Golden Gophers – Page 85 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Boast 2 Potential MVP Candidates

Posted on April 10, 2022April 10, 2022 by David Shama

The Twins are only two games into the 2022 season but it’s clear they have two potential candidates for American League MVP. “I think we feel we have two of the game’s most elite players,” club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners.

The off-season signings of shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton give the Twins their best potential MVP tandem since the roster was led by Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau years ago.

Playing for the Astros last season, Correa finished fifth in AL MVP voting. He hit .279 with 26 home runs and 92 RBI last season. He was No. 2 among MLB position players with a 7.2 WAR, per Baseball Reference (behind Marcus Semien’s 7.3). He also won the 2021 Rawlings American League Gold Glove at shortstop and the 2021 AL Platinum Glove Award, awarded to the best overall fielder in each league.

Correa, 27, enters this season on everyone’s AL MVP watch list, while Buxton is more of a dark horse because of his history with injuries. Both have similar abilities.

Despite being limited to 61 games last season, the 28-year-old Buxton hit .306 with 19 home runs, 32 RBI, 13 walks, 50 runs scored, nine stolen bases and a 1.005 OPS this past season. His OPS led league hitters with at least 200 at-bats and ranked second in MLB behind National League MVP Bryce Harper (1.044). His 4.5 WAR (per Baseball Reference) was the highest in AL/NL history by a player who appeared in 70 games or fewer. His 10 defensive runs saved (per The Fielding Bible) ranked fifth among all centerfielders.

“He (Buxton) makes us better in every way,” St. Peter said. “He impacts the game. Best defensive center fielder in the game. He runs the bases better than anyone else in the game. He obviously has tremendous power. Can spray the ball if necessary. If healthy, this guy is a top 10 player in baseball.”

St. Peter has similar praise for Correa, describing him as an elite defender and accomplished base runner. He praised him as a hitter who battles pitchers and hits with power. Correa won a World Series with the Astros (his previous team) and is known as a clubhouse leader. His resume, high character and leadership skills command respect from his new teammates. “When you have someone like that, it can be very powerful in a baseball clubhouse,” St. Peter said.

The Twins signed Buxton to a seven-year contract extension late last year. St. Peter said if the Twins hadn’t retained Buxton, they wouldn’t have been able to convince Correa to join the club. Together they help give the Twins a shot at what St. Peter hopes will be a “giant step forward” in 2022 (73-89 last season).

Worth Noting

Buxton hit a two-run homer yesterday to put the Twins up 3-2 in the eighth inning against the Mariners at Target Field. But in a repeat of last spring when the bullpen consistently faltered, Tyler Duffey blew the lead in the ninth inning as the Mariners won 4-3 and sent the Twins off to a 0-2 start in the new season.

It will be a surprise if the Gophers don’t add a running back before June from the transfer portal. P.J. Fleck and staff might well have been shopping even before Mar’Keise Irving announced last week he is leaving Minnesota.

Available running backs in the portal, per 247Sports, include Camar Wheaton, Alabama; Tharon Davis, Memphis; Joshia Davis, Colorado; Aidan Robbins, Louisville; and Peni Naulu, Washington State. Wheaton didn’t play for Alabama last season but coming out of high school he was the No. 1 RB in the nation, according to Rivals100. Minnesota recruits the Dallas area and Wheaton played in high school not far from Gophers high potential wide receiver Dylan Wright.

The Twins’ 28-man opening day roster Friday had only three pitchers (Jorge Alcala, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar) who were with the club a year ago for the first game. The 2022 Twins have 19 new players: 13 pitchers, three infielders, two outfielders and one catcher.

Pro Football Focus last week had former Eden Prairie defensive end Jermaine Johnson going at No. 13 to the Vikings in the first round of the April 28 NFL Draft. Edge rushers are coveted and Johnson has wowed scouts while at Florida State, in the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant isn’t surprised at Johnson’s ascension. “He had all the measureables (in high school),” Grant told Sports Headliners, while also praising Johnson’s work ethic.

Jeremiah Johnson, Jermaine’s brother, will be a junior next season for the Eagles. While Jermaine is 6-4, his brother is 5-9 and might play fullback, linebacker or defensive end.

Mike’s father, Bud Grant, will speak April 19 at the Twin Cities Dunkers annual dinner that raises money for the sports programs at Minneapolis and St. Paul high schools. Mike isn’t sure if he will attend. “That’s right in the middle of turkey hunting season,” he quipped.

Mike turns 65 Thursday, Bud will be 95 on May 20.

Word is UConn’s Paige Bueckers rented a Target Center suite for former Hopkins teammates to watch the Women’s Final Four. Estimates are Bueckers is earning $500,000 to $1 million from Name, Image and Likeness sources.

As a player Lindsay Whalen won more WNBA games than anyone in history, and she will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 10. But as Gopher women’s coach she has no winning seasons in the Big Ten. After four seasons she is 60-57 overall and 28-44 in conference games, while predecessor Marlene Stollings was 82-47 and 38-30, per records from Wikipedia.

With the Gophers, former men’s head coach Richard Pitino matched up against his dad in a November, 2014 loss to Louisville. Next December Richard’s New Mexico team will host Rick Pitino and Iona in Albuquerque.

It was 40 years ago last week the Metrodome opened for the first time with an exhibition game between the Twins and Phillies. That April 3, 1982 Twins’ win was followed by a regular season opening loss to the Mariners April 6.

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Kirk Cousins Ongoing Talk of the Town

Posted on April 3, 2022 by David Shama

Try opening your phone and not finding a recent story about Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins. This market is obsessed with the Vikings and Cousins—even five months away from the next NFL season.

Fans (knowledgeable or not) have strong feelings about Cousins and the Vikings who have missed out on the last two playoffs. Cousins and former head coach Mike Zimmer, while they have their supporters, have frequently been vilified by the public.

Cousins, who is among the best paid players in NFL history at $35 million this year, is a polarizing figure that the media and fanbase scrutinize constantly. Former Vikings’ linebacker Ben Leber suspects Cousins is among the “most polarizing” athletes in Minnesota sports history.

Head coaches and quarterbacks can cause that kind of divide. In Minnesota it has gone to extremes because Vikings mania goes on 12 months per year.

If Cousins hasn’t performed up to expectations since he arrived here in 2018, all the media and fan “noise” probably isn’t to blame. “I don’t think he allows a lot of outside distractions,” Leber told Sports Headliners. “I am sure he hears it and feels it and all that stuff but he is so regimented about his day that I don’t think that he’s going to really let that affect him. …”

What may improve the chances of Cousins being a huge contributor to a Vikings’ return to the playoffs is his relationship with new head coach Kevin O’Connell. The 33-year-old Cousins had a rocky status with Zimmer, while O’Connell worked effectively with him in 2017 with the Washington Redskins.

Leber refers to a “black cloud” hanging over Cousins in the past. “I think he is going to walk in now feeling like he is wanted there, and feeling like this offense and this team and the coaching staff is going to be behind him,” Leber said.

Leber, who remains close to the Vikings organization, said an absence of communication and rapport had to impact leadership coming from their quarterback.

“Well, I can’t image it not being a factor. When it’s publicly known that the head coach and the quarterback don’t necessarily have a relationship I think that’s an issue for any team.

“I think it’s a responsibility that the head coach has…to have that connection to the quarterback, whether you’re an offensive minded guy or defensive minded guy. Everybody knows that these 32 NFL quarterbacks are the most important player on the team, and most important person outside of the head coach. So the dynamic has to be solid. …I am not saying they have to be holding hands walking down the hallway, but I think it has to be respectful, and it didn’t sound like it was.”

This offseason, per Leber, there was a players’ meeting where team issues were candidly discussed. He was told about the gathering and won’t reveal a lot of details but said teammates of Cousins were wowed with the quarterback’s leadership.

Cousins reportedly verbalized concerns from the past season in ways those in the meeting never expected at the Vikings complex in Eagan, Leber said. “It certainly seemed like it turned some guys’ heads as far as Kirk’s leadership.”

Worth Noting

Gopher coach P.J. Fleck reads children’s books to his players on Friday nights before games. He read “Elephant Me” to high school coaches last Friday evening at the annual Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic. Educated as a sixth grade social studies teacher, Fleck uses children’s books to share life messages such as being true to who you are.

The clinic registered nearly 1,500 attendees, breaking the old record of 1,412 set in 2012.

Peter Usset, the former defensive coordinator at Henry Sibley High School, is the new head coach at Apple Valley. His staff includes 2008 Minnesota Mr. Football Varmah Sonie who played for the Eagles.

At the clinic and a Saturday night banquet the MFCA honored many state football leaders including Hall of Fame inductees from two different categories. High School Division: William White, Westbrook/Monticello; Bob “Bubba” Sullivan, Northfield; Dean Aurich, Mayer Lutheran; Gary Sloan, Grand Meadow; Rob Nielsen, Detroit Lakes. College Division: Gary Fasching, St. John’s.

Hutchinson’s Andy Rostberg was honored as 2021 Coach of the Year. His Tigers were 12-1 last year and won the Class 4A state title.

While rookie Joe Ryan starts the Twins’ home opener Thursday, ex-Minnesota veteran Jose Berrios will have opening day honors for the Blue Jays. Former Twin Lance Lynn’s status as the White Sox’s opening day starter appears uncertain after a reported knee injury yesterday.

The MLB Morning Lineup newsletter ranked the top 100 players in the majors, with Twins shortstop Carlos Correa No. 14, center fielder Byron Buxton No. 39 and former Twin DH Nelson Cruz, now with the Nationals, No. 90.

The Twins announced this morning they have reassigned left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer and outfielder Jake Cave to minor league camp. Minnesota optioned left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran to the Triple-A Saints.

Jim Lehman will be attend his 27th Masters this week. Representing his Minnetonka-based pro sports management company, he will be working with clients including Fargo’s Tom Hoge who is enjoying a breakthrough PGA season.

It was 25 years ago last week Clem Haskins’ Golden Gophers lost to Kentucky at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

After the tragic death of his son last summer, many in the college hockey world will be pulling for coach Bob Motzko to win the Frozen Four that starts Thursday night in Boston. The Gophers will be trying to win their first national title since 2003 and first under Motzko now in his fourth season at Minnesota.

Minnesota Junior forward Ben Meyers, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, leads the Gophers with 41 points this season (17 goals, 24 assists). That’s the most points by a Gopher since Rem Pitlick (45) and Tyler Sheehy (41) in 2018-19.

Vikings executive Lester Bagley, a franchise leader for years on community and business initiatives including the building of U.S. Bank Stadium, is the latest guest on the “Behind the Game” program seen on local cable markets and YouTube. The show is co-hosted by Agile Marketing owner Patrick Klinger and USHL commissioner Bill Robertson.

Professor Michael Hicks from Ball State told the Front Office Sports newsletter the economic impact of the Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis could be $75 million to $125 million.

Former Gopher Amir Coffey was a steal for the NBA Clippers when they signed him out of college as a free agent in 2019. He scored a career-high 32 points Friday night against the Bucks.

KARE-11 news anchor and former sports anchor Randy Shaver is a proud dad, sharing news with Sports Headliners that son Rob Shaver, 29, graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School on Friday.

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Paige Bueckers Comes Home in Glory

Posted on March 30, 2022 by David Shama

It took two overtimes Monday night for Paige Bueckers to lead UConn to a 91-87 basketball win over North Carolina State, and set up a storybook opportunity to win the Women’s NCAA Final Four in her home state of Minnesota.

The former Hopkins High School All-American scored 15 points in overtime in an NCAA Tournament game for the ages. The sophomore point guard, the national Player of the Year in 2021, was at her best when it mattered most. For the game she scored 27 points, making 10 of 15 shots and six of seven free throws.

The fact she was brilliant in the game’s biggest moments was no surprise to her former high school coach. Brian Cosgriff said: “You could see how Paige was like we’re not going to lose this game. Get on my back. I am going to do what I’ve always done. I am going to carry this team to victory. And that’s what she does.”

During a telephone interview with Sports Headliners yesterday, Cosgriff recalled when Bueckers was a gangly eighth grader and made her Hopkins varsity debut against a powerhouse Elk River team. The Royals fell behind early but Bueckers came off the bench to make seven consecutive three-point shots. “It was an amazing performance by this little, skinny eighth grader,” Cosgriff said.

The coach had seen Bueckers’ extraordinary skills and ability to impact games a season earlier. As a seventh grader she played on both the sophomore and junior varsity teams. On the same day she would lead each to victories.

Cosgriff said what many fans don’t realize is how unselfish Bueckers is. She loves her teammates and wants to do anything she can to make them better. Her timely passing can be as valuable to the Huskies as her clutch scoring.

“She is a huge team player and you could see it last night after the game,” Cosgriff said Tuesday. “She was in tears for her teammate (Dorka Juhasz) who hurt her wrist.”

“Paige Buckets” as she is known, is athletically gifted with an energy, passion, work ethic and will to win that sets her apart from peers. So, too, does her almost mystical feel for the game. Bueckers once told Sports Headliners she has a “God-given ability that I know what I am doing, and I see…plays two steps ahead.”

Bueckers seemed to see those kinds of opportunities Monday night including when she buried shot after shot and orchestrated the UConn offense in the biggest of moments. After the game teammate Christyn Williams had the quote of the night: “We have Paige Bueckers and they don’t.”

A traumatic left knee injury forced Bueckers to miss 19 games this season. Four of the team’s five losses (29-5 record) came with its phenom unavailable. Cosgriff believes his former superstar is 85 to 90 percent recovered, with part of the issue regaining trust in her body. “But I definitely think last night really helped her confidence,” he said.

Target Center will be bonkers Friday night when the Huskies play defending national champion Stanford as part of a Final Four lineup that also includes South Carolina and Louisville. Bueckers will be a huge crowd favorite in a homecoming Minnesotans have been anticipating for months, if not years.

Bueckers has a pop culture following dating back to high school. Cosgriff recalled that when the Royals played a game in Grand Rapids, Minnesota there were fans from Chicago in attendance. It wasn’t uncommon to see 200-300 fans waiting after games to see Bueckers.

This will be Bueckers’ second Final Four and she is looking for her first NCAA championship. She has talented teammates and coach Geno Auriemma who has taken the Huskies to 14 consecutive Final Fours. Guess who Cosgriff is predicting to emerge as 2022 national champs after Sunday night’s title game?

“Of course I am biased, but I also see Paige taking this thing home. … My money is on U-Conn. That’s for sure.”

Worth Noting

A Front Office Sports article yesterday said Bueckers has business deals with Gatorade, StockX and Cash App. Arguably the face of women’s college basketball, the Wall Street Journal speculated last summer when Name, Image and Likeness opportunities were approved by the NCAA that Bueckers had $1 million per year potential.

Cosgriff, who won seven state titles at Hopkins, will be inducted April 7 into the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mike Nowakowski from Ticket King said “action is very minor” for Friday night’s Final Four games. Upper level seats are going for $100 to $250; lower level $200 to $1,250.

He also told Sports Headliners this morning his website “went crazy” after the Twins signed free agent shortstop Carlos Correa. Interest seems similar to before Target Field opened in 2010, he added.

Rebecca Lobo, the ESPN basketball analyst here for the Final Four, is married to famous sportswriter Steve Rushin, a Bloomington native.

The reunion last week recognizing individuals involved with boys’ state tournament basketball teams from the last decade of the one-class tournament format (1960-1970) was an emotional affair. In organizing the reunion Jeff McCarron (Sherburn) and Drew Kindseth (Marshall) heard from individuals representing high schools from Ada to Walnut Grove, from Bemidji to Thief River Falls. Attendees included former Gophers Jay Kiedrowski, Tom Masterson, Greg Troland and McCarron. Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse was the featured speaker.

“The room was so full of heart and history as veterans of the glory days of the state tournament gathered in the same room to share memories and also recognize many who had passed or could not attend,” McCarron said via email. “We also share the realization that our healthiest days are behind us—and that all days and relationships should be cherished and nurtured. …

“Dick Jonckowski (reunion emcee) probably said it best when he departed that afternoon. First, his voice cracked again. Then he said, ‘I think I just spent the best six hours of my life.’ ”

Organizer Ron Stolski reports over 1,600 attendees are expected at the Minnesota Football Coaches Association’s Clinic Thursday-Saturday. The highly anticipated annual clinic will have a lineup of high school coaches from Minnesota and other states speaking. Gophers’ coaches including P.J. Fleck, Kirk Ciarrocca and Joe Rossi, plus Glenn Caruso from St. Thomas, are also part of the clinic program at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban will speak via Zoom. https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/page/show/2279758-mfca-clinic-information

The MFCA will announce its Coach of the Year Saturday night at its Hall of Fame Banquet.

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