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

Long Line of Bidders Expected for Parise

Posted on June 6, 2012June 6, 2012 by David Shama

Noting and quoting from hockey to horse racing, from football to music:

Minneapolis-born Zach Parise, the much praised captain and left wing with the Devils, enters unrestricted free agency in July and the New York Post website speculated today that up to 12 NHL teams, presumably the Wild included, are expected to make “serious inquiries.”

The Devils, down 3-0 in the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Kings, could see their season end tonight and that game might be the last for Parise with New Jersey, the only team he has played with in the NHL. Larry Brooks, writing for the Post, speculated that Parise’s new deal will be for more than $60 million, plus bonus money, and if Parise doesn’t stay with the Devils he could play next season for the Rangers or Red Wings, two franchises with a lot of salary flexibility.

“The Wild will be in, though Parise might want to think more than twice about going home to join a team in which he would be the best player by leaps and bounds,” Brooks wrote.

Former Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen was announced this week as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Stanford. In an email to Sports Headliners Madsen wrote that in two weeks he will graduate from Stanford with his MBA degree. He ranks with the most personable Timberwolves ever to play in Minnesota.

ESPN.go.com reported that the ESPN telecast of Sunday night’s Celtics-Heat game in Boston drew the largest national rating ever (7.9) for an NBA playoff game on cable TV.

Duluth East’s 7-foot Alkoda Manyang, a senior next school year, is an intriguing college prospect who will be watched closely by high profile basketball programs this summer.

It was 45 years ago yesterday, June 5, 1967, that a group of local investors was awarded an NHL franchise, the Minnesota North Stars.

Barbara Williams emailed that her husband John Williams and also Steve Nestor are “fine” following surgeries yesterday. Williams, the former Gophers All-American tackle, was the recipient of a kidney from Nestor. Both Williams and Nestor are expected to be walking today. https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnbjwilliams

Pete Najarian, the Minneapolis native who has gained fame for options trading and appearing on CNBC, will vacation with former Gophers teammates in August. The families of Najarian, Ray Hitchcock, Darrell Thompson and others gather each summer at a Wisconsin Dells resort. “I think the adults have more fun than the kids,” Hitchcock told Sports Headliners. “We tell the same stories over and over.”

Coach Jerry Kill will be part of the Gopher Gallop promotion at Canterbury Park on Friday night, according to an email sent to Gophers fans. The Gophers and the Goal Line Club encourage fans to wear their “Gopher gear” and receive free admission to the race track. Prize giveaways include a trip for two to Minnesota’s opening game at UNLV on August 30.

Canterbury Park’s new 10-year agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux, pending approval by the Minnesota Racing Commission, will provide millions in additional revenue for larger horse racing purses and enable the local track to compete for better horses against regional facilities like Iowa’s Prairie Meadows. Spectators here will see better racing and the Minnesota horse breeding industry will receive a much needed incentive to produce more foals. The larger purses are expected to begin this year.

Mike Max said a permanent replacement for the late Dark Star on The Sports Show is undecided but hockey legend Lou Nanne will fill in this Sunday. Star, who passed away last Friday, was a regular on the TV show for 16 years, along with Max, Patrick Reusse and Sid Hartman.

The inaugural Tapemark Women’s Pro-Am started yesterday at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. The championship will be played on Sunday. The men’s Pro-Am begins Friday and also concludes on Sunday. Tom Lehman won the tournament in 1990. Last year’s winner was Ben Freeman while six-time tournament champion Don Berry finished second. Check the Tapemark website for updates during the week. www.tapemarkgolf.org

This will be the 41^st year of Tapemark charity golf. The Klas family, including Bob Sr. and Bob Jr., have helped raise about $7 million for local charities benefitting the developmentally and learning disabled.

More than 225 people attended the awards banquet on Sunday announcing Jake Heppner (Eastview) and Christine Easton (Eden Prairie) as the Mr. Lacrosse and Ms. Lacrosse winners. The Mr. and Ms. Lacrosse Goalie winners are Thomas Gilligan (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) and Bailey Dunning (The Blake School). The third annual awards banquet, held at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul, was presented by the Minnesota Swarm and hosted by The Minute Men. www.minnesotaminutemen.com

Dave and Linda Mona have award winning singer Suzy Bogguss booked for the third annual Camden’s Concert on July 25 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Bogguss was at the Dakota Jazz Club last year when the Monas saw her perform and asked the country music star about entertaining at Camden’s Concert III. The Monas liked her music, stage presence and personality. “She’s the biggest name (performer) we’ve had,” Dave said.

Camden’s Concert raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The two previous concerts have raised $26,000 and $32,000.

The Mona’s grandson Camden Mona is 4½ years old. He takes many medications because of Cystic Fibrosis but is feeling fine and looks like any normal pre-schooler. Last year the Monas staged a contest and invited concert goes to guess the number of M&M’s in a jar, telling them if they doubled their total it would be closer to the number of pills Camden takes in a year.

“He took 10,570 pills last year including enzymes,” Dave said. “A woman who has Cystic Fibrosis guessed 10,300.”

The benefit event on July 25 includes a silent auction with sports offerings and other items, plus food from Pinstripes restaurant. Tickets are available by calling the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 952-979-1111, or via the organization’s website. www.hopkinsartscenter.com/

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Vikings & Other Notes

Posted on June 4, 2012June 4, 2012 by David Shama

Joe Webb told Sports Headliners the coaches have told him he is the Vikings No. 2 quarterback. The third-year quarterback is behind Christian Ponder, a rookie last season, but Webb’s attitude was upbeat at the team’s Organized Team Activities at Winter Park. “I am fired up,” Webb said last week.

Often wearing a smile, he has a passion for football and life. He grew up in a family where religion was emphasized and so too was a positive outlook. “It’s just a blessing to be on the field,” he said. “One percent of players make it in the NFL.”

Webb has started three games in his NFL career. He plans to be ready if the opportunity to start comes again. With experience, he’s learned the playbook better, sees the field of play better and has learned to work on his mechanics.

Webb, whose contract expires after next season, also feels comfortable now being a leader. “I speak up to guys a lot more,” he said.

A sixth round draft choice in 2010, he played not only quarterback but wide receiver and even safety at UAB. His athleticism has created speculation the 6-4, 230-pound athlete might become a wide receiver with the Vikings. “My heart is in being a quarterback but I want to help the team anyway I can,” he said.

Coach Leslie Frazier said if Adrian Peterson isn’t recovered from his knee injury in time for the opening game the plan is to start Toby Gerhart and not use multiple running backs. He described Gerhart as a “solid” alternative. “…We’re not afraid of Toby having to start,” Frazier said.

Lester Bagley expects ground to be broken next spring on the new Vikings stadium downtown. He doesn’t anticipate any developments to delay that schedule. Bagley, who has been the club’s lead executive for years on the stadium project before gaining state and city approval this spring, believes it’s likely owner Zygi Wilf will be involved with commercial development near the stadium site.

Ian Thomsen, writing in the June 4 issue of Sports Illustrated about the Celtics aging big three that includes Kevin Garnett, said in 2007 Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor gave in on “his demand” that point guard Rajon Rondo had to be included among the players Boston would send to Minneapolis in exchange for Garnett. Rondo, 26, now ranks with the NBA’s best point guards and in a playoff loss to the Heat had 44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Minneapolis-born Zach Parise earns praise in the May 29-June 4 issue of The Fleisher Report. The report quotes Kings goalie Jonathan Quick as saying Parise’s “speed and competitiveness” are special. Quick observed that how Parise plays “usually” determines how the Devils fare.

In the same issue ex-Minnesota Wild defenseman Willie Mitchell, back with the Kings, credits that organization with giving him an opportunity while only an eighth grader.

KARE 11 news and sports personality Eric Perkins will travel to London to report on the summer Olympics.

Prep basketball authority Ken Lien emailed that boys basketball coach Reggie Perkins is leaving Washburn to coach at Bloomington Kennedy. Perkins coached Washburn in the Class 3-A championship loss to DeLaSalle in March.

Friends of Corky Taylor are saddened by the former Gophers basketball player’s battle with lung cancer.

Canterbury Park will hold a memorial service in the paddock open to the public starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday for Dark Star who passed away last week. Star’s second home was the Shakopee racetrack.

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Worth Noting

Posted on May 23, 2012May 23, 2012 by David Shama

Patrick Klinger, the Twins vice president of marketing, may become a compassionate kidney donor. That means he would be willing to provide one of his kidneys to someone he doesn’t know.

A couple of years ago Klinger went through three days of testing at the Mayo Clinic to determine if a portion of his liver would be compatible for transfer to a college friend. Klinger wasn’t a match but a liver from a cadaver saved his friend’s life.

Earlier this year Klinger was ready to donate a kidney to former Twins player and manager Frank Quilici. A woman who is a family friend was a better match and about one week ago Quilici had successful surgery.

“I just think what greater gift can you give than the gift of life,” Klinger said.

The Twins, who are averaging about 33,000 fans per game at home, are likely to see an increase in attendance during June not only because schools will dismiss for summer vacation, but three teams with box office appeal, the Brewers, Cubs and Phillies, will be in town. Ticket inventory, Klinger said, is tight for those games.

Former Twins outfielder Mickey Hatcher, who was in his 13^th season as Angels hitting coach, was fired last week. The Angels rank No. 26 among major league teams in runs scored with 159.

The St. Thomas baseball team plays Christopher Newport from Newport News, Virginia on Friday in the Division III Baseball College World Series in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Tommies are 38-8 while their opponent is 34-8. The Tommies are in pursuit of their first national championship since 2009. The championship game will be played on Tuesday.

Minnesota State plays Southern New Hampshire on Saturday in the Division II Baseball College World Series in Cary, North Carolina. The Mavericks are 48-10 this season while Southern New Hampshire is 42-13. The tournament is double elimination as is the Division III competition. The Mavericks have made 31 NCAA tournament appearances.

Ricky Rubio received the second most points in voting by NBA head coaches when they determined the league’s All-Rookie team, announced yesterday. The Wolves point guard was second in points, 49, to Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving who had 58. Wolves rookie forward Derrick Williams made the All-Rookie second team.

The Gophers football schedule for the 2015 and 2016 seasons (released on Monday) includes games against Ohio State in Minneapolis and Columbus. It’s the first time the Buckeyes have been on the Gophers schedule since 2010. Ohio State leads the series against Minnesota 43-7.

Only one date was left open on the schedules, the September 19, 2015 slot where the Gophers are still looking for a nonconference opponent, probably at home.

It was 10 years ago yesterday that former Gophers athletic director Paul Giel died. “If 100 people met Paul they wouldn’t like him. They would love him,” his friend Harvey Mackay said.

Former WCCO TV anchor Don Shelby has nearly 5,000 friends on Facebook, and he’s receiving well wishes for his May 27^th birthday.

The Wild are aggressively shopping their No. 7 pick in the first round of the June 22 NHL draft, a pro hockey source told Sports Headliners. “I hear they’re willing to take offers for an established or established players,” he said.

The Wild could also trade the pick to acquire additional draft choices, although that doesn’t seem as likely. The team is badly in need of scorers, and also lacks “leadership in the clubhouse,” according to the source.

“If you watch any of the playoffs you can see how far away the Wild are (from being a post-season team),” he said. The source’s opinion is the Wild needs “three or four” good players to be more equal with at least some playoff clubs.

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