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Vikings Win Likely in Stadium Opener

Posted on August 24, 2016August 24, 2016 by David Shama

No guarantees but Vikings fans are likely to see their team win its debut game in U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday.

The Vikings will play their first ever game in the new $1.1 billion domed facility Sunday afternoon against the Chargers. It will be the third exhibition game of the season for both teams. The 2-0 Vikings are 10-1 in preseason games dating back to 2014, the best record in the 32-team NFL the last three years. During the same period the Chargers are 5-5 including 1-1 this season.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, who is close to his old team, credits defense and third-year coach Mike Zimmer for Minnesota’s dominant exhibition record. “Defense, defense, defense,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “Defense is always ahead of the offense at this time of the season anyway, and that’s why you see so many low scoring games. …But he (Zimmer) has that defense playing so well together, so quickly in preseason, I think that’s the main reason for his record.”

The Vikings have given up 16 points or more only three times during their 11 preseason games in the Zimmer era. Six times opponents have scored 12 points or less against Zimmer’s teams. This preseason the Vikings have defeated the Bengals, 17-16, and Seahawks, 18-11.

The Vikings gave up the second fewest points in the National Football Conference last year when they won their first division title since 2009. Minnesota’s 302 points allowed was second only to the Seahawks’ 272.

Zimmer has impressed Lurtsema and many others with his coaching. His defensive teachings were well documented with the Bengals where he was defensive coordinator before coming to Minneapolis. As a head coach he has his imprint on the defense but he also has shaped the entire team with his no-nonsense, direct approach with all players. He doesn’t tolerate lack of effort and mental mistakes.

Lurtsema attends practices and sees a team attitude he likes. He gives Zimmer and his staff a lot of credit for what he observes in the 2016 Vikings. He raves about Zimmer and likens him to his former coach Bud Grant who led the Vikings to four Super Bowls.

Zimmer, of course, doesn’t even have a playoff win yet as a head coach but Lurtsema wouldn’t trade him for any NFL boss including those who have won Super Bowls. “Nope, and that took me almost a millionth of a second to answer that,” Lurtsema said when asked about trading Zimmer.

Worth Noting

This morning at Winter Park Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who missed last week’s preseason game with a shoulder problem, declined to say when it developed. He also didn’t comment on whether he can physically perform today as normal. The third-year quarterback said he never had arm problems while playing in college and high school.

Harrison Smith, who might be the best safety in the NFL, isn’t the only celebrity in his family. His aunt, Elaine Hendrix, is an actress who has appeared in such productions as Friends, NCIS and The Parent Trap.

Former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder seems certain to see a lot of playing time for the 49ers when they play at home against the Packers Friday night. The 28-year-old Ponder was impressive last week in leading the 49ers to a win over the Broncos, only days after being signed to a one-year contract and not knowing if he had an NFL future. Ponder’s wife, Sam Ponder, will join Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit as ESPN’s lead commenting team on college football telecasts this season.

Ron Vander Kelen, who died last week in Edina, is remembered by older football fans in this state. As undrafted NFL free agent, he played mostly as a reserve quarterback for the Vikings from 1963-1967. At Wisconsin he helped the Badgers to the 1962 Big Ten title after they defeated the Gophers in a controversial game costing Minnesota the championship. Vander Kelen, a native of Green Bay, was the Chicago Tribune’s 1962 Big Ten MVP.

The football Gophers need a breakout player at wide receiver and they may get a huge surprise. Tyler Johnson, 6-2, 185-pounds, was a quarterback and defensive back at Minneapolis North but he’s made a big impression catching footballs in August practices.

“Done a tremendous job,” said Gophers coach Tracy Claeys. “I mean, for a true freshman, it’s unbelievable. Really is, just because you’re talking about a kid who played every sport in high school, including baseball, AAU basketball, (and) hadn’t had much time in the weight room. If we wouldn’t bring in freshmen in June he probably wouldn’t have a chance because of the strength thing, but he’s added some strength, and he’s gained some weight.

“I do think that the AAU basketball has given him a mentality of competing against older kids. …It didn’t faze him to get out there and go against older kids. Tremendous hands, and he can jump and come up with the ball. He’ll definitely be a part of what we’re doing this fall.”

C.O.R.E.S. will have former Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi as its speaker Thursday, September 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Maturi was AD from 2002-2012 and during that time student-athletes improved in the classroom while teams won five national championships and more than 40 conference titles. He was a finalist for the National Athletic Director of the Year Award in 2009. C.O.R.E.S. reservations and more information are available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

St. John’s head football coach Gary Fasching will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. group Thursday, November 10. C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Oswaldo Arcia, the former Twins outfielder who joined the Rays earlier this season, was signed off waivers by the Marlins earlier this week. With the Rays he hit .259 with two home runs and seven RBI in 54 at bats. His numbers earlier this season for Minnesota were .214 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 103 at bats.

The Gophers volleyball team is picked for second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska. The conference announced the results yesterday of a coaches poll which also voted Gophers Hannah Tapp, Paige Tapp and Samantha Seliger-Swenson preseason All-Big Ten.

Comments Welcome

Happy Anniversary to Sports Headliners

Posted on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 by David Shama

This story won’t lead the local 6 p.m. television news but this month is the 10-year anniversary of David Shama’s Minnesota Sports Headliners.

During the first several months of writing this column, readership consisted mostly of family, friends and wayward viewers from cyberspace. A cantankerous sportswriter used to greet me with this welcome in locker rooms and at news conferences:

“Nobody reads you.”

Today, I can say somebody does. Sports Headliners has recorded millions of page views since its beginning in 2006. Along the way many people have been interested enough in what is reported and opinioned here to keep returning to the website.

For that I am grateful. It’s been feedback from readers that is valued as much as anything experienced during this 10-year journey. “You just keep turning them out,” one reader said in an email. “I don’t know how any fan can consider themselves well informed about Minnesota sports without reading Headliners.”

Another reader suggested something I wrote was “Pulitzer-prize worthy.” Those are ultra kind words but so far no notification about my Pulitzer from the accrediting organization.

Not all readers, of course, have appreciated my efforts. A few folks refer to me as a “moron.” Others prefer “idiot.”

I have made mistakes but I don’t believe my intelligence quotient has sunk to single digits—yet.

Most weeks during the year I try to post the best three columns I can. More often than not the content is mostly notes because that’s the type of sports column I most enjoy reading.

Bud Grant (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

To scoop other media rivals is fun and professionally rewarding. Sports Headliners scoops most recently were about the announcement of the new Gophers athletic director, and Bud Grant’s precarious small plane landing in Canada. Then there is the trivial get-it-first stuff that is fun to come up with—like where a local athlete is going to play overseas, or the latest on a dating relationship.

Sports Headliners was a one-man startup back in 2006. Today the whole effort remains pretty much the same. That means developing story ideas, covering events, shooting photos, doing interviews, transcribing audio tapes, writing first drafts, editing multiple times and posting the column on the website. The “advertising department” is also in my office where I have lists of prospective advertisers and files on current advertisers.

When I started the blog I didn’t realize how much time it would consume. It is a busy endeavor but it’s also a source of pride and satisfaction. I had a passion for writing this column 10 years ago and still do. I have also had the support of my wife who has provided encouragement and helps with editing.

The realization of Sports Headliners fulfills an ambition I had for a long time. Back in the 1970s I was a Twin Cities sportswriter with assignments that included covering the Vikings and Twins for a wire service. While with the Sun Newspapers I turned down an opportunity to join the Pioneer Press sports department. That is a decision I second-guessed over the years, but I also fulfilled another goal—to have a career in sports marketing.

After having positions with the North Stars, General Sports, Jostens and the United States Tennis Association, I decided to start my own communications business with Sports Headliners as the flagship effort. Technology made the website possible but I couldn’t produce this product without my education as a journalist and relationships with Minnesota sports organizations.

Over the years Sports Headliners has been referred to by various names including blog, column and newsletter. A friend and former coach has labeled it “a missile.”

That’s a head-scratcher but it sure helps not to take yourself too seriously. I know I don’t represent a media giant like the New York Times, or the Star Tribune. I realize my writing “touch” isn’t the cleverest or best delivered in this town. So far there are no journalism awards displayed on my office walls.

But I enjoy what I do, and just as rewarding is that many of you do as well. I often tell friends that I have received more compliments for postings in this space than anything done professionally in my life.

That’s very rewarding, and so, too, is the endorsement of advertisers. Murray’s has been with me almost from the beginning. Van Clemens, Manchester Companies, Goldy’s Locker Room, LZ Automotive, Family Dentistry and many others either are or have been advertisers. Their advertising helps make this effort possible and I encourage every reader to patronize them. These are quality businesses operated by great people.

It’s been 10 years of growth and personal satisfaction writing for you. I have been reminded almost weekly how challenging it is for the Minnesota sports public to be upbeat about local teams. The Super Bowls, Rose Bowls, Final Fours, NBA Finals, Stanley Cups and World Series years for Minnesota teams were long ago.

Brett Favre (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

There has been an occasional dance with glory in the last 10 years including WNBA championships won by the Lynx. Favorite memories for me also include the 2009 Vikings’ flirtation with the Super Bowl. That season was mostly defined by the brilliance of then 40-year-old quarterback Brett Favre. The gunslinger from Mississippi by way of the Packers and Jets brought his magic show to Minneapolis and had perhaps the best season of his life.

To be around the kind of greatness showcased by Favre that season is rare—especially in these parts. Yet, fans here seem to remain mostly optimistic. No matter the team, or often the year, fans predict that next season the results will be better, records will improve. Often those aren’t realistic views, but these are attitudes that define what fans are all about. When fans aren’t optimistic, their interest can be near life support status and they may be close to deciding it’s time to move their passion to another team or pastime.

Of all the teams in town, the Vikings seem like the most realistic choice to have major success in the near future. They have good personnel, with even better coaching and resources including the right ownership and facilities. Maybe they soon will wake up the echoes of 2009.

There are other bright spots in town including the Timberwolves with their talented core of players young enough to be playing at Williams Arena instead of Target Center. The ballyhooers have them soon contending for championships but first it would be nice to see the franchise qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

I like several of the team leaders here. Paul Molitor has a high baseball IQ. Mike Zimmer is already included in conversations about the NFL’s better coaches. Bruce Boudreau looks like the Wild’s best coach since Jacques Lemaire. The Wolves Tom Thibodeau’s defensive coaching skills are admired from Rochester to Rio. Gophers AD Mark Coyle and football coach Tracy Claeys have their hearts in the right places working with student-athletes.

The next 10 years could provide an entertaining and perhaps even successful ride for at least a few of our teams. I know some of what happens will be unpredictable, and that too will make things fun.

I am looking forward to the next 10 years of Sports Headliners. In the meantime, keep the comments coming, and if you’re inclined to label me a moron or idiot so be it.

Just part of the job.

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Scottish Great Picks U.S. to Win Ryder Cup

Posted on August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 by David Shama

Scottish-born Colin Montgomerie predicts the United States team will win the Ryder Cup when the famous biennial golf competition with Europe is held September 30-October 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska. Montgomerie, in town for last weekend’s 3M Championship in Blaine, is now on the senior tour but is famous as one of Europe’s legendary Ryder Cup players.

Europe has won six of the last seven Cups but Montgomerie told Sports Headliners he expects a supportive and electric crowd at Hazeltine will be among key reasons the United States wins the match play event. He believes the U.S. team will be motivated to end Europe’s domination that includes three consecutive Cup wins.

Montgomerie said other factors favoring U.S. success are the leadership of captain Davis Love III, and the “aura” of having vice captain Tiger Woods being around the American players. The 12-man U.S. roster won’t be finalized for awhile but qualifying point totals show Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker will be leading the team.

Montgomerie will be covering the Ryder Cup for both British and American television. A former captain, he played for Europe eight times and was on five winning teams. Undefeated in Ryder Cup singles matches, he is famous for holing the winning putt at the 2004 competition at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.

Montgomerie makes his feelings known about the Cup on his website with this quote: “If I tell you that I can remember virtually every shot I have hit in a Ryder Cup, it will go some way towards explaining how much this biennial contest means to me.”

After the second round of the 3M Championship on Saturday, the 53-year-old Montgomerie was tied for fourth with Jeff Maggert at 11 under. When the tournament ended Sunday, nine other golfers were ahead of Montgomerie. Joe Durant won $262,500 with his playoff win yesterday against Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Worth Noting

NBC’s Olympic coverage seen locally on KARE 11 had Minneapolis-St. Paul area ratings of over 7 yesterday afternoon, while the Twins-Rays game on Fox Sports North was under 1.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner’s favorite receiver this season. That role last year went to KJ Maye but among the possibilities now is senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky. He is the team’s leading returning receiver, having caught 39 passes for 524 yards in 2015.

Off the field Wolitarsky is majoring in English and is an avid writer. He has written several science fiction stories and had a six-part short story published in The Wake, a student-run magazine at the University of Minnesota.

At Saturday’s second practice of training camp, Leidner was impressive with deep passes. He had difficulty with long throws last season while playing on an injured left foot.

Bob Coughlin, father of promising Gophers freshman linebacker Carter Coughlin of Eden Prairie, told Sports Headliners on Saturday his son has no lingering problems from the mild concussion he suffered in a national prep all-star game last January.

Rob and wife Jennie were chaperones at the family’s lake residence when Carter hosted about 19 of his freshmen teammates earlier this year. Rob said players from the south wore socks into the lake, explaining that is what they do back home.

Jennie handled the cooking for the lake getaway. Asked about the sizeable appetites of Carter and teammates, Rob said, “Thank God for Costco.”

There was talk following spring practice that redshirt junior Ryan Santoso, who probably will be the team’s punter, might also handle long field goal attempts this fall. Gophers coach Tracy Claeys said he hadn’t even thought about that after two training camp practices.

“If I had to make a decision today, I’d say no,” Claeys said. “I’d just as soon he punt and live with that. Emmit (Carpenter) has done a good job on the field goals, and we would go (with him). We get closer to around 15 practices, we should have that all fine for sure.”

Santoso concentrated on field goals last season, making 17 of 21. His .810 percentage was second best in the Big Ten. The Gophers, though, need to replace graduated all-conference punter Peter Mortell. Santoso punted in high school in Florida and Carpenter, a redshirt sophomore from Green Bay, has impressed this year in practices, although he has yet to attempt a field goal in a Gopher game.

Recruiting authority and writer Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners the Gophers haven’t offered a scholarship to Chicago-area defensive back Juawan Treadwell but might do so. Treadwell’s older brother Laquon Treadwell, a wide receiver from Ole Miss, was the Vikings No. 1 draft choice earlier this year. Burns said the younger Treadwell was in the green room on NFL Draft night when the Vikings selected his brother—an indication of their relationship.

Last Monday’s column about U.S. Bank Stadium and TCF Bank Stadium prompted emails including from readers who noted the walking distances from the University’s student center (Coffman Memorial Union) to both facilities. One reader wrote that it’s 1.5 miles to U.S. Bank Stadium and 0.7 to TCF Bank Stadium.

Much was written and said about Tony Dungy last weekend when the former Vikings assistant coach and Super Bowl winning Colts head coach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A detail forgotten about Dungy is that while on scholarship as a Gophers quarterback, he played basketball for one season. During 1973-74 Dungy was a reserve guard, averaging 2.6 points per game while making .485 percent of his field goals and .600 percent of his free throws.

The Vikings will have a 6,000 seat outdoor stadium as part of their new practice and team headquarters in Eagan. Dave Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, told Sports Headliners the Twin Cities Orthopedics Stadium could be the site of prep football, lacrosse and soccer games. Among details to be determined is how the Vikings would compensate host schools for revenues lost by moving games to Eagan. The stadium is expected to open in 2018.

Apparently no decision yet on whether 40-year-old Kevin Garnett wants—or will be asked—to play another season for the Timberwolves. The process might be slowed by new Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau being at the summer Olympics where he is an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. Garnett is a strong locker room personality and it’s not known how Thibodeau will view that as he shapes a new culture with his new team.

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