Lynx – Page 2 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Glen Taylor Received More for Sale Than Reported $1.5 Billion

Posted on July 5, 2025July 5, 2025 by David Shama

Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners in a phone interview this week he received more than the previously reported $1.5 billion for selling the NBA Timberwolves and WNBA Lynx. That figure was reported by media outlets late last month when news of the NBA approving the sale of the franchises happened.

Taylor said the transfer of ownership to a group headed by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez was finalized on June 25. Asked if the settlement price was $1.5 billion, Taylor said: “The answer is no but I am not going to get into it.”

Then he said the final figure “ended up to be on the plus-side of that ($1.5 billion).”

Estimates are the Wolves alone are worth at least double that figure. However, when Taylor and Lore and Rodriguez first agreed to a sale back in 2021 the $1.5 billion was the price settled on.

Taylor, the Mankato-based billionaire, was originally going to maintain a 20 percent share of the Wolves after the new owners took control. Asked about owning a small portion of the franchise now, he said: “No, they decided they didn’t want to and that was fine with me. The option was up to them.”

The four-year process in selling the franchises became contentious last year when Taylor disputed whether Lore and Rodriguez had met the deadline to become majority owners. He said the franchises were no longer for sale, and that led to litigation. A ruling earlier this year by an arbitration panel awarded the franchises to the Lore and Rodriguez group that also includes Michael Bloomberg, whose estimated net worth of over $100 billion makes him one of the world’s richest individuals.

The dispute involved hard feelings and cost tens of millions of dollars in legal fees but Taylor said now Lore and Rodriguez have been “cordial” toward him. “We wish them well,” Taylor added. “I’ve already talked to them and…told them that if I can be of assistance to them they should feel comfortable in calling me and talking with me. So, we’ll see if they do that.”

Taylor, 84 and long troubled by back pain, was joined in the sales process that began four years ago by his wife Becky. They are both big fans of the Wolves and Lynx. Taylor bought the Wolves in 1994 from original owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner. He started the Lynx as an expansion franchise in 1999. Taylor owns various businesses including the Star Tribune. His Taylor Corporation is one of the largest privately held companies in the country.

What are his feelings now that his role is that of a fan? “I actually feel good. I think it was the right thing to do. You just look at all the things I am committed to. And now with my back (problem) and all that stuff. I think it was fine (the way things turned out).

“Since we signed (the deal) we’ve gone to…Lynx games. We still love to watch those women. We both feel really good on it. We haven’t done any travelling or anything, but we will.”

The Wolves and Lynx’s home arena, Target Center, is the second oldest facility in the NBA. It’s no secret the new owners want to replace the city of Minneapolis owned facility that opened in 1990. Not known, though, is that Taylor had research done regarding a possible new home for the teams.

Taylor didn’t want to say much about a new arena, positioning that as the role now of the new owners but he did offer this: “We had done quite a bit of work on it already so I’d just a soon kind of stay away (from discussing more.) I don’t know if they will use that. I think they will use some of that work that we had previously done.”

Location and financing of a new building will stir a lot of conversations and emotions. You can be sure Minneapolis supporters are agitated about talk the teams will leave for the suburbs. A site fight for a new Minnesota stadium or arena can be nasty and so, too, would public financing.

A privately financed facility avoids a lot of problems. “Yes, and I think that’s one of the things that they’re looking at,” Taylor said.

What kind of owners does he think the new group will be? “Well, I think they’re going to have to learn this market because they’re both from out East. I think things are different (than) the eastern markets.

“So, I think they have to spend some time and look at the sponsors and look at what people pay for tickets and all that stuff. There’s just a lot learning experience. I am sure they’ll do that.”

The Wolves have made the Western Conference Finals the last two years. The Lynx played for the WNBA title last year and could win the championship later this year. Fan expectations for both franchises will remain high under new leadership.

The two teams have not only of late excelled on the court, but finances are noteworthy also, Taylor said. “I feel proud and good about that,” he said about the status of the franchises.

What does Taylor believe his legacy will be for owning the two franchises for more than 25 years? “I think it will always be the same thing. That Glen Taylor kept them in Minnesota.”

Taylor’s name has been linked to being a possible buyer of the Twins but when asked about owning another local franchise he said “at my age I don’t think it would be good to get involved with another team.”

Comments Welcome

Twins Legend Tony Oliva Upbeat about Stroke Recovery

Posted on May 18, 2025 by David Shama

It was about a month ago that Tony Oliva had the last of his mini strokes. Reached by telephone at his Minneapolis area home Saturday, the 86-year-old Twins legend talked about his recovery and said he’s never slept so much in his life.

“I stay at home, take a lot of rest,” the National Baseball Hall of Famer said.

Other than doctor appointments, Oliva is at home these days with his wife Gordette. Suddenly hit by the strokes, Oliva was surprised by his misfortune. He has endured a troublesome back for years but otherwise stayed healthy with regular workouts at the gym. “These things will happen, you know,” said Oliva whose thousands of fans are wishing him the best in his recovery.

The stroke saga included five days in the hospital. While he can walk okay, and his speech is clear, his vision has been compromised.

Oliva’s days at home have a familiar routine. He gets up and soon engages in activities that include breakfast, taking his medicine, reading the Bible and looking at the newspaper.

Family have been generous with their time by travelling from near and far to support him and Gordette. The presence of relatives has been coupled with an outpouring of well wishes from the public. Oliva is uplifted by the thoughtfulness of those he knows and by strangers.

He has long been an admirer of Minnesotans, choosing to live his post-baseball career in the Twin Cities. Saturday, he referred to the “best fans in the world and the best town in the world.”

There was no sorrow, or “woe is me” in Oliva’s voice during the phone conversation. “Everything could be worse, you know, what I mean.”

A poor teenager who came out of Communist Cuba in the late 1950s, Oliva persevered all the way to Cooperstown in 2022. He was an American League All-Star for eight consecutive seasons from 1964-1971. A .304 lifetime hitter, he was a three-time batting champion with the Twins over 15 seasons.

Worth Noting

Oliva has been delighted by the Twins’ winning ways. The club has won 13 straight including a win over the Brewers in Milwaukee on Saturday night. It’s the longest Twins streak since the 1991 World Series season when the club won 15 in a row.

The success has been remarkable given the team’s slow start to the season and persistent injuries. Regarding club health, MLB.Com/news posted this yesterday morning:

“Of the nine position players who were in the Opening Day lineup for Minnesota, only one – (Ty) France at first base — finished Friday night’s game in the same spot as he was on that March 27 afternoon in St. Louis. Only three players from that lineup were even in the game at the end of Friday night. … Minnesota has taken a remarkable number of hits and just continues winning.”

It’s not even summer, but already you might hear Vikings fans saying all they want for Christmas is to see their favorites playing for the NFC North Division title on December 25. The preseason division favorite Lions are in town that date and it’s about time Santa is nice to the Vikings who are 1-3 on Christmas Day games, with the most recent loss to the Saints in 2020 in New Orleans.

Retired Golden Gophers baseball coach John Anderson turned 70 last Friday. The legendary leader texted a well-wisher that his birthday weekend included a Saturday night dinner with former players (they revere him). Happy Birthday to No. 14!

Paige Bueckers returns to Minnesota for the first time as a pro Wednesday night when her WNBA Dallas Wings play the Lynx at Target Center. The former Hopkins High School icon made her regular season professional debut Friday evening, scoring 10 points in a 99-84 home loss to the Lynx.

The fact the 6-foot guard led the Wings in rebounding with seven didn’t surprise Brian Cosgriff, her prep coach at Hopkins. “Nothing surprises me when it comes to her,” he told Sports Headliners.

Bueckers’ talent and basketball instincts will make her a star in the WNBA, Cosgriff predicted. He remains in touch with the Bueckers family, including texts with Paige. Her father, Bob Bueckers, sends him merchandise like Nike t-shirts and UConn sweatshirts.

Comments Welcome

Twins Prolific Statue Builders, But Where’s Everybody Else?

Posted on May 8, 2025May 8, 2025 by David Shama

In April Joe Mauer became the eighth former Twin to have a statue commemorating his career. The Twins haven’t built a World Series champion in more than 30 years, but the organization is prolific in erecting statues at Target Field.

The eight bronze sculptures have been a nice gig for Minnesota-based artist Bill Mack whose Twins assignments include Rod Carew (April 2010), Harmon Killebrew (April 2010), Kirby Puckett (April 2010), Carl and Eloise Pohlad (October 2010), Tony Oliva (April 2011), Kent Hrbek (April 2012) and Tom Kelly (June 2017).

It seems to this sportswriter and historian that Mr. Mack could assist other local teams whose “statue cupboard” is collectively quite bare. Those organizations don’t have to adopt an “on steroids” statue building campaign but for starters they could consider the following suggested candidates:

The Vikings. Ah, yes, let’s start with the franchise that is more important to zealots than family, friends and perhaps their own welfare. With Adrian Peterson dogged by too many controversies, including a driving incident last month in Minnesota, it’s easier to clear the nominations field for other candidates.

Gracing the cement outside U.S. Bank Stadium should be a statue of Harry Peter Grant. Yes, Bud coached the Vikings to four Super Bowls, and while they all resulted in defeats, he remains atop the “Purple” coaching tree and is among the franchise’s most iconic figures. Are we forever to be outdone by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who unveiled a bronze statue of Bud years ago near their stadium?

Bud should be joined at U.S. Bank Stadium by a statue of the famed “Purple People Eaters” from his era as coach. The legendary defensive line scared the deuce out of opposing offenses for about a decade and consisted mostly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen.

At Target Center the legendary George Mikan, voted Mr. Basketball for the first half of the 20^th century, is remembered with a lobby statue recognizing both him and the five-time world champion Minneapolis Lakers. The successor to the Lakers franchise in Minneapolis, the Timberwolves, have done little to approach the greatness of Mikan and Company but that wasn’t the fault of Kevin Garnett.

The former Wolves power forward, who late in his career won an NBA title with the Celtics, was a first ballot Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer in the class of 2020. Fifteen times in his career he was named an NBA all-star. Playing for the Wolves, he was league MVP for the 2003-2004 season.

The other Target Center basketball team, the Lynx, has won four WNBA championships. Get Mr. Mack on speed-dial and task him with sculpting a five-person statue of the dynastic group of Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Lindsay Whalen. Fowles and Whalen are in the Hall of Fame, while Augustus and Moore will be inducted later this year.

Whalen, the Hutchinson native who led the Gophers to their 2004 historic Final Four, is deserving of a statue outside Williams Arena. Women’s basketball at Minnesota and the Whalen name are synonymous.

On the men’s side, immortality isn’t so clear cut.

The program has a controversial past marked by NCAA violations that have clouded glorious accomplishments and memories. The most accepted place to start, with buy-in from both fans and compliance-minded U administrators, would be a statue of the first three scholarship Black players at Minnesota. Lou Hudson, Archie Clark and Don Yates were marvelous recruits who made the 1964-65 Gophers among the best teams in America, finishing the season with a 19-5 and ranked No. 7 in the nation.

With its ageless “pride on ice” program mantra, Gopher men’s hockey has a long list of superb contributors to championships and other honors. The U Athletic Department should dig deep into its past, though, to honor two Minnesotans with bronze statues.

John Mayasich, who played for Minnesota from 1951-1955, is regarded as one of the greatest amateur players in the history of American hockey. Labeled the Wayne Gretzky of his time, Mayasich was a four-time All-American, and he remains the Gophers’ all-time leader in career goals (144) and points (298) in 111 games played.

The Gophers have won five NCAA men’s hockey national championships. The immortal Herb Brooks, the architect of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Miracle on Ice, coached three of those teams in his short tenure as Gopher coach. From 1972-1979 Brooks, a St. Paul native, dedicated his roster to using home grown talent and won national titles in 1974, 1976 and 1979.

The potential workload for Mr. Mack is growing and it only gets heavier with Gopher football. Huntington Bank Stadium is built on a fairly tight footprint but make way for these five statutes:

Bronko Nagurski is one of the most famous names in college football lore. In the latter 1920s he played tackle, fullback, defensive and offensive end, linebacker and even quarterback. A beast whose strength was way ahead of his day, he was named a consensus All-American in 1929 at two positions, tackle and fullback.

Bernie Bierman, the “Grey Eagle.” How can you not memoralize the coach of five national championship teams: 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1940 and 1941.

Bruce Smith. Can’t leave out the only Heisman Trophy winner in program history who was a great tailback on the 1941 national title team. And, oh yeah, Hollywood made a move about him: “Smith of Minnesota.” He was one of the stars, of course.

Bobby Bell, like Nagurski, could have been a great player at multiple positions. He settled for terrorizing opposing offenses as a defensive tackle on national title and Rose Bowl teams that went 22-6-1 from 1960-1962. He was the 1962 Outland Trophy recognizing the nation’s best interior lineman.

Greg Eslinger. Gotta include one person who played recently enough that most Gopher fans who are alive today saw him play. The most decorated offensive lineman in school history during a career that spanned from 2002-2005, the two-time All-American will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.

A Herb Brooks statue is in place close to Xcel Energy Center, home of the Wild. Located at 317 Washington street, the statue is adjacent to the RiverCentre and Herbie’s on the Park, the restaurant where you can order a Moscow Mule—a favorite libation of the late Mr. Brooks. No other hockey statue is in the neighborhood and that’s understandable given the Wild’s fairly brief and modest history.

While Wild fans might dream of Stanley Cups and a storybook career for Kirill Kaprizov that could one day warrant a statue, the suggestion here is for the Wild to play a little politics. In search of funding to renovate the arena, including monies from the city of St. Paul, the Wild could honor former mayor Norm Coleman.

Without Coleman’s effort to build the arena and romance the NHL to put a team back in Minnesota to replace the North Stars, there would be no Wild. At least in St. Paul which was in competition with Minneapolis for an NHL team.

I remember a local magazine cover from more than 25 years ago with Coleman sitting at his desk, wearing ice skates on his feet and resting them on top of his desk. I will try to find the photo if Mr. Mack calls.

Build a statue for Norm at his arena.

4 comments