Author: David Shama

Mauer missed the early weeks of the season because of inflammation in his right sacroiliac joint but Jake said health isn’t an issue now.

Jake, 79, won 12 letters as a high school athlete at Cretin in St. Paul.  He was all-state in baseball, football and basketball.  He’s been selling his racing tip sheet at Canterbury Park since 1985 and is in the race track’s hall of fame.

Twins second baseman Matt Tolbert is hitting .167 since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester.  Alexi Casillia, who Tolbert replaced, is batting .326 at Rochester.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners that relief pitcher Pat Neshek, on the disabled list this season, is expected to rejoin the club in spring training next year.  Neshek is rehabbing his right arm following ligament replacement surgery last year at the Twins complex in Fort Myers, Florida and St. Peter said there’s optimism that the late inning reliever will be a “big part” of the team’s future.

The team’s beleaguered bullpen and failure to advance runners were factors in the Twins losing four straight games to New York by a total of  five runs.  If the Twins fail to win the Central Division title by a few games, there’s no doubt the disastrous Yankees series will be a contributing factor.

The Twins, who have lost two straight to Chicago and are on a six game losing streak, have a 4-14 road record this season, the worst in major league baseball.

The Twins hope to host the All-Star game at Target Field in 2014 or 2015, according to St. Peter.

As a result of Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery, the Wolves will choose sixth in the June NBA draft.  The Wolves have never selected higher than third and three times picked sixth.  Fans who took advantage of the Wolves’ “Pay the Pick” promotion will only pay $6 per game for the team’s 29-game NBA Sampler package, featuring one game against each of the other 29 teams.

In addition to the sixth overall pick, the Wolves also have the first round picks of Miami (18th) and Boston (28th), along with the second round picks of Philadelphia (45th) and Miami (47th).

That was former Minnesota Twins infielder and ex-Gophers all-American Jerry Kindall providing commentary on the Big Ten Network’s telecasts of the Minnesota-Penn State games last weekend.

The Gophers will announce this morning that an individual is making a $6 million gift to TCF Bank Stadium.  The $6 million commitment moves the University past its initial $86 million fund-raising goal for the new $288.5 million, 50,000-seat on campus football stadium.  The gift is the 25^th to the stadium at the legend’s level represented by commitments of $1 million or more, and is the largest made by any single individual to the project.  Over 2,100 individuals have donated financially to the stadium, including 500 first-time University donors.

Brett Favre reportedly was going to earn about $13 million playing for the Jets this season.  Given his age (40 this fall) and injured right biceps, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a potential deal with the Vikings pay him less in base salary but include incentives for performance and games played.  He won’t be inexpensive and why should he be after building a Hall of Fame resume and bringing so much marketing clout he will sellout every Vikings home game before fall.

Adrian Peterson and other Vikings teammates hosted Special Olympic athletes yesterday at Winter Park for a Punt, Pass and Kick clinic.  The smiling youngsters had questions, too, including asking about Favre, but Peterson told a group of media after the event he’s deferring questions to coach Brad Childress.  The Vikings All Pro running back said his weight is in the 215-217 range and that although he fumbled nine times last season he’s not concerned about it going forward.  He’s interested in adding about 10 pounds but it has to be in the “right places.”

The Sporting News issue of May 11 named the best sports rivalries within each of the 50 states.  Gophers-UMD hockey was the Minnesota selection.  St. John’s (led by legendary coach John Gagliardi) versus St. Thomas in football could have been on the final list of possibilities, too.

Former KSTP TV sports reporter Ryan Kibbe has started a church in Green Bay.  Kibbe worked in Green Bay before coming here.

For those who believe the Mayan prophecy predicting the world ends in 2012 these are stressful times.  Even right here on the prairie it seems like the sky is falling with our pro sports teams.

While now may not be the end games, these are historic times for the Timberwolves, Vikings, Wild and Twins.  Pivotal moments, perhaps unprecedented locally, lie ahead for the four franchises.

No franchise is more troubled than the Timberwolves who have made a habit of annually losing most of their games and a lot of money.  Despite dismal performance on the court and attendance, Minnesotan and owner Glen Taylor perseveres.  He’s searching for a general manager and coach who can make a sweet future out of a failed past. Whoever is hired must make the most out of three first round draft choices this June and lots of salary cap room to pursue free agents in 2010.  If things don’t improve, go ahead and wonder how long Taylor wants to own and operate the team at 600 First Ave. North. Timberwolves might not be the best fit for a nickname in Las Vegas, but Lakers has thrived in southern California.

While a few folks are jumpy about the Timberwolves moving, thousands fret about the Vikings home grounds after 2011 when their Metrodome lease expires.  The world will end for the Purple faithful if the Vikings relocate in 2012.  While it seems far-fetched to speculate on a move to the Mayan’s home country of Mexico, something must be done to provide the franchise with more revenues than is possible in the Metrodome.  Without a new stadium, it’s common belief that owner Zygi Wilf will sell the franchise to someone who says adiós to Minnesota.  Does Adrian Peterson’s astrology chart have him giving football tutorials on Central American TV for the Mexico City Vikings?  Nice fit, huh?

The “warming house” where fans wait to buy Wild season tickets has an air of anticipation these days.  For the second time in franchise history the general manager and coaching jobs are open.  The men who fill those roles will be expected to put the team into the playoffs on an annual basis.  Nothing is more exciting than winning, but a product with more offense sounds good to those tired of the defense obsessed philosophy of the past.  Short term, the franchise’s No. 1 need is to retain the most gifted player in Wild history, free agent Marian Gaborik.  At 27, Gaborik can headline a franchise that for many years can keep Xcel Energy Center full and the “warming house” open where about 7,500 potential ticket buyers are waiting.

You don’t need a regular diet of Rolaids to talk about the Twins.  Lots of good players, capable manager in Ron Gardenhire and that beautiful ballpark opening next year.  Things are pretty good except there’s always something to fret about in baseball and life.  Short term, the starting and relief pitching demands keeping the Pepto Bismol handy.  Then there’s the economy and the question of how the club will do in attracting fans and sponsors in challenging times.  Make costs too pricey and even a new stadium doesn’t guarantee success.  Example A is the new Yankee Stadium where fans have been disguising themselves as empty seats.  Twins worry-warts also have their eye on Joe Mauer’s contract which ends in 2010.  That’s awful close to 2012 but it’s hard to see the hometown catcher and batting champ going anyplace else to play.

See, there is good news.