Media – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Most Pressure to Win in This Town? It’s not the WNBA Lynx

Posted on September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 by David Shama

Our town demands little in terms of championships from its pro teams and the Golden Gophers. Maybe that’s part of why the championship cupboard is so bare.

Minnesota fans aren’t so nasty they would threaten a serious boycott of a team, or boo Santa Claus like the City of Brotherly Love once did.

With a population here raised on “Minnesota nice” and minds filled with sensitivity training, I question whether some state natives would even unanimously hiss and jeer Vladimir Putin!

The Lynx are favorites to win the WNBA title this fall but think again if you believe there’s public pressure on the Lynxers to win it all. Nope for a couple of reasons.

The Lynx have already produced four WNBA championships, and they keep exceeding expectations. Then, too, the public interest in the club isn’t as widespread, nor as deeply intense as for several other outfits in town.

The team that should be feeling the most pressure to rise ASAP to an elite level is the Twins. The struggling franchise that passed on the opportunity to take a step forward two years ago after exciting patrons with its playoff run has both pissed off and launched fans into anger and apathy.

The Twins close the regular season on Sunday as a franchise viewed by the public and media as in disarray. David Schoenfield, writing for ESPN.com Wednesday, graded the 30 MLB teams on their 2025 seasons. No one in Twins Territory should be surprised the Pohlad owned franchise was given an F.

Schoenfield wrote: “This is the kind of season that can set an organization back five years, where it kind of feels like the whole organization has given up. Ownership/management punted at the trade deadline, dealing away 10 players. …As always, the Pohlads never disappoint in their willingness to pinch pennies.”

It’s interesting that while the Twins head toward a final record of about 22 games under .500 (after plummeting with a second consecutive late season collapse), the Brewers from neighboring Wisconsin received the best grade of the season from Schoenfield. Playing in a similar size market, the Brewers will finish with close to 100 wins and easily the best runs differential in MLB.

The Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers football have no elite hardware to showcase this century, but they don’t face the scrutiny of the Twins who need a massive turnaround and pursuit of no less than an American league pennant.

Measure fan interest by game attendance, TV viewership, merchandise sales and sponsorship, and no one in this town likely comes close to the Vikings in decibel blowing devotion. On Sundays, it feels like only the newborn and comatose among us aren’t following the Purple heroes.

The franchise hasn’t been to the Super Bowl since Jimmy Carter was in the White House, but there’s not a win it all demand by the fanbase or “we’re done with you.” A competitive team, with entertaining players, is enough for the Skol-mad and beer fueled fans to rock all fall.

The Wolves and Wild claim no league titles in their histories which date back 35 and 25 years respectively. Yeah, Wolves fans would love to see coach Chris Finch hoisting the NBA championship trophy on a parade down Hennepin Avenue. But the fanbase of this mostly forlorn franchise is mesmerized by the last two springs when the club made the Western Conference Finals. Pressure to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy? Nah, not when the fanbase is honeymooning right now in unknown success.

The Wild fanbase is passionate and darn loyal, win or lose. Patrons would love a Stanley Cup but for starters many will welcome a deep playoff run next spring. Past post season success has been too minimal as has goal scoring. Disappointed fans have a way of returning for the next season and for now are preoccupied with seeing the contract of superstar Kirill Kaprizov extended. That’s where the franchise’s public pressure is for now. If Kaprizov departs and the club performs poorly for a season or two, then the pressure will be on like never before in the building we used to call the X.

Gopher football hasn’t shared a Big Ten championship since 1967. Minnesota couldn’t even win a division title earlier this century when it was grouped into the mediocre Big Ten West. Win-some, lose-some results in Big Ten games for a long time has driven away fans. Apathy hangs over this once proud program that during the first 70 years of the last century was a national power. A berth in the 12-team college football playoffs one day would bring a lot of fans out of the closet for the home state Division 1 football.

Not saying there isn’t pressure to win for this town’s teams, but nobody should be feeling it like the Twins! Santa Claus, though, probably wouldn’t get booed at Target Field. Tim Walz or Scott Jensen, maybe.

Worth Noting

Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Magazine is on newsstands and forecasts a 16^th place finish for Minnesota in the 18-team Big Ten standings. Concerns about coach Niko Medved’s first team at Minnesota include how well incoming players from mid-major programs will fare in the Big Ten.

The magazine’s top 10: Houston, Purdue, Florida, Michigan, Duke, Kentucky, St. John’s, Iowa State, Alabama and UConn.

The public is invited to a free men’s basketball Maroon and Gold Open Scrimmage at Williams Arena on Saturday, October 11. Start time will be 2 or 2:30 p.m., four hours before the start of the home football game with Purdue. That game time will be either 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and decided later. Following the one-hour scrimmage, players will sign autographs near the Williams Arena court.

Fans can enter the arena through the Maturi Pavilion Daily Entrance, located at 1925 University Ave. Tailgate lots for the Gopher football game are scheduled to open at noon or 12:30 p.m. that day

News came yesterday that 6-8 forward Erick Reader, the sophomore forward from Bloomington and New Life Academy who played minimally in the past for the Gophers, is leaving the program to focus on academics. He is replaced by 6-3 walk-on guard RJ Spencer from Blaine and Totino-Grace.

Congratulations to hockey icon Lou Nanne who will be inducted Tuesday into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the JX Event Center in Stillwater. The former Gophers All-American, North Stars player, GM and president, has an impressive broadcast resume.

Nanne’s broadcast experience includes the Stanley Cup, Olympics, NCAA Frozen Four and the Boys’ State High School Hockey Tournament. He offered game commentary for 60 years of Minnesota high school state tournament games. He makes a KFAN radio appearance one day a week with Dan Barreiro.

Saint John’s senior defensive end Zach Frank and St. Olaf senior linebacker Noah Barret are semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® which is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.

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McCarthy’s Missed Season May Pay Dividends for him in 2025

Posted on September 1, 2025September 1, 2025 by David Shama

J.J. McCarthy makes his NFL regular season debut next Monday night in a nationally televised game against the Bears in Chicago. That career, of course, was supposed to have started last year but didn’t because the then 21-year-old Vikings quarterback sustained a season-ending knee injury in preseason.

The deflating season on the sidelines may well prove to have a silver lining to it.

Local football authority Daniel House, known for his football film breakdown and data driven research, thinks so. House, recognized by football followers for his Vikings Corner and Gophers Guru websites and posts on X @DanielHouseMN, said fans don’t realize “how complex the (Vikings) system is.”

Purple followers, House told Sports Headliners, should be “encouraged” by the process McCarthy has gone through. “He had time to learn and I think that’s going to be very beneficial for him.”

House believes that despite McCarthy’s inexperience and youth the former No. 1 draft choice could finish the season statistically ranked something like 15-16 among NFL quarterbacks in production. “I would say, yeah, that’s a good spot for him to be in just based off not just the talent standpoint, but (coach) Kevin O’Connell’s ability to maximize what he (McCarthy) does best. And then you look at the skill players around him (adding support). …”

McCarthy will benefit from a surrounding group of offensive and defensive players loaded with talent. Included will be an improved offensive line and running back depth. That development is expected to have the Vikings running more than at any time in O’Connell’s three previous seasons in Minneapolis. It’s a strategy designed to take some responsibility and pressure off the quarterback.

Even with a “pound the rock” running game and elite defense, the Vikings will need plenty of outstanding performances from McCarthy. That starts on the big stage of Monday Night Football and House doesn’t think the scene will be too much for McCarthy.

“He excels in those big moments,” House said while reminding a listener that McCarthy delivered in the spotlight in pressure filled high school and college games, including 2023 when he quarterbacked Michigan to the national championship.

House said McCarthy has the persona to lead in the locker room and on the field. “The one thing I notice about J.J. is just how his teammates rally around him. He’s got that dynamic presence about him. …

“I know some people that know J.J. well and were around him at Michigan. And…the thing is this guy has an electricity to him from the personality standpoint that every top quarterback has to have. “

Worth Noting

House believes the Vikings could win 10 or 11 games. He thinks a four-game stretch between October 19 and November 9 where the Vikings play the Eagles, Chargers, Lions and Ravens is “going to define the season.”

Asked about a breakout Vikings player, House identified second-year defensive lineman Jalen Redmond. “He popped at me when I was at practices. I thought that he looked more refined, quick. Feeling comfort in the system.”

House added that the Vikings’ willingness to trade veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips earlier this summer for future draft capital looks like a vote of confidence in Redmond as a starter. “I am on the Jalen Redmond train. I think he’s going to have a nice year.”

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman wrote recently about how college football players are spending their Name, Image and Likeness money. Included were Gopher defensive stars Anthony Smith who bought a Dodge Ram TRX and Koi Perich’s expenditure on a scooter.

Smith said the Dodge makes him happy and he “can’t stop smiling.” Perich said he loves his scooter and it’s the only thing he rides.

Gopher Jameson Geers, who had a game shifting fumble in last year’s loss at Rutgers and dropped two passes in the 2025 season opener while also making a touchdown catch, is on the John Mackey Award watch list for best tight end in the nation. Geers, who has two seasons of remaining eligibility, caught four passes for 38 yards in the 23-10 win over Buffalo.

Geers was stopped short on a tush-push from the Buffalo 11-yard line in the first quarter of last Thursday night’s opening game. P.J. Fleck said the distance for the first down was about 1.5 yards, not one, and the Gophers head coach took the blame for the failed play, explaining it was the wrong call.

Deepest condolences to the family and many friends of former 1960s Gophers football player and assistant coach Mike Reid who passed away August 24 after battling a heart issue. A Spring Valley, Wisconsin native, Mike made his home in the Twin Cities area, and his warm personality was worthy of “All-American” status. https://obituaries.pellachronicle.com/obituary/michael-reid-1093061208

There is a write-in campaign by friends of the late Jim Carter to have the South St. Paul High School football stadium named after the Gophers’ 1969 football captain and former Packers high school star athlete.

Former Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan will provide color commentary on Saturday’s Big Ten Network telecast of the Minnesota-Northwestern State game at Huntington Bank Stadium. The FCS Demons are located in Natchitoches, Louisiana and the football team snapped a 20-game losing streak last Saturday with a 20-10 win over Alcorn State.

Gopher communications boss Paul Rovnak writing on X about ESPN legend Lee Corso who retired last Saturday at age 90: “Before big games coach Corso would call to learn more about the Gophers. Last time was Dec. 24 to prep for our bowl game vs VT (Virginia Tech). I told him my kids loved him and thanked him (for) what he did for Minnesota. He then asked to talk to my kids so he could wish them Merry Christmas.”

Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners he wants his team to develop a “mindset like Florida,” winners of the last two Stanley Cups. Leipold wants a team that plays together and executes on each play.

The 2026 USA Special Olympics Games will be held in Minnesota next June. CEO Christy Sovereign, along with Special Olympic athletes, will speak at the Capital Club at Mendakota Country Club on September 24. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Twins’ right-hander Pablo López made his third start on rehab assignment last night for Triple-A St. Paul at Toledo. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up four hits, no runs and striking out 7. The staff ace was placed on the Injured List June 4 with a right shoulder strain.

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Ready for a Top 25 List for The Last Six Months of 2025?

Posted on July 10, 2025July 10, 2025 by David Shama

The calendar shows we’re halfway through the year and I am listing 25 things I am hoping for in the next six months.

Alert: recognizing the varied tastes of readers regarding humor, please note the word “wink” will be used to indicate anticipated levity. Feel welcome to use this as a prompt to laugh (howl?), like in the TV studio when a sign says: “APPLAUSE!”

Well, it’s already July 10 so best get to these 25 gems whether they be well-intended, sarcastic or funny.

1. The Timberwolves are bringing back 36-year-old Joe Ingles for another season at a reported $3.6 million to provide karma in the locker room and cheerleading from the bench. How cool would it be for the seldom used Ingles to have a double-digit scoring game playing in front of his autistic young son Jacob?

2. New Wolves owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez could have a “wandering eye” when it comes to keeping the team in Minneapolis. Hoping the replacement for Target Center will stay in the city rather than be built in the ‘burbs. The city is the economic hub of the region, and a new arena is vital to its future as a place where Minnesotans want to be.

3. Let’s hope when the 2025-2026 schedules come out, there are fewer same night home conflicts involving the Wolves, Wild and Golden Gophers men’s basketball than ever before. Also, we can do without those Gopher basketball games on the same Sundays the Vikings play.

4. A longshot, but how inspiring it would be to see all the NHL Russian hockey players join with North American-based past and present Ukrainian amateurs and pros in leading a public peace vigil to encourage an end to the brutal war that has saddened the world for years.

5. Wink: Wondering if Wild GM and woodworking enthusiast Bill Guerin might send me a table for outside grilling. Por favor, have the table on wheels, with a butcher block top, hooks and a beer bottle opener.

6. Wink 2: Hoping our area can attract an American Cornhole League franchise so we can move a step closer to having every kind of sports franchise under the sun.

7. Any chance Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, among the highest paid at his position in MLB, can hit like a $33 million player?

8. Fingers crossed that center fielder Byron Buxton plays a career high 140-plus games this season.

9. It will be a classy union if anticipated new Twins franchise buyers include Joe Mauer in the ownership and he becomes a prominent face of the franchise for decades to come.

10. Hoping for more games where the Twins use former manager Paul Molitor as the analyst on broadcasts. His insights are among the best in Twins broadcast history.

11. Get ready to applaud if the Vikings announce plans for statues outside U.S. Bank Stadium including one for legendary coach Harry Peter Grant. At the same time also commit to honoring the famed “Purple People Eaters” with a statue. That 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.

12. The Gophers need to get into the statue-erecting business too outside of Huntington Bank Stadium. There are a lot of ultra worthy names to choose from starting with Bobby Bell, Bernie Bierman, Greg Eslinger, Paul Giel, Bronko Nagurski and Bruce Smith.

13. Shocking: 2016 Vikings No. 1 draft pick Laquon Treadwell, considered a consensus bust in Minnesota, has stayed in the NFL playing for five other teams including in two games with the Colts last season. But, no, he isn’t returning here in 2025.

14. Fingers crossed Jordan Addison doesn’t have a three-peat of summer driving incidents.

15. More fingers crossed: Quarterback Max Brosmer makes the Vikings’ 53-man roster or at least the practice squad.

16. Miracle: Vikings fans choose not to boo the snot out of first-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy when he screws up. And he will.

17. Miracle 2: the football Gophers win either at Oregon or Ohio State.

18. Happy Birthday, Reusse: Coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers defeat Nebraska on Patrick Reusse’s 80^th birthday, October 17. (For the unaware: Google Reusse on Fleck.)

19. Networking: let’s get new Golden Gophers basketball coach Niko Medved together with Jim Dutcher, the 92-year-old wise man who was head coach of the 1982 Big Ten title team.

20. Bulletin board locker-room material: In the last 20 men’s basketball seasons the Gophers have one winning season in conference games, while neighboring rivals Wisconsin and Iowa have 17 and nine respectively.

21. Wink 3: Potential speaking invitations for yours truly? Nope. Don’t like speaking and no good at it. (Available, though, for a five-figure fee!)

22. Appropriate: The Lynx win the WNBA championship against the Liberty on a controversial call by the refs.

23. Appropriate 2: The Lynx acquire Minnesota native Paige Bueckers prior to next season.

24. Canterbury Park and Running Aces get dealt in on sports wagering when state legislation is finally approved.

25. And we all need to remember this quote from Samuel Johnson in the next six months and beyond: “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

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