Author: David Shama

The Vikings would seem unlikely to gamble on drafting Heisman Trophy winner and controversial quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 12 pick in the first round of next month’s NFL draft.

Newton is a man-child physically (about 6-6, 250) but only played one year of major college football.  The 21-year-old was sensational running and passing for Auburn, leading the Tigers to the national championship.  His career has also been characterized by controversy off the field.

While the Vikings need a quarterback, they already have a similarly gifted project in Joe Webb who was a rookie last year after being drafted on the sixth round.  Webb played enough late last season to tease coaches with his potential.  He played in five games and started two, throwing for 477 yards and no touchdowns with a passer rating of 60.9.

Webb is about 6-4, 220 pounds.  With a strong wind behind him, he could probably toss a football 100 yards.  He can run past tacklers or bowl them over.  He averaged 6.2 yards per carry last season and scored two touchdowns.  Sound like Newton?

Webb, 24, was not a full-time quarterback during his college career at Alabama-Birmingham, also playing wide receiver as a sophomore.  It was his potential at both positions that initially intrigued the Vikings.

The Vikings reportedly plan to work Newton out privately prior to the draft.  He could definitely be available when the Vikings pick at No. 12, although some of his boosters see him being among the first 10 draft choices.  The Vikings have needs at multiple positions and will have many choices drafting early in the first round.

This is not considered an extraordinary draft for quarterbacks.  Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert could be the first quarterback chosen and Newton second, but defensive linemen are expected to dominate among the first 20 players taken.

Because of Webb and other needs, it might not be difficult for Vikings personnel executive Rick Spielman and his assistants to pass on Newton and choose a defensive lineman, offensive tackle or even wide receiver.

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.