Lindsay Whalen – Page 9 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Does U Need to End Thursday Games?

Posted on August 26, 2016August 26, 2016 by David Shama

The opinion here is the Gophers need to fix their problem of opening their home football schedule on Thursday nights.

Next Thursday evening the Gophers play Oregon State at TCF Bank Stadium while less than two miles away the Vikings host the Rams in the second football game ever in the $1.1 billion U.S. Bank Stadium. While it’s only an NFL exhibition game, your average Minnesota elementary school sports fan knows the Vikings are much more popular than the Gophers.

And it’s not just the Vikings the Gophers will compete against for attention next Thursday evening. The Twins will play the White Sox downtown that night—just a long walk from U.S. Bank Stadium. The St. Paul Saints also have a home game, and Canterbury Park hosts its usual Thursday night racing. High school football teams also begin their seasons. The topper among attractions next Thursday is the eighth day of the Minnesota State Fair. Attendance for the day and evening combined might be a number approaching half the population of St. Paul.

“Nobody will be at home that night,” a friend and Gophers football season ticket holder said to me this week.

My friend will be at the Gophers game but others who might normally attend or watch on TV won’t. U athletic department officials will likely announce a crowd of 40,000 to 45,000 in 50,800 seat TCF Bank Stadium. Could it be a record low attendance in the stadium that opened in 2009? The smallest announced crowd to watch a game at the Bank is 41,062 for the Purdue game in 2012.

The last three years the Gophers have also opened their seasons at home on Thursday evenings. The last two years the Vikings played on those dates but their games were on the road—providing TV competition but not entertaining football fans a couple of miles from the U campus.

With a promising Gophers team and playing a potential national championship team, Minnesota drew a TCF Bank Stadium record crowd of 54,147 for its opener last year against TCU. This year the Gophers are down a reported 10 to 20 percent in non-student season ticket sales. There is a public wait-and-see attitude about new coach Tracy Claeys and the team. It’s a similar situation to 2013 when the Gophers were coming off a 2-6 season and drew an announced attendance of 44,217 for a game against UNLV. The Vikings played that same night in the Metrodome.

The Gophers are scheduled to play future Thursday night games at home in late August of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Vikings will also be playing on all of those Thursday evenings.

How do we know?

The NFL mandates all teams must play their fourth games of the exhibition season on a Thursday, 10 days prior to the beginning of the regular season. Those Thursdays usually come in late August, or this year September 1. The league schedules each franchise’s first three preseason games. Teams are told who they will play and where for the first three games. The fourth game and opponent are determined by each franchise. Teams play two home preseason games and two on the road. If the Vikings have been told by the NFL that two of their first three games are on the road, they will schedule the fourth game at home—up against the Gophers.

The Vikings aren’t changing their scheduling. The Twins, with 81 home dates each year, may also be playing at Target Field on future Thursday nights. The Saints, Canterbury Park and high school football are lesser entertainment rivals for the Gophers at the box office and provide no TV competition.

The Gophers and State Fair authorities made an agreement before TCF Bank Stadium opened, which resulted in all these Thursday night games. The agreement runs through June 30, 2022, and it states that any Gophers home game prior to Labor Day will be played on a Thursday evening. A U spokesman said he isn’t aware of any discussion to change the agreement.

The reason for the agreement is that during the State Fair drivers can park their cars for free on the University’s Minneapolis campus and ride free buses to the fairgrounds in nearby Falcon Heights. The Gophers usually play their home schedule on Saturdays but because of larger fair-going crowds on the weekends, U officials agreed to switch their games to Thursday evenings to better accommodate fair customers.

The existing agreement inconveniences fewer fair-goers but it’s not a winning policy for the Gophers. Fans have to fight rush-hour traffic to attend Thursday night games. Next Thursday those who choose light-rail will likely find cars jammed to the max with everyday commuters, plus Gophers, Vikings, Twins and Saints fans. Fans at home have to make viewing choices between the Vikings and Twins games that start about 7 p.m. and the Gophers game at 8 p.m. Then, too, fans and companies with season tickets and suites for both the Vikings and Gophers face an obvious conflict with the two teams playing at the same time.

There’s no doubt the Gophers could maximize revenues from ticket sales, concessions, parking and perhaps other sources if they were playing Oregon State on Friday night or Saturday afternoon next week.

It’s highly unusual for the NCAA to allow teams to start their seasons before the primary kickoff to college football which begins on Thursdays and continues into the weekend—so the Gophers probably can’t look at Wednesdays in the years ahead. Switching to a Friday night goes up against high school football but out of scheduling necessity the Gophers did that with success at the Metrodome.

Friday night or Saturday openers for the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium in future years make sense. If U officials tell fair officials they need relief from the competition of Thursday nights it would be a smart move. Fair-goers can find their way to Falcon Heights without free parking on the U campus—even on a Saturday. It’s a safe bet the fair would survive and continue to set record annual attendance.

It should be documented, too, that Gophers fans park free at the State Fair and ride free buses to U football games after Labor Day. That’s been beneficial for fans and the U athletic department.

Worth Noting

When entering TCF Bank Stadium next Thursday fans will be screened with a hand-held metal detector. This is a new security procedure for Gophers games and a best practice at other venues drawing large crowds. The hand-held device was used for Vikings games at TCF Bank Stadium the past two seasons.

Fans can ask new athletic director Mark Coyle about scheduling and other topics at the State Fair. He will be at the fair’s University of Minnesota Building at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday. The building is located at the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood.

The Lynx, with the WNBA’s second-best record at 21-4, resume play tonight after the long Olympics break. The Lynx had four players on the gold medal winning U.S. team, and those additional minutes of travel, practices and games in Brazil are a concern. Lynx owner Glen Taylor said coach Cheryl Reeve has monitored WNBA game minutes for Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen.

Time management for the Lynx’s four Olympians this season has been a priority. “She (Reeve) has come down like eight minutes a game (per player),” Taylor said.

Taylor, who also owns the Timberwolves, has spoken this summer to 40-year-old future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Will Garnett retire or return for another season with the Wolves? “I have no new news,” Taylor said. “He hasn’t indicated to me if he’s made a decision or not.”

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Minnesota Lynx Tracking Record Year

Posted on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by David Shama

The Lynx set a WNBA record last night for most wins opening a season, pushing Minnesota’s record this spring to 11-0. If the Lynx can win their next three games, including against the 10-0 Sparks on Tuesday, they can break the franchise record of 13 consecutive wins that spanned the 2011-2012 seasons.

The Lynx defeated Indiana last evening at Target Center to break the best start to the season record the 2012 Minnesota team set. The 10-0 2012 club didn’t lose a game until June 17 and went on to lose in the WNBA Finals to Indiana.

The team is off to an impressive start but what matters the most is whether Minnesota can repeat as league champions, and it will be interesting to see how the break for the Olympics this summer impacts the franchise’s title plans.

Four years ago there was also a break in the WNBA schedule because of the summer Olympics, and the stoppage didn’t derail the Lynx season. But there is risk involved with a long break, especially for the Lynx who will send four players to Brazil for the summer games. The last Lynx game before the break will be July 22 and the first after the Olympics will be August 26.

Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen will play for the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team. The Lynx have more players on the U.S. roster than any other WNBA franchise. A serious injury to one or more of the Lynx’s Big Four in Rio de Janeiro could prevent Minnesota from winning its fourth WNBA championship in six years.

Moore is off to a sensational start this season, having twice been named Western Conference Player of the Week. She is fourth in league scoring at 19.8 points per game. Augustus, Fowles and Whalen are former WNBA All-Stars as is Moore. Playing different positions, they bring varied scoring, playmaking, rebounding and shot blocking skills that have helped make the Lynx a dynasty and Minnesota’s most successful pro franchise.

Even if the Lynx players stay healthy during the Olympic break, there are other factors that will test the team when the WNBA season resumes in late August. For example, the Lynx Big Four will face the demands and fatigue of the Olympics. Of the four Lynx players, only Moore is under 30 years old.

Then, too, there is the question of whether team momentum can continue after the WNBA schedule break for the Olympics. In another month the Lynx may still be the hottest club in the WNBA but that offers no guarantee in late August and early September as the schedule draws to a close and the playoffs follow. Momentum is a major factor in continued success for any team and a long break could impact Lynx chemistry in the team’s final nine regular season games after the Olympics. The Lynx’s Big Four will spend a month playing with Olympic teammates, then readjust to their Minnesota teammates. How will that go?

This is not only another talented Lynx team but perhaps the deepest in franchise history. Will this be the most historic of seasons for the franchise?

The 2016 Olympic team, with the key Lynx contributors on the roster and a five-time history of being Olympic champions, will be expected to win Gold again. The Lynx could compile the best regular season record in WNBA history, perhaps breaking Phoenix’s 29-5 record set in 2014. And by repeating as WNBA champions in the playoffs, Minnesota would tie Houston for most league titles with four.

Worth Noting

Former Timberwolves forward Kevin Love draws criticism for not doing more to help the Cavs who trail the Warriors 3-2 in the NBA Finals. Love, though, isn’t a good fit in the Cavs offense featuring a lot of one-on-one basketball with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Rumors may continue about Love being traded and he would benefit by being in a more team oriented offense like those in Boston, New York and San Antonio.

Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners he starts his new job July 18 as associate athletic director at Kansas State. His focus will be helping the Kansas State football program.

Kill was in Rochester, New York earlier in the week to participate in a Coaches vs. Cancer golf event fundraiser. Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, himself a cancer survivor, was honored for support of Coaches vs. Cancer.

The Gophers’ opening football game at home against Oregon State on Thursday, September 1 will be the first Big Ten Network telecast of the season. Telecast time from TCF Bank Stadium will be 8 p.m. (Central Daylight).

New Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle is meeting in-person with athletic department contributors who have helped the program in the past.

Two-time Minnesota All-American and 1962 Outland Trophy winner Bobby Bell will be the Gophers’ dignitary for the first-ever All-Big Ten Alumni Cruise of Alaska June 20-30 of next year. Each Big Ten school is inviting its own dignitary, according to an email last week from the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

A sports industry source told Sports Headliners former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who still works for the organization, may interview for the University of Texas head baseball job this week. Gardenhire has the experience and personality to connect with college players.

The Twins host the Yankees for a four-game series starting tomorrow night (Thursday) at Target Field. Saturday the first 10,000 fans receive a Miguel Sano Bobblehead.

Late next week the Twins are in New York for a three-game series with the Yankees that includes a June 24 promotional giveaway of 18,000 Mickey Mantle Triple Crown Bobbleheads. It was 60 years ago, in 1956, that Mantle won the American League’s Triple Crown.

Although the Minnesota Legislature didn’t grant a property tax exemption on the St. Paul land for a soccer stadium this spring, it’s expected to happen in the next 10 months or less. Construction of the privately financed stadium has to start soon for a desired 2018 opening for Minnesota’s anticipated new MLS team. It seems all but certain the team will play next year at the Gophers’ TCF Bank Stadium.

Jimmy Fortune, formerly of the Statler Brothers, will entertain at the seventh annual Camden’s Concert on July 11 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. WCCO Radio Sports Huddle host Dave Mona and wife Linda named the event after grandson Camden Mona. Now eight years old, Camden was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis and the concert raises money for cystic fibrosis research. More at Camdensconcert.com.

The North Star Bicycle Festival that started earlier in the month will continue today (Wednesday) thru Sunday with the North Star Grand Prix, a five-day, six-stage race held in cities around east central Minnesota that is part of USA Cycling’s national racing calendar. More at Northstarbicyclefestival.com.

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‘Wally the Beer Man’ Keeps Pouring

Posted on March 30, 2016April 1, 2016 by David Shama

“Wally the Beer Man,” 81, has been hawking beer at various Minneapolis and St. Paul venues since 1970, but something is different this winter and spring. When Wally McNeil returns to his Plymouth home from the Xcel Energy Center after selling beer at Minnesota Wild games, Joyce McNeil, his wife for 28 years, isn’t there to greet him.

Joyce passed away on January 25 at age 85 from heart problems. An empty house can’t be very welcoming to Minnesota’s favorite beer vendor. To help deal with sadness Wally has sold beer at almost every Wild game this season.

Wally and Joyce met while employed at Twin City Wholesale Drug. She worked in city desk sales; he was vice president of operations. They were married June 23, 1988.

Joyce wasn’t a passionate sports fan but attended games when Wally was selling beer in the stands. About 16 years ago Joyce and Wally got into horse racing ownership at Canterbury Park. The couple bought race horses with Canterbury owner Curtis Sampson. Over the years the McNeils owned more than a dozen horses but none more successful than Wally’s Choice, whose lifetime earnings at the Shakopee racetrack and elsewhere are the second highest ever for a Minnesota bred.

Wally’s Choice was inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame last year. Wally attended the ceremony but Joyce’s health kept her away. The Hall of Fame recognition brightened Joyce’s spirits. “She was excited,” Wally said.

During baseball season Wally will again be a celebrity beer seller at Sneaky Pete’s downtown and on special event dates at Canterbury Park he will also be selling beer. What’s his favorite brew?

“A cold one that somebody else pays for,” he answered.

Although he didn’t need the money and still doesn’t, Wally started selling beer at the Minneapolis Auditorium in 1970 for attractions like professional wrestling. He enjoyed being around people at various events. Customers liked him, too—drawn to his deep voice and friendly manner.

For decades part of the fun at a Twins game was buying a beer from Wally. His association with Target Field ended several years ago, though, after he and other beer sellers were targeted in a sting operation involving sales to underage drinkers. A Hennepin County jury found him not guilty, but Wally has chosen not to work anymore at Target Field.

Wally will turn 82 in August but has no plans to stop selling beer. He has no health issues after triple bypass heart surgery in 2009. “My blood pressure is 110 over 66,” he said.

Some Minnesota retirees move to Florida. Others sit in rocking chairs on their porches. Wally, a fit 6-2, 210 pounds, just keeps going as the king of Minnesota beer vendors.

“As long as the good Lord lets me,” he said. “One day at a time.”

Worth Noting

Former Gophers All-American safety Tyrone Carter is working with potential 2016 NFL draft choices including cornerback Rashard Robinson who Carter said is a first round talent but likely to be selected in the third round. Carter operates the Tyrone Carter Elite Training Schools in the Twin Cities and Robinson is from Carter’s prep alma mater, Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Robinson’s playing time at LSU was reduced because of a suspension for violation of team rules. The 6-3, 177-pound player is gifted but Carter said his pupil will not go in the first round because of his off-field “baggage.” Carter, who won the Jim Thorpe Award at Minnesota honoring the nation’s best college defensive back, said Robinson had the skills to also win the award. “He is a talented young kid for his size,” Carter said.

Varmah Sonie, who is from Burnsville and was a senior cornerback for Northern Iowa in 2012, is also receiving instruction from Carter. Sonie hopes to join an NFL team as a free agent. Carter is also working with former Gophers David Cobb (Titans running back) and Ra’Shede Hageman (Falcons defensive tackle).

An announcement soon seems likely that the Vikings will name Adrian Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing last season, as their 2015 MVP. The Vikings will honor team award winners in multiple categories including MVP at the Hilton Minneapolis April 17. That evening the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame hosts its 9th annual Minnesota Football Honors event. See the March 16 Sports Headliners for more about the event that also honors high school scholar-athletes.

Spring football continues this week for the Gophers with two practices open to the public scheduled at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. Practice tomorrow (Thursday) begins at 3:45 p.m. and activities Saturday start at 11 a.m. (A Gophers spokesman e-mailed that practice locations can be switched to TCF Bank Stadium. Fans can check for updates on Twitter @GopherFootball.)

The Wild, with five games remaining to make the playoffs, may catch a weary opponent tomorrow night at Xcel Energy Center when playing the Senators. Ottawa plays at Winnipeg tonight before travelling to St. Paul. The Wild have won six consecutive games after last night’s victory over the Blackhawks.

Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. will again honor his mom, the late Carol Fitzgerald, at an April 8 fundraising dinner and celebration at the Minneapolis Event Center (St. Anthony Main). His mom passed away in 2003 and the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund was established to assist charitable causes important to her. Guests at next month’s Carol’s Night will include Fitzgerald and ESPN’s Josina Anderson. VIP ticket guests receive photo opportunities with Fitzgerald, the nine-time Cardinals NFL pro bowler. More information is available by calling 612-770-4575.

Monday’s announcement the Lynx will play a preseason game in Rochester on May 8 prompts speculation the WNBA team might play more exhibitions at the Mayo Civic Center in 2017 and beyond. The Lynx have a multi-year partnership with the Rochester-based Mayo Clinic. The Lynx haven’t played a game in Rochester since 2003 and no doubt will be interested in gauging fan response this spring. The defending WNBA champion team will play the Mystics in a Sunday game beginning at 4 p.m.

Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen joins commentators Dave Benz and Jim Petersen tonight on the Fox Sports North telecast of the Timberwolves-Clippers game from Target Center. Whalen is the Lynx franchise record holder in assists (1,072), and ranks third all-time in the WNBA for career assists (2,033). She is one of six players in WNBA history with 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. The Minnesota native starts her 12th WNBA season this spring, seventh with the Lynx.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team will be honored for their NCAA Division III national championship prior to the Timberwolves game. Earlier this month the Tommies won their second national title in the past six years.

Bill Robertson, WCHA commissioner, e-mailed his league is represented by 33 current or former players at the women’s International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships that started Monday and continues through April 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia. Annie Pankowski from the Badgers and Lee Stecklein of the Gophers will compete for the United States and are among 11 student-athletes who played during the 2015-2016 college season. Pankowski will be a junior at Wisconsin next season, while Stecklein will be a senior at Minnesota.

Author Patrick Mader’s official book launch is tomorrow (Thursday) for “Minnesota Gold: Conversations with Northland Athletes Competing on the World Stage.” Mader’s book profiles 57 Minnesotans, including past Olympians, and details their lives and accomplishments. His event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at Braemar Golf Club in Edina, with a program at 7 p.m. Seven of the Minnesota athletes from the book are expected to attend: Trina Radke (swimming), Tami and Toni Jameson (team handball), Jim Mastro (wrestling), Mark Lutz (track), Van Nelson (track), and Janet Gerhauser (pairs figure skating). More at Patrickmader.com.

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