Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos coach, attended Gopher football practice yesterday and spoke to the team.  “He is the best coach in the world today,” Gopher coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners Tuesday.  Brewster was an assistant on Shanahan’s staff before becoming Minnesota coach. 

Former Minnesota North Stars executive Lou Nanne describes Patrick White of Grand Rapids as a “terrific hockey player.”  White, a Gopher recruit, has been named the Associated Press state Player of the Year.  “White’s got unbelievable skill to handle the puck along the boards, in the corners,” said Nanne.  “He’s got great balance.  He’s really heady and he can shoot the puck.  He’s just a terrific all around player.” 

Since 2004 the Twins’ Joe Nathan ranks third in saves among major league relief pitchers with 123.  Mariano Rivera of the Yankees and Trevor Hoffman of the Padres each have 130. 

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who led the major leagues last season in hitting from June 8 with a .362 average, had 94 two-out RBI’s in 2006, the best total in the American League. 

Viking football players began off-season conditioning at Winter Park Monday and will continue through mid-May.

Except for perhaps “American Idol,” many people will tell you the hottest viewing on TV is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  For me, “Idol” gets my vote every time. Why? Fewer commercials. 

Among the discerning, Division I college basketball is a game with flaws that need fixing.  Doesn’t matter whether it’s the NCAA tournament or regular season, college hoops should be a better game to watch and play. 

The frequency and length of the TV timeouts is abominable.  Every four minutes a TV timeout is imposed so that networks and athletic departments can line their pockets with money.  Not only can you count on the TV timeouts, but it’s pretty likely, too, the coaches will call one or two timeouts during these four minute periods.  In a span of five minutes real time we can be “treated” to three commercial breaks! 

The result is college games don’t have much non-stop action and that’s an affront to the beauty of basketball.  For participant and spectator alike, basketball is best played and watched during multiple minutes of uninterrupted action.  Instead of a game that flows, too often we see a product that seems like a tease to make us watch a tiresome babble of advertising messages. 

While the takeover of college basketball by the TV bean counters and Madison Avenue creative teams is a relatively new development, NCAA hoops is also off its game with the five foul rule for disqualification.  First, the college game is over officiated and too many fouls are called, particularly violations close to the basket where more contact should be green light, not red light.  Second, fans come to see the best players compete, not watch them spend inordinate amounts of time on the bench because of fouls.   

Ohio State and other Big Ten Conference basketball fans can tell you about the numerous games this season when they watched freshman phenom Greg Oden be charged with early first half fouls and then sit on the bench.  It will likely be no different for Oden, Texas superstar Kevin Durant and other star players during the NCAA tournament.  Gee, do I turn on these games to watch the likes of Oden and Durant, or do I view them to see a second stringer? Please, change from five fouls to six and loosen up the calls.   

College basketball could be improved, too, by adding four minutes to its games. Use two 22-minute halves, or four quarters with periods of 11 minutes each.  Keep the same darn number of TV commercials (please, don’t add any) and spread the ads over more minutes than presently available with two 20-minute halves.  We’re probably dreaming on this next one, but reduce the coaches’ allotment of game timeouts from five to four.  The longer games will provide more entertainment for fans, a better flowing game for spectators and players, and perhaps more playing opportunity for reserves. 

Jim Souhan has proven his baseball expertise through the years covering the Twins first as a reporter and now as a columnist for the Star Tribune.  He’s an admirer of the 2007 Twins and also the American League’s Central Division.

Pressed for a predicted order of finish, he said Tigers, Twins, Indians, White Sox and Royals.  Souhan added a quick disclaimer that the order of teams could easily change in “by far” baseball’s best division.  “A really talented team is going to finish fourth in the Central this year,” he told Sports Headliners. 

Souhan “loves” the Twins lineup and bullpen and likes the club house chemistry.  He also “loves the young arms” of potential starting pitchers Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey.  “To me the key is not getting buried early in the season with the rotation as it is (mostly veteran questionables Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Silva),” Souhan said.  “If they (the Twins) can get through mid or late May and not be buried, still have those young arms in reserve and ready to pitch in the major leagues, they’re in pretty good shape.  While it’s hard to pick any team (in the division), look out (for the Twins).” 

Souhan talked about the veteran pitchers contributing early while Perkins and Slowey develop in the minors but he sees a bigger role for Garza right away.  “When you look at what this team’s aspirations are, they’re going to need a real No. 2 starter (behind Johan Santana),” Souhan said.  “Garza is the only guy in camp right now who is capable of being a No. 2.  If they get to July and their rotation is starting Silva, Ortiz, (Boof) Bonser and Ponson, then they’ve got a true ace (Santana) and a bunch of fours and fives.  Maybe a three at best, Bonser.  

“If you have Garza and he pitches the way he’s capable with that arm, then you’ve got legitimate No. 1 and No. 2 (pitchers) who can any given night go out and completely shut down the opposition. You can fill in behind two guys like that.  Also, if they get to the playoffs and Garza is pitching like a true No. 2, now it’s not all on Santana.  You’ve got a chance to win the first two games.”