Author: David Shama

Here are five newcomers to watch on Saturday night when the Vikings open their preseason schedule in St. Louis: quarterback Joe Webb, running back Toby Gerhart, linebacker Nate Triplett, cornerback Chris Cook and kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd.

With a big learning curve, watch to see how comfortable Webb will be in his first NFL game.  Will Gerhart show the blocking and pass catching skills needed to backup Adrian Peterson?  Triplett might emerge as a standout tackler on special teams and make the roster.  Cook’s size, 6-2, potentially can bother receivers.  Lloyd, the only non-rookie among the five players, is supposed to put so much oomph in his kickoffs they can’t be returned.

Several Rams have local connections: Linebacker James Laurinaitis is a Plymouth native and safety Craig Dahl is from Mankato.  Guard Mark Setterstrom is a Northfield native.  Offensive tackle Adam Goldberg, from Edina, played for the Vikings in 2004 and 2005.

Rams Linebackers coach Paul Ferraro was the Vikings special teams coordinator from 2006-2008.  Defensive line coach Brendan Daly was the Vikings assistant defensive line coach during the same period.  Wide receivers coach Charlie Baggett held the same position with the Vikings from 2000-2004.  Offensive line coach Steve Loney was the Vikings offensive line coach from 2002-2004 and the team’s offensive coordinator the next season.

Think about this: the most important positions on an NFL offense are quarterback, running back, wide receiver and left tackle.  The Vikings are hoping (praying?) Brett Favre shows up to play quarterback.  Adrian Peterson had a leg injury in training camp and although he should be fine the team still needs a No. 2 running back to emerge.  Wide receivers Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin have been sidelined during training camp.  Left tackle Bryant McKinnie has long been regarded as an underachiever.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was in Minneapolis this week and Bill Lester said he expected to talk to him regarding the city hosting the conference’s championship football game.  Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission that operates Mall of America Field, wants to encourage the commissioner to consider a three or four city rotation to host the game that will be played for the first time ever next year.  Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be the site in 2011.

Lester said schools like Nebraska and Michigan have huge fan followings and excite the Meet Minneapolis visitors and convention organization because of the economic impact that can be made on the community.

Lester also said the new artificial turf has been installed at the dome.  Eight high school bands will practice on the turf to “tamp” it down prior to the Vikings first game at the dome on Saturday, August 28.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster, with an introduction by Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, will be the speaker at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon on Thursday, September 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington.  C.O.R.E.S. organization members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  (C.O.R.E.S. is an abbreviation for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans).

Don’t be surprised if there still is a trade sending Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers to Los Angeles.

The addition this week of Rick Wilson as an assistant coach with the Wild is a good move.  Wilson, 60, was an associate coach last season with Tampa Bay.  Prior to joining the Lightning he spent 16 seasons (1992-2009) with the Stars franchise as an assistant and associate coach.  Under Wilson’s influence the Stars finished in the top three for fewest goals against in the NHL during four seasons including 2007-08.

The Wild are promoting a fan trip to Finland for the team’s games in that country during early October.  Reservations are being accepted at 651-602-2000.

Defending champion University of Minnesota Duluth was selected by the league football coaches as the overall and North Division preseason favorite in the NSIC for 2010. The Bulldogs were the unanimous choice of the coaches receiving 13 first place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team).  Minnesota State University, Mankato was the unanimous pick in the South Division.  St. Cloud State and Augustana tied for third place in the poll while Bemidji State completed the top five.

The coaches voted Bulldogs running back Isaac Odim North Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year.  Teammate and linebacker Robbie Aurich was the choice as North Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.  Southwest Minnesota State quarterback Ryan Ratekin was chosen as the South Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year while Winona State defensive lineman Matt Ulrich was voted the South Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.

The 31 days of August inspired (??) me to come up with 31 random things I believe that I believe:

1. Anyone complaining about this week’s heat must go directly to January.

2. This is the best month of the year for local sports fans who approach life with the glass is half full philosophy.  The Twins are contending for the playoffs, while the Vikings, Gophers, Wild and Timberwolves, who will all be playing soon, are undefeated. Ah, to dream!

3. Those who bubble with optimism are always looking for saviors and there are at least three on local radar right now:  Brett Favre, MarQueis Gray and Ricky Rubio.

4. Murray’s Restaurant has the best power lunch in town, a superb sirloin steak with awesome au gratins.

5. I’ve lost interest in baseball’s list of the all-time home run leaders.  With steroids associated with various players, how can you take the rankings seriously?

6. Don’t accept any bets that 32-year-old Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson, operating on a one-year contract, will return to the club next year.

7. The Twins are winning even though Delmon Young is their only everyday player having a career season.

8. Suggestion to manager Ron Gardenhire: late in games, send Jason Repko to left field to replace the glove-challenged Young.

9. At 35, Joe Nathan has to be fretting about how effectively he will recover from Tommy John surgery.

10. The economy must still be shaky if my phone rings off the hook with solicitation calls from nonprofits.

11. Good thing I didn’t have a brick nearby last Saturday night.  After looking at those awful throwback St. Paul Gophers jerseys the Twins were wearing, I would have heaved it at the TV screen.

12. I am trying to control frustration with my golf game, too.  I would type “sucks” in cap letters if my anger management techniques weren’t so effective.

13. Do the same people who believe in ancient alien visitations spend their weekends searching for Big Foot?