Timberwolves – Page 87 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Childress Didn’t Deserve Vikings Exit

Posted on October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 by David Shama

Brad Childress never should have been fired as the Vikings coach in November of 2010. His supporters may be thinking about his fate this week as the Vikings prepare to face the Chiefs on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium.

Childress now works for the Chiefs and long time friend Andy Reid, the Kansas City head coach. This will be Childress’ 17th season in the NFL but only the four-plus he spent with the Vikings were as a head coach. It will be five years next month that he was let go, despite his success in rebuilding the franchise.

Childress was fired after 10 games of the 2010 season. His regular season record as Vikings coach was 39-35. During the 2008 and 2009 seasons the Vikings won an NFC-best 22 games. The club won consecutive division titles those seasons, for the first time since 1977-78. The 2009 team reached the NFC championship game for the first time in nearly a decade and was among the elite teams in the NFL.

Brad Childress (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

The Vikings were 3-7 in 2010 when Childress was let go, but he had proven his coaching ability. Some disgruntled players may well have contributed to his dismissal, but political situations in locker rooms have a way of disappearing over time. What also may have impacted Childress’ job security was his unpopularity with fans, but he was a solid coach who was successful when surrounded by talented players such as in 2009.

I knew Childress and enjoyed his company one day when we visited legendary Gophers coach Murray Warmath at Friendship Village of Bloomington. Childress knew of Warmath but the two had never met. He spent a lot of time that day visiting with the old coach who had also worked for the Vikings. While we were visiting Warmath, Childress quipped, “Where do I sign up for 95?” Warmath died in 2011 at age 98.

Childress didn’t have to take time from his busy schedule to meet Warmath, but it wasn’t surprising. While in the role of Vikings head coach he was involved with community activities. He is a good guy, good football coach and someone who didn’t deserve such an abrupt ending to his time as the Vikings boss.

Worth Noting

Between now and a home game on November 22 with the 5-0 Packers, the Vikings play five teams with a combined record of 7-19. The 2-2 Vikings have an opportunity to build their record with home games against the 1-5 Chiefs and 2-3 Rams, and away matchups with the 0-5 Lions, and the 2-3 Bears and Raiders.

Odds indicate the one-win Chiefs are due for another “W” soon. Does that add extra concern for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer? “No, not really,” he answered. “We’ve only won two games—so no, not at all. Our focus is on us and what we do, and how we need to win…and how we need to get better, how we need to perform in the crucial situations of the game. Really, that’s all I’m concerned about.”

The Vikings are chasing perhaps the NFL’s best team, the Packers, who lead the NFC North with their unbeaten record. The Bears have surprised by winning a couple of games already while the winless Lions are a disappointment. What are Zimmer’s thoughts about the division race so far?

“Well, I think it’s a great division, but I’m so focused on us, to be honest with you. I know what the records are. I know who is leading the division, but we’ve got 12 more games to go, so there’s a lot of things that can happen. …Really, all I care about ever is us and how we play…let’s add them up at the end of the year and see what happens.”

Mike Wallace (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace, who missed a couple of practices recently, said his left knee was sore “but I feel good now.” Wallace said he hasn’t had previous problems with the knee.

Vikings superstar running back Adrian Peterson feels “rejuvenated” after the team had last weekend off because of its bye in the schedule. Peterson said he feels pressure to perform after missing most of last season.

Unless the Chiefs return a portion of their visiting team tickets allotment, Sunday’s game at TCF Bank Stadium is already sold out.

A Vikings spokesman told Sports Headliners the number of workers on the U.S. Bank Stadium project is now at 1,400—a peak number since construction began and the number will decline soon and not reach that total again. The project is 75 percent complete and the facility will be completely enclosed by the end of November. The stadium opens next summer.

Prayers and best wishes to former Gophers All-Big Ten linebacker Bill Light who has pancreatic and liver cancer. Bill’s many friends were informed via e-mail this week of his health issues. He was named all-conference in both 1970 and 1971.

The University of Minnesota “M” Club Hall of Fame honored 14 inductees last night at a ceremony inside TCF Bank Stadium. Congratulations to: Luke Becker (wrestling); Ronda Curtin (women’s hockey); Chris Darkins (football and track); Roland DePaul (men’s hockey); Olga (Splichalova) Espinosa (women’s swimming); Brent Gates (baseball); Clifton Gustafson (wrestling); Jack Manders (football); Dick Meredith (men’s hockey); Jennie (Moe) Coughlin (women’s tennis); Dave Odegard (track and field); Joey Ray (men’s gymnastics); Bill “Buzz” Schneider (men’s hockey); Byrl Thompson (track and field).

Shannon Brooks, the Gophers freshman running back who has established himself as the team’s most explosive player, reports not having a serious football injury since ninth grade. Brooks, who believes it’s a “blessing” to have the opportunity to make big plays as a true freshman, said the most carries he had in a high school game was 25. How many could he handle here? “As much as they give me,” he said.

Could Brooks rush the ball 40 times or more in a single game? “I could do that,” he said. “If they feed me the ball, I am gonna run it.”

Gophers fans may talk about missing the speed of departed tight end Maxx Williams but quarterback Mitch Leidner believes present tight ends Nick Hart and Brandon Lingen are comparable. Leidner said “they might have been a little bit faster than” Williams who left the Gophers last winter for the NFL Draft.

The Gophers play Nebraska tomorrow, a school that didn’t join the Big Ten until 2011, but Minnesota and the Cornhuskers had a long nonconference rivalry in football that began in 1900. A few years ago there was quiet talk in the Minnesota Athletic Department about creating a rivalry trophy but nothing is planned. Winners of the last two games with the Cornhuskers, Minnesota leads the all-time series 31-22-2.

The Wild finished ahead of other Minnesota pro sports franchises in the recent 2015 ESPN The Magazine Ultimate Sports Standings. The standings rank 122 franchises from major league baseball, the NBA, NFL and NHL. The NBA’s Spurs ranked No. 1 in voting by fans to evaluate the franchises. The Wild ranked No. 37, ninth best among NHL teams, and ahead of the No. 47 Twins, No. 86 Vikings and No. 97 Timberwolves.

There is no word on when Gophers executive associate athletics director Mike Ellis may return to work from his leave of absence.

Fox Sports North will televise both the Lynx parade and championship celebration today starting at 11:30 a.m. The Lynx, who defeated the Fever for the WNBA title Wednesday night, will host a parade beginning at the corner of 12th Street and Hennepin Avenue before turning down 7th Street toward Target Center. Starting at 12:15 p.m. a celebration will be held at Target Center that includes a video commemorating the championship season and Lynx players will speak to the crowd. Both events are free and open to the public. Target Center opens at 11:30 a.m.

Former Timberwolves player and executive Fred Hoiberg, now head coach of the Bulls, turned 43 years old yesterday.

The Capital Club, featuring local sports figures as speakers, hosts Gophers interim athletics director Beth Goetz on November 3 at Town & Country Club in St. Paul. For more information about membership, contact Patrick Klinger, Patrick@thebrandenhancementgroup.com.

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Vikes Rudolph Knows NFL Demands

Posted on July 24, 2015July 24, 2015 by David Shama

Playing professional football looks glamorous to the naïve but the start of Vikings training camp this weekend reminds close observers about the physical demands of the NFL.

The Vikings and Steelers will be the first to open training camps this summer because the two teams play on August 9 in the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. That means both teams will play five preseason games in 2015, not four like other NFL clubs. While players play limited minutes during exhibition season, a fifth game does add to the risk of injuries.

The additional preseason game could help the Vikings better prepare for the 16-game regular season, a football marathon lasting until early January. Then 12 of the NFL’s 32 teams (the Vikings, of course, hope they’re included) are in the playoffs. The two franchises making it to the Super Bowl put their players through a survivor experience that can total up to 25 games including exhibitions.

Kyle Rudolph (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has missed 16 games during the last four seasons. In 2014 he played in nine regular season games. He dedicated the offseason to being on the field in 2015, not the sidelines, and expressed optimism about his health this week.

“Everything is good,” Rudolph told Sports Headliners. “Training camp is an opportunity for me to just get better and stronger to prepare myself for September when we get started.”

With Rudolph’s injury history he’s certainly qualified to voice an opinion about ongoing speculation the NFL will add more games in the near future. That speculation includes expanding the regular season schedule to 18 games.

“Sixteen games is a lot of games,” he said. “To play much more than that…I think right now we’ve got it right. And I don’t see a reason that we would need to change that, to add more games.

“Even when you go through a 16-game season completely healthy, it’s a long year. To add many more games than we already got, I think it would just be difficult with the limited numbers of players that we have available.”

The NFL could increase revenues by dropping two preseason games for each team and adding two regular season games. The league could also more quickly grow revenues by adding teams to the playoffs. The NFL is a cash cow, reportedly generating a minimum of $7 billion per year and perhaps over $10 billion. There are projections of doubling or tripling revenues in the not too distant future. That would not only enrich owners but also provide bigger paychecks for the players as part of the league’s revenue sharing agreement.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith said “it wouldn’t surprise” him if more games are coming soon. If so, he suggested NFL rosters be increased to add depth and help with the challenge of getting through more games. He acknowledged the 16-game schedule and playoffs are physically demanding. “It takes a toll on you,” he said.

The NFL is facing issues regarding the health of current and former players. Their mental and physical health has become an ongoing national story, and a threat to the league’s image. Increasing the number of games “would go in the opposite direction” of health concerns, Smith said.

The league has taken steps to increase player safety and financially assist former players with health problems. The NFL, if it does expand the schedule, will present the change in positive terms for not only fans but also for players who likely would see a reduced number of preseason games, larger rosters and bigger salaries.

“…At the end of the day it’s a business and they’re going to make as much revenue as possible,” Smith said. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s just you kinda gotta weigh your options out.”

Worth Noting

The Vikings report to training camp in Mankato tomorrow and will be there through August 13. The team practices for the first time on Sunday. All regular practices are free and open to the public. The Vikings will have night practices beginning at 7:30 p.m. on August 1 and 4 in Blakeslee Stadium.

More than 64,000 fans passed through the Vikings Village last year. The Village offers refreshments, memorabilia and fan activities as part of the training camp experience. More fan camp information at Vikings.com.

Gophers practices at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex are open to the public on August 10, 11 and 14 starting at 10:25 a.m. The team’s scrimmage at TCF Bank Stadium beginning at 10:10 a.m. on August 15 is also open to the public.

Frank Ragnow, the offensive lineman from Chanhassen High School who made the Coaches All-SEC team as a freshman last season playing for Arkansas, could be one of the Razorbacks breakout players in 2015 under former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. Ragnow was in on more than 200 snaps last season and only had one penalty.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said his team interviewed five prospects prior to taking forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns with the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick last month. The other four were guards Emmanuel Mudiay and D’Angelo Russell, center Jahlil Okafor, and forward Kristaps Porzingis.

Taylor, the Mankato-based billionaire and owner of different companies including the Star Tribune, isn’t planning a summer vacation. In addition to business responsibilities, Taylor and wife Becky spend time most weeks with grandchildren—a group that totals 26.

The Minnesota United is averaging 9,200 fans per game and ranks third in attendance in the 11-team North American Soccer League. The United’s average is about 3,000 better than last season and a big increase over 2013 when the team was drawing 4,500 fans per game.

United president Nick Rogers told Sports Headliners the franchise’s marketing and anticipation of a possible Major League Soccer team in future years have contributed to more interest. Rogers said there was a “spike” in interest in March when news broke about a potential MLS expansion team in Minnesota. Within a week 1,000 season tickets were sold.

The United has 4,000 season ticket holders and those customers will have priority on buying season seats if Minnesota is granted an MLS team. The team’s 9,200 per game average attendance includes tickets sold and promotionally distributed. The average ticket price is $15 to $16.

It’s believed that despite the increase in attendance, the United—as has been true in the past—will not be profitable this season. The United’s majority owner is Dr. Bill McGuire who is leading the effort to acquire an MLS team and build a soccer stadium in either Minneapolis or St. Paul.

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Twins Rookie Sano Talks Besting Cabrera

Posted on July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 by David Shama

The Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, 32, is probably the greatest hitter of his generation with a .321 lifetime average and 405 home runs but Twins rookie Miguel Sano said yesterday he expects a lot of success, too. “I can be better than Cabrera, I think,” Sano said.

Sano spoke unemotionally when he said those words. He wasn’t trying to be cocky as he talked about the Tigers star who is 10 years older. “He’s one of my favorite players, and I follow Cabrera a lot,” Sano said. “He’s the best hitter I’ve seen in my life.”

Sano has only 22 at bats since the Twins called him up from Double-A Chattanooga but he’s been impressive with a .455 batting average, one home run and five RBI. He has shown not only raw power but plate discipline that helps explain why he hasn’t been troubled with breaking ball pitchers like many young players who struggle. He has hits in all seven games with the Twins.

Used mostly as a designated hitter so far, Sano made his big league debut at third base yesterday and didn’t have an error. Cabrera has also been a third baseman, although as of late he’s been assigned to first base, a position the Twins have also had Sano practice.

The comparisons between the two Hispanic players don’t stop there, of course. Both are right-handed hitters and large men, with Sano listed at 6-4, 260 and Cabrera at 6-4, 240.

Wolves Owner Expects Garnett to Start

Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves 39-year-old power forward, has played reduced minutes in recent seasons but team owner Glen Taylor still expects him to be a starter next fall. “Our thoughts today are that he will start every game, and then limit his minutes during the game, depending on how he feels,” Taylor told Sports Headliners. “I think we want to see him as a starter to set the tone on defense for the player that comes in behind him.”

Garnett is accepting a new contract with the Timberwolves after joining the team last winter via a trade with the Nets. Taylor and the Wolves had traded Garnett to the Celtics in 2007 where he later helped Boston win the NBA title. But with the Nets and then the Wolves last season it’s not been uncommon for Garnett to play less than half of a game.

Next season his role will include mentoring a roster dominated by young players. Garnett has enjoyed a storied pro career since the Wolves drafted him out of high school in 1995. He has strong opinions about how to play and doesn’t hesitate to voice them.

Players who will be on the receiving end of advice will include 2015 No. 1 draft choice Karl-Anthony Towns who might sub for Garnett off the bench. Does Taylor worry that the opinionated Garnett can be too hard on young players including rookies?

“I don’t worry about it, but I think that’s just one of the things that Flip will be close enough, and around enough, that he can communicate with K.G. if he felt that way,” Taylor said. “K.G. is a good person and he would understand that too. But I think you gotta give him a little flexibility, and K.G. really believes in what he believes. It’s going to be a little bit hard to hold him back some of the times.”

Are Taylor and basketball president/coach Flip Saunders trying to trade often-injured center Nikola Pekovic and the reported $60 million contract he signed in 2013? “Nope, we need to get Pek to get injury free and see how well he does,” Taylor answered.

Pekovic is among the league’s best low-post scorers and the skill is unique on the Wolves roster. Taylor values that attribute and said Pekovic is feeling healthy. He added that Pekovic is “ahead of schedule” following Achilles tendon surgery earlier this year.

Taylor’s franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, including losing millions of dollars and not making the playoffs since 2004. But now there is a buzz about the Wolves with both attendance and wins almost certain to jump in 2015-2016 because of a promising and athletic roster that includes Towns and last season’s NBA Rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins.

Taylor is pleased. “I am happy. I am enjoying it,” he said.

Worth Noting

The Vikings and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association will sponsor the annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game next year in U.S. Bank Stadium on a date in December yet to be determined, according to game manager Dave Fritze. For years the game has been in late June but Fritze said by moving the date it’s expected players going on to major college football careers will participate. The June date conflicts with early enrollment in college for many potential All-Star Game players who are recently graduated high school seniors. Not a single major college-bound player played in the 2015 All-Star Game, Fritze said.

The 2016 game, like past contests, will be played with a North versus South format. Fritze, who has been the game director for 16 years, said the first-year stadium will be an attraction to fans, and the MFCA is appreciative of the Vikings and U.S. Bank for allowing the facility to be the All-Star Game site. The 2016 game will be one week after the Prep Bowl and no agreement is yet in place to stage the game at U.S. Bank Stadium beyond next year.

This year’s 42nd annual game was played at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State campus. Players and coaches representing 77 schools and 27 conferences participated. It has long been speculated the game might some day have Minnesota all-stars playing against a neighboring state.

Fritze is the defensive coordinator at East Ridge High School where his players include JoJo Garcia, the 6-4, 285-pound senior tackle who has verbally committed to the Gophers for 2016. Fritze praised Garcia’s upper body strength, agility and toughness. “He has a real great nose of how to play defensive tackle,” Fritze said.

As of July 1, the Gophers had sold 27,523 football season tickets—down a couple hundred from that same date in 2014 and 2013 when totals were 27,786 and 27,741. Those totals don’t include student ticket sales. During the offseason season ticket holders had to either increase—or for the first time—pay scholarship donations for their seats. Because of that factor the Athletic Department is likely pleased with the number of season tickets sold to date.

Single game tickets were still available last week for the Gophers’ much anticipated September 3 game at TCF Bank Stadium against national power TCU. The Horned Frogs will likely be a consensus top-five team in preseason polls.

Former Gophers football player Jim Brunzell has self-published a book with colorful stories about his career in pro wrestling. “Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell” wrestled from 1972-1999 and was a favorite of American Wrestling Association fans. His book MatLands is loaded with photos of wrestling characters ranging from Andre the Giant to Chief Peter Maivia. www.blurb.com/b/6298514-matlands.

Condolences to the family of former Gophers tight end Charlie Sanders who died several days ago. Sanders, 68, became a pro football hall of famer after his career with the Lions. He was a celebrity but also known for his friendly personality.

Although there is a lengthy list of ex-Twins playing in the majors, none of them has been selected so far for next week’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Relief pitcher Glen Perkins is the Twins’ only representative to date but the club is pushing fan voting for second baseman Brian Dozier. This will be Perkins’ third consecutive All-Star Game. He has a club record 28 consecutive saves this season.

It will be interesting to watch the continued career development of Minnesota State men’s hockey coach Mike Hastings who the Mavericks recently awarded a new eight-year contract. In three years of coaching in Mankato his record is 79-36-7. No hockey school in the nation can match the Mavericks’ win total in that time period.

Forty-six players are scheduled to attend the Wild’s Development Camp that starts July 9 and continues through July 14 at Xcel Energy Center. Players expected include Brady Brassart, Brody Hoffman, Mario Lucia, Zack Mitchell, Zach Palmquist, Avery Peterson, Mike Reilly and Alex Tuch, plus six selected in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Free scrimmages open to the public will be on July 11 starting at 2:30 p.m. and July 14 at 6:30 p.m. Gates open on those dates at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Canterbury Park hosts Extreme Race Day presented by the Minnesota State Lottery on July 18. The afternoon’s lineup of entertainment will include exhibition racing with camels and zebras, plus The Battle of the Surfaces—a pari-mutuel race with thoroughbreds competing against each other simultaneously at one mile and 70 yards on the turf, and one mile on the dirt. A lineup of traditional horse races will also be part of the entertainment at the Shakopee race track.

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