Golden Gophers – Page 4 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wolves Owner: KAT Return Not Imminent

Posted on February 1, 2023 by David Shama

All-NBA Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played in a game for the Timberwolves since November 28 because of a severe right calf strain. The Timberwolves have 29 regular season games remaining and are intensely competing for favorable playoff positioning and home court advantage.

Initially there was thought that the Wolves’ forward-center, who was averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 21 games, could return in January. Team owner Glen Taylor talked with Towns Monday and the 27-year-old veteran implied it will be another couple of weeks before he is ready to play.

Towns was named All-NBA Third team after last season when he averaged 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. “It can’t be soon enough for me,” Taylor told Sports Headliners about a KAT return.

Jordan McLaughlin, a key reserve at point guard, hasn’t played in a regular season game since December 9 because of a left calf injury. Taylor spoke to McLaughlin on Monday and the 26-year-old hopes to be back “within a week.”

McLaughlin’s return apparently will be prior to KAT’s. “That’s what my understanding would be,” Taylor said.

The Wolves expect a sellout crowd tonight at Target Center to watch their game against the Warriors. Taylor said both attendance and TV viewership are on the upswing in the New Year as the Wolves play better basketball.

The Wolves, 27-26, are eighth in the Western Conference ultra-competitive positioning for the playoffs that can change nightly. The Warriors, 26-24, are fifth in the standings.

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are expected to take over the majority share of ownership in the Wolves and WNBA Lynx in less than 12 months. The two men are on an installment plan to purchase the teams from Taylor.

Although Lore and Rodriguez exercised in writing their option for a second payment in December, Taylor said payment won’t be made until March 28. “They requested that they could delay (from a December 31 payment date)…and I had written them back and said I’ll accept their new date.”

Does Taylor expect the ownership sale for $1.5 billion to eventually take place? “Yes, I do,” he answered.

Remembering Ken Lien of Minnesota Mr. Basketball

The Minnesota basketball community lost a pioneer last week when Ken Lien, 72, passed away from blood cancer after being in hospice since November. The longtime Bloomington resident loved basketball and for 40 years owned and chaired the Minnesota Mr. Basketball program, among the oldest such programs in the country annually recognizing the best prep player in the state.

”Outside of his love for his family, he loved going to a basketball game in any gym in the state and knowing probably half the people in the gym,” his son Jon wrote via email. “He truly had a love and passion for giving players opportunities through coaching, summer programs, and with Mr. Basketball.”

Ken was a fan of this column and a friend for many years. Two weeks ago, I texted this: “Ken, thinking about you and grateful for our friendship. We enjoyed a lot of conversations, storytelling, and exchange of information. The Sid (Hartman) stories were favorites. Those darn Gophers just can’t revive the glory days. Thank you for helping me with my column, my friend!”

Ken would have turned 73 on February 17, a birthday date he shared with wife Mary Kay. He also liked to remind others that the February 17 birthday club included basketball legend Michael Jordan and former Vikings coach Denny Green.

Heartfelt condolences to Mary Kay, sons Eric and Jon, and other family members. A memorial event will be held Monday at the Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel with visitation at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m. and lunch afterward.

Worth Noting

Wishing the best for Mike Wilkinson, who is battling pneumonia. He is the author of the coach Murray Warmath biography, The Autumn Warrior.

The No. 1 ranked Gopher men’s hockey team has played in front of five consecutive home sellout crowds. Minnesota is second in the nation in attendance, averaging 8,980 per game and is behind only North Dakota’s 11,325.

Among Division I programs, the Gophers were third nationally in home attendance last season averaging 7,913, while trailing North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Two groups that support local sports, the Twin Cities Dunkers and the Capital Club, ironically both have programs next Wednesday. At Interlachen Country Club Dunkers members will hear from University of St. Thomas sports leaders, including athletic director Phil Esten and multiple coaches as the Tommies progress in their second school year of Division I sports.

The Capital Club, meeting at Mendakota Country Club, will hear from five local women sports executives sharing their insights and success stories: Wendy Williams Blackshaw, Minnesota Sports and Events CEO & president; Meka Morris, Minnesota Twins executive vice president and chief revenue officer; Lara Juras, Minnesota Vikings executive vice president and chief people & culture officer; Carin Anderson, Minnesota Wild senior vice president; and Andrea Yoch, president and co-founder of Minnesota Aurora FC.

Happy 54^th birthday today to former Gopher basketball player Walter Bond.

The University of Minnesota announced today that as part of her world tour, Beyoncé will perform July 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Deacon’s Lodge near Brainerd is the choice for Minnesota’s top public golf course on the Men’s Journal list of the best in each of the 50 states. Best Golf Courses in America: The Top Courses in Every State (mensjournal.com)

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Grass Field Likely X-Factor for Vikings

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023 by David Shama

The Soldier Field playing surface will be a focus Sunday in Chicago where the Vikings will try to not only win and improve their playoff seeding against the 3-13 Bears but avoid injuries to key players and ensure their availability in the postseason.

The safety of the natural grass surface was harshly criticized in August by the president of the National Football League Players Association. Then shortly before the season began new sod was installed, switching from Kentucky blue grass to Bermuda grass.

The Vikings are more than aware they’re likely to be playing on a slippery surface Sunday at the multipurpose stadium owned by the Chicago Park District. When players can’t maintain their balance, they’re even more vulnerable to injury in the violent game of football. “Yeah, 100 percent,” said T.J. Hockenson.

With new sod and months of use in varying weather conditions, the Vikings’ tight end anticipates a “pretty bad” playing surface Sunday when he and other starters hope to avoid misfortune. Does he consider the field dangerous?

“You just never know,” Hockenson said. “I think it probably could be dangerous if you look at it that way. You just have to make sure you’ve got your feet under you and you’re ready to go.”

Vikings’ wide receiver Adam Thielen said pregame field conditions can be deceiving, with things changing once the game starts. “I think it’s just going to have to be something (Sunday) where you just have to figure it out on the fly.”

The Vikings played on a natural surface last Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and had difficulty with their footing. “Yeah, for sure,” Hockenson said. “The grass in Lambeau wasn’t very good. It was fine in warmups and then once we got out there (to start the game) it was not good at all. It was just a learning experience for everybody and we’ll be ready to go this week.”

Many Vikings are expected to wear shoes with extra cleats at Soldier Field. A shoe with seven cleats provides extra bite into the grass. Thielen made the switch during the Green Bay game. “…It was perfect and once I put those bad boys on, it felt great.”

Worth Noting

Kevin O’Connell photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell is a rookie head coach as he prepares to lead his Vikings into the playoffs. But lessons learned about a year ago as Rams offensive coordinator, when that team delivered a Super Bowl win, should be helpful.

Minnesota offensive coordinator Wes Phillips also had a valuable experience with the Rams while serving as the team’s passing game coordinator/tight ends coach. Viking quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara was an offensive assistant with the Rams during their big season.

The 12-4 Vikings are 2-2 in their last four games and have an opportunity to win their first NFC North Division road game of the season on Sunday in Chicago. The January 8 regular season game is the latest in franchise history.

The Bears lead the NFL in rushing yards per game at 181. The Bears were held to 88 yards rushing when Minnesota defeated Chicago 29-22 earlier in the season. The Vikings rank No. 20 in rushing yards given up.

A coaching authority and Sports Headliners reader suggested the 3-4 base defense adopted by the Vikings this season is vulnerable to outside runs because defenders more easily lose containment.

O’Connell, talking recently about his rookie defensive lineman and former Gopher Esezi Otomewo: “His energy and athleticism shows up. He’s flying around out there, has shown to be incredibly coachable for a young player as he gets more and more snaps.”

Ryan Connelly, the Vikings’ practice squad linebacker who played at Eden Prairie High School, will be a free agent later this year. He told Sports Headliners going to the Canadian Football League to play doesn’t interest him. His salary is $317,000 this season, per Overthecap.com.

It just could be the injuries situation for the football Gophers coming out of their bowl win over Syracuse is worse than reported.

Former Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has agreed to a contract that keeps him with New Mexico State through 2027.

Former Twin Nelson Cruz, 42, had eye surgery this offseason and is on the market as a free agent. He hit .294 for the Twins in 2021 but .234 for the Nationals last season.

Probably no Twins interest in Cruz, but the front office is known to sign veteran pitchers. Right hander Zack Greinke, 39, is available after pitching 137 innings last season for the Royals with a 3.68 ERA.

Classy Barry Fritz, the only crew supervisor of off-ice officials the Wild has ever had, will retire after this season. Fritz, who turns 77 in February, has never missed a home game while overseeing statistics and press box responsibilities of the support personnel. He also worked for many years as a Twins official scorer.

Former Wild executive Bill Robertson, now commissioner of the USHL, hired Fritz in 1999. “Mr. Barry Fritz is one of the most organized and detailed people I have ever worked with and always does it with a smile on his face,” Robertson wrote via email. “He has a can-do attitude every day at the rink or ballpark. He was so easy to work with on every level and always looked out for his support crew.”

There’s talk the NCAA may expand “March Madness” from 68 to 90 teams. If so, most of the Big Ten teams will be in the tournament.

Star Tribune columnists Patrick Reusse and Chip Scoggins speak to the Capital Club January 18 starting about 7:30 a.m. at Mendakota Country Club. The two collaborated on the recent book Tales from the Minnesota Sports Beat: A Lifetime on Deadline. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

Boys basketball high school coaching legend and community leader Larry McKenzie speaks to the CORES lunch group January 12 at the Bloomington Event Center. McKenzie coached teams at Henry and North to six state tournament titles in 10 appearances. For reservations contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

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Gophers Hit Their Numbers in Bowl Win

Posted on December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 by David Shama

The Gophers, finishing their year with a 9-4 record, hit the right numbers yesterday in a 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York. Here are figures worth remembering, and praise for a Gopher never to be forgotten:

Minnesota won its sixth consecutive bowl game dating back to 2015. That’s not only a school record but sets an all-time Big Ten Conference mark, eclipsing a record the Gophers had shared with Wisconsin (2014-2018) at five consecutive bowl wins.

The Gophers have won nine games or more in each of the last three full seasons (not counting the pandemic season of 2020). The last time Minnesota accomplished that was in the early 1900s.

All-American tailback Mo Ibrahim set school records yesterday for most rushing yards in a season and career. He did so by gaining 71 yards in the first half, then sat out the second while resting an ankle that has troubled him this year. Ibrahim also set a new single season record for the Gophers with 20 touchdowns, getting Minnesota’s first score yesterday with a four-yard power (what else) run.

Running backs coach Kenni Burns, interviewed on the KFAN Radio pregame show yesterday, said working with Ibrahim was “probably the biggest joy” of his life. Burns recalled that over six years Ibrahim had to develop confidence and his skills, but the coach could see the potential and told the Baltimore native he had a chance to be the greatest runner ever at Minnesota. “I am determined to be,” Ibrahim answered, according to Burns.

Ibrahim, 24, will take on the challenge of making an NFL roster next year. He also has interest in a coaching career. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, who has never seen a better runner from the line of scrimmage to 12 yards out, said he “looks forward” to hiring the former three-star recruit who through ability and grit willed himself to a great career, while earning the love of his coaches and teammates.

After the game Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan made a request to athletic director Mark Coyle and school president Joan Gabel. “I think his number (24) should be retired tomorrow.”

With an awful playing field at Yankee Stadium, it may well have been best Ibrahim didn’t play in the second half. Chunks of loose grass were prevalent on the hard field, famous as home to the 27 times World Series champion Yankees. Players on both sides were losing their footing through much of the game and field conditions worsened in the second half.

Syracuse, 7-6 after its bowl loss, had the better of the game statistics but not the final score because the Gophers made two big plays in the second half. Leading 14-10 in the third quarter true freshman safety Coleman Bryson, playing for the injured Tyler Nubin, intercepted a Syracuse pass and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. Bryson was named MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl.

Later in the third, Syracuse kicked off after the Orange had booted a 38-yard field goal to make the score 21-13. Minnesota return man Quentin Redding caught the ball, faked a pitch to Le’Meke Brockington and then ran 72 yards to the Syracuse 25. Soon after Gopher wide receiver Daniel Jackson caught his second touchdown pass of the day from Morgan, another sixth-year player and a leader who goes out as the winningest QB in school history.

The Orange had 477 yards in total offense, Minnesota 215. Syracuse passed for 330 yards, while the Gophers had 138. The Orange, who out first-downed Minnesota 27-13, rushed for 65 yards more than Minnesota. The Gophers, though, got the numbers they wanted including a win by eight points.

BTW in Minnesota’s last 24 away games Fleck’s teams are 18-6 (.750), including the four bowl wins. That is the best 24-game stretch away from home in program history (began with a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on November 24, 2018). Since then, the only Big Ten team with more wins or a higher win percentage away from home is Ohio State at 21-3 (.875).

Praise for New Twins Executive Chair

The Twins have a new leader in Joe Pohlad, who has succeeded his uncle, Jim Pohlad, as executive chair. For many years Joe, 40, has worked in various business positions for the Twins.

“…I think he’s a great fan of the organization and what it means to the Upper Midwest,” a source who is familiar with the Twins told Sports Headliners while speaking anonymously.

Joe is officing at Target Field, while Jim works nearby in a downtown building. Derek Falvey, the organization’s chief baseball officer, said his access to Jim was there when needed, “But now Joe, just being in the building, gives us a little more efficiency.”

The anonymous source sees Joe as a cooperative voice in the front office. It’s expected Joe will allow the baseball leaders to do their jobs, without being meddlesome. ”…I think he is very level-headed,” the source said. “Nobody I ever dealt with (among) the Pohlads…none of them were volatile. They were always very even keeled, very levelheaded guys, and Joe is the same way. Cut from the same cloth.”

Falvey said Jim and Joe were among the first people he met when the Twins were courting him to become the team’s baseball leader in 2016. That initial friendship with both men continues to this day.

The Pohlad family, including Jim’s brothers Bob and Bill, have made a strong impression on Falvey. He has learned they care a lot about the legacy of the Twins in the Upper Midwest, and the vitality of downtown Minneapolis. They have invested considerable resources in both without seeking recognition.

“They just want to be a part of the community,” Falvey said. “They’re so humble.”

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