Author: David Shama

A passionate stadium follower, knowledgeable about stadium building here and elsewhere, had this to say about the legislature and funding a new Vikings’ facility:  “I think a deal that’s good for the Vikings and good for Minnesota needs to be reached by the end of next year’s legislative session.  If not…they’ll be the L.A. Vikings in 2012.”

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, who recently signed a contract extension, has been a major contributor during the last three seasons to the Vikings’ NFL-high 15 defensive touchdowns, returning two interceptions and one fumble recovery for scores.  In 2008, he also became the first player in franchise history to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown.

The Wolves hired president of basketball operations David Kahn in late May and already there’s a fire Kahn website.

Seantrel Henderson is rated the No. 1 high school football recruit in the country but that doesn’t mean he will be the best offensive lineman to play for Cretin-Derham Hall.  Matt Birk, Corbin Lacina and Ryan Harris played for the Raiders and went on to the NFL.

Minneapolis native Tim Herron, who hasn’t qualified for next month’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, had a disappointing 50^th place finish at the recent U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.  His earnings were $9,385.56, according to https://www.golf.co.uk/results/pga/us-bank-championship/2009/index.shtml.  Herron has been playing better at the Canadian Open which is still in play today.

Rick Reilly, perhaps the best sports columnist in America, suggests it’s time for Tiger Woods to nix the tamper tantrums.  A good place to start will be Hazeltine.  https://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=4347419.

Justin Morneau’s “Casino Night” will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on August 13 at International Market Square.  The event provides an opportunity for fans to interact with Twins players over a hand of cards, with proceeds benefiting the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter.  Other Twins players expected to attend are Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer.  Tickets are $100 each if purchased before July 31, and $125 after.  For more information, visit www.twinsbaseball.comor call 612-33-TWINS.

The finger pointing at Twins’ general manager Bill Smith is on the rise.  Frustrated Twins fans want a new player or two to strengthen a team that’s been focused on .500 baseball much of the season and lost yesterday to Oakland 16-1. They see baseball’s July 31 trading deadline coming and the clock ticking on the dream of a Central Division title and American League pennant.

In fairness to Smith, significant roster changes in July are only a bit easier to pull off than passing national health care legislation.  But it’s not just this summer that the “Blame Billy” crowd grumbles about.  They criticize the general manager’s work since he took over from Terry Ryan in 2007.

During Smith’s time, pitcher Johan Santana and outfielder Torii Hunter left via trade and free agency for the Mets and Angels.  His signature trade that sent shortstop Jason Bartlett (hitting .342) and pitcher Matt Garza (the Twins no longer have a power pitcher) to Tampa Bay is a flop so far. The deal with the Mets that brought outfielder Carlos Gomez and three pitchers to the Twins organization is not so good either, but the timeframe was tight and the pressure heavy to move Santana.

Reality is the Twins aren’t as good today without Bartlett and Garza.  They aren’t even close to the 2006 team that had Santana who didn’t want to stay here and Hunter who did.

Smith impressed, with the signing of free agent third baseman Joe Crede last off-season.  But Smith and the Twins haven’t been aggressive in personnel changes and part of it could be that the general manager is hesitant after the infamous Tampa Bay trade.

The Twins have three All-Stars in catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan.  Their roster has exceptional players, too, in Crede and outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel, and starting pitcher Nick Blackburn.  But the roster flaws, including better starting pitcher and a top of the order good hitting second baseman or shortstop, are obvious and have been for awhile.

Manager Ron Gardenhire probably wonders when the reinforcements are coming.  He’s an emotional guy and puts his heart into leading the club on the field.  Losses like the two late inning games that got away earlier this week in Texas and Oakland remind everyone that a little more help can make a difference.

The next nine months will either see a jump in criticism of the front office, or a retreat.  If the Twins win the division with their present roster, that will lessen the rhetoric, and so too will a popular player acquisition between now and next April.

Throw in the signing of Mauer to a new contract and things could be giddy.  The Mauer deal will cost a lot but the public believes that the Twins will spend more money because of increased revenues in the new ballpark opening next year.  That logic is supposed to apply to other personnel, too.

This much is for sure: Twins fans will still be keeping score during the off-season.

If reports are accurate that Seantrel Henderson has eliminated Notre Dame from his list of possible college choices, where does that leave the Gophers?  Maybe in better position than you think.

Henderson, the Cretin-Derham Hall offensive tackle, is rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s best schoolboy prospect in the football class of 2009.  July postings on the Internet report he’s eliminated tradition rich Notre Dame from his list of prospective schools.  A former Minnesota prep coach, who has been close to college recruiting for years and requested anonymity, told Sports Headliners he believes the Irish were dumped when Henderson shortened his list of schools.

Notre Dame is a Catholic school like Cretin-Derham Hall and the Irish roster includes Henderson’s former high school teammate, Michael Floyd.  Even more than a year ago Floyd told Sports Headliners he would be talking to Henderson about joining the Fighting Irish.  Then, too, the Irish have one of college football’s better recruiters in Rob Ianello.

But perhaps working against the legendary football program in South Bend is the losing trend. The records of the last two seasons were 3-9 and 7-6.  Speculation is ongoing that this could be coach Charlie Weis’ last season at Notre Dame.

In an interview with Sports Headliners last winter Henderson talked about the importance of winning.  “I won’t really want to go anywhere where the team is not that good,” he said.  “As long as the team is up and coming then I am fine. …”

USC, Florida, Ohio State and others that frequently are annual candidates for the national championship are in hot pursuit of Henderson but the Gophers are still believed to be a possibility, according to sources.  The Gophers haven’t won a Big Ten title since 1967, and 1962 was the school’s last stop in a New Year’s Day bowl game.

That stuff doesn’t look so hot in a power point presentation when compared with schools like the big three mentioned above who have combined for four of nine        national titles this decade.  Consider the following, though:

In two years as Minnesota’s head coach, Tim Brewster’s recruiting classes have drawn national attention.  The record of 1-11 in 2007 improved to 7-6 last season.  A better year in 2009 could make an impression with Henderson.

Brewster is a tireless recruiter and hard work won’t stop the Gophers from going all out for Henderson who would be a signature recruit for his young program.  New offensive line coach Tim Davis has an outstanding reputation as a teacher and recruiter.  He and Brewster make a formidable recruiting combo.

The Gophers are recruiting J.D. Pride, a former Cretin Derham-Hall quarterback now at Totino Grace.  Pride and Henderson are friends.  Also, Pride’s father is a former Gopher football player.

The Gophers’ roster has several former Cretin-Derham Hall players including running back Shady Salamon who played with Henderson.  Other former Raiders include offensive linemen Matt Carufel and Ned Tavale, and safety Kim Royston.

The lure of staying home in more familiar surroundings could factor in, too.  In the interview last winter Henderson said that was a consideration but quickly added he was interested in exploring other places, too.

Floyd was a USA Today All-American.  He didn’t choose the Gophers and neither have a long list of the state’s best including three-time All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis from Ohio State by way of Wayzata.

Will Henderson stay or go?  If Brewster had already won a Big Ten title it would be easier to say amen.  You can bet that a lot of Gophers fans are praying Henderson will say yes.