Author: David Shama

14. Brett Favre, who avoids training camp each year, might be the smartest player in the NFL.

15. With or without Favre, and regardless of how the team plays on the field, the Vikings will receive legislative support for a new stadium next year.

16. Despite conjecture about building next to Target Field (demolish the county garbage facility) the new Vikings stadium, featuring a retractable roof, will be constructed on the Metrodome site.

17. The NFL, the golden child of American sports, has major issues to resolve with an expiring collective bargaining agreement and players who are opposed to expanding the regular season schedule from 16 to 18 games.

18. Hall of fame inductions will come yet for former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter and Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven.

19. As long as Bud Grant, 83, is alive someone will be writing another story about his passion for fishing and hunting.

20. In 2012 Tim Pawlenty might be the GOP’s nominee for vice president.  Pawlenty will be the last Minnesota Republican governor for awhile.

21. The Vikings will beat New Orleans in their opening regular season game on September 9.  The big surprise, though, will come when the Gophers upset Southern California at TCF Bank Stadium on September 18.

22. After Nebraska joins the Big Ten Conference, look for the Cornhuskers to play either Wisconsin or Iowa in their final football game each season.

23. Penn State’s Joe Paterno, 83, will call it quits after this season.

24. I still don’t understand how the Timberwolves could pick Jonny Flynn when Stephen Curry was available in the 2009 NBA draft, but basketball boss David Kahn has received too much criticism during his time here.  Give the man another year or two to rebuild a sorry roster.

25. College basketball needs fewer TV timeouts and also help from the NBA mandating that players can’t turn pro until they complete two years of college basketball.  Allow the elite players the option of going pro after high school.

26. A year from now the University will be charging more people for premium seating at Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena.  Budget concerns for 25 men’s and women’s sports are forcing the issue, but much better teams in football, basketball and hockey would produce much needed revenue, too.

27. The Gophers celebrate 50 years this fall since the school’s last national championship team in football.  Don’t count on another one during the next 50 years.

28. If you’re looking for an alternative daily sports update on radio, tune in 93X in the morning.

29. A sure sign of the apocalypse is Tiger Woods’ crumbling golf game.

30. How about a race with zebras next year at Canterbury Park as part of “Extreme Race Day” that already includes exhibition camel and ostrich races?

31. Early Christmas present suggestion for a certain Internet sports columnist: “Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon.”

The Wall Street honchos say past results are no promise of future performances, but if previous games in 2010 between the White Sox and Twins are indicators of what will happen this week in Chicago then get ready to break out the Maalox.

The Central Division leading White Sox are one-half game ahead of the Twins as the two teams prepare for a three-game series that opens tomorrow night at U.S. Cellular Field.  The last time the Twins were in Chicago was April 9-11 when they won two of three in a series where each game was decided by a run.

The series was a precursor to a 2010 rivalry that’s being defined by a simple word to describe each game and also the division standings: Close.

At home in May the Twins lost to Chicago, 5-2, but won the next game 3-2.   At Target Field last month the Twins lost 8-7 to the White Sox, then won games by scores of 7-4, 3-2 and 7-6.  For the season that’s seven of nine games decided by one run.

By now even your stock broker gets the idea.  The drama could continue during the three-game series in Chicago this week, then at Target Field August 17-19 and back at U.S. Cellular September 14-16.

The Twins are 17-7 since the All-Star break.  That performance has been accomplished despite the absence of starters and major contributors Justin Morneau (last game July 7) and Orlando Hudson (returned yesterday after being out since July 24).

How have they done it? A favorable schedule against some softies, surprising contributions from subs, and, oh yes, at times pretty solid pitching.  Reliable starting pitching and a quality bullpen win games.  No headline making news with that item.

Pitching wins close games and division titles.  (Past performance does indicate future results).