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 April 22, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

The spring game begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free. The players and coaches will be available on the field for autographs after the game.

Kill’s concern about roster depth and using each of his NCAA-allowed 15 practices to teach convinced him to have a practice situation and not a game tomorrow. In the future the format will probably change and he might use celebrity coaches.

The scrimmage will be replayed on the Big Ten Network on Sunday starting at 6 p.m.

The Gophers will have a new radio home in the fall, KFAN. Former WCCO Radio Gophers analyst Darrell Thompson will provide color commentary on Saturday and Mike Grimm will call the action on KFAN at the spring game. Although WCCO used play-by-play man Dave Lee, and analysts Dave Mona and Thompson, a three-man booth is unusual in major college football.

The 76^th annual NFL Draft starts at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time next Thursday and is expected to conclude about 11:30 p.m. The second and third rounds will be on Friday with draft activity beginning at 5 p.m. The draft continues at 11 a.m. on Saturday with rounds four-seven. The Vikings have the 12^th overall pick and nine total selections.

Larry Fitzgerald Sr. emailed that his son Larry Jr. and Arizona teammate Anquan Boldin, along with Green Bay’s Greg Jennings and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, will attend tonight’s Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund event at the Metropolitan Club in Golden Valley. The fund was established in honor of Larry Sr.’s wife who passed away in 2003 from breast cancer.

Colton Iverson, the former Gophers basketball player, returned home on Tuesday night after visits to the University of California and Santa Clara University, according to his father Chuck. A visit to Texas A&M next week is possible, Chuck told Sports Headliners. Colton has also visited Colorado State. He will choose one of the above mentioned schools where he will redshirt next season and have one final season of eligibility.

Former Gophers basketball player Corky Taylor emailed about his sons including Kellen, the former basketball captain at Wayzata High School, who has been named Winona State’s male freshman of the year for all sports. Kellen started 13 games last season while making 40 percent of his three point attempts. He had the game winning shot against Wayne State. Another son, Chris, just completed his basketball career at Brown, has a 3.7 GPA and graduates next month before beginning work at an investment banking firm. “They both make me look good as their dad,” Corky wrote.

Taylor Matson, who was announced this week as Gophers’ hockey captain for next season, is known for his work ethic. “There is a reason why his teammates voted him the Mike Crupi Most Determined Player each of the past two seasons and it is because nobody works or competes harder. I look forward to him leading by example both on and off the ice next season,” coach Don Lucia said.

The tradition of Gophers hockey captains dates back to 1921-22. Matson will be the program’s 149^th player to be a captain or co-captain.

Wild prospect Mikael Granlund co-led SM-liiga scorers with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 15 playoff games as HIFK Helsinki won the league title by sweeping Espoo Blues and fellow Wild prospect Jere Sallinen in the finals.

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Mauer Health Concern Didn’t Alarm Family

Posted on April 20, 2011October 10, 2011 by David Shama

Jake Mauer told Sports Headliners that speculation about his grandson Joe having a serious illness during the last several days is unfounded.

The Twins’ all-star catcher is on the 15-day disabled list after soreness in his legs alarmed the baseball world and made some people think the worst. “They (fans) blew it all up,” Jake said. “It’s not the truth.”

A viral infection made Joe lose 12 pounds and left him weak. He’s said that not enough conditioning in spring training caused his legs to be sore at the same time as the infection. He had offseason knee surgery and precautions were taken in spring training.

Jake said Joe believes he could play soon, but will have to wait until at least late next week to come off the disabled list that he went on April 13. “He’s always positive,” Jake said.

The Twins’ poor start has Joe upset but he sees a silver lining. Jake said Joe told him “we caught our slump early and we’ll go by them all (the other Central Division teams).”

Joe turned 28 yesterday. Despite multiple physical setbacks during Joe’s career, Jake said his grandson still has no interest in playing any position other than catcher even though a switch would be easier on his legs. “He can’t wait to catch again,” Jake said.

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Plouffe Starts Fast in Minors

Posted on April 20, 2011October 10, 2011 by David Shama

Despite five seasons in the major leagues, Alexi Casilla has yet to establish himself as more than a journeyman infielder. His latest opportunity is this season as the Twins’ regular shortstop, and he’s responded with a .128 average, no home runs, one RBI and five runs scored. He has two errors in 14 games and is capable of making spectacular plays in the field.

Twins’ minor league shortstop Trevor Plouffe has been praised as a prospect in the past by Bill Smith and Plouffe’s start at Triple-A Rochester has Minnesota’s general manager looking good. Plouffe is hitting .303 with four home runs and eight RBI. He has one error.

The easy guess is Plouffe might become the Twins’ everyday shortstop later this year or next. However, it’s no certainty his big league career will work out.

Plouffe will be 25 in June and his career minor league numbers aren’t dazzling. He had a career minor league average of .254 going into this spring, his eighth year in pro baseball.

He was steady in the field last year at Rochester, committing only 12 errors as the team’s regular shortstop. The prior season, though, he had 26 errors, and during other minor league years he had totals of 35, 32 and 29.

Plouffe played in 22 games with the Twins last season. He hit .146 with one error.

As for Casilla, he will be 27 in July and has split time between the Twins and the minor leagues every year since 2006. Numbers tell of his inconsistency including his promising batting average of .276 last year in 69 games after hitting just .202 in 80 games in 2009.

His opportunity to show the Twins he can perform consistently at bat and in the field will last awhile longer. But on a club last in the American League in runs scored, management may have limited patience.

Plouffe awaits his chance.

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