Author: David Shama

Vikings’ coach Brad Childress informed and entertained more than 30 media representatives during a two hour session last week labeled the “Coaching 101 Media Clinic.”  He described his work day, including various meetings, and made a presentation on the Tampa 2 defense.

He talked about motivation including the concept of the hunter versus the hunted. He showed visuals of a lion attacking a man, and also water buffalo protecting one another, demonstrating the strength of the herd.

The coach’s dry wit was evident throughout the session and in a follow-up e-mail later in the week where he included a long list of humorous and informative items.  Childress suggested that you know you’re living in 2008 when you try to enter your pin number on the microwave.  There are more collect calls on Father’s Day than any day of the year.  It costs $16,400 to raise the average medium size dog to age 11.

Civic leader Denny Schulstad said about $315,000 of the $450,000 needed for construction of the Veterans Tribute area at the new TCF Bank Stadium has been raised. The memorial will be located at the open end of the Gopher stadium and honors the legacy of every Minnesotan who served in the armed forces.  The memorial will include a curved wall 72 feet long and 18 feet high identifying the area that will be a gathering place on game days.  Flag raising and other pageantry will also originate there on game days and for other events.  Anyone interested in donating to the project can contact Schulstad at 952-927-9822.  Schulstad, a retired Air Force brigadier general, is co-chair of the veterans project with University vice president Karen Himle.

Gordon Gund, the former Minnesota North Stars owner, has a minority ownership position with the Cleveland Cavs who trail the Boston Celtics 2-1 in the NBA playoffs.  Because Gund has been blind most of his adult life, he never saw the North Stars or Cavs play.

A week from Saturday is Willie Mays Day in San Francisco.  Every May 24 the city recognizes the 77-year-old Hall of Fame centerfielder who played in Minneapolis as a minor leaguer before joining the New York Giants who eventually moved to San Francisco.

Twins’ infielder Alexi Casilla, recalled from Rochester over the weekend to replace the injured Nick Punto, was batting .219 with two RBI for the Red Wings.

Jacques Lemaire, 62, announced on Saturday he’s returning for an eighth season to coach the Wild.  In a prepared statement he said: “When you are younger, it’s a lot easier to make a decision. At the end of the year, I said I wanted to ask questions of Doug (Risebrough, Wild general manager).  I wanted to make sure my boss is happy with the work I am doing and with the way I manage the team. This is what we talked about in our meetings.  I am reassured of my work and I want to coach again.  My satisfaction behind the bench is getting the team to play the best it can, individually and as a group. Success will come with that.”

Cristie Kerr, the defending U.S. Women’s Open champion, draws attention on and off the golf course.  Her beauty and skills make her one of golf’s most watched personalities. The 63^rd Open will be at Interlachen Country Club in Edina from June 23-29.

The presidents from every Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference school have pledged their support to Division II’s game-environment initiative.  Earlier this spring Division II chancellors and presidents stated “we are concerned about the uncivil behavior exhibited at college athletics contests, and, thereby, pledge to work together to make respectful, family-friendly events a standard of the Division II experience.” There is a new Division II game-environment Web site (www.diicommunity.org/gameenvironment/) featuring Winona State as a school with a positive atmosphere at basketball events.

Kevin Garnett is competing for more than an NBA championship this spring. He’s working on his legacy, too.

At 31 years old, and complemented by a support group that depends on 32-year-old Ray Allen and 30-year-old Paul Pierce, Garnett could be experiencing his best shot at a championship.  With a team built on defense and the multiple skills of its three stars, the Celtics compiled an NBA best regular season record of 66 and 16.   Boston improved from 24-58 a year ago, a dramatic turn around shaped considerably by Garnett in his first season with the Celtics.

How long the honeymoon continues belongs right at the top of NBA stories to watch.  Those who thought the Celtics would cruise to the NBA finals already received a wake up call when Boston struggled to win a seven game first round playoff series with Atlanta.

The Celtics also labored in their opening second round game with Cleveland on Tuesday night.  Allen, who averaged 17.4 points per game during the regular season, didn’t score.  Pierce scored four points after averaging 16.3.  Garnett carried the team, scoring 28 points including two baskets in the last two minutes that were vital to Boston’s 76-72 win.

Last night the Celtics easily won game two against the Cavs, with an 89-73 win.  The big three clicked as Pierce scored 19, Allen 16 and Garnett had 13 points with 12 rebounds.

Anything less than the NBA finals will be considered a disappointment for the Celtics.  An ending before then will bring suggestions the Celtics are too old and wore down during the 82 game regular season schedule and the playoffs.

Those allegations could be fair.  Boston’s big three is aging and in the NBA that usually means players in their 30s are more susceptible to injuries and have less energy.

Garnett has a lot of “miles” on his body.  This past season was his 13th in the NBA, with all the previous years in Minneapolis with the Timberwolves.  He came straight from high school as an 18-year-old, not even giving his body the opportunity to play fewer games in the less demanding college game.

Next season Garnett will be 32, his birthday is May 19.  Will he still be without a championship ring?  Although he was third in the MVP voting this year, was honored as the league’s defensive player of the year and is an 11 time NBA All-Star game selection, Garnett’s name is included but doesn’t rank at the top of a list with his best contemporaries.  Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd have all either won rings or at least been to the finals.  Even Steve Nash, who hasn’t made the finals, has won two NBA MVP awards while Garnett has one.

A lot of folks with good basketball IQ’s would take any of the above mentioned players before Garnett if they were all 20 years old and starting their careers.  Garnett’s won a string of rebound titles and consistently averaged around 20 points per game, while being an excellent defender and good passer.  He hasn’t, though, been an extraordinary clutch scorer or playmaker.

To use some George Bush type terminology, Garnett is steady superbly good.  So far in his career he can be remembered for that.  He has to be more if one day he’s going to be found among the game’s 50 greatest players and someone who carried his team to a title.  In a series of nationally televised playoff games starting now Garnett must often  be dominating, spectacular and the leader during the most important moments.  Nothing less will provide the best legacy.

Garnett will be judged by his entire career but what he and the Celtics do this spring will jump off the page of his final resume.

Rumors were numerous last year about Johan Santana being traded by the Twins to Boston. The Red Sox come to Minneapolis for a four game series starting tonight with players speculated to be part of a deal for Santana, the two-time Cy Young award winner who eventually was traded to the New York Mets.

Outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp, shortstop Jed Lowrie, and pitchers Jon Lester and Justin Masterson were Red Sox names that supposedly could have figured into a trade package. Not all five would have been included but some combination.  Based on their performances so far, there’s no reason for Twins fans to be crying in their beers that these guys aren’t playing here.

Ellsbury, 24, can play center field and left field. He has a .290 average with three home runs and 13 RBI.  Crisp, 28, has been losing playing time to Ellsbury and in more limited plate appearances has hit .315 with no home runs and six RBI.

Lowrie, 24, isn’t the regular shortstop, instead playing behind Julio Lugo.  He has only 35 at-bats with a .263 average, no home runs and six RBI.  Lester, also 24, is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA. Masterson has pitched in one game, six innings with a 0-0 record and 1.50 ERA.

No doubt if the Twins could have received a package with Ellsbury, Lowrie and Lester, it would have been a nice fit but it’s not believed the Red Sox were willing to make the deal.  Instead the Twins received center fielder Carlos Gomez from the Mets along with three pitchers now in the minor leagues in exchange for Santana who is 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA.  (Livan Hernandez, who the Twins signed as a free agent and possible Santana replacement, is 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA.)

The 22-year-old Gomez is so far more valuable to the Twins than any of the above mentioned Red Sox.  He is tied with Ellsbury and Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle for the American League lead in stolen bases with 13, is hitting .279 with two home runs and 13 RBI, while occasionally making a spectacular play in the outfield.  The extra dividend on the deal for the Twins may one day be the youngest of the three pitchers they acquired, 19-year-old Deolis Guerra.  Keep watch on him in the coming years.

It’s too early to toast the Twins-Mets deal with champagne but local fans should find their beers taste pretty good this weekend.