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.

Possible UST Turnovers Concern Caruso

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

St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso will be concerned about “turnovers” when his Tommies play at home tomorrow against St. John Fisher (New York) in a second round NCAA Division III playoff game. Caruso described it “very much as an anomaly” when St. Thomas had four turnovers last week in a 38-10 win against Monmouth (Illinois).

“Fisher has 27 interceptions this year and 11 in the last three weeks,” Caruso told Sports Headliners.

The 12-0 Tommies have never won a Division III national football title but are three wins away from that goal. St. Thomas is averaging 39.7 points per game and has allowed only 39 total points in the last eight games.

Caruso has to be among the most watched Division III coaches in the country but his commitment is to St. Thomas, not a possible job someplace else. “All we really focus on is today,” he said. “I am so proud to be at St. Thomas.”

The Tommies have won 24 consecutive regular season games and 37 of their last 40 with Caruso coaching. A native of Connecticut, he raves about the character and talent of Minnesota kids who come to play for him.

Among his stars is senior wide receiver Frtiz Waldvogel from Mendota Heights. Waldvogel is one of 10 candidates for the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the most outstanding Division III player.

In 12 games he has 14 touchdowns, 67 receptions for 1,088 yards and 1,754 all purpose yards. His 10 career kick-punt returns for touchdowns ranks second in Division III history.

A national selection committee and fan voting will determine the winner. Fans can vote through noon on December 3, www.division3football.com.

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Worth Noting

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

The guess here is the Vikings won’t play Adrian Peterson (high ankle sprain) on Sunday.

The Vikings will be scrutinized in next year’s college draft to find players in the middle and later rounds who can contribute, something that hasn’t been a franchise strength lately.

Joe Kapp is a national name again because of his brawl in Canada last week with a former CFL rival documented on YouTube. The 73-year-old former Vikings quarterback also had a well publicized fight during his playing days with a teammate, Lonnie Warwick. Kapp is the only man ever to play in a Rose Bowl, Grey Cup and Super Bowl. He also coached the University of California during “The Play,” the famous 1982 game-ending play against Stanford.

The Vikings encourage fans to bring a new or “gently-used” jacket to Sunday’s Vikings-Broncos game for donation to The Salvation Army. Fans can donate online at www.thesalarmy.org.

Gophers senior Trevor Mbakwe, who is out with a season-ending ACL injury, will be 23 years old in January and no doubt will give pro basketball a long look next spring even if the NCAA grants him a medical redshirt allowing him to play at Minnesota in 2012-13. He graduates this month with a major in recreation, parks and leisure studies, and has a son, Makhi Mbakwe.

The USC basketball team that plays the Gophers tomorrow at Williams Arena is 4-4 on the season. Losses include a double overtime defeat at home against Nebraska. The Trojans are coached by Kevin O’Neill who has travelled a long head coaching road that includes Marquette, Tennessee, Northwestern and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

Not expected to play here tomorrow is 7-foot redshirt sophomore Dewayne Dedmon who late last month was diagnosed with a foot injury. Dedmon was the subject of a lengthy Sports Illustrated feature earlier this fall. He was discouraged for religious reasons from playing basketball as a youth and only played one season of high school basketball despite his considerable potential.

Gophers sophomore center Nick Bjugstad is tied for the national lead in points (25) and goals (15). His uncle Scott played for Minnesota in the early 1980s and also eight years in the NHL including with the North Stars. The Florida Panthers drafted Nick 19^th overall in 2010 and have to be impressed with his play in leading the 11-4-1 Gophers back to national prominence. Minnesota has home games against Minnesota State (3-10-1) tonight and tomorrow night.

Burnsville native Mark Osiecki, head hockey coach at Ohio State since 2010, has the Buckeyes off to a 10-3-1 start including a sweep last weekend over Michigan.

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U Must Step Up Without Mbakwe

Posted on November 30, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Game One of the post-Trevor Mbakwe era starts tonight for the Gophers.

About 54 hours after the announcement that the senior forward is done for the season because of his torn right ACL, Minnesota (5-1) will play Virginia Tech (6-1) in a nationally televised Big Ten-ACC Challenge game from Williams Arena. Months ago the Gophers knew this would be a statement game, but no one had any idea the assignment was going to look so difficult.

“Anytime you lose your best player it puts you in a real bind,” Dan Dakich said. “You want other people to step up.”

Dakich, a former college player and coach now analyzing games for ESPN, includes Mbakwe among the top 10 players in the country. Few collegians impact a game like Mbakwe who was averaging 14 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season, after averaging a double-double last season including a Big Ten best 10.5 rebounds last year. He also ranks with the best shot blockers in the country and was a preseason All-American.

Mbakwe had improved his play this fall from last season. His free throw shooting and leadership had become assets for the Gophers. When the Gophers found themselves in close games, Mbakwe often was a difference maker.

That productivity had Dakich sympathizing with the Gophers this week. When he coached at Bowling Green, Dakich said he lost his best player during seven of 10 years.

Dakich suggested head coach Tubby Smith, his assistant coaches and the Minnesota players will have to avoid becoming “deflated” about Mbakwe. Even before the injury (sustained on Sunday in a loss to Dayton), the Gophers were predicted to finish among the bottom six Big Ten teams. Now no one will expect anything of Minnesota other than a fight to avoid last place in the conference.

Dakich said junior forward Rodney Williams and senior center Ralph Sampson III — both underachievers in the opinion of fans — must lead the Gophers now, replacing the scoring, rebounding, defense, and leadership missing without Mbakwe. Williams has been even more inconsistent than Sampson during his career but his athleticism is extraordinary. “It’s time he (Williams) played like an All-Big Ten kid,” Dakich said.

Sampson? “He has the ability and experience to be as good as any Big Ten player there is,” Dakich said.

Sampson’s lack of aggressiveness has characterized his career but Dakich said that needs to change. “You never want to leave college the way you came in. That’s your fault.”

Smith is in his fifth season at Minnesota and has lost key players because of injuries, transfers and off-court problems. Now comes the Mbakwe season ending injury. “This makes me sick for Tubby and the kids,” Dakich said.

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