Although some fans may be disappointed with tomorrow’s Viking draft pick in the first round, vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman told Sports Headliners yesterday he won’t be.  Six teams will draft ahead of the Vikings and Spielman said there are eight players of special interest. 

Could he be even a little disappointed with the player who falls to the Vikings at No. 7.  “No, never be disappointed,” he answered. 

With eight favored candidates and picking at No. 7, Spielman said it’s “mathematically impossible” he won’t like his draft choice.  Of course, he’s not saying who the elite eight are but here’s a guess:  quarterback JaMarcus Russell of LSU, offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin, quarterback Brady Quinn of Notre Dame, wide receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, defensive end Gaines Adams of Clemson, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye of Louisville, running back Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma and safety LaRon Landry of LSU.  That order, by the way, is how Sports Illustrated sees the draft developing through the first eight picks. 

Many fans want to see the Vikings draft a show biz talent.  That translates into an entertaining quarterback, running back or wide receiver.  Spielman made it clear the Vikings won’t use box office appeal to figure out who to pick.  He said there’s so much criteria including “17 alerts” (the Vikings would take the player with the least liabilities) that separating players to draft, even those who seem highly comparable, is a matter of process.  

“You have to focus internally (on) what’s best for the football team,” Spielman said. “A lot of times it may not be the most popular decision but you know in your heart of hearts that’s the right thing.  . . . .” 

While Spielman talks about the future, he’s not dismissing the prospect of the Vikings being a good football team in 2007.   “There’s a lot in place here,” he said.  “We need to get some offensive weapons, which we’re putting together. …Everybody says we need a pass rusher (at defensive end) but we’ll see how Erasmus (James) comes off his knee injury.   

“Fred Smoot is gone.  We just need another corner.  We were able to sign Mike Doss as a safety to come in and compete, but we’re getting a little older at safety so that doesn’t preclude us from taking (LaRon) Landry.  I just think the process keeps going and even after this process (the draft) we’re going to continue.   You know we picked up (safety) Dwight Smith last year in June.  We’ll pick up guys. …”

Although the Gophers have recently lost freshman Erik Johnson to St. Louis and also seem likely to lose  freshman Kyle Okposo and junior Alex Goligoski to the NHL before next season, the team still could be “special” in 2008, according to Glen Sonmor.  The former Gophers and North Stars coach suggests it’s usually beneficial for younger collegians to stay in school.  They can benefit from more playing time than rookies often earn in the NHL, plus more college experience and success can provide extra confidence once they reach the pro level. 

Sonmor, who follows the Gopher program closely as the team’s color commentator on WCCO Radio, thought all three players might have committed to the pros by now.  Goligoski, a defenseman, was a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004. Okposo, a forward, was a first round pick of the New York Islanders last year. 

The Gophers were ranked No. 1 in college hockey much of last season, won the WCHA championship and almost made the Frozen Final Four.  Most of last season’s roster returns for coach Don Lucia.  “The Gophers will be very good anyway, but if both of those young men (Goligoski and Okposo) come back, they would really be ready for a great season,” Sonmor told Sports Headliners. 

The team winning the national championship isn’t necessarily the best.  The 2007 national champion Michigan State Spartans are an example.  A number of factors can come together to determine the champion and Minnesota figures to have a chance almost every year. 

“It’s a great program,” Sonmor said.  “They’ve got some outstanding young men coming in (to join the returnees).    All you can be is really one of the elite teams that has a chance to be in the regionals at the end.  Then get a good selection of opponents, avoid injuries and have your goal keeper playing really well, and then you’ve got a good chance.  The Gophers will definitely be one of those teams but with Goligoski and Okposo they’d be much more so. …” 

Sonmor said the Gophers could have the best goalie in the nation next season in sophomore Jeff Frazee.  “He will be one of the real key ingredients in the Gophers becoming an elite team with a good chance at the national championship,” Sonmor said.   

Sonmor likes Frazee’s ability to play to the competition and mentions his success not only with the Gophers but also in international games.  “I think he’s really coming into his own,” Sonmor said.

Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, said yesterday he’s heard rumors that Miami may release quarterback Daunte Culpepper if Trent Green comes to the Dolphins in a trade with Kansas City. 

The NFL draft rates highest in interest with sports fans among all major spring weekend sporting events, according to the NFL Report publication (source: ESPN Sports Poll).   The draft (47.8 percent) led the Indy 500 (43.2), Kentucky Derby (40.1) and Preakness Stakes (29.5). 

The same publication noted the increase in viewers watching the draft on ESPN and ESPN2 since 2002.  Citing information from NFL and Nielsen Media Research, total viewers per year starting with 2002 were:  25.5 million, 29 million, 31.4 million, 34.4 million and 36.3 million. 

Michael Cuddyer, who only started nine of the Twins’ 24 games in April last year, talking about his status now as the regular right fielder:  “Last year I was on the bench and I didn’t really know what the future was going to hold for me.  This year is a little more stable and now I can just focus on helping the team win.” 

The height of basketball players is often exaggerated.  Wolves VP Kevin McHale was talking about the lack of big centers in the NBA and said Phoenix center Amare Stoudemire is 6-7 and a half.  On-line sources list him at 6-10. 

Maybe McHale will make an off-season trade with his former Celtics teammate Larry Bird, president of the Pacers. Pacer center Jermaine O’Neal could provide the Wolves with badly needed front court size, scoring and rebounding.   

The Wild may add toughness to the roster during the off-season but currently the organization doesn’t have an enforcer in the minors like Derek Boogaard, according to a team spokesman. 

There’s a new tennis blog that welcomes news and encourages opinion from recreational players here and elsewhere,  https://web.mac.com/msten.