Before the Vikings stadium bill was defeated in legislative committee on Monday night an amendment was attached directing Minneapolis officials to hold a referendum allowing residents to approve or disapprove the city’s funding of the proposed stadium.
Shortstop Brian Dozier, 24, was among the Twins final spring training cuts and is hitting .362 for Triple-A Rochester. But don’t expect him to be recalled unless management is convinced he’s ready to play every day in the big leagues for the first time in his pro career. He won’t be recalled to sit on the bench and would take over for Jamey Carroll, 38, at shortstop.
Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn injured his right shoulder in Saturday’s home game against the Rangers, but it didn’t keep him away from Target Center on Saturday night where the Oklahoma native watched the Timberwolves and Oklahoma City.
Got a sports “bucket list” for places and events? Sports Illustrated offered these suggestions in its April 9 issue: Wrigley Field Bleachers, Caribbean Series, College World Series, Duke vs. North Carolina Basketball, Lambeau Field, British Open at St. Andrews, Indianapolis 500, Notre Dame Football, Bruins at Canadiens, Wimbledon, NBA Finals Game 7 and Penn Relays. What’s at the top of your list?
Admission will be free and 3,000 or so fans may attend the Gophers spring football game on Saturday that begins at 11 a.m. in TCF Bank Stadium. Alabama drew 78,526 at the Crimson Tide’s spring game last weekend.
Look for sophomore wide receiver Marcus Jones, who didn’t have contact this spring while recovering from a torn ACL, to be among Minnesota’s best playmakers in the fall.
Philip Nelson, the Mankato West quarterback who started classes at Minnesota last winter, might draw more attention from fans at the spring game than any other newcomer. Rival freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner, another winter enrollee, will be fun to watch, too. Leidner is from Lakeville South.
A key negotiating point between the University of Minnesota and Tubby Smith regarding a contract extension could be buyout compensation if the Gophers later decide to change coaches. Smith has two years remaining on his present contact, and it’s not likely an extension will come before the University hires a new athletic director.
The search for a new athletic director is a priority task for new University president Eric Kaler. The search plan was announced on February 21 and it wouldn’t be surprising if about 10 people have been identified as final candidates. Their profiles will probably include business and sports administration experience.
Will Kevin Love’s late season concussion impact his availability for the Olympics? In January the Timberwolves All-Star forward was named one of 20 finalists for the U.S. Olympic team. The official 12-man team will be announced later this spring.
Adrian Peterson tweeted that fellow running back Toby Gerhart’s injured knee from last season won’t keep him from participating in organized training activities in late May. Peterson also tweeted he’s giving $1 million to Oklahoma, his alma mater.
Ridiculous: the NFL schedule announced yesterday that has the Vikings playing all four games against the Packers and Bears in the last six weeks of the season. Never before or hopefully again.
Devereaux Peters, the Lynx’s first pick in this week’s WNBA draft, never averaged more than 11.9 points per game in college but the 6-2 forward could help Minnesota defensively as a rookie. She was a finalist for national WBCA Defensive Player of the Year at Notre Dame.
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