Author: David Shama

Fitch, who coached the Gophers from 1968-70, has been “zinging” Jackson for years, going back to North Dakota days in the mid-1960’s.  It was there that the Fighting Sioux were among the elite of Division II basketball teams and Jackson, 6-10, became an All-American before starting a pro career with the New York Knicks.

Fitch, who also had a background in baseball, had known of Jackson when he was not only a basketball player but an imposing pitcher in Williston, North Dakota.  The location of Williston helped Fitch steer Jackson to North Dakota, even though Jackson’s basketball skills would have transferred well to bigger schools.

“…Not too many people east of the Mississippi (River) can tell you where Williston is, let alone get there,” Fitch said.

He admired Jackson as a person and player in college.  He never speculated that the studious and philosophical Jackson would become a coach.  “I thought he would end up probably being a college professor and president of a college somewhere,” Fitch said.

Instead Jackson became a great NBA coach, perhaps the best of all time.  Fitch said that success is based on Jackson’s extraordinary basketball knowledge and his full faith in using his assistant coaches and their abilities.  Obviously having talented players has been a huge factor as well.

What has characterized Jackson’s profile, too, is a calm on-court demeanor, at least somewhat a product of his Zen philosophy.  While coaching in a game, Jackson seems to accept player performance failures and sort of mystically store those failings away for teaching moments later.

“I don’t know one coach who could sit there and be that calm. …He’s a master of it.  He’s proven there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Fitch said.

Jackson has been able to associate himself with Zen philosophy when others in the NBA wouldn’t have dared to try or been successful.  “He’s on a different street there,” Fitch said.  “If nine other coaches tried to get by with it, out of the nine probably half of them would fail.”

Jackson has seldom failed and undoubtedly doesn’t plan to do so in 2011, likely his last magical ride.

Twins starting pitcher Carl Pavano, 9-6, has a 1.83 ERA in his last five starts.  His season ERA is 3.30.  Teammate Scott Baker is 6-2, with a 3.06 ERA in nine home games but 1-5 with a 6.55 ERA in eight road starts.

Wally the Beerman turns 76 on August 11 but he’s still selling beer in the Target Field stands (sections 100-108) for every Twins home game.

Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves’ fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft, has financial incentive to come here and play for the 2011-12 season.  The NBA collective bargaining agreement is up for negotiation next summer and with the nation’s poor economic environment owners are expected to push hard for less compensation to players.  If Rubio signs prior to the expiration of the existing collective bargaining agreement, it’s likely he will receive a better contract than if he waits another couple of years.

By next year Rubio’s contract buyout from his Spanish team will be under $2 million, much less than it has been to leave for the NBA.  Can the Wolves make a possibly reluctant Rubio play for them instead of another league team?  In the Wolves’ favor is that for Rubio to go back into the NBA draft he needs to sit out a full year of professional basketball.

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn wouldn’t speculate as to how much his roster will turn over between now and the opening of the regular season but another franchise insider said 50 percent might be possible.

Wolves lottery pick Wesley Johnson chose uniform No. 4 because he has that many nieces and nephews.

The Timberwolves will begin play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Monday.  Johnson and other players are expected to play in games on July 12 (San Antonio), July 14 (Sacramento), July 16 (Memphis), July 17 (Portland) and July 18 (Atlanta). The team’s summer league roster includes 2009 draft choices Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington, and undrafted former Gophers Damian Johnson and Lawrence Westbrook.

Forward Mikael Granlund, the Wild’s first-round pick in last month’s NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, might also be at next June’s draft in St. Paul.  Granlund’s brother, Markus, plays for the Helsinki junior team and will be draft eligible next summer.

Mikael’s skill has been praised by the media, with the Red Line Report naming him the “most imaginative playmaker” in the draft.  He was impressive in the Finnish Elite League, where he was a 17-year-old playing professionally against 30-somethings. He had 40 points in 43 games last season, leading all league rookies in points and being named Rookie of the Year.  Compare that to Wild captain Mikko Koivu, chosen No. 6 overall in 2001, who had one assist in 21 games in the Finnish Elite League and also spent time in the junior leagues prior to being drafted.  Granlund was the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2010.

Forward Jason Zucker, the Wild’s fourth selection in the recent draft (second round No. 59 overall), became the first Nevada-trained player to be drafted in NHL history.

Welcome to the first annual Minnesota Sports Headliners trivia column to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend.  While sitting in a fishing boat, sunning by the swimming pool, flipping hamburgers on the Weber grill, or sipping cocktails on the porch, take a few minutes to test your expertise at answering these 26 questions about the Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild and Gophers.  Why 26?  Because that’s how old I would like to be.

Your reward for answering these questions?  Simply the satisfaction of a job well done.  And, okay, those with a near perfect score can submit questions for next year’s contest.  (No complaining allowed about the prizes.)

Also, no cheating for answers by searching on the Internet, or glancing over at someone else’s answers.  Here we go with trivia questions in the first two sections of the column, and answers provided in the last section.

1. What was the name of the Twins message board on the scoreboard at Met Stadium?

2. From what team did the Twins acquire Joe Nathan in a 2003 off-season trade?

3. Who was the starting pitcher in the Twins’ first regular season game ever in 1961?

4. Going into this season Joe Mauer had the highest lifetime batting average of any major league catcher.  Who was second?

5. What year did Jacques Jones make his major league debut with the Twins?

6. Who were the Twins’ Minor League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in 2009?

7. What current Vikings player played for the team’s last three head coaches including Brad Childress?

8. Who is the Vikings’ all-time scoring leader in total points?

9. What team originally drafted Vikings quarterback Brett Favre?

10. Who was the prospective Vikings majority owner who said “I’m 6-foot-1 and tons of fun”?

11.  Cris Carter holds the all-time Vikings’ career record for receptions and total yards.  Who is No. 2?