If Joe Nathan broke out the customary cigars last week over the birth of his second child, he’s probably holding a few smokes in reserve for another celebration.  A new contract would be cause for an additional special moment in the life of arguably baseball’s best relief pitcher. 

Nathan told Sports Headliners yesterday that “I’d love it” to finish his career as a Minnesota Twin.  Without a new contract, the Twins could lose Nathan after the 2008 season.  Nathan is contractually signed through the 2007 season.  The Twins have the option of picking up his contract for the 2008 season at an already agreed upon salary (made specific as part of the contract he signed in 2005).  If the team doesn’t exercise its option, there is a buyout for an undisclosed amount of money, according to a Twins spokesman. 

Nathan, 32, wants to stay here if a satisfactory contract can be negotiated and has given his agent the okay to continue to pursue a deal.  “I’ve showed interest,” he said.  That interest is based on several factors including the organization’s patience and assistance in helping him develop into a premier relief pitcher.  At the start of this season his 123 saves dating back to 2004 were second among major league relief pitchers to Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, both with 130.  Nathan saved 36 of 38 save opportunities last season and so far in 2007 is three for three. 

He’s also interested in remaining with the Twins because he “loves the city” and is optimistic about the club’s future with so much young talent.  He hopes his agent can complete a deal before the season ends. 

Nathan’s loyalty to the Twins made headlines last week when he was willing to pitch for the team on the day his wife gave birth to their first daughter.  Nathan said although he was “floating that day” he could have focused enough to pitch effectively.   

Compartmentalizing his personal and professional lives is part of Nathan’s success in both.  “Just a matter of separating the two,” he said.   

Even if he has a difficult experience at the ballpark, Nathan keeps a focus on other things at home.  At the ballpark he has a routine that helps him get ready mentally and physically including running and throwing.

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Sports Headliners has learned the football Gophers and Northern Illinois have a verbal agreement for the Huskies to play in Minneapolis on August 30, 2008.   A signed contract is expected soon.  That will be Minnesota’s opening game and completes the 2008 schedule.  Other non-conference games will be at Bowling Green, and home against Montana State and Florida Atlantic. 

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, an NHL fan, is picking Buffalo and Detroit to play for the Stanley Cup.   

Wayne Kostroski, co-owner of Minneapolis area restaurants Tejas and Bar Abilene, reports that the 2007 Taste of the NFL raised $550,000 for hunger- related charities.  Kostroski, who volunteers his time as executive director of Taste of the NFL, said the mega annual Super Bowl party is the “only lasting legacy” to the Super Bowl held in Minneapolis in 1992.  The event began here and has now raised $6.6 million for organizations such as food banks.  Called a “party with a purpose,” the 2007 event in south Florida had a record attendance of 3,000 people who enjoyed food from restaurants representing each NFL city. 

Sports enthusiast Tim Murray, co-owner of Murray’s restaurant, will be married on April 21 to Mary Foster, a Minneapolis banker.  The two have known each other since grade school in Golden Valley.  The couple will honeymoon in Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas. 

Kickoffs will be from the 30 yard line this season in Division I college football.   Kickoffs were from the 35 yard line last year but will be pushed back five yards to create more returns. 

Concordia College sophomore pitcher Jill Reinert, from Watertown, Minnesota,  struck out 20 batters in Concordia’s 6-3, 12-inning win over Bethel on Friday. That set a school record for most strikeouts in a single game.  The MIAC named Reinert its Softball Pitcher of the Week.

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University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks is a horseman. Tim Brewster recalls during the interview process that led to his becoming the new Gopher football coach that Bruininks talked about the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena.  Bruininks told Brewster he didn’t want to put pressure on him but he wants to ride a horse in the parade that annually precedes the Rose Bowl football game. 

Brewster enjoys telling the story that the university’s president wants to see the football team back in Pasadena for the first time since 1962.  The Gopher coach is all about setting expectations and he’s even acquired a small piece of Rose Bowl turf to symbolize the quest to ride west as Big Ten Conference champions. 

“He doesn’t miss a beat.”  That’s a phrase defining Brewster. I literally hear myself and others saying it with more frequency all the time.  His salesmanship brought out probably the largest spring football game crowd (estimated at 5,000) in two generations last Saturday.  Although it was a chilly morning, hundreds of fans greeted the team outside the stadium two hours before game time and the tradition of the Gopher Walk was born. 

“I don’t know how many were out but there were a lot of people and the kids felt the excitement and they felt the passion,” Brewster told Sports Headliners on Saturday.  “That was great.” 

The night before the spring game 165 former Gopher football players enjoyed a free dinner and program on campus.  Brewster told them when his Gophers play they represent every player “whoever wore the maroon and gold.”  Among those in attendance was Marion Barber III who reportedly flew to Minneapolis from Dallas to show his support. 

A week before that Brewster was hosting hundreds of high school football coaches and telling them he wants every young man who is a Big Ten player to stay home and play for the Gophers.  He’s building relationships with the coaches and is going to keep more prospects home than in the past. 

The Gophers are targeting about nine Minnesota high school juniors to accept scholarship offers in 2008.  Several have given verbal commitments already, none bigger than Champlin Park High School linebacker Sam Maresh. He’s one of the big three state targets along with USA Today all-American wide receiver Michael Floyd and Eden Prairie defensive lineman Willie Mobley. 

It’s easy to project Maresh as a Gopher leader and future captain.  He’s so passionate about Brewster he’s trying to recruit other players.  A source told Sports Headliners Maresh has contacted Brewster’s son, Nolan, encouraging him to become a Gopher.  Nolan, one of the nation’s best prep safeties, has verbally committed to Texas for 2008. 

Brewster is all about establishing a gold standard for excellence and being an inclusive leader. He invites everyone to be part of what he calls the “Gopher Nation.”  He brought in famed Denver Bronco coach Mike Shanahan to talk to the team.  Murray Warmath, the Gophers’ 1960 national championship coach, did the same.   Whether it was the famous or not so famous visiting spring practice, they were welcomed and might even have seen the whole team come over to the sidelines to shake hands. 

The Gopher players have a new start under Brewster.  This was a 6-6 team last season, a gang that played superbly at times but also had awful performances.  There are six starters back on offense, nine on defense. 

Reinvigorated players came to Brewster and said they want to adopt a slogan for the new season:  “We will make history again.” 

The school with six national championships and 18 conference titles has a storied past.  With not even a conference championship since 1967, the emphasis is on past.  But there’s no substitute for expectations, passion and hard work.  Brewster and his staff are all about that. A lot of the energy and time is targeted to recruiting.   The Gophers are going after top players in various parts of the country.  Brewster is not interested in chasing the same kids Arkansas State is after. 

It will take awhile but the momentum is changing and the expectations are going higher at Minnesota.  Bob Bruininks wants to go for a ride.

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