Author: David Shama

Dustin Hoffman has the lead role in a new movie called “Last Chance Harvey,” the story of an aging bachelor pursuing a relationship.  This summer it looks like the Vikings have a quarterback who could star in the sequel, “Last Chance Tarvaris.”

Tarvaris Jackson, 25, is headed toward year four with the team, perhaps his last with the franchise.  He’s flirted with success but despite opportunities never became the team’s starter and 2009 is the last year of his contract.

Coach Brad Childress sent Jackson a message when the team acquired 30-year-old backup (usually) quarterback Sage Rosenfels from Houston.  The Childress edict: both players will compete for the starting quarterback job.  Even prior to acquiring Rosenfels, Childress intended for Jackson to compete with 37-year-old Gus Frerotte who started the most games (11) at quarterback for the Vikings last season.

Jackson and Rosenfels both need to produce better stats in 2009 than their career numbers.  Jackson has thrown 20 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions.  Rosenfels, 30 touchdowns, 29 interceptions.

Rosenfels will have a better defense and running game for support here than in Houston.  He said last week that having a dominant defense on his side can mean not forcing passes as he did last year in Houston.  In 2008 Rosenfels threw six touchdown passes and eight interceptions while playing in six games, starting five.

Frerotte, who has been released, was a stabilizing influence in the locker room, a source told Sports Headliners last fall.  That role could go to Rosenfels now helping to soothe any decision as to who the quarterback will be.

Rosenfels said he doesn’t know Jackson, but got along with other quarterbacks on previous teams during his NFL career and is willing to help Jackson if he can. “I do have some experience,” Rosenfels said.  “Eight years in the league.  I think both of us push(ing) each other, it will make each of us better and at the end of the day it will make this football team better.”

During the off-season and training camp Childress will watch the quarterbacks compete and evaluate.  He won’t predict how he will divide up playing time in the pre-season games.

Jackson is an exceptional scrambler and that’s one distinction in the skills packages between him and Rosenfels.  Childress was asked if there could be playing time for each quarterback in regular season games, even if it was minimal plays for one of them.  The coach wouldn’t predict, emphasizing the decision rests, too, on what the abilities are of the offensive team.

“We may want to do something like this desperately, but can we in fact do it?” Childress asked.  “Who are we?  That’s what you attempt to locate as you come out of training camp.”

New Vikings’ quarterbackSage Rosenfels grew up in Maquoketa, a small town in eastern Iowa.  He won letters in high school competing in football, basketball, baseball, track and tennis before playing quarterback at Iowa State.

Rosenfels said on Friday that he was more of a college than pro fan growing up, although he did follow the Vikings, Packers, Lions and Bears in the “black and blue division.”  He said the family watched TV on a 12 inch black and white set that received four stations.

Metropolitan Sports Facilities executive director Bill Lester used the word “daunting” while talking about the likelihood of a stadium bill for the Vikings during this legislative session.  He told Sports Headliners, though, that with the franchise’s use agreement at the Metrodome ending in 2011 there is no other option but to push the issue despite the recession and the state’s budget problems.

“We have to at least engage in a conversation. …We have to make a decision,” Lester said.  “Do we want to live in a state that does not have a professional (football) team (and) does not have a multipurpose venue? …Having the Vikings allows you to have the facility.  Having the facility allows you to maximize the return for the rest of Minnesota, high school, amateur (sports), etc.”

Popular Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters has been vacationing out of the country and hasn’t written since February 9.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi attended Big Ten meetings last week and told Sports Headliners that the economy was a major topic.  He said it’s “probable” there will be a wage freeze in the athletic department this year.

He also said that fund raising for a new $15 million on-campus baseball stadium is still in the “preliminary” stages.

The Gophers men’s hockey team won’t host a home game in the WCHA playoffs without a fifth place or higher regular season finish.  The home team, though, doesn’t keep the gate receipts in the playoffs, with those revenues going to the WCHA, Maturi said.

Maturi reported via e-mail his department could receive $300,000 to $500,000 each for hosting NCAA basketball (Metrodome March 20 and 22) and hockey (March 28 and 29 Mariucci Arena) tournaments this year.

A week ago Sunday telecasts of Gophers basketball, the Wild and Wolves aired against not only each other but the Academy Awards.  In this market the awards topped the ratings followed by the Gophers, Wild and then the Wolves.

Dave and Linda Mona were recently honored by the Minnesota Coalition of Athletic Leadership. The Monas received the “Breaking Barriers” award as part of the National Girls and Women’s Sports Day celebration at the Rotunda in the State Capitol.