Author: David Shama

Klinger said the most frequently asked question he receives from fans involves directions, transportation and parking for Target Field.  That information can be accessed at https://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=min.

Klinger also said Governor Tim Pawlenty and the governors from Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin have been invited to the opening game on April 12.

First baseman Justin Morneau, who was injured and didn’t play during the Twins’ post-season drive in 2009, is off to an okay start in spring training hitting .263 with one home run and six RBI in 19 at-bats.

Joe Mauer’s grandfather, Jake, had successful lung cancer surgery earlier this month and is at his Florida home recuperating.  That update comes from Jake’s friend, Ralph Jon Fritz, the former WCCO TV sportscaster who lives near Jake in southwest Florida.

Gregg Wong, the former golf writer for the Pioneer Press, agrees that Tiger Woods comeback choice of the Masters is ideal.  Spectators and media are tightly controlled by tournament officials.  “It’s the most church-like atmosphere of any professional tournament,” Wong said.  “If he were coming back for the U.S. Open at Bethpage in New York he could get eaten alive.”

Wong said if there is an incident at the Masters it will be more interesting to see the reaction of caddie Stevie Williams than Woods.  Williams is known for protecting Woods.  “Tiger might glare but his caddie Stevie Williams has been the heavy,” Wong said.

Wong notes with amusement that the Masters is a fitting comeback site for Woods because Augusta National Golf Club doesn’t have female members.  If that’s bad news for the world’s most famous golfer, the good news is that a Hooters is nearby.

The Gophers basketball team that plays its opening NCAA tournament game today in Milwaukee against Xavier has three Minnesotans on the active playing roster.  Wisconsin and Wofford, two teams that play each other this afternoon in the tournament, have seven Minnesotans.

Former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher said if he were starting a Big Ten team Wisconsin’s Jon Leuer, from Orono, would be his choice for a center.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said NCAA tournament revenues are divided among Big Ten teams and the Gophers don’t make any more money by being in the tournament.

Maturi told Sports Headliners he will have his annual post-season review with coach Don Lucia in a couple of weeks.  “He will be our hockey coach,” Maturi said. “If I was going to make a change, I would probably make it by now.”

The Gophers ended their season on Sunday with an 18-19-2 record, missing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five for the second time ever and first since 1998.

Harlem Globetrotters legend Curly Neal will be in town next week to promote the team’s appearance at Target Center on April 3.   Neal is from Greensboro, North Carolina, the same home town of former Gophers basketball All-American Lou Hudson.

Albert Young seems the likely Viking to move into Chester Taylor’s vacated role as the No. 2 running back.  Ian Johnson might emerge as the No. 3 back.  A rookie on the practice squad last season, Johnson signed a new contract with the Vikings earlier this year.

It will be interesting to see how run oriented Mike Tice, the new offensive line coach, and pass guru Mike Martz, the new offensive coordinator, mesh next season on the Chicago Bears staff.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced yesterday the final 10 candidates for the Hobey Baker Award honoring college hockey’s top player:  Bobby Butler, New Hampshire; Marc Cheverie, Denver; Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin; Gustav Nyquist, Maine; Mark Olver, Northern Michigan; Chase Polacek, Rensselear; Rhett Rakhshani, Denver; Cody Reichard, Miami of Ohio; Ben Scrivens, Cornell; and Brendan Smith, Wisconsin.

Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher made a positive impression on center Casey Wellman and then signed him this week to a two-year contract.  Wellman, 22, was courted by more than 20 NHL teams after recently finishing his sophomore season at Massachusetts.  He tied for sixth in the nation with 23 goals.  Wellman, whose father Brad was a major league outfielder, said a major factor in signing with the Wild as a college free agent was a visit Fletcher made with Wellman and his family.

The feel good experience of recent weeks could ensure that the basketball Gophers return all 12 of their underclassmen for next season.  The Gophers have won seven of their last 10 games, and play an opening West Regional NCAA Tournament game in Milwaukee against Xavier starting at 11:25 a.m. on Friday.

The Gophers entered last week’s Big Ten Tournament as an unlikely candidate to be invited to the NCAA Tournament, but they impressed the selection committee by winning three consecutive games before losing on Sunday to Ohio State in the championship game.  A couple of hours later Gopher players wore huge smiles when they heard the news that their goal of making the tournament had been realized.

The expressions on their faces and body language were a contrast to earlier in the season when disappointment and frustration were evident.  On February 14 the Gophers had lost six of their last eight conference games.  Their league record was 5-7, overall the Gophers were 14-10.  Not the stuff of teams headed to the NCAA tournament.

Frustration was evident by both players and coaches.  Maybe relationships were strained, too.  Rumors began during the Big Ten season that players might transfer.

Jim Dutcher has been in the theatre of long seasons and emotional highs and lows.  The former Gophers coach and assistant at Michigan was asked if the NCAA invitation and improved team play will make a difference if those rumors were true.

“Yeah, it really helps,” he said.  “…Now that they’re in the tournament (with) a chance to win really a game or two. ..I think all that goes away.  I don’t think you’re going to see anybody leaving.”

Sophomore center Colton Iverson, who for much of the season has been a sub behind Ralph Sampson III, was rumored to be a transfer candidate but Iverson’s father Chuck told Sports Headliners on Monday he’s not heard of such intent. “He’s never mentioned it to me,” Chuck Iverson said.

His son Colton has been in step with the Gophers’ recent improvement.  In the Big Ten Tournament Iverson scored in double figures during the Gophers’ three wins, making 15 of 20 shots.  For the season he’s averaged 5.0 points per game.

Chuck, who played basketball at South Dakota and was drafted by two pro teams, said that earlier in the season Colton wanted to help more and was frustrated with the team’s struggles.  “I told him to work hard and stay positive,” Chuck said.  “I coached a lot of years and players go through cycles.”