Author: David Shama

With minimal talent and the more promising players lacking experience, the Wolves are no sure bet to improve on last season’s 24-58 record (only four teams had worse records). The Wolves’ roster includes 24-year-old center Al Jefferson, a pair of 20-year-olds in Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn, and 18-year-old Ricky Rubio if he can escape his Spanish team contract and wants to play here.

It’s no wonder that “patience” is among the words Fitch used to describe what he thinks the Wolves need in a coach.  He believes the next Wolves boss should have previous head coaching experience and be able to assemble an outstanding group of assistants.  The top attribute needed, according to Fitch, is teaching.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said being an NBA coach involves a lot of expertise but the situation here puts a focus on player development.

“I don’t have a must list criteria (for a coach),” he said.  “You would love to find somebody who can cover as many bases as possible because these are huge jobs and they keep getting bigger.  And in our case clearly one component will have to be player development and teaching because we have such a young team.

“I have talked in the past about a (coach who can promote) positive environment, healthy environment, game management, X’s and O’s. …I also recognize that finding a person who can do all that in one human being may be hard.  So there is no must have.  Absolutely none, but I do believe given our youth that if I had to highlight one area it’s player development.”

Kahn was expected to review his coaching candidates over the weekend and said he anticipated interviewing this week.  He believes it’s likely a hire will be made during July.

It’s not known if Mitchell is a candidate.  TV analyst Mark Jackson’s name has been prominently mentioned for the job even though he doesn’t have previous head coaching experience.  That inexperience, including with player development, could be at least somewhat compensated for by hiring experienced assistants to complement Jackson.

Ricky Rubiocould bring a show time element here with his playmaking. “He’s one heck of a passer,” Fitch said.  “He’s worth a ticket.  He’ll put some people in the seats if you get him here.

“My biggest fear was this kid living in the snow.  You got a warm weather youngster (from Spain).  That Minneapolis weather will be the toughest thing that he’ll have to battle for awhile. …The guy can play.”

Only two Big Ten Conference players were among the 60 players taken in last week’s two rounds of drafting by NBA teams.  Center B.J. Mullens from Ohio State was a first round pick at No. 22 by Dallas.   Center Goran Sutan was the No. 20 pick by Utah on the second round.

ESPN’s Dick Vitale said Rubio and Jonny Flynn, both point guards, can’t play together and will get a “coach fired.”  He also predicted Stephen Curry, who was drafted at No. 7 by Golden State after the Wolves selected Rubio and Flynn at 5 and 6, will be the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Lindy’s Big Ten Preview magazine includes a college football all-decade team that lists Minnesota’s Greg Eslinger as the first team center.  The magazine also has a top 50 ranking of college seniors for next year’s NFL draft with Gophers’ wide receiver Eric Decker at No. 44.

Decker is first team on the publication’s all-Big Ten offense.  Gophers’ cornerback Traye Simmons is first team defense.  Quarterback Adam Weber is the publication’s choice for “most accurate passer” and “strongest arm” in the conference.  Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State is the first team quarterback, Juice Williams of Illinois the second.

On Friday when Nick Leddy was picked at No. 16 by the Wild and Jordan Schroeder at No. 22 by Vancouver it was the fourth time in six years the Gophers had two players selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. The Gophers have had 10 first-round picks since 2004 and eight players selected in the first round in the past four years. They also had two players selected in the first round in 2007 and 2004, and four first-round picks in 2006.  Leddy and Schroeder were among the first three American-born players chosen in the draft.

Fifty-one Americans were selected during last weekend’s NHL draft including 14 in the first two rounds.  Leddy, who played for Eden Prairie High School last season, was the first American drafted.

Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth hockey in the state, has a redesigned website to improve communications, www.minnesotahockey.org.   Beginning with the 2009-10 season, members will be able to post photos, stories, game summaries and more.  With over 60,000 registered players and coaches, Minnesota is the largest state governing body for hockey in the United States.

Five MIAC baseball players have been named to the nine-man American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division III Midwest Region Gold Glove team.  Carleton pitcher Ethan Guevin, St. Thomas shortstop Roy Larson, St. Thomas third baseman Dan Leslie, Bethel outfielder Tim Oesterlin and St. Thomas second baseman Louie Salmen were selected. The award honors the best defensive player at his position in the Midwest Region. Guevin and Leslie were also named to the national ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team in May.

Phil Esten, associate athletics director for the Gophers, told Sports Headliners that if the Vikings play at TCF Bank Stadium the issue of selling alcohol at the facility will need to be discussed.  “If it does come to that fact we would have to sit down and talk about it,” he said.

There’s no doubt that Vikings decision makers will ask to play at the University’s new facility if the Metrodome is unavailable in future years.  Owner Zygi Wilf and others want to see a new domed stadium constructed on the existing Metrodome site, meaning that for a couple of years the Vikings will need a home at the University.

Because there are about 14,000 fewer seats at TCF compared to the dome, the Vikings will lose ticket revenues.  The absence of income from the sale of alcohol would further diminish revenues.  Metrodome executive director Bill Lester said the Vikings receive about $1 million annually from food and beverage sales, but didn’t have a figure for the franchise’s share of alcohol revenues.

The University does have a liquor license with the city and permission could be given to sell alcohol at Vikings games but athletics director Joel Maturi said the issue goes beyond that.  The University and surrounding community have been told in the past that no more than 12 events attracting crowds of 15,000 or greater will be held annually in TCF Bank Stadium, Maturi added.  Still, public pressure will likely be such that the University will allow the Vikings to play at the stadium

Meanwhile, the University Board of Regents approved president Bob Bruininks recommendation yesterday to not make alcohol available in TCF Bank Stadium for Gophers games and other athletic events.  The original intent was to provide alcohol in stadium premium seating areas (as done in the suites at the basketball and hockey arenas) but the state legislature and governor recently enacted legislation directing that alcohol be available to all fans or none.

TCF Bank club seating and other premium ticket purchasers had been told for some time that they could purchase alcohol at games and Esten said the University feels “bad” about what’s developed.  “It’s not what we want, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt,” he said.

Maturi said an announcement is expected later this week describing options that premium purchasers now have because of new developments.  He said reaction has been at “both extremes” including those who are upset about not being able to entertain with alcohol.

Given the alternative of a “dry” facility, or making alcohol available to everyone including students of drinking age, Esten said the decision was easy for the University.  The rationale to be socially responsible in a “culture” that promotes binge and under age college drinking is a high priority, Esten said.

Eight other Big Ten schools provide alcohol in premium seating areas.  Michigan, Ohio State and Minnesota don’t, according to Esten.  He also said Cincinnati and Syracuse are the only schools with on-campus stadiums that sell alcohol throughout their facilities.

Esten said fans who have access to pre-purchased parking in designated tailgating surface parking lots will be able to consume alcohol.  There will be about 9,000 parking spaces on the East Campus (nearest the stadium) and they will be available only by advance purchase.  Other football parking will be available on the West Bank Campus, St. Paul Campus and at the State Fairgrounds.