Author: David Shama

As of late yesterday afternoon there were about 2,000 tickets remaining for Sunday’s Vikings-Houston game at the Metrodome, according to an e-mail from a club executive. Fans can purchase tickets via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the tickets page on www.vikings.com.

The Texans (3-4) are 0-3 on the road this season, with losses to Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Jacksonville.   After losing their first four games of the season, the Texans have won three straight.

The Miami Dolphins have gained attention by running single wing plays this season.  The old-time formation hasn’t been popular since the 1940s and 1950s.  It was last used by the Gophers in 1953 and the Vikings, who began playing in 1961, never have run the single wing.

Former Gopher quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, now the rookie head coach of the Redskins, has Washington off to a 6-2 start with running back Clinton Portis leading the NFL in rushing at 944 yards.  Ex-Bethel head coach Chris Meidt, who had no pro or college playing experience, is an assistant coach in his first season, too.

Former Vikings defensive end Erasmus James has played limited minutes with the Redskins, appearing in four games but has no tackles.  He’s listed at second team defensive end on the depth chart.

Ex-Gopher quarterback Marc Trestman, the St. Louis Park native, is in his first season as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes.  The team is in first place in the East Division of the Canadian Football League with a 12-5 record.  Former Cretin-Derham Hall coach Andy Bischoff is an assistant in Montreal.

Here’s an interesting quote on Washingtonpost.com from Virginia’s Marquis Weeks after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown on September 11: “That was just instinct.  Kind of like running from the cops.”

Chris Coste, the 35-year-old Fargo native and catcher playing with Philadelphia in the World Series, is hitless so far in four at-bats as a designated batter.  He didn’t make the major leagues until he was 33-years-old.

Sporting News ranks 2009 Gopher basketball recruits Royce White of Hopkins and Rodney Williams of Cooper as the No. 30 and 32 best senior prospects in the country.  The magazine labeled Williams as the “best leaper” among the top 50 players.

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, who had a breakout season in 2006-07, is still probably among the NHL’s most underrated players.  He is tied for fifth in save percentage among NHL goalies at .932.  He is second in the league in wins with a 6-0 record.

The undefeated Wild (6-0-1) is at home tomorrow night against Montreal and fans are invited to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween.  Fans 14 and under have the opportunity to win prizes, and the “best-dressed” adult will be invited to do the “Let’s Play Hockey!” announcement before the game.  Kids can “trick or treat” with the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the top three winners of a best costume contest will be introduced during the first intermission.  The winner receives an autographed jersey.

The Wild are at Dallas tonight where the club record is 0-6-2 in the last eight games.

The Wolves, 6-2 in preseason, open their home and regular schedule tonight against a Sacramento team that was 1-7 in exhibition games.  The Kings, who traded star forward Ron Artest to Houston during the off-season, are led by guard Kevin Martin who averaged 20.7 in the pre-season, tops on the team.

Gopher senior guard Emily Fox was selected to the pre-season all-Big Ten team by media and the conference coaches.  Fox was all-Big Ten last season after she finished fourth in scoring averaging at 17.2 points per game, and had 4.50 assists per game (third in the Big Ten) and 2.89 steals (second in the conference).

Minnesota was projected to finish fourth in the Big Ten by the media, and fifth by the coaches.  Minnesota had a 20-12 overall record in 2007-08, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers tied for third (with Purdue) in the conference standings at 11-7.

The franchise that almost was shipped down the river is observing its 20^th anniversary this season.  Glen Taylor rescued the franchise in 1995 and kept it from moving to New Orleans but neither he nor previous owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner have given us an elite franchise to celebrate.  Wolves insiders hope the coming season will be a step toward that goal and it all begins with a 2008-09 opening game at Target Center Wednesday night against Sacramento.

The franchise that was 20-62 last season has nine times won 30 games or fewer during an 82 game schedule.  The cumulative franchise record: 647 wins, 877 losses.  The Wolves won a division title and advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2004, ending a streak of seven one-and-dones in the playoffs that began in 1997.  The Wolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004 and have won a total of 85 games the last three seasons.

With a team that’s almost been completely renovated from two years ago and changed further during the last off-season with the additions of veteran guard Mike Miller and rookie forward Kevin Love, the Wolves have at least produced enthusiasm within the offices at Target Center.  The optimism in the halls of 600 First Avenue North is based on the belief that the Wolves are young, talented and possess a will-to-win. The positive vibe is fed, too, by the prospect of having up to four first round draft picks in the 2009 NBA draft and being salary cap flexible enough to chase quality personnel in the 2010 free agent market, being hyped as a transforming shopping season because of all the potential talent.

The buzz-o-meter outside Target Center isn’t nearly as revved up as the one inside the building.  The local public and media are skeptical, and some folks in the national press are cynical, too.

There were a lot of empty seats disguised as fans when the Wolves closed out their 6-2 pre-season schedule on Wednesday and Thursday nights at Target Center last week.  Season tickets sold will again fill roughly one-third of the seats in the 19,356 capacity building.  One columnist in town wrote off Love’s potential as a top player before the 20-year-old had finished his last pre-season game.

Sporting News magazine ranks the Wolves as the 13^th best team in the 15 team Western Conference.  Ditto by Sports Illustrated.  SI reports that the Wolves led the NBA both of the last two seasons in losing games that were tied or where they had the lead at the end of the third quarter.

ESPN.com asked 10 experts about the Wolves and eight wrote that the local team will finish fourth in the five team Northwest Division (ahead of Oklahoma City).  Two of the panel said the Wolves will be the worst team in the Western Conference.  Ric Bucher didn’t agree with that but he picked the Wolves to finish fourth in the division, and he wrote this: “I’m sure GM Kevin McHale has a plan … OK, I’m not so sure these days. Which is why I’d love to hear the architect explain the blueprint. Example: don’t see KLove as a 3 or 5 and Al Jefferson has the 4 anchored.”

McHale, the vice president of basketball operations, took a risk on draft night trading hyped shooting guard O.J. Mayo of USC to Memphis (20.7 points per game at USC, 15.3 in preseason).  But the Wolves aren’t desperate for scoring and Mayo is no more a sure thing than is Love.  The Wolves will produce points behind center Al Jefferson (21 points per game last season), Rashad McCants (15.7), Miller (16.4 in Memphis), and others, probably including Love.

What the Wolves need is defense.  Last year they gave up 102.37 points per game, the 10^th most in the 30 team NBA.  That does raise the question of a small defensive center in Jefferson with an undersized power forward in Love.  The Wolves will try to figure out some answers with their interior defense and their transition defense, too.

This is a team that will be better than last year, perhaps a lot better, like a 15 game improvement or so.  Why?  Because the talent and intelligence has been upgraded.  If Love plays regularly he will be the team’s second leading rebounder after Jefferson.  He could be the most unselfish player on the team, setting up teammates with passes and screens.  He can average double figures in points with a good outside shot and some inside baskets.

Miller is one of the league’s best three point shooters.  At 28, he’s experienced and talented.  Jefferson is only 23 but he has played four NBA seasons already and finished fifth in league rebounding last year at 11.1.  McCants had an impressive pre-season offensively, his specialty, averaging 13.3 points.  He’s a sharp outside shooter with a quick first step who can drive to the basket and score over much taller players.  Role players like forwards Corey Brewer and Ryan Gomes should be better after playing a first season with the Wolves last year.

How much the Wolves improve will have a lot to do with Randy Foye.  To have a bright future the Wolves need a quality point guard and in year three of his NBA career Foye has the opportunity to prove he can do the job.  So far there’s no decision.

And finally there’s this.  With personable leaders like bench warmers Kevin Madsen, Brian Cardinal and Kevin Ollie, and nice guy newcomers Miller and Love, this might be the most likeable bunch of Wolves ever.  Yes, I know you will like them more if they win.