KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS – Page 3 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Turkey of the Year? Make Room for the Ducky Award

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by David Shama

Up here in the Bold North, when it comes to Thanksgiving, we’re a step ahead of the nation. Yes, we too gorge on turkey and watching football on television. But we’re unique because Minnesota is the top turkey producing state and…we’ve got Patrick Reusse’s Turkey of the Year column entertaining us every Thanksgiving.

The veteran scribe has been serving up a Turkey of the Year since 1978 when he was opining for the Pioneer Press. Since 1988 he has been bestowing the dubious honor as a favorite columnist for the Star Tribune.

I’ll guarantee there are throngs of Minnesotans who have been gossiping for days now in anticipation of who will be Reusse’s 2024 selection. An early favorite could be Joe Pohlad from the Twins. Joe’s grandfather, the late Carl Pohlad, is the only two-time winner on Reusse’s turkey list.

I sat next to the Turkey selection committee chair last month at a Timberwolves game. Reusse didn’t let out any clues about this year, retaining the policy of clandestine operations that keeps us on edge leading up to Thanksgiving morning. We conversed on various subjects, and he dazzled (as usual) with his recall about the local sports landscape.

It occurred to me awhile ago that there could be another annual award that Minnesotans might eagerly devour during Thanksgiving week.

So, let’s be honest.

The Turkey of the Year is someone, or some organization, that has screwed up. Here at Sports Headliners we’ve decided to go in a different direction.

I am pleased to announce the annual Sports Headliners Ducky Award. This honor will be bestowed on a Minnesota sports figure who is doing “just ducky.” To be considered by the Ducky committee this person has to be going through a delightful period in his or her career. The highest criteria will be someone we can look at and declare that life is pretty peachy keen.

The committee consists only of positive thinking devotees. We begin each meeting by reading out loud several paragraphs from a Norman Vincent Peale or Dale Carnegie classic. At one meeting the chairman (yours truly) went to the blackboard and drew up John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Committee homework assignments include listening to Tony Robbins talks and reading Harvey Mackay books.

Our research to determine the winner of the Ducky Award has been arduous but the chairman insists on a certain amount of frivolity. We laughed our way through the Marx brother’s movie Duck Soup, and younger committee members were astonished to see a film in black and white. Bedlam prevailed for a few moments until order was restored.

To keep things loose at the meetings I may offer a Dick Jonckowski joke. Here’s one:

A teacher asked where Jesus was born.

A student raised his hand and said, “Philly.”

Nope, said the teacher.

The same student then guessed “Pittsburgh.”

No, said the teacher who then told the class it was Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

The persistent student replied: “I knew it was in Pennsylvania.”

The duck tasting part of our meetings has been another committee pleaser. Our mouths have been watering from a steady diet of Duck a l’orange, classic Duck confit and smoked Duck breasts. At this Friday’s banquet feast honoring the award winner we’re serving Peking Duck and advising members to wear XXL gear.

On Monday we settled on the finalists and then chose the winner. The committee debated about issuing a news release to the media, but the chair insisted the world should first learn about the finalists and winner via Sports Headliners. (As I type this, I see Lester Holt’s name coming up on my phone. I am certain he wants to go national with the Ducky news as the lead story tonight on NBC).

No way.

So, the finalists are…

Karl-Anthony Towns photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves.

Karl-Anthony Towns. We liked to pile on KAT when he played for the Timberwolves. Critics howled about his silly fouls, carping at the officials and lack of production in playoff games. After nine seasons in the Mini Apple, KAT is purring in the Big Apple with the Knicks where he is averaging 26.3 points and 12.6 points per game. He is playing at an All-NBA level, and no doubt is a Spike Lee favorite at Madison Square Garden. The Wolves are struggling on defense and miss the 7-footer’s presence on both ends of the court. Things are pretty ducky for the New Jersey born KAT.

Kirill Kaprizov. The 27-year-old superstar forward is No. 1 in the hearts of Wild fans and No. 2 in the NHL in points scored this fall with 34. His 13 goals trail only five other NHL players. The 2021 NHL Rookie of the Year has been a fan favorite from the beginning, including his first game when he became the first player in league history to score three points in his debut. Things are ducky with the team, too. The Wild, 13-4-4, has surprised the skeptics who before the season considered Minnesota to be on the bubble for the playoffs.

Bob Motzko. When a coach tells the public he has a darn good team it’s usually not bluster. Minnesota men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko doesn’t deal in hype, so best to take him at his word that the Gophers are deep and talented. He is in his seventh season at Minnesota after leading the St. Cloud State program for 13. A national championship has so far eluded Motzko with results that include Minnesota’s painful overtime loss to Quinnipiac in the 2023 Frozen Four title game. The Gophers are off to a 12-2 overall start, 6-0 in the Big Ten. Ranked among the best teams in the nation, the feeling here is Motzko and the Gophers are overdue for an NCAA crown. If they do that in the spring, Motzko will be positioned to win the 2025 Ducky.

Gable Steveson. The NCAA and Olympic wrestling champion announced earlier this month he will use a final season of eligibility to again compete for the Golden Gophers. “First I would like to thank the University of Minnesota for their time, their effort and their persistence with me to push me to the man I am today,” the Minnesota native said in his comeback video. “Minnesota has given me everything, and now it’s my turn to give it right back to them: to put my feet back on the wrestling mat, to be the champ, one more time.”

With Steveson’s debut last Friday and Sunday (he scored dominant wins over his heavyweight foes), the Gophers earned their first consecutive team shutouts since 1997-1998 with victories over North Dakota State and Campbell. It could be a peachy season on the mat for Steveson and the undefeated Gophers.

And the winner is.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell. Smiling KOC embodies what the Ducky Award is all about. Great disposition. Good results. Wouldn’t surprise our researchers if KOC was in those Gerber baby commercials years ago, with his face beaming into the camera and on the jar. In his third season as Vikings head coach, O’Connell has made a national reputation for creating a much-praised working environment for his players. They laud his leadership and support while also noting the boss enforces accountability.

In O’Connell’s first season as coach the surprising 13-4 Vikings reflected the poise of their new leader. They were an amazing 11-4 in one score victories, an NFL record. The Vikings are 9-2 this season, again surprising forecasters who had them winning around six games.

And things remain calm in Skol Country. As recently as Sunday Minnesota went into overtime in Chicago but defeated the Bears 30-27. A smilin’ KOC watched from the sidelines.

So that’s it, folks. The banquet will be at Hurley’s Hanging Gardens up Nordeastway. It’s sold out. BTW, if the Gophers surprise and beat Wisconsin earlier in the day on Friday, the duck feast will make way for Badger stew.

How ducky would that be?

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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.

Comments Welcome

Bet on Taylor Short-term to Remain in Control of Wolves

Posted on October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 by David Shama

The Timberwolves open their regular season schedule tonight against the Lakers in Los Angeles with ownership of the franchise expected to be resolved in the next few months. A source with extensive pro sports ownership experience, speaking on condition that his name not be published, predicted current owner Glen Taylor will retain control of the Wolves and Lynx after the early 2025 resolution—but that may not be true a year from now.

Taylor is in litigation with potential majority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. The dispute is about whether Lore and Rodriquez met the obligations of a drawn-out sales process that began in 2021. A three-person arbitration panel (based in Minnesota) is expected to rule on the majority ownership in November.

Even if the panel rules in favor of Lore and Rodriguez, there will need to be a sale approval by the NBA. There are two reasons why the source believes the league will favor Taylor’s continued control of the NBA and WNBA franchises.

One is the familiarity and relationships NBA’s owners have with Taylor. He has owned the Wolves since 1994 when he bought the franchise for a reported $88 million. He founded the Lynx in 1999. Taylor has served on the league’s Board of Governors and knows commissioner Adam Silver well. The Wolves and Lynx have been stable franchises financially over the decades, while questions have been raised about the financial wherewithal of Lore and Rodriguez who in June reportedly reached agreement with billionaire Michael Bloomberg to join their group.

The second factor, seemingly in Taylor’s favor, is the litigation involves the original agreed upon sale price of $1.5 billion. Since the time that figure was decided, the value of NBA franchises has more than doubled. League owners don’t want to set a precedent of below market value for franchises, knowing that impacts their businesses.

Taylor, 83, has been showing interest for years in moving on from ownership. “I can see him (eventually) selling 50 percent of the franchise to Bloomberg,” the source said.

In that scenario the sale amount would be a market price well over $3 billion for the two franchises. Bloomberg becomes the majority owner at say a controlling 51 percent, while Lore and Rodriguez could keep what’s believed to be their present 36 percent or they might be bought out at a considerable profit. Taylor might want and accept five or 10 percent ownership, joining other small owners who have been part of his group in the past.

Worth Noting

The Timberwolves finalized their 17-man roster late yesterday with the most notable change from a year ago the absence of forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns who had played with the club for nine seasons. The youngest player on the roster is 19-year-old first round rookie guard Rob Dillingham. The oldest Wolves are guard Mike Conley and forward Joe Ingles, both 37.

Towns, traded this fall to the Knicks, will play for his new team tonight against the World Champion Celtics. The game is part of a nationally televised doubleheader on TNT that also includes the Wolves-Lakers game. With forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo, the two former Knicks debuting for the Wolves, the doubleheader will be a focus of national interest.

The Wolves are title contenders along with multiple other teams including the Thunder whose star players include Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren. The 7-foot-1 power forward-center averaged 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds last season, his first in the NBA. Holmgren, 22, could one day join a short list of native Minnesotans who played for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

Burdette Haldorson, an Austin, Minnesota native, played collegiately at Colorado and was a member of the 1956 and 1960 gold medal winning American basketball teams.

Lou Nanne, who had successful back surgery in July, is ready to resume playing golf in Florida, his second home. He’s had two holes-in-one over the years, with the most recent last year in the sunshine state.

The Minnesota hockey icon, long respected in the local business community, told Sports Headliners he has no interest, or the intention of being part of a group to buy the Twins.

Nanne predicts a healthy Wild team will make the playoffs. “Love what (Filip) Gustavsson is doing,” he said about the Wild’s hot goalie who has helped the team to a 3-0-2 season start.

The Wild plays at the Panthers tonight, facing a team Minnesota swept in two games last season. Florida, the defending Stanley Cup champs, is Nanne’s pick to win the NHL again.

Kevin Sumlin is on the staff of the Maryland football team that plays the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. The former Gopher assistant coach and head coach at Texas A & M and Arizona is associate head coach to Mike Locksley.

Minnesota, 4-3, is about a four-point favorite against the Terps who have the same record. This could be the last time the Gophers are favored in their remaining games, with matchups against Illinois, Rutgers, Penn State and Wisconsin remaining.

With membership in the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, alumni can save 25 percent on tickets for the Homecoming game against the Terps.

It wouldn’t be surprising if during the offseason the Gophers landed a center transfer in the portal allowing talented sophomore Greg Johnson from Prior Lake to switch back to guard where he played as a true freshman.

Happy 81^st birthday today to Minnesota sports icon Dick Jonckowski! His many honors include going into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame last month.

On Thursday Harvey Mackay, the longtime Gophers and University of Minnesota supporter, celebrates his 92^nd birthday. Former Gophers football coach Lou Holtz writes the foreword in Mackay’s new book, You Haven’t Hit Your Peak Yet!

A communicator and motivator extraordinaire, Mackay is a leading inspirational speaker, syndicated newspaper columnist and seven-times New York Times best-selling author. Among his treasured experiences was playing golf at the U for legendary coach Les Bolstad.

A focus for the Vikings Thursday night in Los Angeles will be stopping Rams running back Kyren Williams. He has a rushing touchdown in nine consecutive games including two on Sunday in a 20-15 win over the Raiders.

In their win over the Vikings last Sunday, the Lions took advantage of missing linebacker Blake Cashman who was out with a toe injury. The Vikings need his tackling and steady presence in the middle of the field against the Rams and future opponents. His availability for Thursday night hasn’t been announced.

The 2-4 Rams and 5-1 Vikings are likely to see the return of star receivers who have been out with injuries—wide receiver Cooper Kupp for Los Angeles and tight end T.J. Hockenson for Minnesota.

The game will be televised nationally by Prime and seen locally on Fox 9.

Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has 6,430 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2020. He is chasing the league’s all-time leaders through five seasons. Only Terry Holt with 6,784 yards and former Viking Randy Moss, at 6,473, had more receiving yards in their first five seasons.

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