Author: David Shama

Pity party?? We can worry about the possible loss of soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Marian Gaborik and fret about the other stars from local teams who already left town, or we can take a deep breath and realize there’s still a lot of talent in these parts.  We’ve said adios to Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Randy Moss and Kevin Garnett, but say hello to the following gentlemen:

Joe Mauer has won two American League batting titles in the last three years.  There are baseball people who say Mauer, 25, is the first player they’ll take if building a team.  Local radio host Dan Barreiro refers to the Twins’ catcher as “Baby Jesus.”  Just leave it at superstar.

Justin Morneau won the AL MVP award two seasons ago and was a contender this year.  Morneau has driven in 130, 111 and 129 runs the last three seasons and is a steady fielder at first base.  The power hungry Twins are nowhere without their star slugger who led the team in home runs with 23 and won baseball’s Home Run derby in July.

Watch the Metrodome crowd rise to its feet and holler when Joe Nathan is closing out another game for the Twins.  He has 219 saves during five seasons with the Twins and played a major role in the team winning two Central Division titles.  Fans love a sure thing and no star in this town is probably more consistent than the Twins’ No. 1 relief pitcher.

Already the most explosive running back in Vikings’ history, Adrian Peterson finished second in the NFL in rushing last season and is in the same spot so far this year.  The second year wonder from Oklahoma is one of those unique individuals who is a potential touchdown maker every time he touches the ball.  Peterson is on track to move from stardom to superstardom and possibly end his career with more than 14,000 rushing yards, placing him among the top pro rushers of all time.

There might be a better defensive tackle in the NFL than the Vikings’ Kevin Williams but he’s sure on the short list.  No way did the Vikings stay No. 1 against the run last year and and rank third this season without Williams.  The annual all-pro had four sacks in the Detroit game a week ago Sunday and has six for the year.

Gotta like new Vikings’ defensive end Jared Allen.  He led the NFL in sacks last year with Kansas City and arrived here with a can-do attitude.  He’s fun to watch on most every play, anticipating how fast he can arrive at the quarterback and use his 6-6 height and long reach to knock down the ball.  He has five sacks in seven games.

The Wild’s Gaborik is a skating and scoring delight.  Whether he’s here short term, or long, enjoy him now.  At 26, it seems like only injuries can stop his progress toward being remembered as one of the NHL’s greatest players in this era.  Last year he had career highs in games, goals, assists and points as the team’s star forward.

Mikko Koivuu, 25, is going to be here for awhile.  He accounted for five points on one goal and four assists in a game last week, a microcosm of his playmaking ability.  The Wild forward was given a leadership opportunity, too, when he was named team captain for October.

Basketball purists are already raving about the low post scoring of Timberwolves center Al Jefferson.  Although he’s only 23, few NBA players have had Jefferson’s assortment of moves and effectiveness near the basket.  He scored 21 points per game last season and averaged 11.1 rebounds, one of only four players in the league to average 20-10 or more.

Past failures have made the public skeptical about Gopher football but the facts are black and white regarding wide receiver Eric Decker.  He is tied for fourth in the country among Division I receivers in receptions with 59, and his 111.71 yards per game ranks fifth.  The Cold Spring, Minnesota junior is a cinch to be all-Big Ten, maybe all-American and remembered as one of the Gophers’ greatest receivers ever.

Adam Weber, a sophomore, has improved from last season in not only his understanding of the Gophers’ offense, but also as a passer and leader.  He’s thrown nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions in seven games (19 in 12 games last season).  Along with Decker, he’s a Gopher Mr. Indispensable and a star in the making.

The last fella to make our star power list is Blake Hoffarber.  Although he was a substitute last season as a Gopher basketball freshman, Hoffarber makes the list because of YouTube high school and Big Ten tournament game highlights when his miraculous shots made national news.  He’s only 20 but you have to call him Mr. Clutch and also admire his three point field goal percentage last season of .427, among the best in the Big Ten.

So there’s the list.  Stop worrying, dump the pity party, and enjoy.

NBA regular season rosters have to be finalized by 5 p.m. Minneapolis time on October 27.  Timberwolves decisions will include who to keep as a reserve point guard, 24-year-old Blake Ahearn or 37-year-old Kevin Ollie.

The Wolves are telecasting pre-season games for the first time in franchise history  tonight and tomorrow night, according to Ted Johnson, the team’s marketing vice president.  The Wolves have Target Center games on FSN North tonight versus Chicago and tomorrow evening against Milwaukee.

Johnson said there are 1,200 to 1,500 tickets remaining for the regular season and home opener October 29 with Sacramento.

The Vikings special teams received scrutiny at Brad Childress’ news conference Monday, a day after a blocked punt and mishandled punt return gift wrapped a pair of scores for Chicago in the Bears’ 48-41 win.  Childress said he is in the special teams meeting every day.  “And they get coached every day,” he added.  “There is somebody back there with them.  They’re not standing back there in a vacuum. …I will say an encouraging note.  I think the coverage teams have done a good job here in the last couple of weeks.”

Although the Vikings auditioned other punters after Chris Kluwe had two of his punts returned for touchdowns by New Orleans earlier this month, Childress said he doesn’t expect to look further.  He made it clear he isn’t blaming special teams coach Paul Ferraro, Kluwe or other players for special team mistakes.

“It all comes back to me,” Childress said. “I am not going to pin it on a coach or a player.  That’s what it is.  I am the guy that’s got the wins and losses by my record so it’s not the special teams guy. …”

Childress said he typically meets a couple times per week with owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.  Topics include team status, injuries and personnel.  “We talk about all those things,” he said. “Obviously as owners, they have the right to know.  It’s important that you explain rationale.”

He also said the Wilfs have “pretty good wisdom” but are also willing to learn about the football side of owning an NFL team.

The Gopher football program has had its late season losing trend well documented through the years but since 1999 Minnesota has managed to finish two seasons in the top 25 national polls.  In 1999 the Gophers were No. 18 in the Associated Press and No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today final polls.  Minnesota was No. 20 and No. 17 in those final polls in 2003.

Radio-TV journalist Mike Max had a pre-recorded interview with Michael Jordan on his “Life to the Max” show last Saturday night.   Max said Jordan discussed various subjects including the challenge of being a world celebrity.  The show had major competition airing opposite “Saturday Night Live” and Sarah Palin.