Author: David Shama

Trevor Mbwake said he had no part in speculation this spring that he would declare for the June NBA draft and never play for the Gophers.  Mbwake, a junior college transfer from Miami Dade, is expected to provide the Gophers with rebounding and a physical presence around the basket next season.

At about 6-8, 240 pounds, Mbwake averaged over 12 rebounds at Dade.  He was the conference player of the year and helped his team win the league championship.  He frequently was in double figures in rebounds and scoring, twice being named National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Week. The former Saint Bernard’s and Henry Sibley prep played for Marquette before transferring to Miami Dade.

NBA scouts will be curious to see how his rebounding and scoring develop with the Gophers.  Mbwake told Sports Headliners leaving the Gophers after next season is a possibility.

“It depends on how my season goes,” he said.  “Like coach Smith told me, if the opportunity ever came, that he has no problem with me leaving.  So however my season goes I’ll sit down at the end of the year with coach Smith and my family, and we’ll come up with the best decision for me.”

His decision to declare for the draft will be influenced, too, by how successful the Gophers are next season and prospects for the 2010-11 season.  He wants to be part of a Big Ten championship team and a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Mbwake, of course, will have to earn a position in the starting lineup to probably earn serious consideration by NBA scouts.  Smith hasn’t filled out his lineup card yet for next season and is famous for using a lot of his players.  Mbwake said he’s not concerned about starting.  “As long as we’re winning, I am happy,” he said.

Mbwake wants to see the Gophers restart their winning tradition and is impressed with how Smith has transformed a lowly program into one that’s nationally ranked for next season.  He likes the possibility the Gophers might become popular enough to sellout all of their games.

“That would be wonderful,” Mbwake said. “I love playing (in front of) big crowds.”

Outdoor expert Ron Schara listed five to-dos that are important to encourage kids to fish.  First, buy them solid equipment, “not cheap children’s stuff.”  Bad equipment means frustration.  “Two, take them fishing but make it a fun deal,” Schara said.  “It’s more than fishing.  Fishing is also fun.  That means pack a lunch.  Bring some treats. Things like that.

“Three, don’t over stay your welcome.  Fish as long as they want to fish. If they want to quit, you quit. …

“Four, don’t get hung up on catching big fish.  Children are happy catching any fish, big or little.  Fish off the dock etc.  And five, it’s okay to teach them that some fish you can keep and eat, and some fish you let go.  But if you keep some, make sure that you follow the whole cycle. That you show them that you clean the fish, you cook the fish, and you eat them.  You don’t throw them in the…garbage.”

The Sporting News issue of May 11 grades the Vikings college draft a C-.   Each player drafted received a grade, too, including first rounder Percy Harvin who got an A but second rounder Phil Loadholt took home a D+.  NFC North rivals received these grades: Chicago, B+; Detroit, B+; Green Bay, B-.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the Cardinals all-pro from Minneapolis, is rated the best wide receiver in the NFL, according to a poll of former wide receivers in that same issue of Sporting News.  Andre Johnson of Houston and Randy Moss of New England were second and third.

Timberwolves president Chris Wright said about 50 percent of last year’s 6,000 season tickets have been renewed.  He also said both Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer, recovering from injuries, could be ready for the beginning of training camp in September.

Former Gophers basketball star Clyde Turner will be honored tonight at an award presentation at the University of Minnesota.  He will receive the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award from the College of Education and Human Development. Turner has devoted his professional career to family and children advocacy while working in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  “Every time a young voice speaks, a more mature ear should listen and hear,” he said.  Turner was a forward on the Gophers 1972 Big Ten championship team.

Since Joe Mauer returned to the Twins lineup on May 1, the team has scored 74 runs in 12 games (6.17 runs-per-game).  Previously the Twins had scored 93 runs in 22 games (4.23 runs-per-game).  Mauer has hit safely in nine of the 11 games he has played this season. 

Justin Morneau has hit three home runs in his last five games and seven home runs in 20 games since May 22. He is hitting .372 (16-for-43) with two home runs off left handed pitching this season.

Senior infielder/pitcher Todd Mathison was 9-for-23 with two homers, three doubles, 12 RBI and two walks to help St. Olaf to the MIAC playoffs championship. In Sunday’s games against St. Thomas, Mathison was 7-for-10 with two homers, two doubles and 10 RBI as the Oles earned their third trip to the NCAA tournament in the last four seasons. He is the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week, while teammate Alex Sommer is the conference’s Pitcher of the Week.   He allowed seven hits and two walks in a complete game shutout over top-seeded St. Thomas in the MIAC playoffs championship. The performance came less than 24 hours after Sommer pitched the first four innings of the Oles’ 9-4 win over Hamline.

Margaret Sughrue Carlson, chief executive officer of the 60,000-member University of Minnesota Alumni Association since 1985, announced today that she plans to retire in early 2010. Carlson, 65, is the longest-serving alumni director in the Big Ten and only the sixth CEO in the 105-year history of the organization.

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.”