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.

Notes Plus

Posted on June 10, 2011October 9, 2011 by David Shama

Gophers’ senior forward Trevor Mbakwe is one of 22 players invited by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee to attend the USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team training camp July 29 through August 7. Three other Big Ten players are on the invite list including Wisconsin senior guard Jordan Taylor from Bloomington. The others are Northwestern senior forward John Shurna and Michigan State forward Draymond Green.

The training camp in Colorado Springs will select the 12-member team representing the USA at the World University Games August 13-23 in Shenzhen, China. The last Gopher to play for Team USA at the World University Games was Vincent Grier following the 2004-05 season.

Tickets remain in all price categories for the September 30 LeeAnn Chin Challenge at Target Center. Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Michael Chang will compete in the event, part of the Champions Series circuit. Courtside seats (first two rows) are $252 each with the lowest price ticket costing $37. At the present time only lower level seating is available for purchase.

The Champions Series begins September 22 in Fort Lauderdale and is scheduled in 12 U.S. cities through October 22. Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander will also participate. A prize pool totaling $1 million will be shared by the top three finishers at season’s end. Each of the 12 one-night tournaments will feature four champions paired off in one-set semi-finals competing for ranking points, culminating with winners contending for the title in an eight-game pro-set championship match.

The annual Hobey Baker banquet will be June 23 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul. Andy Miele from Miami (Ohio) and winner of this years’ Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey will be welcomed by about two-thirds of the former award winners including Minnesota-born recipients Marty Sertich (2005-Colorado College), Brian Bonin (1996-Minnesota), Robb Stauber (1988-Minnesota), Tom Kurvers (1984-Duluth) and Neal Broten (1981-Minnesota). The guest speaker will be former Edina resident Brian Burke, now president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Banquet tickets are available via www.hobeybakeraward.com.

The Wild’s Mikko Koivu is serving in the Finnish military, a requirement by that country for Finnish men. Wild prospect Mikael Granlund is also serving and a Finnish newspaper created a Granlund paper doll game where his likeness can be dressed in a hockey or military uniform.

The annual C.O.R.E.S-Minnesota Minutemen Golf Tournament will be July 13 at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. Members of those organizations should contact Duane McEwen via email for more information, mcewendh@aol.com. (C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.)

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Yeo Expected to Interview for Wild Job

Posted on June 8, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Craig MacTavish might be the next coach of the Wild, but team general manager Chuck Fletcher has been so effective in keeping the search quiet someone else could be named to replace Todd Richards. MacTavish seems like the name most speculated about but Fletcher has kept a low profile during the search and conducted part of it outside Minnesota.

MacTavish, who coached Edmonton from 2000-2009, is known as a disciplined coach, a characteristic included on Fletcher’s job description for the position. However, he’s not known as a tyrant and would be expected to build morale with the Wild.

“He has a reputation as a player’s coach,” a hockey source told Sports Headliners. “He could help attract free agents.”

The source, who asked not to be identified, expects MacTavish would use an “up tempo offense, although not high octane.” The Wild would offer more offense than under Richards and certainly more emphasis on scoring than when Jacques Lemaire coached here.

Mike Yeo, head coach of the Wild’s affiliate team in Houston, will likely receive an interview by next Sunday, or sooner. The Aeros finished their AHL Calder Cup finals series last night losing four games to two against Binghamton. Yeo is highly regarded but his lack of NHL coaching experience works against him.

Fletcher is on the spot with this hire. He’s been the general manager since May of 2009 and hired Richards. If Fletcher remains the hockey boss of the franchise for years to come this still could be the most important decision he will make here.

The expectation has been Fletcher will name the coach prior to the June 24-25 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, but if the general manager isn’t satisfied with the search the announcement could push beyond that date.

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Two Twins Make Baseball’s Best List

Posted on June 8, 2011October 9, 2011 by David Shama

Joe Mauer ranked No. 9 and Justin Morneau No. 40 in the Sporting News Magazine’s list of baseball’s top 50 players. They were the only Twins included on the list as voted by 21 major league executives, according to the publication’s June 6 issue.

In the article former teammate Orlando Cabrera praised Mauer for the “calm” he brings to the Twins as a catcher, calling pitches and throwing out base runners. Talking about everything Mauer does, including his hitting, Cabrera said: “I look at Joe as a force. …”

The magazine didn’t report the survey date but it’s obviously based on past performances of players and not the 2011 season. Mauer hasn’t played for the Twins since April 12, appearing in just nine games because of injuries. Morneau is hitting .229 with four home runs and 20 RBI.

Both Mauer and Morneau have experienced various physical problems since last year. When next year’s voting comes around, Mauer could certainly slide out of the top 10 and Morneau might exit from the top 50 if the two don’t stage big summer rallies.

Twelve major league teams had more players on the list than the Twins, led by the New York Yankees and Boston with five each. Former Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, No. 31 last year in the ranking of baseball’s best, didn’t make the top 50.

For the third consecutive year St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols was voted No. 1. Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki No. 2 and Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez No. 3.

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