Author: David Shama

Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the all-pro Cardinals wide receiver from Minneapolis who will be back in town this spring to host his first annual youth football camp, thinks the Vikings will go beyond last year’s 10 win season and will become a playoff team that earns a first round bye if quarterback Brett Favre comes out of retirement to play here.

Fitzgerald told Sports Headliners that among NFC teams he ranks the Vikings “right up there at the top” even without Favre.  Last year Fitzgerald, 25, helped lead the Cardinals, 9-7 during the regular season, to a surprising NFC championship game win and the franchise’s first Super Bowl where they lost to Pittsburgh. “The NFC is going to be loaded and I want to throw our hat right there in the mix, too,” he said.

Fitzgerald witnessed the productivity of a veteran quarterback with the Cardinals last season.  Kurt Warner, 37, is a former Super Bowl quarterback like Favre.  Last season Warner was second in the NFL in both touchdown passes and passing yards in helping the Cardinals have an extraordinary post-season.  It was Warner’s third Super Bowl.

Favre’s future with the Vikings is reportedly contingent on whether it’s decided he needs major surgery on the partially torn biceps on his right throwing arm.  If the surgery isn’t necessary the Vikings may have a 39-year-old quarterback who is one of the most statistically impressive and biggest winners in NFL history.  His football knowledge, courage and gun-slinging arm could take the Vikings back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1977.

“If he were to come in there, he would do phenomenal things for that team,” Fitzgerald said.  “He’s just an unbelievable player.  You’re talking about a three-time (NFL) MVP. …”

Asked more specifically about Favre’s impact on the Vikings, Fitzgerald talked about the quarterback’s many seasons (18) in the NFL.  “I just think his experience (will impact the Vikings),” Fitzgerald said.  “I mean the Vikings are almost right there.  Those guys are right there on the cusp of winning a championship.  You saw them last year; they were a few plays from beating the Eagles (in the playoffs) last year and getting to the championship game.  Those guys have so much talent, offensively, defensively.  I mean with that pass rush, that front four that they have, and secondary, and Adrian Peterson.  I mean those guys are loaded.  You add Brett Favre and that kind of experience.  It just puts you over the top.”

Even without Favre, Fitzgerald categorizes the Vikings as a playoff team.  They earned his respect last season when they dominated the Cardinals in Arizona, winning 35-14.

The Vikings were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs but Fitzgerald had a post-season run that included nine touchdown receptions.  Two of those were in the Super Bowl and two more were in the Pro Bowl where he was named MVP.

The former Academy of the Holy Angels star who grew up in south Minneapolis has played five seasons in the NFL after a college career at Pittsburgh. “I think every year I’ve improved on different facets of my game which has helped me become a better overall player, but I still have a long way to go,…” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said he can improve his route running, running after he catches the ball and downfield blocking.  His goal is to be one of the NFL’s best wide receivers and many observers will argue he’s achieved that status already.  He wants to be compared with former Vikings wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

Did last season improve his confidence?  “I’ve never been one lacking in confidence no matter what the situation was,” he said.  “I always believed in myself.  My parents taught me that at a young age.   Never doubt yourself.  Always go out there and give it your best. …”

Was he concerned about how he would play before the Super Bowl, pro football’s biggest game?  “No, not at all,” he said. “I slept like a baby the night before the game.  …”

Fitzgerald insists, though, that he needs to improve, rating himself a six on a scale of 10.  He’s looking forward to next season.  “I want to make the playoffs again,” he said. “I want to be all-pro again.  I just want to continue to establish myself as a dominant player.”

Fitzgerald is close to his father Larry, a Minnesota sports journalist, and dearly misses his mom Carol who died several years ago.  He was raised to care about people and give back which serves as inspiration for his football camp in June.  He will guide the youngsters in aspects of football and life.

Fitzgerald’s football camp will be at Providence Academy in Plymouth June 15-17 and is for youngsters entering grades six through nine for the upcoming school year.  Proceeds from the camp will support the Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. First Down Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Minneapolis Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) organization.  More at www.fitzfootballcamp.com.

An NBA source told Sports Headliners he will be “surprised” if owner Glen Taylor announces his choice for Timberwolves general manager this week but next week is likely.

Former state Senator Dean Johnson, who was a leader on the Twins stadium, doesn’t expect a special legislative session to address a new Vikings stadium.  A major obstacle, Johnson told Sports Headliners, is the Vikings don’t have a local funding partner like Hennepin County which is helping with the Twins stadium.

Johnson, a Lutheran minister, is known for a famous quote made in 2000 that appeared again in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated where he complained to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue about the Vikings playing on Christmas Eve:  “I don’t know how I am supposed to explain to my congregation the wires out of my ears and under my robe.”

Interested in owning a race horse?  Canterbury Park staffer Jeff Maday is looking for investors willing to put in $250 each to become part owners of Tahitian Queen.  That’s the total amount for the summer.  A maximum of 60 partners is being sought in the venture to introduce people to horse racing ownership at a minimal cost.  More at www.tahitianqueen.blogspot.com.

Canterbury Park opens its season on Friday night.  Live racing continues on Saturday, plus wagering at the Shakopee race track on the Preakness Stakes.

Joe Mauer, who has only 33 at bats this season with the Twins, has hit three home runs, all to left field in the Metrodome.  Despite playing from the beginning of the season last year, he didn’t hit his third home run until June 27.

Adam Everett, who was a disappointment as the Twins shortstop last year hitting .213, is playing regularly for Detroit and hitting .281.  He has four errors in 19 games. The Tigers open a three game series against the Twins at the Metrodome tomorrow night.

Third baseman Casey Blake, who reportedly interested the Twins in the off season before signing with the Dodgers, has hit six home runs and is batting .260.  Third baseman Joe Crede, who did sign with the Twins after last season, has three home runs and hitting .232.

Outdoor expert Ron Schara asked by Sports Headliners to name the best walleye fishing lakes in the metro area: “One that’s very good is (Lake) Minnetonka.  Minnetonka is amazingly good for a lot of fishing, despite all the boats. … White Bear Lake would be another. …Third might be, this could surprise you, Lake Harriet (which) has a good population of walleyes in it.

“The thing to remember is that these are all stocked walleyes, and stocked walleyes act differently than natural hatched walleyes.  And that is they tend to be weed fish much like a bass.  I say weeds, (but) there are no such things as weeds.  It’s natural vegetation.  They’re harder to catch, because they’re harder to get your bait to them where they’re hanging out because of the vegetation.”

Jim Holden will be promoting his book, Tennis in the Northland, from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Reed-Sweatt facility in Minneapolis. The former Northfield tennis coach has written a comprehensive history of boys high school tennis in Minnesota.  www.jim-holden.com/