Author: David Shama

Maturi said that following the Gophers’ Insight Bowl loss to Iowa State last December he saw something in the locker room that he hasn’t always witnessed in football and other sports.  There were 115 players crying after the Gophers experienced a 14-13 loss to the Cyclones, a game Minnesota probably should have won.

“As a former player and coach, that meant a lot to me.  It showed the hurt they felt and that they were buying into the program,” Maturi said.  “They poured their hearts and souls into that game.”

Coach Tim Brewster’s first three seasons have produced records of 1-11, 7-6 and 6-7.  A common off-season question is how many games does Minnesota need to win this fall to lessen the heat on the coach from the public and media.

But evaluation of Brewster for Maturi includes factors like the difficulty of the schedule, key injuries, competitiveness, progress of the program and academics.  “It’s not about just wins and losses, and won’t be,” Maturi said.  “In the end he has to win but I am not going to be impatient if the other things are done right.”

Maturi also said a contract extension for basketball coach Tubby Smith continues to be addressed.  Smith’s existing contract has four more years but additional time and compensation are being negotiated.   “We want to make sure he’s our coach,” Maturi said.

Smith, who has completed three seasons as Gophers coach and twice led the team to the NCAA tournament, is the fifth highest paid coach in the Big Ten, according to Maturi.  Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is the best paid at $3 million or more while Smith’s salary is $1.8 million this year.  Approaching Izzo’s compensation level, though, is “not even an option” for Maturi and his financially challenged department.

Smith was found liable for damages in the Jimmy Williams trial that ended recently.  The jury ruled in favor of Williams and his claim that Smith and the University hired him and then decided not to employ him as an assistant basketball coach.  The University is expected to appeal that decision.  Maturi said insurance will pay for Smith’s financial liability if the trial outcome remains the same.

Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, an eight year veteran, said coach Brad Childress was too serious when he started coaching the team in 2007.  “He’s gotten way better,” McKinnie said.

Although USC might not look as attractive now because of NCAA imposed football sanctions, incoming 2010 recruits like Cretin-Derham Hall prep All-American tackle Seantrel Henderson are committed to the Trojans unless they can obtain scholarship releases and want to red shirt for a year at another school.  Among the sanctions facing the Trojans are a two-year ban from post-season play and three-year reduction of 30 scholarships.  Interestingly, USC juniors and seniors can transfer and be immediately eligible elsewhere.

Basketball guard Tyus Jones, who played for Apple Valley High School last season as an eighth grader, has a younger brother, Trey, who is also impressive.  Trey has been playing AAU basketball for a sixth grade team even though he just finished fourth grade.   His coach, John Sherman, told Sports Headliners that Trey shows potential to possibly be better than Tyus who is already a recruiting target for major colleges.

Sherman, also a sportswriter for Sun Newspapers, coached the Minnesota Transitions high school team to the Class A state title in 2010.  With four of his six players returning, Sherman expects another outstanding team next winter.

Klay Thompson, the Washington State guard who averaged 19.6 points per game last season as a sophomore, could be chosen on the first or second round of next year’s NBA draft.  His dad, former Gophers All-American Mychal Thompson, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 draft.

Not that it’s expected but if manager Ron Gardenhire left the Twins, Rockies coach Don Baylor’s name might surface as a candidate.  Baylor is a coach with the Rockies, played on the Twins 1987 World Series championship team and once managed the Rockies and Cubs.

Gardenhire talks about first baseman Justin Morneau “carrying” the team in the following story: https://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=5311771

Rookie catcher Drew Butera, who pinch hit against the Phillies and hit his first big league home run last Saturday, played five seasons in the minor leagues from 2005-2009.  Known for his catching ability, Butera had these modest hitting totals in 1,419 at bats: .214. batting average, 21 home runs and 154 RBI.

This Saturday Canterbury Park celebrates 25 years since its opening in 1985.  The Shakopee racetrack, then known as Canterbury Downs, opened on June 26, 1985.  Admission is free all season at Canterbury.

Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners yesterday that his last four years as Timberwolves owner have been “the most difficult” since he bought the club in 1995.  The team hasn’t made the playoffs and Taylor acknowledged the franchise has experienced financial losses of at least $10 million per season.

Taylor said there is a financial plan for next year and the franchise might make money.  “It just kind of depends on how well we play,” he said.

Historically, the goal has been to break-even, and Taylor said in the past the franchise has done that or even made money.  The last four years have been difficult not only because of losing money, but also seeing his franchise trying to rebuild its roster and find its way back into the playoffs for the first time since 2004. “You have to be patient and it’s hard on a guy like myself to be patient,” said Taylor, a Minnesota native who is one of the state’s most successful businessmen.

The Wolves’ rebuilding opportunity has taken longer than he hoped.  “A big part of me is a fan just like everybody else and you’d like to see results faster on the court,” Taylor said.

The Wolves have five picks in next week’s NBA draft and also salary cap space for the free agent market this summer.  The window of opportunity for strengthening a team that was 15-67 last season is now.

Taylor said the club needs shooters who can open up the offense and complement the talent of inside players already here.  The Wolves are also in need of better defensive players.

The club is most likely to obtain player help through the draft or a trade, according to the Wolves owner.  Top free agents will stay with their present clubs, Taylor predicts.  “So I think it’s hard to get them away,” he said.

Those free agents who do reject their present clubs are more likely to target a contending team.  “For us it might be easier to get that quality player through a trade…,” Taylor said.