Author: David Shama

Before last weekend’s NFL draft Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman identified Notre Dame center John Sullivan, picked by the Vikings on the sixth round, as one of seven “late sleepers.”  Notre Dame teammate Trevor Laws, the defensive tackle from Apple Valley drafted in the second round by Philadelphia, was another of the “potential post-Round 1 steals.”

St. Olaf senior wide receiver Horace Gant agreed to a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins earlier this week, according to the St. Olaf College Athletics Web site. Gant holds school records for receptions (185), receiving yards (3,061) and receiving touchdowns (27). The Web site reported that he will leave tomorrow (Thursday) for Washington’s minicamp.  He will be reunited with former St. Olaf head coach Chris Meidt who left the Oles last winter to become an assistant coach for new Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.

President Chris Wright reported via e-mail on Monday that the Timberwolves have deposits on 300 new season tickets from the team’s “Pay the Pick” promotion allowing fans to purchase season tickets for the price of the team’s draft position. The price per game will match the team’s draft pick number (determined at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 20). With the No. 1 selection, fans will be able to purchase tickets for $1 ($43 per season ticket, with the No. 2 pick $86 etc. The price is based on 43 home games at Target Center (41 regular season and two preseason).  The “Pay the Pick” promotion requires a $43 non-refundable deposit before the draft lottery. The offer is limited to the first 500 fans to place a deposit, with a limit of 10 tickets per person, and is valid for select sections in Target Center.

Former Gopher Dan Coleman, who finished his senior season in March, is hoping to play professionally in Europe, according to John Bell Wilson, a UBS financial advisor. Wilson works with former Gopher Bill Duffy whose company, BDA Sports Management, represents Coleman.

A team of Minnesota basketball players won the AAU 16 and under Pump N Run Invitational in Denver recently.  Marshall Bjorklund, a 6-8 power forward who plays for Sibley East High School, was the second leading scorer in the tournament and is being recruited by Washington State and other schools, according to local sportswriter John Sherman who coached the Minnesota Transitions to the Class 1A state championship in March.  He also said Chad Calcaterra, a 6-10 center from Cloquet High School, was effective blocking shots at the invitational and is being recruited by 12 Division I schools including Minnesota. 

Wally’s Choice, the local race horse who didn’t race at all last year after a career threatening torn tendon in 2006, is expected to run in races at Canterbury Park this season.  Wally’s Choice is owned by Wally “the Beerman” McNeil, his wife Joyce McNeil and Canterbury Park Board Chairman Curtis Sampson.   With over $428,500 in career earnings, the owners hope that one day Wally’s Choice can break Blair’s Cove’s all-time record of $533,528 for Minnesota bred race horses.  Wally’s Choice, a seven-year-old thoroughbred, received stem cells from his own body to help the healing process from the torn tendon.  Canterbury Park opens on Saturday, the same day as the Kentucky Derby.

Also on Saturday the Minnesota Swarm will host its first ever National Lacrosse League playoff game starting at 7 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center.  A crowd of over 11,000 is expected to watch the East Division champion Swarm play the third place New York Titans.

Sports Headliners didn’t encounter any predictions from fans about a Vikings trip to the Super Bowl (or even the NFC championship game) while attending the Purple’s NFL draft party on Saturday. Certainly the gathering was festive with food, drink, games, music and Vikings players and cheerleaders making a cheery scene on a wintry spring day that seemed more like March than late April.

Shawn from Minnetonka typified the optimistic but also cautious view about the upcoming season.  He admitted to being “fired up” after last week’s trade with Kansas City delivered defensive end Jared Allen to the Vikings.  An already “good” defense becomes better but Shawn frets about losing offensive tackle Bryant McKinne for the season if the NFL disciplines him for an off-season incident.

Saying he will be “disappointed” if the Vikings don’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2004, Shawn thinks a 10-6 record is possible.  A better record than last season’s 8-8 means improvement from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.  Shawn said it will be a “make or break” season for the third year quarterback.

Kurt, from Montrose, will be watching Jackson, too.  “This is the season,” he said.  “If there’s no improvement then they’re going to get someone else.”

He thinks a 10-6 season for coach Brad Childress’ team might be possible but he wants Allen and other players to prove what they can do.  “They’re not going to the Super Bowl,” he said.

Kurt coaches kids in kick ball and gives them a message he hopes the Vikings hear, too.  “There’s no ‘I’ in team,” he said.

Jill from Willmar said the Vikings are a “big deal” to her family.  A decorated cake or brownies are usually part of the ritual on game days and the family has to schedule church services to be home in time for the TV kickoff.

She said her husband and son have more passion for the Purple than she does.  “They’re excited,” she said.  “Hopefully it (the season) goes well.”

Whether it goes well or not, Gerry Burns from Fridley, like so many of the team’s fans, will be supportive.  He saw the franchise’s first game in 1961 and with his son has had season tickets since 1998.  He’s seen disappointing seasons and finishes including sitting in Sun Devil Stadium in 2003 when the Vikings couldn’t win against the lowly Arizona Cardinals to make the playoffs.  He willingly takes the approach of wait until next year.

With Allen joining the team, Burns said he “can’t wait” for the season.  He thinks the acquisition of Allen brings the Vikings closer to success including against the evil rival to the east who twice beat the Purple last season.  “Hopefully we can knock off the Green Bay Packers,” he said.  “That makes my season right there.”

A fellow named Jerry Burns coached the Vikings from 1986-1991.  That period gave Gerry of Fridley a rather unique perspective for being a Viking fan.  His number in the telephone directory was mistaken as the coach’s number (unlisted).  Irate callers, some drunk, would telephone on a regular basis to complain about what the “coach” did wrong.  Gerry even received a call from someone in Chicago asking for Vikings tickets.

Neither the calls nor Vikings disappointments have discouraged Gerry.  “I bleed Purple,” he said.

The future of Gopher football was on the sidelines as well as the field Friday night when Minnesota finished spring practice with its annual intra-squad game.  Some players who are part of the 2008 recruiting class were at the Metrodome to watch the team they will join this summer.  Among them was home town linebacker Sam Maresh, rated a four star prospect by rivals.com.

On a night when the offense managed two touchdowns and the defense wasn’t too impressive either, it was evident why the Gophers were a 1-11 team last season.  And clear, too, was the need for help from a recruiting class that some evaluators think is among the 20 best in the country.

Maresh, the all-stater from Champlin Park High School, said he was told by Gopher coaches he has an opportunity to play as a freshman.  The look in his eye indicated to a stranger Friday night that he’s targeting a starting position.

Maresh told Sports Headliners he’s excited to be part of a “bunch of top recruits” who hopefully will help turn around a Gopher program that was winless in the Big Ten Conference last season.  Although there were rumors last fall that Maresh wouldn’t keep his verbal commitment with Minnesota, he said that wasn’t true.

His decision was influenced by the opportunity to play in front of friends and family.  He likes the idea of people approaching him, shaking his hand and saying they’re happy he stayed home to play with the Gophers.  “It’s a good feeling to have people come up to you and give you that recognition,” he said.

Another player on the sidelines before the game was defensive back Simoni Lawrence from Valley Forge Military Academy, a college prep school in Pennsylvania.  He will have three years of eligibility with the Gophers after playing two seasons at Valley Forge where he was twice the Seaboard Football Conference Player of the Year.

Lawrence said his three final college choices were Brigham Young, Pittsburgh and the Gophers.  Coach Tim Brewster helped sell him on Minnesota because of the opportunity for playing time.  Coming out of high school Lawrence said Penn State recruited him but not after he finished at Valley Forge.  The reason?  The storied Penn State program doesn’t like to recruit junior college players.

Counting junior college players and freshmen, the Gophers are expected to have several newcomers starting on defense next August.  These are players who weren’t enrolled in school Friday night but will be in the summer and ready to chase their dreams of making Minnesota a better football program.