Stadiums – Page 5 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Ownership Efforts Deserve Super Bowl Winner

Posted on November 3, 2024November 3, 2024 by David Shama

This is the 20^th season the Wilf family has owned the Vikings. Zygi and Mark Wilf have long talked about their goal to win a Super Bowl, and in their two decades in Minneapolis they have proven their commitment to do so.

The latest example of their resolve to provide resources is last week’s acquisition of left tackle Cam Robinson to replace the injured Christian Darrisaw. The 29-year-old Robinson will reportedly cost the Vikings $2 million, plus about $58,000 for each game he plays, with his former team, the Jaguars, also paying part of the compensation.

That’s not big bucks in today’s NFL but it shows for the umpteenth time the Wilfs’ willingness to spend money when asked. They could have told GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell to make do with their existing roster of offensive linemen—some of whom can play multiple positions. Instead, they okayed bringing in perhaps the best available replacement in the NFL for the all-important left tackle spot.

In July it was reported Darrisaw received a four-year extension on his contract worth $113 million, with $77 million guaranteed. He had allowed only 11 sacks combined for the two prior seasons.

After wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Darrisaw is arguably the most valuable piece of the offense. In June the Wilfs gave Jefferson a $140 million deal, with $110 million guaranteed, that made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the league.

It’s evident the Wilfs want to win and with the NFL trading deadline coming up Tuesday, don’t be too sure the Vikings won’t add to recent deals that brought Robinson and running back Cam Akers to Minneapolis. Shopping targets could include help on the defensive line and cornerback.

The Wilfs, long-time NFL fans even before acquiring the Vikings, will win any local poll of the best pro sports owners in the state.

When the Vikings struggled for years to obtain a facility to replace the Metrodome they didn’t make a lot of public bluster threatening to move the team. Their diligence paid off in a private-public partnership that made U.S. Bank Stadium a reality and one of the most acclaimed venues in the country.

The Wilfs also paid for their headquarters complex in Eagan that includes one of the NFL’s best training facilities. That has been a major factor in the Vikings ranking as one of the most player friendly organizations in the NFL as judged by the league’s players.

Asked about the 20-season milestone earlier this year, Mark Wilf said the journey has gone quickly. He praised the “greatest fans in the world” and referred to ownership as being “stewards of this great franchise with such a rich history.”

The Super Bowl goal is a constant ambition, Wilf said. And he’s encouraged about the new regime of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell that took over in 2022. Asked about the change they have brought, Wilf said:

Mark Wilf photo courtesy of Marshall Tanick

“Well, I would just say the culture, the energy in the building, the collaboration among all the coaches, players, and staff. And it’s a real good feeling around here. We do our part as ownership, try to provide the resources to not just get the best players and staff, but have the kind of facilities that our players and coaches can thrive in, to have the kind of training camp where our fans can experience it and enjoy football like we have. And, of course, having the finest stadium in the NFL at U.S. Bank Stadium.”

Worth Noting

The 5-2 Vikings, who play the 4-4 Colts tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium, have a 69.2 percent chance of making the playoffs and 10.8 chance of winning the NFC North Division, per a Wednesday story on ESPN.com. The Lions’ numbers are 96.1 and 65.1. A third North Division rival, the Packers, check in with better numbers than the Vikings, too: 80.9 and 21.1.

After losing two straight games, the Vikings figure to earn a much-needed win against the mediocre Colts who have benched erratic quarterback Anthony Richardson. Veteran Joe Flacco, 39, figures to give the Colts a steadier performance against Minnesota’s confusing defensive looks than would Richardson. The Vikings rank third in points (137) allowed in the NFC.

Meanwhile, with Darrisaw out for the season, it may be more important than ever for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to get the ball out of his passing hand quicker than before.

The Golden Gophers have won four games in a row for the first time since 2021 after defeating Illinois yesterday on the road, 25-17. Minnesota is now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten after a redemption victory.

The Gophers defeated Illinois head coach Bret Bielema for the first time ever, having entered the game 0-10 against him (0-3 at Illinois, 0-7 at Wisconsin). Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich, whose errant field goals cost his team the season opener against North Carolina, booted four field goals including late in the fourth quarter with a 46-yarder.

That score came at the 1:52 mark of the fourth quarter, increasing Minnesota’s lead to 25-17. The previous play, on third down and two yards to go for a first down, the Gophers (too predictably) tried a hand off and run by Darius Taylor, a marked ball carrier for sure who was stopped for no gain.

Illinois had taken a 17-16 fourth quarter lead after a poor decision by punter Mark Crawford who has the option to run if he sees an opening in the defense. He didn’t have the speed to pick up a first down with 12 yards to go. He was tackled at the Illinois 46-yard line and the Illini marched down the field for a touchdown.

One of the best calls by the Gophers resulted in their last touchdown of the game. On third down at the Illini one-yard line and trailing by one point, the Gophers lined up tight end Jameson Geers behind quarterback Max Brosmer who was under center. Before the snap, Geers moved out in the right flat and was all alone to make a touchdown catch with about five minutes remaining in the game and providing Minnesota a 22-17 lead.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football and fans are allowed to vote on it. Colorado’s Travis Hunter is a lock for the award, but the Gophers’ Koi Perich will draw votes and could be a favorite to win the award in 2025.

Former Gopher defensive back Beanie Bishop, who transferred to West Virginia after the 2022 season, is NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. The Steeler cornerback tied for the league-lead with three interceptions, ranked second among rookies with five passes defensed and had 16 tackles.

The Timberwolves, starting the season at 3-3, are working to acclimate veteran newcomers Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Joe Ingles into their lineup and rotations. The first two players didn’t join the team until about a month ago.

Ingles, speaking recently to Sports Headliners, wouldn’t put a timeline on things meshing and it’s challenging because of the short time the players have been together. “I mean it just naturally takes time. Some days will be really good. Some quarters will be really good. They’ll be possessions that are good. They’ll be possessions of time when it doesn’t look as good. Obviously for us, you just gotta keep figuring that out as quick as possible.

“We don’t want to go 20, 30, 40 games in (and not have it). The good thing is everyone’s trying to figure it out. It’s an unbelievably hard-working team and they’re passionate and all that stuff. …”

Randle, the highest paid of the three newcomers and a focus of attention at power forward replacing Karl-Anthony Towns who was traded to the Knicks, is a first-time teammate of Ingles who notices how “hard he (Randle) plays on both ends.”

Randle is a career scorer of more than 20 points per game but there is more to his makeup that Ingles has noticed. “He is probably a lot more unselfish than I probably anticipated. When you’re with people day to day you see a lot more of who they are. …”

Randle’s effort earns praise, too. “He’s been a hell of a teammate,” Ingles said. “He’s been playing his ass off this year.”

The Wolves were the league’s best defensive team last season. So far, they rank No. 17 in defensive rating. “We pride ourselves on keeping people under 30 (points each quarter) as much as we possibly can,” coach Chris Finch said.

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How Twins Can Address Their PR Problem with the Fans

Posted on October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 by David Shama

If retiring NBA star Derrick Rose buys full page newspaper ads thanking fans in six cities (Minneapolis included) for their support, certainly the Minnesota Twins can purchase advertisements in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press apologizing for their performance.

That suggestion is a first step in handling the franchise’s faltering relationship with its customers. The Twins have a public relations problem seldom before seen in this town and the question going into the off-season is how leadership will respond.

Fans are rightfully angry about developments stretching back to last off-season. After the Twins ignited passion among its followers by winning the AL Central Division and advancing through the first round of the playoffs, ownership announced payroll would be cut. The off-season saw the departure of staff ace Sonny Gray via free agency and the trade of infielder Jorge Polanco in a move with the Mariners that didn’t help Minnesota during the 2024 season.

That off-season left a lot of Twins fans with an icy attitude toward the club going into the spring and summer. After a 7-13 start to the season, the Twins went on a long stretch of winning baseball and by August had over a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs. Still, attendance was mediocre for most games and perhaps the only electric atmosphere of the season came on August 9 in a night game at Target Field against the division leading Guardians. The Twins swept a day-night doubleheader with their evening win played before over 28,000 fans.

The Twins had a 65-50 record the morning of August 10 but when the season ended last Sunday, the late summer collapse was so bad Minnesota finished with an 82-80 record and fourth place in the division with the Guardians, Royals, and Tigers all playoffs bound. The many fanbase skeptics not only found fault with the hitting, pitching and managing, but also jumped on the front office for not making meaningful acquisitions to the roster before the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

Twins officials, including Joe Pohlad, the lead man for the Pohlad ownership group, held an oddly timed news conference during the Vikings-Packers game last Sunday to address the fallout including budget cuts. He frequently referred to how he had a “business” to run while addressing a small group of reporters.

Fans don’t want to hear about financials, they want to be told their team wants to compete for championships. They want to know if the club falters, resources will be provided to improve the product. And they want accountability regarding baseball decisions, personnel and outcomes.

The Twins haven’t played in the World Series since 1991. The club has won nine division titles since then. Minnesota, though, has won one playoff series since 2002.

A former MLB insider, who asked that his name not be published, said it appears the Twins’ mindset is to most seasons offer a product competitive enough to hold interest among fans while employing budget restraint. “If the end goal is to win a World Series, you can certainly argue that they’re not doing enough, not putting enough of the pieces in place to get that done,” the source said.

Without damage control it’s going to be a mega challenge to sell tickets for 2025. A status quo in patron perception of the organization regarding commitment to win and roster management will result in the season ticket base falling off, with expectations that single game and group sales will trend the same—perhaps dramatically.

Even if the Twins had some way staggered into the playoffs, there was a missing buy-in with fans. A feeling that “I am not going to pay $12,000 (for playoff tickets) to enrich the Pohlads.”

Some fans, or former fans, are already apathetic toward the franchise. Those customers are the most difficult to win back. Disappointment with the team goes back years with fans, including the 2022 season when Minnesota also collapsed as fall approached.

What to do at Target Field headquarters? First, take out those newspaper ads and say “we’re sorry” for the actions and results of the last 11 months. In that messaging tell the fans there is a commitment this offseason to increase payroll and make quality player acquisitions via trade or free agency.

Get the word out in a personal way to the season ticket base and other key customers with openness. Make a pledge to acquire talent not only before but during the season if needed. And make it known that all of this is part of a renewed position by ownership to hang another World Series banner at Target Field. “It’s a new era in Twins Territory.”

Let the fans know ticket pricing will include options for those with tighter budgets including families. And no price increase for season tickets—full or partial packages.

Tell the customers their favorite promotions will be back at Target Field in 2025. Then come up with attractive new offerings including giveaways.

And get the games on Minnesota television sets at affordable prices for customers. As well documented, part of the PR mess of 2024 was games weren’t available for many fans during much of the season.

The Pohlad ownership group is advised to adhere to this wisdom: spend money to make money. They have assets in place including a unique product (only 30 MLB teams) and a playing venue among the best in the country. Their ballpark amenities and stadium customer service are superb.

Those are givens and ownership needs to decide how to improve the roster and whether they have the right leadership in charge of the club on the field and in the front office.

The Pohlads are advised to look at the business from the perspective of “if we do better by the fans” the annual bottom line may often improve. And their overriding approach should recognize a couple of other enduring realities:

They are stewards of major league baseball in this town and state. With that comes the responsibility of best practices with their product.

The other reality—and now we get back to business—is that the money to be made in ownership comes from increased value of the franchise over time. Carl Pohlad bought the team in 1984 for a reported $44 million. Forbes said the 2024 Twins franchise is worth $1.46 billion, reportedly millions more than in 2023.

The Pohlad family and their varied assets are worth billions of dollars. Years ago, they put up millions to help finance the building of Target Field which opened in 2010. That created new revenue streams for the club and a better baseball experience for their customers.

“They have money to spend,” said another sports insider familiar with the Twins.

Time to renew ownership’s commitment to Minnesota. Not just with words, but also actions.

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Despite Injury, Favored Status Remains for J.J. McCarthy

Posted on August 15, 2024August 16, 2024 by David Shama

Despite right knee meniscus surgery on Wednesday that will end his season, rookie J.J. McCarthy apparently remains the quarterback in waiting for the Vikings. This is part of what head coach Kevin O’Connell said yesterday when he reported on McCarthy following surgery:

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“As our fans either have already come to find out or will in the future, this guy is so motivated and so dialed in. As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hope to see not only early on through training camp, but through his performance last Saturday (preseason opening game). Our fan base and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building.”

At the news conference KOC didn’t speculate 27-year-old Sam Darnold, who the Vikings signed as a free agent in the offseason, could become the team’s long-term quarterback.

Darnold and the 21-year-old McCarthy, who the Vikings took at No. 10 in the first round of last spring’s NFL Draft, might have been in a quarterback battle during the coming season. The two had been taking most of the reps at training camp this summer.

Speculation had a couple of scenarios about the competition including Darnold starting the season and McCarthy moving in at No. 1 after several games. Another path was holding McCarthy out for the entire season to let him learn and more fully develop—remaining on the bench no matter how Darnold performed.

Darnold will likely one day remember 2024 as the season that defined his pro football career. The opportunity to become an established starter was evident last winter when he reportedly signed a $10 million one-year contract to likely replace the departed Kirk Cousins, but now with the absence of McCarthy it’s even more likely he’s at a fork in the road regarding his career.

It appears Darnold will need to stage one of the more amazing comeback stories in recent NFL history to change the likelihood of McCarthy taking over the team next year. McCarthy has youth, talent and commitment on his side while Darnold’s track record is one of mostly disappointment after being drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018.

The grandson of Marlboro man Dick Hammer, McCarthy didn’t get off to a smoking start with the Jets where in three seasons he threw 39 interceptions, and 45 touchdown passes. Then he played two unproductive seasons with the woeful Carolina Panthers. Last season, he started one game as a backup for the 49ers.

Darnold, though, is intriguing. He has a quick release throwing the football and good arm strength. He is athletic enough to move around in the pocket like a teenager playing backyard football. With McCarthy’s injury, Darnold can play in a more relaxed environment and know the boo-birds in the stands, and perhaps even his own coaches, won’t pull a quick “trigger” and bludgeon his career.

Darnold’s reputation is that of a gun-slinger quarterback. He can make observers scream, “Oh, no!” Or yell, “Oh, yes!” as he fits passes into tight spaces.

The truth is Darnold has never been in a situation so ripe for success as in Minnesota. He is in a quarterback friendly system led by O’Connell. His gifted offensive teammates include wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, elusive running back Aaron Jones, and formidable pass blockers Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. This is an elite NFL offensive environment that Darnold is integrating with.

No one, including O’Connell, can know for sure whether there is a transformation coming from the former USC quarterback who many thought might be the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2018 instead of Baker Mayfield. He is intriguing enough to believe if he gives the Vikings sustained production the club can have playoff aspirations and thoughts of winning 9 games or more.

If not, thoughts of the “Golden Boy” and 2025 will come quickly to mind.

Worth Noting

Congratulations to sports icon Dave Mona who is back for his 50th year as the press box voice at Vikings games, working games over the years at Met Stadium, the Metrodome and U.S. Bank Stadium. Asked about his age, Mona quipped, “More than 50.”

On game days Mona is continually providing information to the media. Asked about the future, he joked again and said: “Yeah, just a year at a time. Have been for about 48 years.

“I enjoy it. It’s a fun thing to do. I love working with a group of guys being part of the stats crew. I think people would be fascinated to see what goes on statistically as part of the game and how calm it is in there—despite all the information being tossed back and forth.”

Max Johnson, the son of former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, wears jersey No. 14 just like his father. Max, who previously played collegiately at LSU and Texas A&M, is in a starting team quarterback competition for North Carolina to see who leads the Tar Heels in their August 29 opener against the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. Max has two seasons of remaining eligibility.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck talking about the competitiveness of the 2024 team: “I just think they’re ultra-competitive. They really are. And I think good teams know they’re really good. They act that way. They walk that way. They talk that way. They work that way.

“And look, we don’t know what kind of team we’re going to be…that story is yet to be told. But they come to practice every day like they feel they’re a really good football team. And I love that about them. …

“But right now, I mean competing with each other, is as good as we’ve ever had. With iron sharpening iron. I think it’s really productive for us.”

Fleck talking about prize freshman Koi Perich, who arrived on campus in June, and the Esko native’s possible playing time: “I think it’s really early when you talk about true freshmen. I think it’s all about how their bodies handle the next few weeks.

“It’s really difficult coming here in June and making a huge impact as a true freshman. It’s just hard at any level at any position, but we love what he does. We love how hard he plays. He’s really smart and if he continues to take the next right step, then you could see him being in the mix as we go forward. Not only just safety, but special teams and other certain parts of the game.”

Veteran teammate and defensive lineman Danny Striggow on Perich: “Koi is a fun guy to be around. I didn’t really hear him talk for the first couple of weeks that he was here. He was a little quiet but now he’s starting to open it up…to get in with a lot of the guys.

“It’s really cool to see him come in and be explosive right away. Kind of see him work into his role and really take control of the positions that he is in and the reps that he is getting. To be able to go out there and really take advantage of what he’s getting for reps.”

Veteran linebacker Cody Lindenberg has been impressed with Perich’s energy and instincts. The former 4-star recruit, who was the MVP of the January All-American Bowl, is a playmaker at safety or special teams including returning punts. “…Whatever it is, he’s going to make a play somehow, some way. It’s been great to see him grow, too. It’s a short while since he’s been here but he’s gotten a ton better.”

Gopher senior Quinn Carroll, who has switched from right tackle to right guard, likes playing more inside where a player is “more influential” in the run game and “that’s my strength” right now.

Condolences to family and the many friends of Scott Buss, age 50, who died unexpectedly several days ago. The Eden Prairie resident was a personal favorite. We were scheduled to be part of a foursome at Dwan Golf Course in Bloomington on Sunday. Scott was chosen by sportswriter John Sherman from the Sun-Current for Edina’s all-time high school baseball team. In his senior spring at Edina in 1993 the Star Tribune named him the all-state first baseman. Kind and soft spoken, with a passion for people and sports, Scott leaves a void that will never be filled for those who loved him.

Tom Kelly, who managed the Twins to two World Series championships and whose statue is outside Target Field, turns 74 today (August 15).

Bailey Ober, 12-5 with a 3.52 ERA, can extend his career best winning streak (now at four) when he starts for the Twins tonight against the Rangers in Texas.

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