Twins – Page 10 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Tears from Tampa to Minnesota after Bueckers Win

Posted on April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 by David Shama

A Minnesota hero earned a storybook ending to her college career on Sunday when Connecticut defeated South Carolina to win the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball National Championship in Tampa.

Paige Bueckers, one of the most dominant women’s college basketball players ever, was pivotal in the Huskies winning the national title in her last game as a collegian while scoring 17 points and grabbing a team second best six rebounds in the 82-59 victory. It was her first college national title and the end of a journey for the former Hopkins High School superstar that prompted intensive emotions in both Tampa and Minnesota.

In the closing seconds Bueckers came out of the game and hugged head coach Geno Auriemma. “I love you. That’s all I could say,” Auriemma told an ABC TV audience after the game talking about Bueckers who was overcome with emotion yesterday just like her coach.

The Huskies’ do-everything point guard said the feeling of winning the title was “unreal.” She also told TV viewers, “I love that coach.”

Bueckers’ coach at Hopkins, Brian Cosgriff, watched the game in Minnesota and last evening talked to Sports Headliners. “I was in tears when she came off the floor and was hugging coach Geno. That’s when it hit me. That’s when I got chills and I was like, holy crap. This is something this young lady has wanted since I’ve known her.

“And knowing Geno the way I do, he was moved. You could see emotionally, he was really moved by their relationship and the magnificence of what was taking place.

“They (the Huskies) walked through this tournament. They were playing really good basketball, and it wasn’t just Paige. I mean Azzi Fudd was amazing. Sarah Strong was amazing (both players had 24 points yesterday).

“They came off the bench with players that were outstanding. It was a complete program victory. No question about it.”

A part of the satisfaction from yesterday for Cosgriff comes from what he’s seen through the years from his “tough as nails” former player. “This was a goal of hers from day one and it finally came to fruition after experiencing many setbacks and a lot of adversity along the way in terms of injuries and those kinds of things.

“She overcame a lot and showed her resilience as a person and a player, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s just an amazing basketball player but even a better person.”

Bueckers and Cosgriff, now the girls coach at Minnetonka, have remained close over the years. Last summer Bueckers was in town and used the coach’s rental condo downtown while she saw friends and family, threw out the first pitch at a Twins game and enjoyed the state fair. “You always take care of your former players,” Cosgriff said.

Bueckers, who is among the most prolific winners of women’s college basketball awards ever including National Player of the Year, first joined Cosgriff’s program as a seventh grader playing for the sophomores and junior varsity. A member of the varsity in eighth grade, she and the Royals made the state championship game every year except her last in 2020.

That year the Royals and Farmington advanced to a date for the final game only to see it cancelled by the State High School League because of COVID. Hopkins and Bueckers were primed to win a second consecutive state title with a 62-0 win streak that dated back to 2019 when they had earned the title of Class 4A champs. Cosgriff describes the last-minute decision to cancel the game and not compete for a championship in 2019 “as quite a kick in the pants.”

“The entire program was in tears,” he said. “We were in a mess. Absolute mess.”

But there were different tears yesterday as Bueckers fulfilled a goal she once talked about via SLAM on Instagram back in her Hopkins days. She spoke of “winning a national championship” in college and hoping after that to be the first pick in the WNBA Draft.

Now the 6-foot, 23-year-old Bueckers is considered the likely No. 1 WNBA pick in the league draft next Monday.

Storybook ending.

Worth Noting

In a move to generate more revenue, the U Athletic Department is exploring potential naming rights for Williams Arena. With or without a corporate name, the facility will still be referred to by many fans as “The Barn.”

While many find the nickname appealing, I don’t.

Do you wonder why the historic building that is nearing its 100^th birthday is labeled a “dump” now days? Yes, the men’s urinals are troughs and other enhancements are needed, but it hasn’t helped the venue’s image that for years the arena is called “The Barn.”

To me there’s nothing appealing about the disparaging connotation of a barn being home to a Big Ten basketball team. It’s a marketing mistake by the U to have played into the narrative for a long time.

Other college basketball historic venues aren’t labeled as such. Cameron Indoor, Allen Fieldhouse and The Palestra are examples. The latter two facilities have flattering nicknames: “The Phog” and “The Cathedral of College Basketball.”

Twins Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven, who used to have fun as the Twins TV analyst promoting his birthday, turned 74 yesterday.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota. The April 6, 1982, attendance of 52,279 for the first-ever regular season game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome set a record that still stands. Rookie Gary Gaetti had four hits, including two home runs, but the Twins lost 11-7 to the Mariners.

Gulp: $25 to park in Ramp A for the Twins-Astros game last Saturday.

The first of 10 free Twins over-the-air games on Fox 9 is a week from Tuesday, April 15, against the Mets from Target Field.

The Twins don’t have the most attractive home schedule for summer weather. They have 15 home games each in April and May, with 13 in June, August and September, and just 12 in July.

The “Hit It To Win It” contest will draw attention at Target Field this season. If a Twins’ home run hits the Winnebago brand RV parked in right field area on the fly, a lucky fan’s entry will be drawn to win an outdoor recreational vehicle or boat of his or her choice from Winnebago Industries (up to $200,000 in MSRP value). To enter the sweepstakes, visit the area inside Gate 34 at the stadium to connect with a Winnebago Industries brand rep, scan the QR code on the stadium RV, or visit www.hitittowinit.com and complete the entry form.

1 comment

Gophers Don’t Need Game Now Against Crosstown Tommies

Posted on March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 by David Shama

New University of Minnesota basketball coach Niko Medved should ignore suggestions he schedule a game with St. Thomas. There is no upside for his program in scheduling the St. Paul school that is only a few miles from Dinkytown.

Asked about the Tommies at his presser earlier this week, Medved was gracious about the suggestion and said it’s a possibility without giving a time commitment. Good response but behind closed doors Niko and his boss Mark Coyle should develop amnesia about St. Thomas.

The Tommies, only four seasons into Division I competition, play in the mid-major Summit League. Members are certainly not marquee names in college hoops with the likes of schools from the Dakotas and those pesky Kangaroos from Kansas City.

The Tommies, though, are already a Summit League power and a terrific mid-level program under coaching guru Johnny Tauer. They would walk through a snowstorm to play the role of “David” at Williams Arena against the Gophers.

Fuhgeddaboudit.

Medved photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

The Gopher basketball brand is so tarnished right now it would be foolish to play “Goliath” by giving the Tommies the opportunity to take down a team from the mighty Big Ten on its home floor. In that match up, Medved and company are in a no-win drama for them.

A blow-out Minnesota win? The public response is, “What do you expect from a Big Ten team playing at home?”

A close Gopher victory? The chorus says, “See the Tommies could have won. They’re just as good as Minnesota.”

A Tommies triumph? Critics crow: “The Gophers can’t even defeat a good mid-major program.”

The Tommies played road games last season at Oklahoma State and Arizona State, two teams from the Big 12 Conference. The scrappy Tommies lost both games by a combined 24 points.

Ask the marketers at those Power Four schools if the games against the Tommies did anything to boost their brand and credibility with fans, donors and potential recruits.

Avoiding the Tommies shouldn’t prompt a “game of chicken” mentality from fans who follow either program. It’s just savvy business for the Gophers to take awhile to build up their product and continue their tradition of cushy non-conference scheduling against the likes of “Hopscotch State” and “Gulf of America University.”

There is speculation that the prestigious Big East, drawn to the TV size of the Twin Cities market, may one day ask the Tommies to join that powerhouse league. That would surely be the time to schedule the Minneapolis versus St. Paul matchup—our version of Marquette against Wisconsin.

In the meantime, the Gophers need to be aware the Tommies are their competition even if the two teams don’t play on the court against one another. As the two Division I programs in the state, there is a budding rivalry for high school recruits, media attention and fans.

BTW both programs have lots of potential to build fan followings and home attendances. The Tommies, 24-10 overall last season, attracted only 20,117 total fans for 14 home games at Schoenecker Arena. The Tommies averaged 1,437 fans per game, playing to 65 percent of capacity, per stats.ncaa.org. St. Thomas will play in the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena next fall with a basketball capacity of about 5,500.

The Gophers, whose public season ticket sales have dipped under 5,000, continued their trend of poor attendance in 2025. Minnesota averaged 8,923 fans, playing to 61 percent capacity in 14,625 seat Williams Arena.

Worth Noting

Is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t agree the No. 1 thing that will determine the Twins fate for 2025 is collective health. The Twins announced the following Injured List on Thursday, opening day.

Position players Brooks Lee (10-days, retroactive to March 24; lumbar strain) and Royce Lewis (10-days, retroactive to March 24; left hamstring strain), and right-handed pitchers Brock Stewart (15-days, retroactive to March 24; left hamstring strain) and Michael Tonkin (15-days, retroactive to March 24; right shoulder strain).

How much has the Twins Opening Day roster changed in four years? There are four players on the 2025 roster who were Twins in 2021: pitchers Jorge Alcala and Randy Dobnak, catcher Ryan Jeffers and outfielder Byron Buxton.

The Pohlad family is believed to be seeking at least $1.7 billion to sell the Twins who in Forbes annual evaluation of MLB franchises posted a few days ago values the club at $1.5 billion, a three percent increase over last year. Carl Pohlad purchased the team for a reported $44 million in 1984.

The average MLB club is now worth an average of $2.6 billion, per Forbes who ranked the Twins No. 23 among the 30 franchises in value. The Yankees are No. 1 at $8.1 billion valuation, while the Marlins are last at $1.05 billion.

While the Twins are up for sale, Sports Headliners has no reason to believe longtime Timberwolves-Lynx owner Glen Taylor, or Wild owner Craig Leipold, have interest in buying the local baseball franchise.

Word is the Wolves Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations, is not expected to exercise his contract opt out after this season and will stay with the franchise.

Cheryl Reeve, head coach and president of basketball operations for the Lynx, speaks to the Twin Cities Dunkers April 8 at Norway House in Minneapolis. Winner of four WNBA titles with the Lynx, Reeve has been a headliner three previous times at Dunkers.

Storyteller extraordinaire Jay Pivec is the latest guest on “Behind the Game” which can be viewed on YouTube and is co-hosted by Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. A Minneapolis native, Pivec is a basketball lifer whose coaching stops over the decades include in his home state and beyond where he forged relationships and memories that entertain in his new book. The Book of Piv, available through Amazon, is his memoir from 40 years of coaching and is billed: “All stories as true as they need to be.” https://youtu.be/6jzxnB10Src

The Football Film Federation is promoting a two-day coaches technology convention at the Mall of America on April 26 and 27. The event is for those from high schools and colleges interested in film knowledge and excellence. Top vendors and key speakers will be present.

Two schools will receive the Bob Marcus Film Excellence Award which is named after the successful former Gopher and Viking video expert. More including information is available at footballfilmconference@gmail.com.

5 comments

Sources Surface on Minnesota Twins Ownership Sale

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

(Updated 3:25 p.m. March 19, 2025)

Enjoy a Wednesday notes column.

A sports industry source who has been in Fort Myers this winter told Sports Headliners he believes there are two entities offering $1.65 billion to buy the Twins franchise from the Pohlad family.

If so, that means Twins representatives have leverage with competing potential buyers. It’s been thought for some time ownership wants more than $1.65 billion to sell the MLB franchise they have owned since 1984.

The asking price might be $1.8 billion. Forbes valued the Twins at $1.46 billion early last year, but that number will increase when new valuations come out soon.

The Orioles sold for a reported $1.7 billion last year. It could be argued the Twins are the more valuable franchise because the Baltimore-based Orioles are less than 40 miles away from another MLB franchise, the Washington Nationals.

The source described the competing entities as “very much interested” in acquiring the franchise. He predicted a sale of the club, which relocated to Minnesota from Washington D.C. in 1960, could happen by July, although it’s also been made clear the Pohlads won’t sell for anything less than their desired price range.

Another source outside the organization, who has passionately followed the club for years and knows Twins authorities, said he is told there are more than two potential entities, probably three or four. “At least one is local, I believe,” he said.

That source expressed some confidence that a change in ownership could happen in the next 60 days.

It was widely reported last month that Chicago-based billionaire Mat Ishbia is no longer interested in buying the Twins. He has a minority interest in the White Sox and the thought is he could be poised to become the majority.

BTW, what’s the over-under for the Twins often frequently injured trio of Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis playing in a combined 300 games or more this season? Prediction here is a cautious yes!

Qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring could have implications for the Wild next summer. The Wild will have about $22 million more in salary cap space for next season starting July 1 when NHL free agency begins. Minnesota wants to present the image of a winner to free agents and after missing the playoffs in 2024 has to be hoping for a successful run in the postseason.

Winning at least one playoff series could make the franchise more appealing to free agents. So, too, would word next summer that the team’s superstar, forward Kirill Kaprizov, is signing an extension on his five-year contract that runs through 2025-2026.

The Wild, currently positioned as a wild card entry, is 4-5-1 in the last 10 games but got an important win Monday night at home, 3-1 over the Kings.

Wild owner Craig Leipold ranks No. 11 overall among the 32 NHL owners, per a survey of fans done by The Athletic. In an article by James Mirtle on Monday he wrote: “Leipold was ranked sixth for his willingness to spend on the team and eighth for treatment of the fan base, although he ranked middle-of-the-pack in organizational stability and franchise vision.”

Mirtle noted that Wild patrons had the most responses to the survey of any fan base.

St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter, with his last name on the back of a Wild jersey, walked in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Monday. Green Wild jerseys were everywhere among the crowd watching the parade near Rice Park.

The transfer portal opens for college basketball players on Monday. More than ever where a player lands is about opportunity to play right away and earn significant money. With the Big Ten and other power conferences expected to budget more than $20 million in revenue sharing to be used on football, men’s basketball and a few other sports, athletes will enrich themselves way beyond just NIL earnings.

Potentially this is a win for the Gophers and their new coach (expected to be Niko Medved, see March 15 Sports Headliners). In a bidding war with a historical blue-blood program, Minnesota may be able to offer more playing time and money than a Michigan State, Kansas or Kentucky.

Medved’s Colorado State Rams are about a 2.5 points favorite to win their NCAA Tournament opener Friday against Memphis State in Seattle. TBS will televise the 1 p.m. Minneapolis time game.

Auburn, former college basketball coaches tell Sports Headliners, is the most talented team in the NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Bobby Jackson was in town earlier this month as an assistant coach for the NBA 76ers and the presence of the former University of Minnesota superstar prompted reflection about the all-time starting five for the Golden Gophers. Here’s the Sports Headliners lineup:

Guards, Jackson and Voshon Lenard. Forwards, Kevin McHale and Lou Hudson. Center, Mychal Thompson.

How about the all-time state boys’ basketball tournament team?

Guards, Khalid El-Amin and Tyus Jones. Forwards, Mark Olberding and Chet Holmgren. Center, Randy Breuer.

P.J. Fleck and others with the Golden Gophers meet with the media tomorrow to preview the opening of spring practice that day. The Gophers aren’t planning a Spring Game, following the trend of other programs to cancel the traditional gathering.

The public is welcome to attend the 4:15 p.m. practice April 15 at the team’s indoor facility at the Athletes Village. Dinkytown Athletes members may also attend the 4:15 p.m. practice March 26 at the same location.

Parker Knoll, the senior outfielder transfer from Lawrence University who was a D-III All-American last year, is sixth on the baseball Gophers in batting average at .259 while playing in 16 games and starting 14.

Minnesota, 8-10 overall, hosts 9-6 St. Thomas in a 6 p.m. game tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Gophers are averaging about 17 fans per game in six home games at the bank this winter, per stats.ncaa.org.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team that finished second in both the Summit League regular season standings and the conference tournament attracted only 20,117 total fans for 14 home games at Schoenecker Arena. The Tommies averaged 1,437 fans per game, playing to 65 percent of capacity, per stats.ncaa.org.

The Tommies, with a 24-10 overall record and 12-4 in league games, will play in the new Lee and Penny Anderson facility next fall with a basketball capacity of about 5,500. Despite the program’s winning legacy, dating back to Division III national championships, sell-outs have been rare at Schoenecker.

Remarkable and much-admired Tom Swain passed away earlier this month at age 103. He was a great advocate for the University of Minnesota and held various leadership positions starting with ticket manager for the Golden Gophers in the 1940s. He was a gentleman’s gentleman and much admired for how he related to people.

A Minneapolis native and Gopher fan, Tom told Sports Headliners in 2021 that he or his family had owned U football season tickets every year except one since 1921. “The year of my birth,” he said.

Regarding becoming a centenarian, Tom said in the column: “There are such few people that get there (to 100), I feel very gratified. I am very fortunate to have made it this far because growing old is a privilege denied to many. I am not sure why I deserve to get to 100 but I am very grateful.”

7 comments