Vikings – Page 269 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Hennepin County to Emerge in Stadium Drama?

Posted on December 8, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Don’t be surprised if Hennepin County comes out with a plan regarding a proposed Vikings stadium within the next few weeks.

That’s the opinion of a knowledgeable stadium source who believes the county could team up with the state and the Vikings to fund a new football and entertainment facility downtown. Hennepin County, the state’s largest county, eventually emerged as the public entity making the Twins stadium possible, and now after years of debate regarding a new home for the Vikings the county might be ready to get involved with building a facility that will be home to not only football but also other sports and entertainment attractions, according to the source who spoke anonymously.

The multipurpose use of such a stadium fits particularly well with the proposed stadium sites at the Farmers Market and Linden Avenue near the Basilica of St. Mary. Both are near the existing downtown sports, entertainment and hospitality venues already in place. The sites are also ideally situated for freeway and public transportation (including projects in planning by the county).

Stadium sources said the Linden Avenue site near the Basilica of St. Mary may ultimately have an advantage over Farmers Market because “land assembly” is easier. The Linden Avenue site has fewer existing owners than Farmers Market.

Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak is an advocate for rebuilding on the Metrodome site because construction there is probably about $150 million or more less costly than at the two other downtown sites, or in Arden Hills. The Metrodome site, though, doesn’t have the same appeal to the county as the two other downtown sites, according to a source.

The Metrodome probably can’t stimulate sales tax revenues from nearby businesses like the Farmers Market and Linden Avenue sites. The latter two sites, unlike the dome area, already exist in an entertainment and commercial area that includes Target Field and has potential for redevelopment. “A Vikings stadium in those areas helps the county protect its investments in Target Field and transportation,” a source said.

And building at the Metrodome means the Vikings will have to play probably three years at TCF Bank Stadium where a source suggested the franchise may gross about $18 million per season less than at the dome. How to solve that financial challenge is a problem and a public subsidy seems likely not to be a solution.

Rybak wants to use tax revenues dedicated to the Convention Center to help fund a Vikings stadium. Further tax help from Hennepin County and a yet to be determined funding source from the state, along with a contribution from the Vikings, seems like a possible formula for building a facility costing over $1 billion.

Meanwhile Ramsey County remains interested in building the facility in Arden Hills, a site long backed by the Vikings. The funding picture there is perhaps even less clear than downtown, although potential gambling revenues could benefit building a facility anywhere in the metro.

The state legislature has started public hearings on the stadium issue but much needs to be determined including site selection. “I think it is all a long way from being done,” a source said this week.

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Vikings Kicker Wants to Qualify for Golf’s U.S. Open

Posted on December 7, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Ryan Longwell wants to play in next June’s U.S. Open if his off-season golf plan develops to his liking.

The 37-year-old Vikings placekicker has a passion for golf, learning the game at an early age from his father, a club pro. Longwell said his handicap as of last July was “+ 0.4.” Not bad for a guy who didn’t play high school or college golf.

Longwell told Sports Headliners that during the off-season he will work with a PGA instructor, learn how to play tournament golf and track his progress. The approach will be to have a golf plan “versus just try to go and play and get good.”

Longwell, who makes his home in the Orlando area, hopes to play smaller tournaments in Florida during the next football off-season. “Get some tournament experience and then see where we are in May-June ─ (maybe) make a run for qualifying for the Open,” he said.

Longwell failed to qualify for the Open last year but hopes his plan involving the PGA instructor will lead to a different outcome. The U.S. Open will be June 11-17 in San Francisco.

Longwell signed a new four-year contract with the Vikings this year, and plans to be with the team next season. But eventually there will be life without football and golf intrigues him.

“I would love to try it (the PGA Tour),” he said. “I guess the thing I’ve always held on to is I have never been able to play year-round being in Green Bay and Minnesota (as a player). I would like to give it maybe two full years type of thing. See how good I could get. See if my game really improves. I mean it may not, but I think chances are it could. …”

Longwell will start the golf project the first week in January. Although he acknowledges his inexperience with tournament golf, he also knows the pressure he’s mastered as an elite NFL field goal kicker is an asset.

“I do think I have a huge advantage mentally ahead of a majority of people,” he said. “It’s one thing to hit balls on the range and another thing to go play tournament golf ─ and dealing with pressure ─ I certainly understand from this job. …”

A visitor suggested one day he might be on the Champions Tour. “… I gotta do some damage before that if I want a shot on the senior tour,” Longwell said.

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Worth Noting

Posted on December 7, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Former Minneapolis South High star Tayler Hill, now at Ohio State, is the Big Ten Women’s Player of the Week after averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in wins over Florida State and Oklahoma last week.

Eric Dungy, son of former Gophers quarterback and Vikings assistant coach Tony Dungy, is a reserve redshirt freshman wide receiver who has played in five games for Oregon but has no receptions.

Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton is supportive of head coach Leslie Frazier. He said keeping perspective on the difficult challenges Frazier has faced including a reduced off-season working with players because of the NFL labor dispute and the multiple team injuries have impeded progress. The coach has shown leadership and Dalton said, “I like the coaching staff Leslie Frazier has put together.”

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has thrown eight interceptions in seven games. No question Ponder has forced a number of passes but what fans miss is the entire scheme of the play including whether receivers were in the proper spots on the field, according to Dalton.

When the Vikings released quarterback Donovan McNabb last week, the move only fueled speculation that the veteran’s work habits were lacking.

Sports Illustrated’s December 5 NBA preview issue includes a prediction the Timberwolves will finish last in the Northwest Division. The publication said the team is “no longer lacking for talent” and describes the rookie tandem of Derrick Williams and guard Ricky Rubio “as enticing as any.” No playoffs for an eighth straight year, but improvement and “maybe even some long-overdue fun,” according to S.I.

Gene Glynn, who has been named manager of the Twins Rochester farm team, was the first Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner back in 1975 after an outstanding athletic career at Waseca High School.

If as reported on the Twins Website general manager Terry Ryan is shopping for a corner outfielder at the winter baseball meetings, it’s probably a solid indication he doesn’t expect to sign both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel. Among the factors in favoring Cuddyer being retained by the Twins is his right-handed bat. Past Twins lineups have been heavy on left-handed hitters like Kubel.

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