MIAC – Page 18 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Get Strong 2017 Super Bowl ‘Vote’

Posted on July 21, 2016July 21, 2016 by David Shama

Next winter Bob Lurtsema could wear a hat with this message: “I told you so.”

The former Vikings defensive lineman from the 1970s thinks his old team has better than a 50 percent chance of playing in the 2017 Super Bowl. “I really sincerely believe, that they’re going to win 11, 12 (games),” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “They have a great opportunity—legitimate opportunity for the Super Bowl.”

Lurtsema, who played on Vikings Super Bowl teams during the 1970s, is close to the organization. He attends practices not open to the media, and he talks with players and coaches.

Lurtsema’s past predictions have been impressive. Prior to the 2014 season he forecast an 8-8 record. The Vikings finished 7-9. Before last season, when talk was the Vikings wouldn’t make the playoffs, Lurtsema predicted a 10-6 record and participation in the postseason. The Vikings finished 11-5 during the regular season, won their first division championship since 2009 and hosted a home playoff game against the Seahawks, losing 10-9.

Almost any conversation with Lurtsema about the Vikings starts with his admiration for head coach Mike Zimmer who he likens to Bud Grant, the legendary coach who led the Purple to four Super Bowls. “I can’t say enough good things about coach Zimmer, because he has so much Bud in him,” Lurtsema said. “If a player makes a mental mistake, he’ll cut him. He’ll give a second chance, but you make mental mistakes, you’re gone.”

Lurtsema believes coaching is about “65 percent” of the formula for success in the NFL. He not only likes Zimmer but also the staff of assistants that includes three former head NFL coaches.

When the Vikings open training camp later this month, Zimmer and most of his assistants will be preparing for their third season with Minnesota. Their experience working with each other and the players is part of why Lurtsema is so optimistic about the Vikings. “The coaches have enough history on the players to know their strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

Lurtsema said there is “no reason” why the Vikings won’t win the NFC North for a second consecutive season. He believes the Packers are Minnesota’s main rival for the title, dismissing the likelihood of a championship from the two other teams in the division, the Bears and Lions.

Worth Noting

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will draw focus from fans during training camp and in early season games. Entering his third NFL season, Bridgewater boosters believe he is among the NFL’s most underrated quarterbacks. Count Lurtsema as an admirer. “Teddy has all the talent in the world,” Lurtsema said.

Tickets for the Vikings’ first-ever regular season game in U.S. Bank Stadium on September 18 range in price today from $270 to $2,600 on Stubhub.com.

The Vikings play the Packers in that game, and then play the Pack starting at noon December 24 (Christmas Eve) in Green Bay’s outdoor stadium. From a weather perspective that kind of scheduling is a head-scratcher but the TV ratings for the holiday game figure to be extraordinary.

As of Monday, approximately 700 of the original 49,700 seat licenses in U.S. Bank Stadium for Vikings season tickets were available.

Radio play-by-play announcer Paul Allen will call his 300th Vikings game when Minnesota plays the Lions November 6 in Minneapolis. Allen became the voice of the Vikings in 2002.

The Big Ten Network will televise the news conferences from Chicago next Monday and Tuesday of all 14 Big Ten Conference football coaches. Gophers coach Tracy Claeys will be among seven coaches making comments and answering questions about his team between noon and 2 p.m. CDT Monday.

Rick Pizzo and former Gophers head coach Glen Mason will be in the BTN studio offering analysis of the news conferences.

Minnesota native Tyus Jones reinforced his fan-friendly image last week in Las Vegas when he signed autographs in the arena concourse following an NBA summer league game. The Timberwolves point guard made a statement with his play, too, being named the Samsung NBA Summer League MVP.

A guess is the Lynx will play its games at Xcel Energy Center next year while Target Center is renovated. The WNBA franchise has scheduled a news conference this afternoon at Xcel but hasn’t announced the topic. The Gophers’ Williams Arena isn’t air conditioned and Mariucci Arena is a hockey-first building.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association will announce its new women’s commissioner to the media this afternoon at the league’s Edina office. The WCHA, an eight team league that includes the Gophers, has won a record 16 national championships in 17 years since its inception in 1999. During that span the WCHA has six Patty Kazmaier Award winners, 86 All-Americans and numerous Olympic and international team participants.

Connor Nord, the former St. Thomas two-time All-MIAC basketball player who played professionally in Germany last season, left for Las Vegas Tuesday with the Minnesota Heat 17 and under AAU team he is coaching. Nord has decided to end his basketball playing career and pursue coaching, including assisting Guy Kalland at Carleton. Nord told Sports Headliners he will live in Eden Prairie with his parents and commute to Northfield for his new job at Carleton.

Former Gopher Cory Laylin is the head coach of USA Hockey’s Under 17 team that will compete in the Five Nations Cup tournament. The Hamline men’s head coach will lead USA in a round robin tournament in Frisco, Texas from August 9-13. Other tournament teams are the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland.

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Zimmer to Vikes: Remain Blue-Collar

Posted on May 25, 2016May 25, 2016 by David Shama

The Vikings are going through Organized Team Activities at Winter Park this week and head coach Mike Zimmer has a message for the team this spring. The Vikings won their first NFC North title in six years last fall, and the football world is predicting more success in 2016, but today Zimmer cautioned “let’s not try to be someone else.”

Zimmer has stressed work ethic and toughness since he was hired as Vikings head coach after the 2013 season. His first team was 7-9 and often inconsistent in multiple ways including effort. Last fall the Vikings took a major step, earning an 11-5 regular season record and that division title before losing a first-round playoff game to the Seahawks.

Zimmer knows his players hear during the off-season how the team is “going to be good” but the words he spoke today while meeting with the media were to remind everyone the Vikings are expected to play hard and not be their own worst enemy with miscues. “We’re a blue-collar team that works hard and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” he said. …

Representatives of multiple organizations, including the Vikings, scored “points” yesterday with a knockout preview of the culinary scene planned for the new U.S. Bank Stadium opening this summer. In a presentation to the media, speakers promoted concepts and offerings that emphasize local partners and quality food.

TV personality Andrew Zimmern said U.S. Bank Stadium is going to “serve the best food” in a facility he predicted will be the “single greatest on the planet.” Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen and his AZC Rotisserie will be on the roster of U.S. Bank Stadium offerings as will Minneapolis-based purveyors such as Ike’s, Revival, and Spoon and Stable.

Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, told Sports Headliners pricing hasn’t been determined but predicted it will be similar to food sold at Target Field and Target Center. “It will stay in line (with those facilities),” she predicted.

Interestingly, the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium opening in Atlanta in 2017 has already announced concession prices that will be a hit with Falcons fans. According to a May 23 story on Falcons.com, offerings will include $2 hot dogs, popcorn and bottled water; $3 nachos, peanuts, and pizza; and $5 12-ounce domestic beer. …

The Vikings have about 2,000 seats remaining in their personal seat licenses inventory for the new stadium, team executive Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners. They have sold approximately 47,000 seat licenses.

Single game ticket sales for 2016 begin in mid-June for the 66,200 seat U.S. Bank Stadium. …

The Twins announced today they have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Buddy Boshers from Triple-A Rochester. Boshers, who was signed by the Twins as a minor league free agent last December, was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Red Wings this season.

The Twins have placed outfielder Darin Mastroianni on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain (retro to May 22). The club has transferred left-handed pitcher Glen Perkins to the 60-day disabled list. He was placed on the disabled list April 13 (retro to April 11) with a left posterior shoulder strain. …

It’s still not confirmed whether Apple Valley High School star shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. will return to the program for his senior season. Sources have said Trent and his father have been considering other schools. The goal might be that during 2016-2017 he could be more challenged in practice playing against elite players. National prep power Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada has a reputation for rosters with highly recruited players and has been rumored as a preferred place for Trent.

“It does seem like Trent Jr. and Sr. want to find a situation that works for them but I have no confirmation if they have found it,” Jadee Jones told Sports Headliners.

Jones is an assistant on the Apple Valley varsity and he expects a decision by the Trents in June after school is finished. He said with or without Trent, the Eagles expect to have a strong team next season. “I do think we have what it takes to be competitive in the state tournament,” he said.

Jones is the older brother of Apple Valley point guard Tre Jones and also Tyus Jones who plays the same position for the Timberwolves. Tre will be a junior at Apple Valley next season and is regarded as one of the better point guard prospects in the national class of 2018.

Jadee said Tre has shown progress in his game even since Apple Valley’s season ended in March, and he has added about eight pounds to increase his strength. Tre is now 6-2 and about 175 pounds. Jadee said he sees a “noticeable difference” in his brother’s ball handling and physicality this spring.

Tre, however, is inactive for awhile after breaking the thumb on his right hand. He will wear a cast for almost four more weeks.

Tyus is spending the month in Anaheim where training and medical professionals are helping him to improve, Jadee said. Evaluations and training are focused on helping the 20-year-old move better and be more explosive. Jadee said Tyus cancelled off-season leisure travel plans to improve his physical development. …

The Gophers’ opening Big Ten Tournament baseball game in Omaha against Iowa is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. tonight and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Regular season champion Minnesota is the No. 1 seed in the tourney, while the Hawkeyes are No. 8.

In Big Ten games the Gophers finished 16-7 and led the conference in hitting with a .304 batting average, and also in home runs with 21. Minnesota was third in team ERA at 2.99. …

Gophers fans can follow the progress of the Athletes Village construction project at NothingShortOfGreatness.com. …

Former Gopher football player Mark Smith and his Presnap Training Academy is now in its eighth year. Counselors include ex-Gophers Lewis Garrison, Rickey Foggie, and Jay Thomas. Academy sessions are at Eastview High School in Apple Valley. More at Presnapfootball.com. …

Minnesota Wild players Erik Haula, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Nate Prosser, Jared Spurgeon and Jason Zucker will sign autographs tomorrow at the BMO Harris Bank at 5050 France Ave. South in Edina. They will be available from 3 to 4 p.m. to raise money for people affected by the devastating spring wildfires around Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.

Starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the first 300 fans donating $50 (only cash or credit card) will receive a ticket for one autograph from each of the six players. All proceeds from the event will go to the Red Cross to support those affected by the wildfires.

Spurgeon’s wife, Danielle, is one of thousands impacted by the fires in Alberta. Her parents lost their home to a fire in west Edmonton earlier this month. …

For the ninth consecutive school year the St. Thomas men and women are the MIAC’s All-Sports champions. During 2015-2016, St. Thomas won 15 conference championships—nine women’s titles and six men’s—and finished as the runner-up in three other sports. This is the 30th all-sports championship for the St. Thomas men, and 25th for the women. …

The Lynx, 3-0 this season, play the Mercury, 0-3, in Phoenix tonight in the first of eight televised games by Fox Sports North. Although the Lynx is the defending league champ, WNBA general managers predicted in a poll this month the Mercury will win the 2016 title.

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May to Make or Break Twins’ Season?

Posted on May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 by David Shama

After a 7-17 start to the season in April—one of the worst beginnings in club history—the month of May will probably either make or break the Twins in 2016. Minnesota, 8-18 after last night’s win over the Astros in Houston, is 1-1 in May and the Twins’ goal has to be a record like 16-12 or better for the month.

The Twins won 20 of 27 games last May—the second best franchise record ever for Minnesota in that month. The 20-win success followed a 10-12 start to the season. May turned out to be the team’s best month of the year, helping make it possible for the Twins to finish 83-79, and end a streak of four consecutive 90-plus seasons.

Right now, though, this is a different team than in 2015. Last year’s club had veteran leadership and production. Right fielder Torii Hunter, now retired, was an inspirational leader who commanded the locker room. His 81 RBI were second on the team in 2015. He tied third baseman Trevor Plouffe for the second most home runs at 22 each. Plouffe, who led the Twins with 86 RBI, missed much of April but will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list prior to tonight’s game in Houston.

All-Star closer Glen Perkins pitched just two innings in April and remains unavailable because of injury. Veteran reliever Kevin Jepsen, who has taken over for Perkins, had a 1.61 ERA last season but that has jumped to 3.86 this spring. Starters Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson and Tommy Milone, who were the club’s three winningest pitchers last season, are a combined 1-8 in 2016. Gibson is sidelined with an injury.

Miguel Sano (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

A couple of days ago the Twins had lost more one-run games than any team in baseball. Their 4-7 record in such games certainly had something to do with missing veteran wisdom and production. Sunday, for example, second-year slugger Miguel Sano was thrown out at third base after foolishly trying to make a triple out of a double. A bad idea in any situation, but worse when your club trails by one run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Twins’ make mistakes, sometimes can’t produce a timely hit and often see the bullpen fail late in games. It’s a formula for losing a lot of games and manager Paul Molitor is concerned about the psyche of his players. Last night, though, should have helped as 21-year-old starting pitcher Jose Berrios earned his first major league win ever in a 6-2 win over the Astros.

The Twins have a three-game series against the Astros that ends tomorrow night. Minnesota couldn’t have lobbied the commissioner’s office for a more desirable foe right now than the Astros, who are 8-18 and along with the Twins have the worst record in the American League.

The Twins will compete against nine clubs in May and four have losing records—the Astros, A’s (13-14), Blue Jays (12-15) and Indians (10-12). But the Twins can hardly feel cocky against any opponents after being swept five times by teams so far this season.

During May the Twins will play all of their Central Division rivals. So far this season Minnesota is 2-1 against the Indians but 0-3 versus the Royals, Tigers and White Sox.

If the Twins can achieve a winning record in May it will be impressive because 17 of the team’s games are on the road, with only 11 at home. The Twins’ road record this spring is 2-10.

This month should have the Twins worried. Maybe the players are well advised not to be biting their fingernails but they, Molitor, the coaches and baseball front office need to be working with a sense of urgency. By month’s end the Twins will have completed almost one-third of their 2016 schedule. A May with only a few “w’s” almost certainly means those optimistic preseason predictions about the Twins finishing over .500 again –or even making the playoffs—will look cooked before summer officially arrives.

A disappointment like that will be felt beyond the playing field. The fan base was re-energized by last year’s winning season and a roster of promising young players. The Twins seemed likely to stop a six-year slide at the Target Field box office in 2016. The franchise that opened state-of-the-art Target Field in 2010 and for two consecutive years saw attendance of more than 3 million might struggle to do much better than 2 million this season.

Disappointing customers is never good and the Twins know it. There are a lot of seats that aren’t going to be sold in the weeks ahead if the team doesn’t play much better. TV and radio audiences are in play, too. Just ask the NBA Timberwolves about low TV ratings during their many high-losses, low-wins seasons. Then, too, there are Twins’ revenue streams like advertising and corporate sponsorships that relate to the club having a competitive product.

Years ago the Twins routinely won division titles. Last year boosters celebrated finishing four games over .500. Boy, does that look good now—but first the club has to make the month of May an encore from 2015.

Worth Noting

Former Gopher and Twin Dave Winfield, who played much of his Major League Baseball career with the Padres, will be a celebrity spokesperson for this summer’s MLB All-Star Game in San Diego. Former Padre Trevor Hoffman will also join Winfield in that role helping to promote the game.

Ron Stolski has been coaching high school football for 54 years, including the last 40 at Brainerd. Until last week none of his players had ever been drafted by the NFL. Former Brainerd and North Dakota State offensive tackle Joe Haeg was drafted in the fifth round by the Colts last week.

Haeg, now 6-6, 305, became a weight room disciple at Brainerd. “I call it steel will,” Stolski said. “He was just driven.”

It will be interesting to see how many Minnesota prep basketball players still interest Tubby Smith now that he has left Texas Tech and is the new head coach at Memphis. Among Minnesota prospects in the class of 2017 is power forward Jericho Sims from Jesuit Rey High School in Minneapolis. Sims’ college offers include Tech and Minnesota. Sims is the son of former Gopher basketball player Charles Sims.

CORES will have Pete Najarian as its speaker Thursday, May 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Najarian, the former Gopher who has made a national name as an options trader and CNBC personality, is a candidate for the Gophers’ athletic director vacancy. CORES reservations and more information are available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

The Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis program continues to dominate the MIAC. The Gusties won their 28th-straight MIAC regular-season championship Sunday. The Gusties have won 260-straight regular-season conference matches. This season Gustavus is 9-0 in the MIAC and 22-7 overall.

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