Timberwolves – Page 2 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Eagles & QB Jalen Hurts Fly in Costly Vikings Home Loss

Posted on October 19, 2025October 19, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings, struggling with their offense, couldn’t match the passing success of the Eagles today in a costly 28-22 home loss at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minnesota, now 3-3, was playing at home for the first time since September 21. The Vikings play at the Chargers Thursday night and two weeks from now at the Lions before coming back to Minneapolis on November 9 to play the Ravens.

Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes including two to wide receiver A.J. Brown. Hurts completed 19 of 23 passes for 326 yards while avoiding multiple potential sacks.

“We couldn’t do anything today to slow that man down,” radio analyst Pete Bercich said of Hurts on the Vikings Radio Network.

Coming into the game the prevailing thought was the Vikings were in for a long day if they couldn’t control the Eagles’ running attack led by All-World Saquon Barkley. However, the Vikings held Barkley to 44 yards on 18 rushing attempts and in total gave up 55 yards running.

Blake Cashman, Vikings linebacker back today after a four games absence because of a hamstring, said the defense “loaded the box” to control the run game. However, Hurts put the hurt on the Purple with his arm.

“He had too much time to throw,” Cashman also said on KFAN Radio after the game.

That left the Vikings secondary vulnerable. Isaiah Rodgers got beat on two touchdowns and the other corner Byron Murphy was out of position on the third.

The fourth Eagle score of the day came on a 42-yard interception score by linebacker Jaylx Hunt. The second quarter pick came off an errant throw by Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz. That mistake made the score 14-3 Eagles.

On the next Vikings’ possession Wentz threw another pick on a day where his play improved in the second half after Minnesota trailed 14-6 after two quarters. For the game Wentz was 26 of 42 for 313 yards.

It was a frustrating day for the Vikings offense which made six trips into the red zone but produced just one touchdown, a one-yard third quarter run by Jordan Mason that made the score 21-16 in favor of Philly. Otherwise, the Vikings had to settle for five field goals by Will Reichard, a career record for one game.

Wentz, playing with a painful left shoulder, made a couple of gutsy scrambles on the Vikings’ last drive of the game when they were trailing 28-19. Inside the red zone it appeared he completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson, but the initial call was reversed with the ruling he didn’t control the football. The Vikings settled for a field goal to cut the Eagle lead to 28-22/

Bercich described the controversial call as “unbelievable” while others in Vikings nation, including in the locker room, would have used words frowned upon on the Sabbath and the other six days of the week.

Worth Noting

The Golden Gophers played their best game and earned their biggest win of the season Friday night defeating No. 25 ranked Nebraska, 24-6. In his ninth season, P.J. Fleck set a school coaching record in total career wins over top 25 teams with seven. The other victories are:

2024: over No. 11 ranked USC and No. 24 Illinois.

2023: No. 24 Iowa.

2021: No. 21 Wisconsin.

2019: No. 5 Penn State and No. 9 Auburn.

The Timberwolves Anthony Edwards, who at 24 aspires to be the best player in the NBA, is ranked No. 7 by both Bleacher Report and CBS among top players in the league going into the season. ESPN and Sports Illustrated have him at No. 6, with The Ringer giving him the No. 5 spot.

Edwards has some maturing to do on and off the court. He led the NBA in technical fouls last season.

The Wolves see two of the best players in the world during the first eight days of the season which begins Wednesday night in Portland. Minnesota faces two matchups with Laker superstar Luka Doncic, with the first in Los Angles Friday night and October 29 in Minneapolis. Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are in town October 27 to face their Northwest Division rival Wolves.

The Gophers’ Grayson Grove, the 6-9 and 220-pound Alexandria native, has been a power forward in the past but is now switching to center in a reserve role. He will be undersized against Big Ten beasts and admitted that even in practice the “physicality part” is challenging. Grove believes his mobility and outside shooting can provide a change of pace on the floor against opponents to help the team. The redshirt freshman didn’t play last season.

Sportswriters’ birthdays: Gregg Wong, struggling with Alzheimer’s, turned 79 last week. His colleague for years at the Pioneer Press, Patrick Reusse, was 80 on Friday.

Reusse, with the Star Tribune for most of his career, was a fellow columnist with Sid Hartman who died five years ago yesterday, October 18, 2020. Hartman would be 105 if still alive.

Former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, now with the 4-2 Seahawks, can on Monday night against the Texans achieve the highest passer rating ever by an NFL player in his first four home games, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (129.1 rating with the St. Louis Rams).

No Hay Problema: The Amazing Story of Tony Oliva is on the book market. Authored by Tony’s son, Ric Oliva, this is a children’s book talking about the Hall of Famer’s journey as an immigrant from Cuba and the obstacles he faced. The Olivas will be at the Fan HQ Ridgedale store from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to meet the public and sell copies of the book.

ESPN.com’s recent listing of its top100 NHL players had seven from the Stars, six from the defending champion Panthers and three from the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov was No. 15, Brock Faber No. 49 and Matt Boldy No. 53. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/46582574/nhl-2025-26-rankings-top-100-players-predictions-stats

The future of the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course remains in limbo. The Board of Regents has been notified of the school’s intent to sell the 140.9-acres Falcon Heights property, but other public entities have passed on the purchase opportunity and there remains strong pushback from the public. As of several days ago over 1,000 signatures had been recorded on a petition in opposition to selling the legacy course. https://www.change.org/p/save-les-bolstad-golf-course-for-future-generations

Brian Cosgriff, who before retiring this spring from girls’ high school basketball coaching had won eight state titles, was asked by Sports Headliners to name the top teams for the 2025-2026 season. He listed Hopkins, Minnetonka, Providence Academy and Lakeville North.

Best players? Senior Maddyn Greenway, Providence Academy; junior Erma Walker, Hopkins; senior Lanelle Wright, Minnetonka; senior Tori Oehrlein, Crosby-Ironton; sophomore Ari Peterson, Minnetonka; senior Cail Jahnke, St. Michael-Albertville.

Cosgriff, 63, is teaching PE at DeLaSalle High School and is not interested in coaching again, and is happy being “done at 3 o’clock” each day.

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At 24 Anthony Edwards Can Build Off Superstar Status

Posted on September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 by David Shama

Anthony “Ant” Edwards, only 24 years old, starts his sixth training camp with the Timberwolves this week and is one of the best basketball players in the world. Tim Connelly, the franchise’s president of basketball operations, told a media gathering Monday his superstar guard can become one of the “greatest players of all time.”

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Edwards might be in the best condition of his life after an offseason addressing his training and his skillset—preparing to take the next step in his elite career. That step could include an NBA MVP Award and lifting his franchise to a first ever NBA Finals.

What would it take to win his first league MVP Award after having twice been named All-NBA in his career? “We gotta win,” Edwards said. “I think all MVPs win at a high level (and) average a whole bunch of points.”

Michael Jordan won five MVP awards. The first came when he was 25.

This offseason an intermediary between Edwards and Jordan provided some input for the Minnesota MVP. Edwards said he picked up on the tip of using his back to lean in on a defender, rather than establishing leverage with his butt as he has done in the past. That was trademark positioning for the GOAT.

Edwards said his communications with Jordan are just beginning. “Nah, we don’t really have no relationship how y’all think we got one right now. It’ll come in years to come but right now it’s just through somebody.”

Edwards, Finch photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s been suggested that Edwards needs to be more consistent against mediocre competition. In the past his approach has been more about getting his teammates involved than himself. He predicted a change for this season to establish more consistency and production: “Try to get a career high in points,” he said. “…I think that’s how I am going to stay engaged.”

Edwards has been diligent this off-season and hinted at a new offensive move that could be used in crunch times of games. Coach Chris Finch sees that development as one of the ways Edwards can elevate his game.

What is it? “I can’t tell you. You’ll see,” Edwards teased.

Edwards did offer that improving his clutch work could tie to playing closer to the rim. He did add, however, that what he can do sometimes is dictated by frequent double teams that limit his options.

During the off-season Edwards, who admitted today he has a troublesome lower back, wore gloves while dribbling the ball and noted “I’ve never been able to handle the ball this good in my life. “

Edwards can be a dynamic scorer with his outside shooting and driving to the hoop, plus his playmaking for teammates. He doesn’t finish at the rim with the consistency he is capable of. Finch would also like to see more consistency in his gifted player’s defense, which can be suffocating.

One of the things that should benefit the Wolves this season is having second leading scorer Julius Randle and valued sub Donte DiVincenzo with the team from the beginning of training camp. The two joined the team just before last season in the famous trade with the Knicks sending Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Adjustments take time and both Randle and Edwards recalled, for example, posting up in the same space on the floor during a game. That kind of confusion should be less likely now, plus all the nuances that come from teammates knowing how to work and benefit from one another. Edwards said he and Randle have been in Minneapolis all summer, adding to their experience with one another.

Other teammates were in town early, in advance of camp. Edwards thinks that can give the Wolves an edge early in the season when other teams are trying to find themselves with changed personnel. The Wolves return six of their top seven players including the starting five.

The Wolves are coming off two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. Teams that go deep in the playoffs, Edwards believes, have togetherness. “They really care about each other,” he said.

And there’s no doubt Edwards’ teammates and the front office care about him. “He’s going to have another great year,” Connelly said about Edwards who averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game last season.

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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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