The Timberwolves have renewed about 78 percent of their season tickets so far, according to president Chris Wright.  That’s on a base of about 7,000 sold last season.

Even before superstar Kevin Garnett was traded to Boston, the Wolves were challenged to maintain and grow their season tickets.  Three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs and poor personnel decisions lessened the appeal of the Wolves’ brand in this highly competitive sports market. 

Acquiring five players from Boston and two draft picks in exchange for Garnett last week hasn’t excited many season ticket holders and other fans.  The Wolves held a news conference on Tuesday and season ticket holders were invited along with the press to hear from club officials and new players Al Jefferson, 22, Gerald Green, 21, Sebastian Telfair, 22, Ryan Gomes, 25, and Theo Ratliff, 34.

The event gave Wright and his staff an opportunity to sample the attitudes of season ticket holders. He told Sports Headliners the front office is taking a patient approach with season ticket holders.  The Wolves will not require final payments on season tickets until September 1. 

At the news conference season ticket holders offered a “well, we’re getting there” view on the new look Wolves, according to Wright.  “What we’re going to do is we’re letting the market settle in on the deal (trade),” he added.

Wright talked about the impact of giving up Garnett who had played here since 1995, was the most high profile athlete in town and one day will be inducted into the basketball hall of fame.  “We really feel when you lose a player of the stature of Kevin it takes awhile to get over the shock of that,” he said. “The fact (is) that he’s no longer here and that we will have a new identity around this team going into next season. But we also think that days like today gives us a great opportunity to introduce what we think are five incredible NBA players. …As the market warms to them…then the healing will begin. …”

I believe a final renewal rate of season tickets in the 90 percent range will be a success for the Wolves who have shown a lot of expertise in the past selling season tickets, plus single game and group tickets.   The Wolves regular season home opener is November 2 against Denver.

The Boston Celtics Home Page features a picture of Kevin Garnett and these words:  “We’ve Got The Big Ticket (Time To Get Yours).”

Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale after being asked what Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge told him about the five players he was acquiring from Boston. “They were all quality kids and I was really going to enjoy them. That they were a lot more mature than their ages, and they worked hard, (and) will do whatever you ask them to do. The little bit that I’ve gotten to know them they’ve all proven that being the case.  They want to move up here as soon as they can.  They can’t wait to get going so it (the future) will be fun.”

After the Twins’ 4-0 loss to the Indians on Monday, Minnesota had been shutout a major league leading 10 times.  The Twins averaged 2.4 runs (17 runs) during their last home stand that ended Monday.

Xcel Energy Center general manager Jack Larson told Sports Headliners he considered a tennis exhibition between Pete Sampras and John McEnroe but decided not to after seeing modest interest in other markets where the two played.  Larson isn’t considering other exhibitions at this time.

Whitney Taney leaves for the University of Michigan late this month where she will be one of four incoming freshmen players on the Wolverine tennis team that starts practice on September 15.  Although difficult to predict, Whitney may play No. 3 singles, according to her father, Ted Taney.   The last several weeks have been rewarding for the former Edina High School superstar who had a career prep record of 166-0.  She recently won a prestigious tournament in Ann Arbor for college players.  Her tournament wins included a semi-finals victory over Andrea Remynse, the nation’s top college recruit in 2007 and a player headed to UCLA, according to Ted.  Also, Whitney was named the national girls prep tennis player of the year by the National High School Coaches Association.

Three MIAC football student-athletes are on preseason All-America teams. Bethel University senior safety Brandon Carr is a first team choice for the D3football.com All-America team and a second team selection by Lindy’s magazine.  Saint John’s junior defensive tackle Nick Gunderson is a first team pick by D3football.com and Lindy’s, while senior teammate Andrew Salvato is a second team choice by both sources on their pre-season teams.

Saint John’s and Bethel are ranked in the D3football.com, Street & Smith’s magazine and Lindy’s national polls. The Johnnies are third in the D3football.com top 25 while the Royals are 24th.  St. Olaf is 35th in the D3football.com poll. In the Street & Smith’s poll, Saint John’s is second while Bethel is 11^th.  Lindy’s has the Johnnies seventh and Bethel 10^th.

Guess who the fastest prep high school football player in Florida was last fall?  Here’s a hint: he stands 5-foot-8, weighs 160 pounds and starts practice as a Gopher freshman today.

Minnesota football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners on Saturday that Harold Howell, from Jacksonville, was the fastest football player in talent- rich Florida last season.  Howell, who runs about a 4.3 40 yard dash, figures prominently in Brewster’s plans as a punt and kickoff returner.  Brewster said on Saturday the coaching staff probably will look at Howell today as a possible cornerback.

The Gophers are thin at cornerback and Howell will be considered, even if it’s only for one day, as a replacement for Dominic Jones who recently was dismissed from the team.  Howell played defensive back and receiver in high school where he also starred as a return man, scoring three touchdowns on kickoff returns and four on punt returns.

“If we give Harold Howell a crease, if we give that young guy a chance, he is out (gone), in a hurry, right now…,” Brewster said.  Running back Jay Thomas, another game breaker, also figures in the kick off and possibly punt return plans.

Can he play cornerback in the Big Ten Conference as an 18-year-old, 160-pound freshman?  Brewster said “we’ll have an idea (today) whether it’s something physically that he (Howell) wants to do.”

There’s been talk, too, the Gophers may look at another true freshman at cornerback, Curtis Thomas from Aldine, Texas.  The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Thomas is listed as the starting free safety, is one of the team’s more highly anticipated recruits, and already has a reputation as a leader and player who badly wants to win.