Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith will inspire the crowd by announcing “Let’s Play Hockey” prior to tonight’s Minnesota Wild home game against Philadelphia (the Flyers first trip to St. Paul since February 2003).
The Flyers general manager is Paul Holmgren, the former St. Paul Harding High School, Gopher and North Star player. There’s speculation Holmgren will be the next USA Hockey general manager for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Monday that 37 of Canada’s best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1988 or later) have been invited to participate in Canada’s National Junior Selection Camp from December 10-14 in Calgary. The Wild’s 2007 first round draft pick, Colton Gillies, was among the 37 players invited to camp. https://www.hockeycanada.ca/
With the Twins committed to budget restraint more than some other organizations, it’s hard to believe that reliever Joe Nathan, 33, will be re-signed to a new contract before or after the 2008 season. Other teams are probably more willing to give him more years and money than the Twins. Nathan’s salary was $5,250,000 in 2007, according to espn.com. The Twins options include trading Nathan now but also waiting until the July trading deadline and determining whether the club is in contention. If not, Nathan might be a valuable pick up for a contending team looking for bullpen help.
Billy Martin Jr., the son of the famed baseball manager, is one of Nathan’s agents. The younger Martin was just a little kid when Martin first coached and then managed the Twins in the late 1960s.
You have to wonder what the late season energy levels will be and whether injuries can be avoided by Boston’s big three of Kevin Garnett, 31, Ray Allen, 32, and Paul Pierce, 30. On Sunday, when the Celtics were playing their third game in four days, Garnett played only 23 minutes in an 80-70 win over Cleveland. Boston has a league best 14-2 record but it’s a long way to April and the playoffs. Give the Celtics credit, though, for playing great team basketball and still showcasing their big three.
Garnett’s former team, the Timberwolves, has the poorest record in the NBA at 2-14. The worst record in NBA history is held by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers who finished 9-73. The Wolves have played without starters Randy Foye and Theo Ratliff, and now are without head coach Randy Wittman for an indefinite period because of back surgery today.
Six wins used to qualify a major college football team for a bowl game but with the expansion to a 12 game schedule that’s no longer true. Among the six win teams not headed to bowl games are two from the Big Ten Conference, Iowa and Northwestern. Both finished at 6-6.
With the Star Tribune no longer offering a Sunday TV publication, a suggestion for the sports department is to publish a schedule of televised sports for the week on its sports pages. Even a grid in small type would be helpful.
Local author Ross Bernstein has a new book, “More Frozen Memories,” that includes over 750 photos and text about Minnesota high school, college and pro hockey. Content includes histories of the boys and girls state tournaments, plus the Wild, North Stars, Fighting Saints and Moose. There are also chapters on all of the state’s college and university teams. Bernstein has written 40 books and can be contacted at ross@bernsteinbooks.com. Visit his Web site for more information including details on book signings, www.bernsteinbooks.com.