Author: David Shama

Forbes national editor Michael Ozanian wrote earlier this month that after another failed attempt to obtain legislative support, it “seems that Zygmunt Wilf is on his way to Los Angeles.”  Ozanian bases his opinion on more than the legislative experiences and the early 2012 expiration of the franchise’s lease in the “antiquated” Metrodome.

Ozanian writes that the franchise has over $300 million in debt.  He states that Wilf has invested “personal cash” and made “multiple capital calls to his partners.”  Further, Ozanian reports that his sources say the Vikings will receive “first nod” by the NFL to move to Los Angeles. https://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/2010/05/minnesota-vikings-lose-new-stadium-vote/

A local source with knowledge of the Vikings said the franchise might carry the amount of debt referred to by Ozanian.  The club’s finances aren’t part of the public record.

The same source, speaking anonymously, questioned why the league would give the Vikings preferential treatment for a Los Angeles move.  Other franchises, with Jacksonville being the best example, have also been linked to a possible Los Angeles relocation and represent smaller markets than Minneapolis-St. Paul.  “Moving the Vikings to Los Angeles is not a net gain for the NFL,” the source said.

Vikings’ stadium efforts will peak during the 2011 legislative session.  The fate, however, of whether a bill is passed might be decided much earlier after the race for governor sorts itself out.  The state could end up with a pro, neutral or anti-stadium leader.

The Metrodome site remains the most likely place for a new stadium but much isn’t decided about the facility including where it will be and how to pay for it.  City of Minneapolis leaders haven’t shown strong support for funding the stadium and the city is still paying off the Convention Center.  What hasn’t been reported in the media is that the city owned Target Center will need tens of millions of dollars in renovation in coming years and that could be a larger priority for Minneapolis than a new Vikings stadium.

The source believes the state will need to solve the funding question, although he mentioned Hennepin County might play a role.

Junior college hall of fame coach Jay Pivec has applied for the new men’s head basketball coaching job at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount.  Pivec’s coaching job was eliminated at Minneapolis Community and Technical College when the school disbanded its basketball programs after last season.  Dakota County Technical plans to start men’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs for the next school year.  Dakota already has soccer, baseball and softball teams.  The new basketball coach will need to assemble a roster and schedule, plus help determine practice and game sites (not available on campus).  It was 20 years ago this spring that Pivec was hired at Minneapolis Community and Technical College where he had a legendary career.

Don’t expect the Washington Wizards management, including coach Flip Saunders, to struggle with who to pick at No. 1 in the upcoming NBA draft.  With the first overall choice, the Wizards will take Kentucky point guard John Wall, not Ohio State forward Evan Turner.

Gophers basketball season ticket holders will pay $2 more per game ($33) for next season.  It’s the second increase since 2002.

It’s not difficult to realize why the Twins pitching is so-so, just look back to 2006.  Four years ago the Twins had a promising prospect in rookie Matt Garza, a first year wonder in Francisco Liriano, a Cy Young winner in Johan Santana and All-Star closer Joe Nathan.  Garza, now with Tampa Bay, is 5-3 and among the league leaders in wins.  Liriano, who has impressed several times this season, is still trying to prove he’s a dominant pitcher after Tommy John surgery nearly four years ago.  Santana hasn’t been Cy Young-like while pitching for the Mets, but could help the Twins a lot.  Nathan is out for the season following Tommy John surgery.

Garza, with 57 strikeouts, is the right-handed power pitcher the Twins lack in the rotation.  He’s also durable.  In five of his last 10 starts he’s pitched eight innings.

Anthony Slama is 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA at AAA Rochester.  The right-handed relief pitcher, 26, has impressed in the minor leagues but Twins general manager Billy Smith said on KSTP Radio last Sunday that Slama has more work to do in the minors.  “He’s going to be a big league pitcher,” Smith said.

The baseball Gophers, who won the regular season Big Ten title, will play their first game today in the conference tournament in Columbus against Indiana starting at 6 p.m. Minneapolis time.  All tournament games are being televised on the Big Ten Network.

Sports Illustrated writer Peter King stirred up the Green Bay-Vikings rivalry with his recent power rankings of NFL teams.  He has the Packers No. 1 and the Vikings (a “bubble team” for the playoffs) at No. 13.  He writes that the Vikings offensive line is in “decline.” https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/05/16/ranking/index.html

Dustin Byfuglien, the Minneapolis born, Roseau raised hockey player, has eight goals in 16 NHL playoff games this spring for Chicago, a team that opens the Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday against Philadelphia.  The 6-4, 257 pound wing, who also has played defense, only scored 17 goals during the regular season.

The Hockey News rated Blaine forward Nick Bjugstad as the second-best American prospect and ninth-best prospect overall in its final rankings before next month’s NHL Entry Draft.  Defenseman Cam Fowler, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, is ranked No. 3.

Gustavus’ Max Hanson is the Central Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, Bethel’s Marie Borner the region’s Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Gustavus’ Janey Helland the Field Athlete of the Year.

For Sports North has announced the names of the 50 greatest Twins in recognition of the franchise’s 50^th season in Minnesota.  Today Sports Headliners goes a step further offering my opinion on the 25 best to ever play here.

Winning baseball starts with pitching so let’s begin there with starters and relievers.

Rik Aalbert (“Bert”) Blyleven: born in the Netherlands, raised in California, he is the franchise’s career leader in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts, and second in wins.

Jim Kaat: he worked more innings and won more games for the Twins than any pitcher ever, and fielded with the best, winning Gold Glove awards year after year.

Camilo Pascual: the Cuban curve ball master threw a pitch that “dropped off the table,” was twice a 20 game winner and ranks third all-time in franchise complete games.

Jim Perry: he ranks fourth in career wins (128) and third in ERA (3.15) and is one of only three Twins to ever win the Cy Young award (1970 when he was 24-12).

Brad Radke: played his entire career with the Twins, is third all-time in club wins and helped revitalize the franchise in the early 2000’s.

Johan Santana: he broke a lot of hearts when he left for New York but before doing so won two Cy Young awards with the Twins.

Frank Viola: he was a dominant starter in the 1980’s including on the 1987 World Series champion miracle team and the next season won the Cy Young award.

Our all-time roster also includes three relief pitchers:

Rick Aguilera: the closer for the 1991 World Series champs, he’s the all-time franchise leader in saves with 254.

Eddie Guardado: he pitched 11 seasons for the Twins and ranks third in saves with 116 (behind Aguilera and Joe Nathan, 246).

Joe Nathan: regardless of whether he ever plays again, many observers will rank him as the greatest relief pitcher in franchise history.