Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners he’s still trying to schedule an opponent for the TCF Bank Stadium opener on September 12, 2009.  Because of previous commitments and other factors it’s unlikely the opponent will be a football school with an elite national reputation, Maturi said. 

Notre Dame was his first choice but the Irish have said no.  Maturi is a Notre Dame alum and knows the school’s athletic director so he was hopeful about a historic Gopher-Irish opener.  Notre Dame, however, is already playing a schedule dominated with Big Ten Conference opponents and wasn’t interested in adding another, according to Maturi. The two schools haven’t played against one another in football since 1938.                

California, already scheduled to be the Gopher opponent in the second TCF Bank Stadium game, is probably unwilling to switch from September 19 to September 12, Maturi said.  The Golden Bears, who have become a top 25 team, play Maryland on September 5 and Maturi said California prefers to avoid back-to-back games with the Terps and Gophers.

College football scheduling has become a challenge with schools demanding big pay days and return games.  Plus, most schools are looking for a mix of competitive opponents and pushovers.

Maturi said there is still discussion in the Big Ten about adding a ninth conference football game but no decision is imminent.

Maturi said the University still must raise about $26 million as its share of an $80 million commitment for the $295 million stadium.  He hopes to have the $26 million secured within the next 12 months.  Large commitments already include $35 million from TCF Bank, $5 million from Dairy Queen, $3 million from Best Buy.  Maturi said several individuals are providing $1 million each.

The Twins front office is preparing for its groundbreaking event at the new baseball stadium site on August 2. “We’re still obviously planning,” said team president Dave St. Peter.  “I think that it will be certainly bigger in scope than your traditional groundbreaking and I think it should be.   I think it’s a chance for the community to come together.” 

St. Peter told Sports Headliners that a concert will be part of the event and VIP’s may include baseball commissioner Bud Selig, governor Tim Pawlenty, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and team alums Tony Oliva, Paul Molitor  and Kent Hrbek.  Up to 25 current and former Twins are expected to attend the event which begins at 5 p.m. with the groundbreaking ceremonies at 7 p.m.

Carlos Silva, 6-8 after winning yesterday against Toronto, is 3-1 in his last four starts with a 2.90 ERA in those games.  The Twins stole three bases in three attempts yesterday and have now made good on 85 percent of their steals.

Tim Ryan, son of Twins general manager Terry Ryan, is pitching this summer for the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League.  Tim, who also plays for the Gophers, had a 0-0 record with a 5.06 ERA in about 10 innings of work, according to stats listed earlier this week on the Mankato team’s web site. 

Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi, who resides near downtown, said basketball coach Tubby Smith will live across the alley from him but hasn’t move into his residence.

The Minnesota Lynx web site lists a 13 player roster and a source reports the team has a $700,000 player payroll.   

Sixty-three U.S.-born players, representing a record 30 percent of the total, were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft last week.  The previous high was 28.2 percent in 2006. 

Over the last three-plus decades the Minnesota High School All-Star Football game has had 57 players who have gone on to play in the NFL including former Gophers Ben Utecht and Marion Barber III.  This year’s game will be played tomorrow starting at 7 p.m. at St. Cloud State University. FSN North will televise the game live.

Age and money are compelling reasons to trade Kevin Garnett.  At 31, Garnett might play a couple more seasons at or near All-Star level but once players are in their 30’s it’s anyone’s guess how healthy and effective they will be.  Garnett is the NBA’s top salaried player at over $20 million per season.  He is over paid because other players like Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and LeBron James are more valuable.  Plus, the guess is Garnett will still be looking for big bucks on his next contract when the current agreement ends in 2009.  

If I am Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor I am scrambling to move Garnett. Garnett understandably could lose his passion for playing here when the franchise is mulling over how to show him the door.  I doubt that Taylor, Garnett and vice president Kevin McHale are planning any summer outings where the three will gather around the campfire singing Kum Ba Yah.

Garnett has been frustrated here while playing for mostly mediocre teams.  There’s a common plea among national media and fans to send him to a place where an NBA championship isn’t a long shot.  The notion that the Wolves owe him this is nonsense.  Garnett has been rewarded with record basketball compensation by the Wolves and treated with respect.  What is likely to dictate a trade to a contender, though, if there is any deal, will be Garnett’s insistence on a championship destination.

Without a championship ring, Garnett will be remembered as another Karl Malone or Charles Barkley, two forwards who achieved similar NBA greatness.  When the league rolls out its list of the 75 greatest players of all-time in 2021, Garnett will be on the roster and will be less favorably compared with fellow power forward Tim Duncan who has been a leader of four NBA championship teams.

Garnett’s greatness as one of his era’s best players is exemplified by his league record stats of most consecutive seasons (six) averaging 20 plus points, 10 plus rebounds, and five assists; his four consecutive seasons leading the NBA in rebounds; selection to 10 all-star games and recognition eight times on all-NBA teams.  As perhaps the most versatile 7 footer ever to play basketball, Garnett accomplished all of that over a 12 year period. 

The next several years will not be nearly as productive and unless some extraordinary veterans are about to drop out of the sky, land at Target Center and help KG, it’s time to find a travel ticket for the Big Ticket.