Stadiums – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Collective Makes Significant Impact on Gopher Football

Posted on August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 by David Shama

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective involved with Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for University of Minnesota athletes, launched in July of 2022 and sold its first memberships to the public in September of that year. DA, led by Derek Burns and Robert Gag, faced a skeptical Minnesota sports public but interest in boosting the coffers of the collective is documented in a report shared recently with Sports Headliners.

Active paying members were up 156 percent year-over-year in the spring of 2023 and 180 percent in the fall of last year, per “The Dinkytown Difference Football Case Study.” The document doesn’t specify dollar amounts, but the opinion here is DA has become competitive with other collectives supporting major college football programs including many in the Big Ten. (Editor’s note: DA is a Sports Headliners advertiser.)

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Without the growth in financial support for DA from contributors, the Gophers wouldn’t be returning 16 starters from last season’s team. Among returnees are standouts including sophomore running back Darius Taylor whose 799 yards rushing last season was fifth best in school history for a true freshman despite missed playing time when he was injured. Taylor’s NIL earnings are estimated at six-figures. For sure being rewarded, too, with NIL earnings are other Gophers including Aireontae Ersery, rated the best returning offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus.

In a new era where players on the existing rosters of college football teams have to be re-recruited, the transfer portal window is an anxiety producing time as programs look to both retain and add personnel. For the 2023-2024 portal period the Gophers coaching staff led by P.J. Fleck lost three transfers to Power Five programs including starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Minnesota gained eight transfers, giving the Gophers a net gain of 94 games in playing experience, according to the Dinkytown difference document.

Rivals.com gave Minnesota the second highest grade among Big Ten teams last spring for its work in acquiring talent in the transfer portal. Minnesota’s B grade was surpassed only by Washington’s B+.

Minnesota’s eight transfers include promising running back Marcus Major from Oklahoma, former state No. 1 recruit and edge rusher Jaxon Howard from LSU, plus needed help at wide receiver where Cristian Driver from Penn State and Tyler Williams from Georgia. The biggest transfer prize looks like FCS transfer Max Brosmer from New Hampshire.

As a startup, founders Burns and Gag learned money needs to be in place before the transfer portal opens. In the 2022-2023 portal the Gophers lost 10 transfers to Power Five programs. Minnesota gained two transfers during that period resulting in a net loss of 115 games in Power Five playing experience, according to the document.

Among the players leaving the Gophers was cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who became a 2023 All-American at West Virginia. Austin Booker made all-Big 12 as a defensive lineman for Kansas. Defensive lineman Trill Carter was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year playing for Texas.

Worth Noting

Steve Erban said his company will be taking about 600 Gopher football fans to Minnesota’s October 12 UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Creative Charters has almost sold out its availability.

Just added to the football fan travel lineup is a trip to the November 9 Rutgers game. Erban said the trip experience will include a visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey.

Speculation is Viking safety Lewis Cine, the team’s top draft choice in 2022, will not be a member of the team when roster cuts are made later this summer. Cine, selected last in the first round with the No. 32 pick, has been a disappointment during his career and appears to be way down on the safety roster in training camp.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Cine played in three and seven games respectively, and started in none. It now appears that Cine, and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., who was the team’s second player taken in the 2022 draft, will be draft busts. Booth Jr. was traded last week to the Cowboys for cornerback Nashon Wright.

The most important performance yesterday in the Vikings’ 24-23 closing seconds victory over the Raiders may have been the winning field goal by rookie kicker Will Reichard. In the opening preseason game for both teams the Vikings got a clutch 38-yard boot by Reichard who is trying to win the kicking job after Minnesota released veteran Greg Joseph in the offseason.

Adding to the drama at U.S. Bank Stadium yesterday, Reichard had his first field goal attempt as a pro blocked, and Raider kicker Daniel Carlson kicked three field goals including a 56-yarder. Carlson was released by the Vikings after his first two games as a rookie in 2018. He’s been with the Raiders ever since where he’s become one of the NFL’s best, and the hasty decision by the Vikings to cut ties remains among the worst in recent years for the franchise.

An interesting individual matchup in Viking training camp is rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner going against stud offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Turner, a first-round selection, had a sack yesterday and looks like a game-changer.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game his top two quarterbacks, newcomers Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, are “ahead of where I thought they would be at this point.” It’s believed that Darnold, an NFL vet going into his seventh season, is almost certainly the starter for the regular season opener at the Giants September 8.

Rookie McCarthy made a couple of underwhelming throws in the first half, including an interception. In the second half, he threw two touchdown passes with velocity and touch on the football. Darnold played only one series, the opening drive of the game.

The Twins finish their four-game series today against the Guardians who have lost two of the first three games against Minnesota at Target Field. Cleveland holds a 2.5 games lead in the AL Central Division but has lost seven of its last eight games and is 17-23 since June 26.

The Guardians are the smart choice to win today with ace starter Tanner Bibee going against Minnesota rookie David Festa. Last Monday, though, Festa impressed in a win over the Cubs, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings.

Twins president Dave St. Peter is a college football fan and will attend his first game at Michigan Stadium when Texas plays Michigan September 7. “Excited about it,” St. Peter said. “Never been to the ‘Big House’ so it will be a fun experience. I am certain of that.”

This will be the 14^th trip he and friends have made to well-known college football venues.

Target Field has a history of hosting college football games with regional teams and interest remains in future bookings, but St. Peter told Sports Headliners nothing is on the “calendar for the next few years.”

Look for Twins games to be on cable/satellite next season, plus directly to the consumer via streaming. Comcast viewers who finally have the Twins back on cable this summer by paying a higher monthly fee may have to pay more of the same for Timberwolves and Wild telecasts.

Owen Presthus, grandson of former Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus, is an outstanding soccer player and a few days ago was signed by Columbus Crew 2 to an MLS Next Pro contract.

Comments Welcome

Enjoy a Sizzling Summer Minnesota Sports Trivia Column

Posted on June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 by David Shama

I’ve put together a sports trivia column to occupy any open minutes during the leisure days ahead including the Fourth of July holiday. Be prepared to stump yourself, family or friends—and anyone else.

Without much further ado, I present 20 questions with a mix of queries that include “softball” asks and a couple that might even stump trivia mastermind Dave Mona. For those who want to give up before starting, scroll down past question No. 20 to find the answers.

Mona used to organize an annual sports trivia contest with the finals broadcast on WCCO Radio. I sought his help for my exercise, and he didn’t disappoint.

“My favorite one (trivia question), is one I invented,” Mona said.

1. So here it is with Mona leading off with question No. 1: What baseball Hall of Famer has his name on nearly every small battery in the United States?

2. What’s the name of the Minnesota Wild’s mascot?

3. The Wild has three native born Minnesotans on its roster including Alex Goligoski and Vinni Lettieri. Who is the third?

4. In January of 2021 this Wild forward became the first player in NHL history to have three points, including an overtime goal, in his first game. Who is he?

5. Who were Minneapolis-St. Paul’s first NBA and NHL franchises?

6. This legend just retired from coaching the University of Minnesota baseball team. Name him.

7. Name the Minnesota golf club that has hosted every premier tournament of the PGA and USGA.

8. What was Bud Grant’s given name at birth?

9. Outfielder “Bombo” Rivera played for the Twins from 1978-1980. “Bombo” was his nickname but what was his real name?

10. Several years ago, these three slick fielding Twins outfielders liked to say: “Nothing falls (between them) but raindrops.” Who are they?

11. In 1968 Cesar Tovar of the Twins played every position in a game against the Oakland A’s. As a pitcher who did he strike out?

12. Name the public address announcer at the Metrodome who drew hoots with his warning: “No smoking in the Metrodome.”

13. Chad Hartman, son of media icon Sid Hartman, has a popular drive-time show on WCCO Radio. What powerhouse radio station did Chad work for prior to WCCO?

14. Who was the Viking who said “I play when I want to play” but then walked it back.

15. Who caught Bret Favre’s amazing 2009 touchdown pass to defeat the 49ers in game three of the season?

16. Who once said, “I play third-string center for the Vikings behind Mick Tingelhoff and Mick Tingelhoff hurt?”

17. Who is the former Golden Gopher basketball player who once made such a spectacular dunk at Williams Arena that ESPN referred to him as the “Jewish Jordan?”

18. Golden Gopher basketball coach Ben Johnson also played for Minnesota but at what school did he begin his Big Ten playing career?

19. Name the Golden Gophers football player who this summer is a preseason All-American.

20. What NBA honor did “The Big Ticket” win in 2004?

And the Answers Are…(See Grading at Bottom)

1. This is a real “groaner:” Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline. Get it: alkaline in batteries.

2. “Nordy”. Don’t know the species but word off the ice is that “Nordy” is a real party animal.

3. Emerging star Brock Faber, born in Maple Grove, Minnesota is the third native born player on the Wild roster.

4. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota’s star player. (Hope you’re building momentum with your answers to questions two, three and four).

5. The Minneapolis Lakers, who won five world championships in the City of Lakes, left town for Los Angeles after the 1959-1960 season, while the Minnesota North Stars, who never won a Stanley Cup, moved to Dallas after the 1992-1993 season.

6. John Anderson took over the University of Minnesota baseball program in 1981 and through his retirement last spring he coached in over half of all games the baseball Gophers ever played—dating back 136 years, per Joel Rippel from the Star Tribune.

7. Hazeltine National Golf Club has fulfilled the vision of more than 60 years ago that club founder Totton Heffelfinger and his colleagues had to bring the biggest of golf events to this area.

8. Harry Peter Grant, the great former Gophers athlete and Vikings head coach, died in March of 2023 and will forever be missed.

9. That was no “layup” question. Here’s the answer: Jesus Manuel Rivera. He got tagged with his nickname as a kid in Puerto Rico, with “Bombo” meaning flyball.

10. Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario were so slick in the field they could (presumably) even run down raindrops.

11. Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, “Mr. October”, was the batter Tovar struck out.

12. The late Bob Casey gave the no smoking edict and was the Twins’ public address voice every season from 1961-2004.

13. Chad Hartman was with KFAN prior to WCCO and almost a quarter century ago co-hosted “Chad and Barreiro” before he and Dan Barreiro split for separate shows on the station.

14. Controversial Randy Moss said those words in 2001 but gave “I play when I want to play” a different perspective after he retired from the NFL.

15. With 12-seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings trailing 24-20 at the Metrodome, Favre threw deep into the end zone to WR Greg Lewis who tight-roped staying inbounds. The dramatic win made the Vikings 3-0 and got everyone believing a magical season awaited—and it did.

16. Center Godfrey Zaunbrecher watched the durable Tingelhoff play on and on. Tingelhoff never missed a game and started all 240 regular season games of his career that ended in 1978.

17. ESPN’s SportsCenter was blown away by Sam Jacobson’s spectacular dunk but incorrectly referred to him as “Jewish.”

18. Johnson, a college guard, started his Big Ten career at Northwestern (1999-2001) after graduating from Minneapolis DeLaSalle.

19. Athlon Sports College Football magazine named Gophers senior tackle Aireontae Ersery to its second team All-American offense. Phil Steele publications named the 6-6, 325 pound Ersery to its All-American third team.

20. Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett won the NBA MVP for the 2003-2004 season, averaging 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds as Minnesota emerged as one of the league’s elite teams.

Grading: answer 16-20 correctly and you’re invited to write the next sports trivia column. Scoring 11-15 right is worth two pats on the back. A pat on the fanny—from your significant other—is the reward for answering 6-10 correctly. O-5? It’s not too late to enroll in sports trivia summer school classes.

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Owner Made Voice Heard on Wolves Technical Fouls

Posted on December 12, 2023December 16, 2023 by David Shama

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor often wasn’t happy with his underachieving team last season and among the annoyances were too many technical fouls. The Wolves led the NBA in technicals per game (0.7, Teamrankings.com), and had issues with flagrant fouls and ejections. Taylor spoke up about the mess during the offseason.

“Yeah, that was an issue and the coach (Chris Finch) and I talked about it this summer that we had to get that cut down,” Taylor told Sports Headliners. “And my point to him (was) that I think it starts with the coaches. That it’s what they (coaches and players) say to the refs, how they say it to the refs, what the refs expect.

“I said that I don’t think we’ll ever become a championship team unless we cut down the technicals. I…(said) I think the process just doesn’t work that way.

“And by fall I talked to the coach about it again and he said he had taken the time during the summer to address it with the players. And I said when I have my business of basketball meeting with the players—I do every year—did he mind if I brought it up again directly to the players?

“That I just thought it’s something that sets us back, our relationship with the refs, when we complain too much…and things like that, and we should think (about the problem). And everybody was very receptive. I think they all understood it.

“They sounded like they agreed with the coach and myself that it had to be something everybody would work on and try to cut it back. And I think so far—we’re a fourth of the way through the season—I think they’ve done a good job.”

The message got through and the Wolves this season no longer rank among the leaders in team technical fouls per game (Teamrankings.com). This is a more disciplined team on the court and that has contributed to an NBA best 17-5 record. Six of the wins have been by fewer than 10 points, results where the absence of technical fouls for misbehavior can impact the outcome of games.

Taylor, the Mankato-based billionaire, knew from his other businesses that leadership sets the tone for organizations. He made it clear to the well-respected Finch (Western Conference Coach of the Month October-November) that “you gotta make it very clear what your expectations are.” He encouraged Finch not to hold back in delivering the message and point out how arguing with the referees “over every play” was holding back team success.

In the past star forward Karl-Anthony Towns has too often let his emotions get the best of him and been a poster boy for whining to the officials. It’s a new KAT this season with improved body language, gestures and facial expressions.

“I would give that credit, most of that credit, to the coach,” Taylor said. “The coach has spent lots of time with KAT with film and looking over what he is doing and how he can adjust and how he can be a better teammate, not just score himself. And I think he has taken it to heart, and I think it has showed up.”

The Wolves, who did finish strong in a playoff series loss to the eventual NBA champion Nuggets, had a 42-20 regular season record in 2022-2023 after being 46-40 the season prior. More had been expected of a team that acquired All-NBA defensive center Rudy Gobert in the summer of 2022. But learning to play with Gobert, a long absence by KAT because of a persistent calf injury, and other issues, wrecked expectations.

The Gobert experiment (giving up a boatload of players and future draft picks) has become a success this season with the 11-year veteran anchoring a Wolves inside defense that’s among the most formidable in the league. He’s been an elite rebounder, too, including last week when he had consecutive 20 rebound games. Taylor sees a Gobert who is in better shape than last year, with more quickness and “spring to his step.”

Mr. Clutch for the Wolves has been 36-year-old point guard Mike Conley whose poise and experience late in games helps deliver big plays and shots. Taylor said the Wolves have known about Conley’s personal reputation of being a high-quality individual since he was at Ohio State.

It wasn’t until last winter, though, that new general manager Tim Connelly made a trade bringing him to the Wolves from the Jazz. Connelly has made moves to upgrade the roster, although during much of last season the acquisition of Gobert looked like a dud and was criticized across the country.

Taylor points out that it’s not only Gobert who has impacted the team but the acquisitions also of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Troy Brown have played key roles. Alexander-Walker has been starting most of the season for the injured Jaden McDaniels, perhaps the team’s best perimeter defender. Brown has made contributions off the bench and starting games recently when team scoring leader Anthony Edwards was injured.

Taylor was asked about the future of Target Center, the Timberwolves home and second oldest arena in the NBA. Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold has reportedly met with government officials about renovations to Xcel Energy Center which opened in 2000 and is home to the state’s NHL team. Taylor is selling majority control of the Wolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriquez. He sees them taking the leadership on the arena situation.

“Well, the way I’ve handled it so far is I’d told both Alex and Marc this is something they’ve got to get on,” Taylor said. “Get organized and understand how they’re going to go about it. Come up with a plan and start presenting it to the leadership throughout the community.

“ …You gotta persuade people to participate and share in costs and get people to agree. Will it be fix up this one? Or will it be something new? Or whatever it can be?”

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