Dick Jonckowski, Gopher basketball public address announcer, was the public address man when the Minnesota Pipers of the old American Basketball Association played their last game here in 1969.  Now the Minnesota Ripknees play in a new ABA and Jonckowski did the PA for the team’s opening game.  

Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson said he will train in Florida during the off-season and also spend time at his home in South Carolina.  Williamson will be preparing for his third season in the NFL, following two seasons that he didn’t establish himself as a starter. 

Much praised Vikings’ defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin’s name might be rumored during the off-season when NFL coaching changes occur.  Tomlin, 34, now has seven years of NFL coaching experience including with Tampa Bay when the Bucs won the Super Bowl.  In his first season with the Vikings he’s turned heads while coaching one of the NFC’s better defenses.  His resume qualifies him for other coordinator positions if he’s interested and despite his youth he might receive a look from a team wanting a young head coach.

Jim Lehman said his brother Tom’s goal is to play for the American Ryder Cup team in 2008.  Tom, who turns 48 in March, has “at least two good years” to look forward to on the PGA Tour, according to Jim who works for SFX Golf in Minneapolis.  Jim has years of experience in player representation and golf management.

Local author Ross Bernstein, who has written more than 30 books, has two new hockey books.  “The Code” is an intriguing look at fighting in the NHL based on Bernstein’s interviews with more than 50 current and former hockey tough guys.  “America’s Coach” shares the life lessons, including motivation, of legendary coach Herb Brooks whose “Miracle on Ice” 1980 Olympic hockey team will long be remembered.  Brooks died in 2003 but his wisdom will inspire those who read “America’s Coach.” 

Former Gopher basketball player Barry Wohler, now head coach at Hamline, has two former Gophers as part-time assistants, Gary Holmes and Zeb Howell.  Former Minneapolis Washburn and North Dakota State star Lance Berwald, who played 14 years of European professional basketball, is also a part-time assistant. 

St. Paul Saints play-by-play broadcaster Kris Atteberry, 34, has been hired by the Minnesota Twins to serve as pre-game and post-game host on the team’s new radio network.  He will be heard before and after all Twins games and provide in-game updates.  

Former Gopher basketball player Vince Grier has been sent to the Sioux Falls Skyforce by the NBA Development League.

Comments Welcome

News this week that the Xcel Energy Center has been nationally recognized as a preferred venue is well deserved and improves the area’s historical reputation for having below par sports and entertainment facilities. Xcel has been selected as “Best NHL Arena” by SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily in its 2006 reader survey; “Best Fan Experience” by Forbes magazine in its annual “Business of Hockey” report, and Xcel received its fifth nomination for “Arena of the Year” by Pollstar magazine, the leading concert industry trade publication. 

Earlier this year Sports Illustrated named Xcel its top choice among NHL arenas in its NHL Preview issue. In 2003, ESPN The Magazine rated Xcel No. 1 for “Best Stadium Experience.” On the concert side, Xcel Energy Center has been nominated four times (2001-2003, 2005) for “Arena of the Year” by Pollstar. 

Known for its sightlines, acoustics and fan friendly environment, Xcel has been acclaimed since its opening in 2000 for hockey, concerts and family shows.

Historically, some of our other area facilities have not drawn nearly as much praise. In the 1920s legend is that Knute Rockne and other planners for a Notre Dame football stadium came to Minneapolis to analyze the University of Minnesota’s Memorial Stadium, long known for its poor sightlines and disproportionate number of bowl end seats.  “Gentlemen, this is how not to build a stadium,” the famous coach reportedly said.   

Over the years University planners talked about stadium renovations and expansion to improve Memorial Stadium but never proceeded.  There was even serious discussion in the 1970s about doming the stadium and using it for football and basketball. 

Met Stadium opened in 1956 as Minneapolis boosters pushed for a major league baseball team with the opening of the new ball park in Bloomington.  Although the stadium was expanded with the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, the bleacher stands running along the left field foul line were never converted into arm chair seating.  Then, too, rather than build a football stadium for the Vikings, the team played for years in the Met Stadium where sightlines were deplorable for football. 

Operating on the cheap (see Memorial Stadium and Met Stadium above) characterized the planning and opening of the Metrodome.  Rather than pushing for separate football and baseball facilities, the inexpensive alternative was to build the Metrodome.  A somewhat stingy amount of about $55 million was budgeted and initial talk was to install bleacher seats with backs.  During the first months of operation fans sweltered with no air conditioning, another attempt to save money. 

The Met Center was known for its great sightlines but when local leaders heard an appeal from Minnesota North Stars ownership to expand the building with more concourse space and luxury suites the answer was no.  For less than $15 million the Met Center could have been renovated and perhaps would still be home to the North Stars. 

Target Center helped bring the NBA back to Minneapolis with a then state-of-the art facility.  With only one small lobby and acoustics rated below the more modern Xcel, few Minneapolis boosters will argue that the building is the equal of the Xcel. 

Clearly the area’s greatest success stories are Xcel, and the Gophers’ hockey and basketball homes, Mariucci Arena and Williams Arena.  Sometimes we do get it right.

Comments Welcome

Athletic director Joel Maturi will have an unusual amount of time to search for a new basketball coach at the University of Minnesota.  Dan Monson departed in late November when normally you expect to see a college basketball change in February or March.  Maturi’s research time will be more than ample to settle on selection criteria and review candidates including interim coach Jim Molinari. 

Former Gopher basketball coach Jim Dutcher, who has been a TV color commentator on Minnesota games for years, was asked about criteria.  A new coach, he said, should have a staff that can recruit nationally with success.  The coach should also come here committed to the University of Minnesota and not looking to use the job to move elsewhere. 

“You want a commitment, you want a solid staff, you want someone who can communicate with the fans,”  Dutcher said.  “Minnesota fans are pretty forgiving.  They just want a team that’s competitive.  They know they are not going to win the Big Ten (Conference) championship every year, or every other year. But they want to feel they (the Gophers) have a chance to win each time they walk out there.” 

Dutcher expects many qualified candidates to materialize.  “Big Ten jobs are select jobs in the basketball coaching profession,” he said.  “They’ll get a lot of very good qualified candidates that will be interested in this job.” 

Is there a reason the Gophers can’t be a top 20 program?  “Not that I know of,” Dutcher answered.  “Because of the recruiting area, you are probably not going to be up there at the top consistently but certainly there’s no reason why you can’t be in the upper division of the Big Ten. And the way that the post season tournaments are structured now, being in the upper division is going to get you in the post season tournament.  We saw the turnaround at Wisconsin (where the Badgers changed from a mediocre program to a consistent contender for the NCAA tournament). …”

Comments Welcome