.”

So with all the success and momentum of Tebow and his teammates, dare we ask if God has become a Broncos fan?

“Well, it’s certainly hard to argue against it,” Longwell said. “There’s no reason to believe He isn’t.”

Comments Welcome