Author: David Shama

It was a nice gesture of Brad Childress to participate in Matt Birk’s charity event at Minnetonka High School on Sunday.  The two had some differences when Birk was the Vikings center and now he’s playing for Baltimore.  Childress didn’t have to appear along with other celebrities at the event to benefit at-risk children.

Timberwolves’ alums Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman and Sam Cassell could be celebrating a lot of wins in Washington next season.  Saunders as head coach, with Wittman and Cassell as assistants, will have a team that was 19-63 last year, but is expected to be among the most improved in the NBA next season.

Timberwovles’ president of basketball operations David Kahn told WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle show on Sunday that he was leaving this week for Spain and conversations with No. 1 draft choice Ricky Rubio and the management of Rubio’s Spanish team.   Unless Rubio can buy out his contract in Spain he won’t be joining the Wolves any time soon.  Kahn said Rubio, a 6-5 point guard, has “incredible charisma” on and off the court.  “He’s our Brett Favre, maybe,” Kahn said.

Dylan Williams, 18, is not only one of the youngest jockeys to ride at Canterbury Park, he’s also unusually tall at 5-foot-10.  Williams was featured on Fox 9 sports Saturday night.

Claiming Crown, an annual event that draws national horseracing attention, will be held at Canterbury on Saturday.  There will be five races on dirt and two on turf with purses totaling $600,000.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) will hold its 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, July 31, at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Paul.  Being honored are Lee Ahlbrecht, Bemidji State University; Linda Larson, University of Minnesota Duluth; Dean Bowyer, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Frank Mosier, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Henry Schneider, Northern State University; Jeff Loots, Southwest Minnesota State University and David Ludy, Winona State University.

With his left knee apparently functional, Tiger Woods is the easy choice to win the PGA Championship coming to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska August 10-16.  Chip Beck, who had 20 second place finishes on the PGA tour during his career and is now on the Champions Tour, told Sports Headliners he believes Woods is recovered from the reconstructive surgery on his left knee that sidelined him for much of 2008.

“It sure looks like it,” Beck said. “And I know one thing.  That knee is not jamming off the ground and his foot is staying on the ground… a smoother transition into that leg.  He should have a long career. …”

Woods hasn’t been dominant since returning in 2009 but he has won some events including the Memorial Tournament.  He started slow at yesterday’s British Open with an opening round 71.

With 14 major titles, he could move within three of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 by winning the PGA here.  Beck was asked what’s required to win a major like the PGA.

“I think it takes all of a person,” he said.  “Clearly you have to have a great short game.  But most importantly you have to really believe that you can actually win.  And to set up and handle all the anxious thoughts and feelings, and coming there and direct your mind like Tiger Woods does.  Hitting the fairways (and ) hitting the greens.  Hitting it and making those putts basically is what it comes down to.

“But you don’t have to be perfect.  I think you just have to manage your game well. And clearly the guy that wins is the best putter.”

Beck describes Woods as a once in a lifetime player who can be “unstoppable” because of his mental control.  While some consider Phil Mickelson a rival, Beck isn’t so sure.

“I don’t know that there’s much rivalry, really,” he said.  “Other than the fact Phil is probably his best competition.  Phil is just a tremendously gifted player. …At another time he would be the Tiger Woods.  I think fortunately for Phil he’s got a guy to push him like Tiger Woods. …”

Beck once shot a remarkable 59 at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991.  There won’t be any 59’s at Hazeltine, a course that’s been playing head games with the pros since the first major was held there in 1970 (U.S. Open).  That was the year Dave Hill quipped that developers ruined a good farm when they built the Chaska course which was only missing “80 acres of corn and a few cows.”

The course has been lengthened since the PGA was held here in 2002.

The Twins have hit 96 home runs going into tonight’s game in Texas after the All-Star break. That total puts them fifth among American League teams and is a major improvement over 2008 when the Twins hit 111 for the season, ranking last in the league.

Justin Morneau leads the team with 21 home runs, followed by Joe Mauer with 15, while Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer and Joe Crede all have 14.  Crede was a wise free agent acquisition during the off-season, ending a long search for a long ball hitting third baseman.

Crede, though, has a one year deal with the Twins, partially because of his age (31) and history of back problems.  Whether Crede and the Twins will want to agree on a deal for 2011 seems uncertain.

He’s played in 68 of the team’s 89 games so far. Crede and the Twins monitor his back.  With a past that includes major back surgery, his health is an ongoing concern.  His one year deal with the Twins is a $2.5 million contract, according to Cot’s baseball contracts.  It’s also believed that with incentives he can earn considerably more.

Even a first-time baseball card collecting kid knows the Twins can be frugal with their payroll.  The franchise might be more inclined to look within the farm system for Crede’s replacement.

Danny Valencia, 24, was recently promoted from double AA New Britain to AAA Rochester.  He’s batting .380 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 79 at bats.  He seems like one of the franchises’ top 10 prospects.

Luke Hughes, another 24 year old, was signed as a free agent out of Australia.  He’s playing third base at New Britain after being at Rochester earlier in the year.  At New Britain last season he hit 15 home runs in only 70 games and has a reputation for power.

The Twins also have some protection at third base with reserve Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris who despite a good bat probably isn’t the long term holder of the shortstop job because of limited range.  For sure, though, if Crede isn’t the third baseman next season it will be difficult to replace his power numbers (he’s hit more than 20 home runs three times in his major league career that began in 2000 with the White Sox and his fielding is outstanding).

The Crede watch for the balance of this season and into the off-season will be interesting.