Author: David Shama

Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love received a compliment earlier this week when NBA legend Jerry West told a Memphis newspaper (commercialappeal.com) he would have kept the former UCLA star in Memphis rather than trading him here on draft night.  West, the former Memphis Grizzlies’ president of basketball operations, was the front office boss of seven NBA championship teams in Los Angeles and is regarded among the most savvy talent evaluators in the NBA for the last four decades.

Love, 20, impressed the local media on Monday afternoon in Minneapolis when he answered questions with humor, clarity and detail.  He hopes to average double figures in points and rebounds for the Wolves.  He also said making the all-rookie team is a goal.

Timberwolves assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg thinks the 6-10, 255-pound power forward could compete for Rookie of the Year.  “I am very excited about Kevin Love,” Hoiberg said.  “I think he’s a guy that just makes everyone around him better. …”

Love ranks with the better rebounders and passers who have played collegiately in the last several years.  He can also shoot outside with a nice touch and post up near the basket.  At UCLA he averaged 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 17.5 points per game.  “He’s more athletic than people think,” Hoiberg said.  “He tested very well at the combine (for rookies) in Orlando this year, and had the 12^th fastest lateral footness drill out of everybody, not just bigs. …”

Love will have to adjust to the pro game.  Like any rookie he will go through challenges as he competes to earn a starting position.  Hoiberg believes Love’s “high basketball IQ” will help him adjust more quickly than many rookies.

Love led the NBA summer league in Las Vegas in rebounding at 13.5.  That was a test providing further confidence in the rookie who played only one season at UCLA.  Assuming Love plays 25 minutes or more per game, Hoiberg said he could average double figures in rebounds.

Many of Love’s defensive rebounds in college were quickly turned into outlet passes.  His strength and quick releases have drawn college comparisons to basketball hall of famers Bill Walton and Wes Unseld.  In fact, Love’s middle name is Wes, named after his dad Stan’s former NBA teammate.

“It’s a weapon, there’s no doubt about it,” Hoiberg said.  “That outlet pass is a weapon. …”

Hoiberg said the Wolves can put in special plays to take advantage of Love’s outlet passing that can lead to lay-ups by his teammates.  Hoiberg’s former coach at Iowa State, Tim Floyd, now at USC, had to compete against UCLA last season in the Pac 10.  “He said you had to put the game plan around Kevin Love,” Hoiberg said.  “You had to sprint guys back (to defend).  You couldn’t crash the offensive boards the way you did against other teams. …”

Maybe the best idea is to bust the Twins MVP award into three pieces.  After all, without relief pitcher Joe Nathan, catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau,the Twins would have a roster of apprentice carpenters and no master craftsmen.

The Twins finished their season last night with an 88-75 record.  Nathan saved 39 of those games.  This was the fifth consecutive season the 33-year-old right hander, one of baseball’s best relief pitchers for several years, saved 36 or more games, a club record.

The Twins had quality starting pitching with their young staff but the bullpen, other than Nathan, was erratic.  The Twins probably made the playoffs because management declined the option of trading Nathan during the off-season when it seemed a new contract might not get signed.

Mauer hit .328 and won his second American League batting title in three years.  He established career highs in RBI, 85, runs scored, 98, and at-bats, 536.  His No. 3 batting position in the lineup made him the perfect hitter to be on base for the power hitting Morneau.

Mauer also caught a career high number of games for the Twins, 139, according to baseball-reference.com.  He was a team leader including for his direction of the young starting pitchers.  At 25, Mauer solidified his reputation as a player that many executives would consider building a team around.

Morneau struggled in September, perhaps worn down by the long season and providing power on a team that hit an American League low of  111 home runs.  In his last 10 games, Morneau hit .135, with no homeruns and one RBI.  Last night he was hitless as was Mauer as the Twins lost their tiebreaker game for the Central Division to Chicago, 1-0.

The Twins couldn’t have been one of the surprises of the 2008 major league seasons without the 25-year-old Morneau who drove in 129 runs and hit 23 home runs, both team highs, while batting .300.  His 370 RBI over the last three seasons is among the best in franchise history.  He played in a career high 163 games, 156 of them at first base where his defense is exceptional and he established a big league career best four errors in 2008, according to baseball-reference.com.

To win, a ballclub needs players to play various roles during the long major league season but when the Twin Cities Baseball Writers Association votes on the team MVP, it’s a no brainer that the winner will be one of the Twins’ triplets.

The Twins’ regular season home attendance of 2,302,431 fans in 81 home dates was the third–highest total in club history (3,030,672 in 1988 and 2,482,428 in 1992).

Coach Tim Brewster made a classy decision last Saturday in Columbus when he allowed seldom used senior quarterback Mike Maciejowski to enter the game in the fourth quarter and toss a two-point conversion against Ohio State.  That was a considerate gesture, gving Maciejowski an on-field opportunity in his home town of Columbus.

Concordia of St. Paul has announced that its new football, soccer and track facility will be called Sea Foam Stadium.  The university is receiving funding from Sea Foam Sales Company, a producer of petroleum products.  The facility may be ready for use next year.

Wolves rookie forward Kevin Love is interviewing personal chefs.  He wants food low in fat but it has to “taste good.”

TV play-by-play announcer Tom Hanneman is back for his 20^th season as a Wolves broadcaster.  The franchise is also celebrating its 20^th anniversary.

Hanneman’s TV partner, Jim Petersen, begins his 11^th season on either radio or TV with the Wolves.  Prayers are welcomed for Petersen’s mother who has liver cancer.  He and other family members spent much of the summer with her.

Gopher basketball public address announcer and local emcee funnyman Dick Jonckowski is being “roasted” on his 65^th birthday on Wednesday, October 22.  The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at Jax Café with proceeds going to the new Gopher football stadium, according to Jonckowski.   For ticket information contact Bob McNamara, 612-623-9156.