Author: David Shama

With a choice between LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook to fill the role as the Vikings’ No. 2 running back, Dean Dalton said he “probably prefers” Tomlinson.  Dalton, the former Vikings running back coach who is now an NFL media analyst, was asked about Tomlinson and Westbrook because one of them could sign with the Vikings during the off-season and fill the role left by the departure of Chester Taylor to the Chicago Bears.

Taylor was a much admired backup for three seasons to All-Pro Adrian Peterson.  Taylor’s contributions included his pass blocking and receiving, two qualities that haven’t always been strengths of Peterson’s. Taylor was also an effective runner, even capable of breaking off long gains, and last year ran for 338 yards and had 389 yards in receptions.

Both Tomlinson and Westbrook have enjoyed productive NFL careers, establishing themselves among the best running backs of the past 10 years.  Westbrook, 30, played in Philadelphia while Vikings head coach Brad Childress was an assistant there so he’s familiar with the offensive system used here.

Westbrook has a history of head injuries.  “The thing that scares you about Westbrook of course is the concussion situation,” Dalton said. “He would be a natural fit in the system, but the injuries and the wear and tear on Westbrook make him a little less desirable than someone like LaDainian Tomlinson.”

Tomlinson, 30, isn’t the same player he was when he led the NFL in rushing during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.  Still, Dalton said Tomlinson has run for a lot of touchdowns (23) the last two seasons and he can still be effective.  Last year, for the first time in his nine year career in San Diego, he rushed for less than 1,000 yards (730).  Dalton estimates Tomlinson is “80 to 90 percent” of the player that he once was, and that he can no longer be a 25 carries per game running back.

“One of the things that people don’t realize about LaDainian Tomlinson, because he’s been such a good running back, is that he is a tremendous pass protector,” Dalton said.  “And that was quietly where Chester Taylor was so valuable to the Vikings’ offense.  He’s (Tomlinson) a tremendous…receiver out of the backfield (too).  You retain that when you bring in someone with the experience of LaDainian Tomlinson. …”

Dalton has scouted both Westbrook and Tomlinson since even before they came into the NFL. He said either would be assets in the locker room.

There’s another benefit to bringing in a player like Tomlinson, according to Dalton who said it sends the right message to quarterback Brett Favre who is trying to decide whether to retire or play again for a franchise serious about winning a Super Bowl.  “…It (signing Tomlinson) keeps the backfield exceptional and that locker room strong,” Dalton said. “So if he accepts that role and that offer, Minnesota should remain on the top tier as the team that has a chance to win it all.”

Al Nuness, the former Gopher basketball player, will travel with 13-year-old Tyus Jones and his 10-year-old brother Trey Jones to the Final Four next month in Indianapolis to provide them with a special basketball and life experience.  The youngsters are cousins of Nuness and he’s close to both boys.  Tyus has dazzled prep basketball fans with his performance as an eighth grade point guard playing for Apple Valley High School.  Nuness said the 6-foot youngster wears size 13 shoes and will probably grow to 6-5.  Gophers coach Tubby Smith has watched Jones play multiple times and the youngster has been to Minnesota’s games at Williams Arena and seen the Wisconsin Badgers play in Madison.

Nuness said Tyus excels in academics and basketball.  He’s been impressed with the unselfish play of the middle schooler who shows a senior’s understanding of what’s happening on the floor and helps make other players better.  Trey is a fourth grader whose sixth grade travelling team recently won a state championship.

At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien provided his late season rankings of the best prep boys teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A.  His top five in big school 4A are: Hopkins, Cooper, Henry Sibley, Champlin Park and Eden Prairie.  St. Paul Johnson is No. 1 in 3A followed by DeLaSalle, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, St. Paul Central and Columbia Heights.

The top five in 2A are Minnehaha Academy, Crosby-Ironton, Mayer-Lutheran, Morris Area and New London-Spicer.  Minnesota Transitions Charter is No. 1 in 1A followed by MACCRAY, Sebeka, Ada-Borup and Maranatha Christian.

The Mr. Basketball winner will be announced soon and the finalists are Marshall Bjorklund, Sibley East; Trevor Gruis, Ellsworth; Kevin Noreen,  Minnesota Transitions Charter; Dyami Starks, Duluth East; Jake Thomas, Columbia Heights.

Seantrel Henderson has yet to make his college commitment but there are those who wonder if the Cretin-Derham Hall All-American offensive tackle will be at a junior college next fall and not a four-year school.

There’s speculation Texas might be interested in becoming the 12^th member of the Big Ten Conference.  More likely, though, is Missouri, another Big 12 school.  Big East school Rutgers, because of the New York TV market, remains a good guess, too.

It will be interesting to watch the development of 22-year-old forward Guillaume Latendresse.  Acquired from Montreal before Thanksgiving by the Wild, he leads the team with 21 goals, and has 23 total goals for the season, exceeding his career high by seven.

Lou Nanne is providing color commentary during the boys’ hockey tournament for a 46^th time.  Nanne, whose analysis can be heard on KSTC, Ch. 45, first became a hockey name here as an All-American for the Gophers.  He and his college coach, John Mariucci, were close but their relationship could be volatile.   “He was like my second father,” Nanne said.  “We had a great relationship but during games sometimes it can get tumultuous.  Years ago in the World Championships I took too many penalties in a row and I went to the bench.  He got mad at me and he wasn’t going to let me on the bench. … He wanted me just to go right to the dressing room.

“So I am sitting on the bench and he swung at me and hit me in the head. …We had a little wrestling match on the bench.  In the locker room we were going to go at it again but the team finally told John either Louie goes on the ice or we’re not going.  So that settled the thing.”

The Swarm is working hard to promote lacrosse in the local marketplace and capitalizing on the growing popularity of the sport in the suburbs.  Owner John Arlotta is marketing oriented and excited about his franchise which has two more years remaining on its Xcel Energy Center lease after this season.  The Swarm, 4-4, is halfway through the 16 game regular season schedule and has won three straight games.

Former Gophers Dave Winfield and Paul Giel are deserving of careful consideration when the Big Ten Network determines the Big Ten Conference’s all-time greatest athletes.  The network announced the project last week and said in a news release that a top 50 list will be determined by “a panel of on-air talent, network executives, conference officials and long-time Big Ten observers.”

Athletes selected will be seen in a 20-episode series, Big Ten Icons, hosted by legendary college sports broadcaster Keith Jackson. The series debuts September 18 following a Big Ten Network football game.  The countdown from No. 20 continues every Tuesday night through the end of football season and into the spring.  The greatest athlete will be identified next March in conjunction with the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. Those selected for the top 50 will do so based on their achievements in the Big Ten, not other experiences such as professional or Olympic competition.

Winfield was an All-American baseball player and was both a superior pitcher and hitter.  He was named MVP of the College World Series in 1973 where he almost helped the Gophers, a northern team, to a national championship.  In basketball he was a starting forward and key contributor to the 1972 Gophers’ Big Ten championship team.  Although Winfield didn’t play college football he was such a good athlete he was drafted by the NFL, as well as the NBA and major league baseball.

Giel was All-American in two sports for the Gophers, baseball as a pitcher and football as a quarterback.  Playing in the early 1950’s, Giel was later drafted by the New York Giants and went directly to the major leagues.  In football he was twice named the Big Ten’s most valuable player.  Many historians argue that if he had played with a better team at Minnesota he would have been the 1953 Heisman Trophy winner.

Winfield and Giel should be locks to be included on the top 50 list, and deserving of high ranking.  Other Big Ten athletes with exceptional resumes include Jesse Owens, Archie Griffin, Jerry Lucas, and Jack Nicklaus from Ohio State, Kirk Gibson and Magic Johnson from Michigan State, Red Grange and Dick Butkus from Illinois, Indiana’s Mark Spitz and Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.  In addition to Winfield and Giel, other Gophers who should receive top 50 consideration include Bobby Bell, Shelton Benjamin, Eric Decker, Bud Grant, Noel Jenke, Bronko Nagurski, Mychal Thompson and Bruce Smith.

The top 50 project will be promoted at the Big Ten basketball tournament that starts tomorrow in Indianapolis.  Eight-foot tall bobbleheads representing each school will be stationed around Conseco Fieldhouse during the event. The bobbleheads will include Red Grange (Illinois), Steve Alford (Indiana), Chuck Long (Iowa), Charles Woodson (Michigan), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State), Dave Winfield (Minnesota), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Jesse Owens (Ohio State), John Cappelletti (Penn State), Drew Brees (Purdue) and Ron Dayne (Wisconsin).