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Category: Timberwolves

Promotion Sparks Muskies Memories

Posted on February 8, 2012February 8, 2012 by David Shama

Mention the Minnesota Muskies to Dick Jonckowski and the lively memories come back in a flash.  The team played one season at Met Center as part of the start-up American Basketball Association in 1967-68.  The Timberwolves are wearing Muskies jerseys for six games this season—including Friday night at Target Center against Dallas—for a promotion titled the “Hardwood Classic Series.”

The old Muskies were thought of as anything but classic before they moved to Florida because of fan apathy.  They were replaced by the Minnesota Pipers, another ABA club that met with similar disinterest by the public and lasted only one season at the Met.

There is an old joke—true or not—associated with both teams that Jonckowski recalls and it goes like this:  A potential ticket buyer telephones the Met Center and asks what time a Muskies or Pipers game starts?  The phone operator replies: “What time can you be here?”

Jonckowski, known now to local basketball fans as the public address voice of the Gophers, was the Muskies’ assistant public relations director.  He remembers “we couldn’t draw people no matter what we did.”

The team tried all kinds of promotions like free t-shirts, wristbands and basketballs without success.  During an interview with Sports Headliners it didn’t take much effort to prompt Jonckowski to make jokes about the team’s lack of fans.

“We had three busloads pull up (to the Met) one afternoon,” he said.  “Then we find out they only wanted to use the restroom.”

The team claimed to draw 6,000 fans for its opening game but even if accurate a more typical crowd was 2,000.  There were thousands of empty green and gold seats in the building (capacity about 15,000 for basketball).  Jonckowski recalled that general manager Eddie Holman didn’t like TV cameras showing all those empty seats.

“People would buy the cheap seats.  He (Holman) would wave the people down to sit in the front row because we only drew 2,000—maybe 3,000 people— not many,” Jonckowski said.

The problem wasn’t the Muskies weren’t a good ballclub.  The team finished second in its division and had several talented players but Minnesotans literally weren’t buying into a start-up league after having the five-time world champion Minneapolis Lakers a decade earlier.

The Muskies franchise had several owners and a general manager in Holman who Jonckowski said got the job because he was a neighbor of George Mikan, the former Laker great and ABA commissioner.  Holman, who was in the restaurant and bar business, offered free food and drink to the media at the old Eddie Webster’s near the Met Center.

“It was crazy.” Jonckowski said.  “It had to cost him a lot of money.”

Jonckowski, just beginning his career, would have liked some of that money sent his way.   “I worked for $60 a week,” he remembered.  “I just wanted to get my foot in the door in pro sports.  I didn’t even have enough money to park my car.  In those days I parked my car down on Glenwood Ave.(a long walk from the team’s offices downtown). …”

Comments Welcome

Does Love Need to See More Wolves Wins?

Posted on January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 by David Shama

 

Don’t be surprised if Kevin Love turns down a contract offer from the Timberwolves today.

Why?  Perhaps Love and agent Jeff Schwartz figure the Wolves franchise needs to prove it will become a winner before the All-Star forward makes a long term commitment to staying here.

Under NBA rules, the Wolves have through today to negotiate with fourth-year players like Love. If a deal isn’t made by then, contract talks have to wait until after the league season.

The maximum contract the Wolves could extend the 23-year-old power forward is for five years at about $80 million.  The Wolves have reportedly offered four years and about $20 million less, but perhaps even the maximum deal might not convince  Love to sign a new contract, preferring to become a restricted free agent next summer.

Although the Wolves could match any deal from another NBA team next summer and retain Love, he might opt for a shorter deal and free agency in 2013.  That’s not to say Love won’t be here long term but it’s a solid gold bet he wants to play for a winning organization and he might wait to evaluate how much more his team improves this season and next offseason.

In his first three seasons with the Wolves, the team produced records of 24-58, 15-67 and 17-65.  With the addition of rookie point guard phenom Ricky Rubio and other changes, the Wolves are improved but still a project.

ESPN in-studio analyst Jon Barry believes Love is the NBA’s best power forward.  He’s a gifted scorer, rebounder and passer.  Although he’s 6-10, Love can score both inside and outside.  He’s averaging 24.9 points per game, fourth best in the league.  He’s second in NBA rebounding at 13.9.

Ask anyone around the Wolves and they will tell you Love is a person of character, a team guy and good citizen in a league where often the knuckleheads make headlines.  He’s already a star and the kind of player the Wolves would be devastated without.

The NBA is a star-driven league and the local team finally has one legit star in Love and another—Rubio—in production.  It takes at least two stars to win a championship and five years from now the Wolves need both warm weather loving players shivering through another Minneapolis winter.

 

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NHL Outdoor Game Possible Here

Posted on January 6, 2012January 6, 2012 by David Shama

Minneapolis-St. Paul remains a possibility to host the NHL’s New Year’s Day Winter Classic, according to a hockey source who asked that his name not be used.

Five outdoor games have been played, with Chicago being the farthest west of the sites so far.  “A lot of factors enter into the NHL’s decision about hosting the game,” the source told Sports Headliners.

He said those factors begin with what NBC wants and the potential for TV ratings.  Other factors are the on-ice reputation of the host team and having a natural rival to play against, plus high profile players and a “glamorous market,” according to the source.

The Wild haven’t even been a playoff team since 2008.  The franchise has been searching for a high profile scorer since the departure of Marian Gaborik to New York.  The best rival for the Wild in a Winter Classic game here is Chicago.  Minneapolis-St. Paul can’t match the glitz of some American markets but in this area’s favor is a national reputation for both playing and watching hockey.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is on record saying Minnesota will one day host a Winter Classic.  No announcement has been made about the 2013 site but the source said Detroit may host the game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.  “The league is receiving flack for not getting western teams involved,” he added.

The Cleveland baseball park will host the Ohio State versus Michigan outdoor hockey game on January 15.  Tomorrow Boston’s Fenway Park will be the site of a college hockey doubleheader.

Target Field potentially could host a Minnesota Winter Classic.  Although the stadium has fewer seats than TCF Bank Stadium, the venue can sell alcohol while the University’s facility does not.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners his organization has made its interest known in having Target Field be the site of a Winter Classic, and also he is considering a college-high school showcase.  “We’ve always felt Target Field would be a fun venue for hockey,” he said.

While there’s nothing definitive to announce, St. Peter said he’s “pretty confident” that in the next 60 to 90 days the Twins will further detail plans for hockey at Target Field.  Any hockey at the baseball stadium would be played in January or early February, he said.

Love Contract Talks Face Deadline

 

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners he will be meeting with Kevin Love and his agent Jeff Schwartz this month regarding a new contract for the All-Star forward.  “It’s our intention to make every attempt to sign Kevin,”Taylor said.

Under NBA rules, the Wolves have until January 25 to negotiate with fourth-year players like Love.  If a deal isn’t made by then, contract talks have to wait until after the league season.

Love will be a restricted free agent following this season.  That means the Wolves could match any deal from another league team and retain him.

Speculation is Love could command a multi-year new deal paying him more than $60 million.  Love, 23, has become one of the league’s elite offensive forward, averaging 25.7 points and 15 rebounds per game.

Taylor hopes to keep both Love and rookie point guard Ricky Rubio for many years.  He reports “good talks” with both players.  “I think and hope their main goal will be wanting to be on a winning team,”Taylor said.

The Wolves were 17-65 last season but are dramatically improved, already playing competitively despite a difficult early schedule. Taylor is hoping a nucleus of Love and Rubio will produce a lot of wins for many years.

Taylor also told Sports Headliners his franchise, despite a renaissance in public interest, will lose money again this season — perhaps $15 million.  About $10 million, Taylor said, is because of the shortened pre-season and regular season caused by the NBA labor dispute.

Worth Noting

 

The Winter Classic this year — like the college football bowl games — was on January 2 and played during unusually mild temps in Philadelphia.  Dan Craig, a River Falls native and the NHL’s ice guru, is credited for his work in having the surface ready to play.

The Wild might be looking to trade goalie Josh Harding, perhaps hoping to secure young prospects and gain payroll relief.  Harding’s contract ends after this season and the team’s other main goalie, Niklas Backstrom, has an estimated salary of $6 million.  The Wild probably doesn’t want to have several million dollars tied up in salaries for two goalies next season.  Harding reportedly earns less than $1 million this season but figures to command a lot more in 2012.

Marian Gaborik is having an impressive season with the Rangers.  He ranks second in NHL goal scoring with 23.  At 29, Gaborik has entered his peak years.  The native of Slovakia once spoke no English but has taught himself the language.

Former South St.Paul High School and Notre Dame hockey coaching legend Lefty Smith passed away in South Bend earlier this week.  He was a St. Thomas college graduate.

Wolves second year guard Wayne Ellington remembers his rookie hazing.  He had to bring center Al Jefferson a bottle of 5-hour Energy before each game.  “Sometimes I would forget and…be scrambling out to try to find him one,” Ellington said last week.

This year Ellington said Wolves rookies Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams had to find baby oil for all the players.  “It just goes on throughout the season,” Ellington said.  “They haven’t even tasted any (major hazing) yet.  They’ve had it really good so far as rookies.”

Ellington said Rubio, a native of Spain, is making progress with his English.  “He’s a great guy,” Ellington said.  “He’s pretty funny.  He’s learning our slang pretty fast so it’s funny listening to him.”

Wolves veteran guard J.J. Barea said he’s never seen a player come into the NBA that can pass like Rubio.  “…He can control the game, he can pass the ball,” Barea said recently.  “He likes to play defense, he likes to play hard.  So I think he’s doing a good job.”

Could Rubio one day be the league’s best point guard?  “At some point definitely,” Barea said. “He keeps getting better, (and) keeps working like he’s doing.  Keeps getting better on offense.  Shooting wise I think he’ll be good.”

Barea’s girlfriend, 2006 Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera, is expecting a baby boy on March 5.  No name decided on yet.

ESPN’s John Hollinger analyzes stats and rates former Orono prep Jon Leuer, now with Milwaukee, as the seventh most efficient rookie in the NBA.  The Wolves’ Rubio is No. 10 and Williams No. 17.

 

 

 

 

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