Former Gophers basketball coach Bill Fitch worked for Clippers owner Donald Sterling who is in the national news because of an inflammatory audio recording that surfaced on the TMZ website.
The NBA is investigating the recording to determine if the racist remarks are the voice of Sterling. The recording has caused an uproar, even drawing comment from President Barack Obama, and has made Sterling a bigger story than his Clippers who are trying to win a first round playoff series against the Warriors. “I can’t believe he would ever say anything racial,” Fitch told Sports Headliners yesterday.
Fitch was the Clippers coach from 1994-1998. “It (the recording) didn’t sound like him but I haven’t talked to him for about 20 years,” Fitch said.
Sterling, whose age is reported at 80 or 81, has long been a controversial business and sports figure with a team of lawyers to represent him. Fitch once sued Sterling for money he claimed was owed him. “I am definitely not one of his biggest fans,” Fitch said.
When Fitch coached the Clippers Sterling’s team had many African-American players. The general manager at that time, Elgin Baylor, is African-American. “I’ve got nothing good to say about the guy (Sterling) because of other things (issues) but I never heard him make any racial remarks,” Fitch said.
Ironically, the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was scheduled to present Sterling with a lifetime achievement award on May 15 but over the weekend discontinued that plan.
Fitch was the Gophers head coach from 1968-1970. He left Minnesota to coach the NBA expansion Cavaliers and began a pro career with five franchises that included winning the 1981 NBA championship with the Celtics.
While coaching the Cavaliers in Cleveland he met Flip Saunders who was a Cavs ball boy. After Saunders played point guard for the Gophers he tried out for the NBA. “I cut him twice,” Fitch recalled.
Now Saunders, the Timberwolves president of basketball operations, is searching for a head coach to replace Rick Adelman. Fitch said one of his former assistants, Rex Kalamian, will be a “damn good” head coach some day. He brought up Kalamian’s name when asked about the Timberwolves vacancy.
Kalamian is an assistant now with the Thunder. “I started him out as a film coach,” said Fitch who is retired from coaching and living in Texas.
Worth Noting
Washburn running back Jeff Jones, who is a star recruit in the Gophers 2014 incoming freshmen class, earned his best ACT score earlier this month. Jones is working to improve his GPA at Washburn and combined with his qualifying ACT score the goal is to earn academic acceptance to Minnesota in June.
Nathan MacKinnon, the 18-year-old forward who had three points in the Avalanche’s 4-3 overtime win over the Wild on Saturday night, played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault from 2009-2011. Other hockey alumni from the school include Wild forwards Erik Haula (2008-2009) and Zach Parise (2000-2002).
The Wild faces elimination tonight at the Xcel Energy Center with the Avs leading the best of seven series 3-2. The last three games have been decided by one goal.
The Wild will practice this morning in preparation for tonight’s 8 p.m. game.
Minnesota’s game on Saturday night with the Avs from Denver had a 11.2 household rating, second highest ever for the Wild on Fox Sports North. Last Thursday’s game in Saint Paul had a best-ever 12.7.
Former Twin Justin Morneau is apparently benefitting from the high altitude in Denver where baseballs carry greater distances than in other MLB cities. Morneau is hitting .364 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI in 11 games at Coors Field. Overall his numbers in 24 games this season are a .356 average, 5 home runs and 19 RBI, among the better stats in major league baseball.
Morneau’s production with the Twins was never the same after he suffered a concussion during the 2010 season. Joe Mauer, who has Morneau’s old Twins job at first base after switching over from catcher, had a concussion late last season and is off to a poor start at the plate with a .267 average, 1 home run and 5 RBI.
Canterbury Park doesn’t open for live racing until May 16 but the Shakopee racetrack is the only facility in Minnesota where fans can wager on Friday’s Kentucky Oaks and Saturday’s Kentucky Derby races. California Chrome will be the derby favorite. Sports Illustrated reported in its April 28 issue California Chrome was once an $8,000.00 horse but now has received “offers for as much as $6 million for a 51% (ownership) stake.”
The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation will have its seventh annual Minnesota Football Honors Awards event Sunday evening at the Hilton Minneapolis. The Vikings will present 2013 player of the year awards. Winners are Adrian Peterson, offense; Chad Greenway, defense; and Cordarrelle Patterson, special teams. The team’s Rookie of the Year will be announced. John Sullivan will be recognized as Community Man of the Year.
Eight high school football players will be honored for academic excellence, outstanding leadership and commitment to their communities: Andrew Blake, Pine City High School linebacker; Brett Brenden, Rothsay running back and linebacker; Bronson Bruneau, Lakeville North long snapper and tight end; Jack Dummer, Edina cornerback and strong safety; Tobias Knight, Washburn outside linebacker and fullback; Josh Sitarz, Totino-Grace linebacker; Michael Strand, Barnesville running back, defensive back and punt returner; and Austin Swenson, Spring Lake Park quarterback.
Other awards to be presented:
Bob Stein College Scholar-Athlete Award – J.D. Mehlhorn
Bobby Bell Impact Player of the Year Award – Ra’Shede Hageman
Courage Award – Peter Westerhaus
Distinguished Minnesotan Award – Tom Moe
Fred Zamberletti Award – Chuck Barta
John Gagliardi Football Legacy Award – George Wemeier
Murray Warmath Legendary Team Award – 1964 Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers
Outstanding Cheerleader Award – Christina Gekas Taylor
Sid Hartman Media Award – Michele Tafoya
The awards event is presented by the Vikings and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting Nffmn.org.