Wild single game tickets for first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office and at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) locations, or charge by telephone via Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151.  A limit of four tickets per game may be purchased per person.

Twins outfielder and designated hitter Craig Monroe was asked his opinion as to how important it is for the team to start fast this month since the club plays 16 of its first 28 games against Central Division teams. “It’s a long grind,” he said. “It’s 162 games; you don’t make your season in April.  Yeah, of course, we all like to get off to good starts, get this thing going and be in this race early, but at the same time, if you can just be consistent and play good baseball. This is a marathon. It’s not a sprint. …”

Monroe, who played for Detroit and the Chicago Cubs last season, was asked what team other than the Twins he respects most in the American League.  “On paper, I gotta respect the Tigers,” he said. “They went out and did a great job of getting some really big name players. But those big name players have got to swing the bat and they’ve got to catch the ball. ….”

The Twins will again sell over 10,000 season ticket equivalents, according to Patrick Klinger, vice president of marketing.  Last year’s total was about 10,200 and this season will be similar, he said.

Klinger said it’s not certain the Twins will sell naming rights to the new ballpark. A decision will likely be made in the next 12 months. The franchise is determined to find a naming rights partner that is a good fit for all concerned.

Expect an interesting variety of food offerings including a Minnesota theme at the new stadium.  While Klinger said menus haven’t been decided, possibilities could include walleye fingers, Spam burgers and wild rice soup.

Because Randy Foye has only played in 30 games, missing much of the season due to a left knee stress reaction, he’s still learning how to direct the Timberwolves’ offense, according to coach Randy Wittman.  Foye has become the team’s starting point guard since Sebastian Telfair injured his left ankle on March 8.  Wittman was uncertain earlier this week as to when Telfair will play again.

Through games of last week, the Timberwolves, 19-54, had a better home attendance average than the New Orleans Hornets, a team with the best record in the Western Conference, 51-22.  The Wolves were averaging 14,102, the Hornets, 13,816.  The SuperSonics are likely relocating to Oklahoma City because Seattle won’t build a new arena, but it’s the Hornets, playing before feeble fan support in New Orleans, that should look for a new home.

Don’t be surprised if the Dallas Mavericks, who lost in the NBA finals to the Miami Heat just two years ago, don’t even make the playoffs this season.  That will lead to speculation about coach Avery Johnson staying with the team.  What if flamboyant owner Mark Cuban named himself as Johnson’s successor?

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The Vikings will open a season on Monday Night Football for only the third time in franchise history when they play at Green Bay on September 8 in an ESPN televised game.  In the franchise’s other two MNF games the Vikings played at Detroit on September 20, 1971 and Minnesota was at Washington on September 11, 2006.  The Vikings won both games by three points, with the 2006 game being Brad Childress’ debut as the team’s head coach. The complete 2008 Vikings schedule will be announced later this month.

Two players who are impressing sideline observers at Gopher spring football practices with improved physiques are sophomore quarterback Adam Weber and junior guard Otis Hudson.  Both could be impact players this fall for Minnesota.

John Sherman is proving journalists can do more than report and write about sports. The Sun Newspapers sportswriter coached the Minnesota Transitions team to the Class 1A championship game in the boys’ state tournament last week.

Winona State, 38-1, earned its second national championship in three years last Saturday coming back after trailing Augusta State 53-37 in the first half before winning the game 87-76. It was the second largest comeback ever in an NCAA Division II championship game. Winona State qualified for the title game by beating two undefeated teams earlier in the tournament, 67-54 over Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals on Wednesday and an 86-75 semifinal win against Bentley on Thursday. Grand Valley State defeated Michigan State in an exhibition game last fall.

The Division II Bulletin publication named Winona State senior center John Smith the Division II Bulletin Player of the Year. Smith, who also won the award in 2007, scored 17.7 points and averaged 8.6 rebounds per game for the Warriors, and also blocked 103 shots during the regular season. He was named the NSIC Most Valuable Player.

Coach Mike Leaf of Winona State was named the 2008 Molten/Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year.  He was also the publication’s Coach of the Year in 2006.

Canterbury Park begins live racing on Saturday, May 3, the same day as the Kentucky Derby.

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Although the Twins have asked potential staff ace Francisco Liriano to start the season in the minor leagues, pitching coach Rick Anderson is enthusiastic about the recovery process of the 24-year-old left hander who had elbow surgery and missed all of last season.

Anderson was asked by Sports Headliners yesterday how close Liriano is to physically being where he was prior to the elbow surgery in 2006.  “Oh, shoot, that’s tough (to answer),” Anderson said. “He’s close. …”

Liriano, who was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006, will pitch for Class A Fort Myers later this week.  He’s also targeted for a start next week pitching for another Twins’ farm team, Class AAA Rochester.

Before spring training started Anderson and others in Twins management couldn’t be sure what kind of a product they had in Liriano.  “You know what?” Anderson asked.  “From his first outing to his last one, it was night and day (the improvement).  He got better every single outing.  Is he there? Not yet.  Close, a lot closer than he was his outing before. …If he continues to improve like he has it won’t be long (before he joins the Twins).”

Liriano could be pitching for the Twins this month.  Anderson said Liriano’s change up is “better” than two years ago.  In Liriano’s final spring training outing late last week his fastball was the “same” as 2006, clocking in at 91 to 93 miles per hour, according to Anderson.

“His slider is still not there yet,” Anderson said.  “You see it once in awhile.  That’s the last pitch to come. …”

In five starts for the Twins this spring, Liriano was 2-2, with a 4.02 ERA (15.2 innings pitched, seven earned runs). He allowed 14 hits with nine walks and 15 strikeouts.

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