Author: David Shama

The March 14 issue of Sports Illustrated lists Vikings owner Zygi Wilf among the “poorest” owners in the NFL.  Based on information from Wealth-X, the magazine reported that both Wilf and Oakland owner Al Davis have net worths of $310 million and only five other league owners are worth less money.  Seattle owner Paul Allen is the wealthiest owner at $12.9 billion.

Georgia Tech fired basketball coach Paul Hewitt on Saturday.  There was speculation earlier this winter that Hewitt would be fired and Gophers coach Tubby Smith might be a candidate for the job.  Smith was head coach at the University of Georgia from 1995-1997.

The Twins announced this morning they have sent star pitching prospect Kyle Gibson to their minor league camp.

The son of former Twin Steve Lombardozzi, Steve Jr., is trying to win a spot on the Washington roster as a second baseman but is hitless in five games and two at bats.

MIAC baseball teams had more than 80 games scheduled during February and March at the Metrodome.  The collapse of the dome’s roof has meant upheaval for conference teams who have had to change budgets and schedules adding outdoor games in warmer places outside of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Minute Men announced that forward Kyle Rau from Eden Prairie High School is the 27^th annual Mr. Hockey Award winner, an honor given to the outstanding senior prep in Minnesota.  Alex Lyon from Lake of the Woods High School received The Frank Brimsek Award in recognition of Minnesota’s top senior goaltender.  Mark DeCenzo (Hibbing High School), Bruce Plante (Hermantown High School) and Tim Sager (White Bear Lake High School) received The John Mariucci Award as high school Coaches of the Year. Jeff Whisler (Hill-Murray/Mahtomedi) received The Cliff Thompson Award, presented to the “Old Timer Coach” of the year.

The Gophers hockey team had only one player named All-WCHA by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, goalie Kent Patterson who was on the second team.  Nebraska Omaha had none but Dean Blais was selected Coach of the Year.  Blais is a name-game favorite when fans speculate about the next Gophers coach.

The most exciting news from Target Center in April figures to come not from the Timberwolves, but the Lynx who have the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.  It’s assumed that on April 11 the Lynx will draft two-time Wade Trophy winner Maya Moore, who has been called the “LeBron James of women’s basketball.”  The Lynx also hold the No. 4 pick in the draft’s first round.

The United States Tennis Association and others continue to aggressively market tennis, and total participation numbers in recent years are similar to those during the boom times of the 1970s.  Innovations include tennis courts marked with lines to make the playing surface smaller to accommodate players ages 10 and younger.  Such courts are already being used and will become commonplace.

Canterbury Park’s live racing starts on Friday, May 20.  The Shakopee race track will be busy on Saturday, May 7 for the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs.

The annual Tapemark Charity Pro-Am Golf tournament celebrates its 40^th anniversary June 10-12 at Southview Country Club.  Among past tournament winners is Tom Lehman.

Forget about a contract extension for Gophers coach Tubby Smith.

That’s the advice here and undoubtedly a popular position today among Gophers fans who have watched Minnesota lose 10 of its last 11 games including yesterday’s Big Ten Tournament opener against Northwestern.  The possibility of a contract extension between Smith and the University of Minnesota goes back to last spring with reports now that something might yet be finalized.

In four seasons coaching the Gophers, Smith has a regular season Big Ten Conference record of 32 wins, 40 losses.  If he achieves certain incentives his present contract can pay him well over $2 million annually.  He signed an incentive-heavy seven-year contract in 2007.

After four years more was expected than a losing conference record and two trips to the NCAA tournament where Minnesota was one and done each time.  Smith took over a losing program, but with a winning resume at Kentucky much more success was expected here by now.

Instead this has been a season of disappointments as the Gophers have fallen from a top 20 nationally-ranked team to the worst performing group in the conference in recent weeks.  Included in the last 10 losses are two March wins by Northwestern, historically the league’s worst program and one that never has been to the NCAA tournament.

Smith lost his two point guards in January to set off the tailspin.  Without Devoe Joseph who transferred to Oregon and Al Nolen out with a broken foot, the Gophers faltered and Smith stepped up the criticism of his remaining players.

Fans have every reason to wonder, though, if the Gophers didn’t have enough remaining talent to fare better than the current losing streak of six games.  Did the coaches make the best of what they had to work with?

Frustrated followers include season ticket holders and Gopher letter winners from the past. They’re asking various questions including why the offense is so ineffective and why some players don’t improve.  They’re not just disappointed with this season and the four year results.  They don’t like the coach’s specific criticism of players, although it’s a roster that he and his staff put together.

At least one person among those who have complained to Sports Headliners had an answer, too.  If asked, he’s not contributing to the potential funding for a new practice facility on campus.

Right now there are a lot of questions about the program including what kind of a roster and performance Smith can put together for next season.  On the subject of a contract extension, the only correct answer for now is no.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka’s arrival as the first Japanese native to play for the Twins has added to the media delegation covering the team and the potential for club merchandising in Japan.

Japanese media have been covering the Twins’ new second baseman in spring training and about 20 journalists from Japan are expected to report daily on Nishioka and the team during the season.  Signage in Japanese will be on display in the Target Field press box this season.

Sales of Twins merchandise and memorabilia in Japan is expected to increase not only because this is Nishioka’s first year with the team, but also he’s a high profile player, a former batting champion and gold glove winner in his home country.  “I think it can’t help but raise our profile significantly over there,” said club marketing executive Patrick Klinger.

When Nishioka was brought to Minneapolis in December for a news conference to announce his signing with the Twins, the Japanese paparazzi were there, too. “It was like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt walked in the room with all the flashbulbs popping,” Klinger said.

A baseball trading card industry authority said autographed minor league cards of Twins prospects Kyle Gibson and Miguel Sano are worth $25 to $50 via online websites.  The 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card is still among the most prized baseball memorabilia, but generally the trading card industry remains depressed and may never recover to its popularity during the 1980s.

Gibson, the 23-year-old right-handed pitcher, drew long lines of autograph seekers when he attended TwinsFest in January.  If any of the Twins starters falter this spring, Gibson is a likely replacement.  Sano, the 6-3, 195-pound 17-year-old infielder is described by one club spokesman as a “man-child.”

Twins’ outfielder Michael Cuddyer, a skilled magician, recalled on KSTP Radio last Sunday that former teammate Luis Castillo was frightened by his tricks.  Castillo relocated his locker room far from Cuddyer’s when the two were teammates.