WCCO Sports Huddle host Dave Mona, a trading card expert, estimates he has one to two million cards.  At one time he owned about four million cards.  He said recently a long term trend of declining interest and value in cards continues.  “Many cards from the last 20 years are virtually worthless,” he said.  

Card manufacturers are producing fewer cards than in the past and interest among the public, including youngsters, has been impacted by the many other entertainment options.  Among the “hot cards” today are Joe Mauer and Johan Santana rookie cards.  In football, there has been lots of excitement about the rookie cards of former USC idols Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.  Mona said he recently sold an autographed Leinart on eBay for $180. 

Old cards may still hold value including the famous 1952 Topps baseball set.  Mona estimated the set value at “more than $15,000.00.”  Included in the set is a rookie Mickey Mantle card that Mona said even “if scruffy” could fetch $1,500.00.

Timberwolves center Mark Blount became friends with 89- year-old Celtics legend Red Auerbach when he played in Boston.  Blount said he “loves Red” and is impressed with his memory.  “His mind is still sharp,” Blount said.  “He will remember every play.  He’ll remember what I did right; what I did wrong. He is still on top of his game.” 

Former Twins batting champion Tony Oliva on whether the team needs to add another power hitter for next season:  “We got plenty of hitting.” 

The Wild’s extension of Jacques Lemaire’s contract wasn’t surprising.  Although he is 61, Lemaire likes coaching and the Wild organization has let others concentrate on being the franchise’s public face to the public and media.   

Steve Hutchinson, who left the Seahawks as a free agent to sign with the Vikings this year, will be booed when he returns to Seattle for Sunday’s game but how often can you boo someone playing a low profile position like offensive tackle? 

Gopher football coach Glen Mason indicated on WCCO Radio Sunday that strong safety Dominic Jones likely will move to cornerback to replace Trumiane Banks who broke his arm against Wisconsin on Saturday.  Duran Cooley, a junior college transfer, will take Jones’ spot at strong safety. 

Don’t write Daunte Culpepper’s NFL “obituary” yet.  That’s the advice of a former NFL team executive who spoke earlier in the week about Culpepper and his situation in Miami.   

The ex-Viking quarterback certainly hasn’t had a honeymoon start in Miami.  Coming off of major knee rehabilitation and a trade to the Dolphins, Culpepper has shown limited mobility.  He has been sacked 21 times and also suffered a shoulder injury.   

It’s not even clear now if the former Pro Bowl quarterback will be the Dolphins starter.  Culpepper didn’t play last Sunday, much to the delight of some Dolphins fans who have been booing the man-child quarterback.  Culpepper, 6-4, 265, has been unimpressive statistically, throwing two touchdown passes and three interceptions in limited playing time. 

He won’t play next Sunday because he started a rehab program for his right knee and his return date is unknown.  Joey Harrington, a major disappointment during four seasons in Detroit, replaces Culpepper for the Dolphins who have a 1-4 record.  

All of this doesn’t mean Culpepper, 29, is ready for the old folks home.  The former NFL executive argues it can take two years for a player to recover from a major injury and return to normal performance.  “It sounds like he’s not 100% in terms of his ability and he’s going into a new system,” the source said.  

Culpepper is not only learning a new offense and playing for a “demanding” coach in Nick Saban, but he’s also working with a “struggling” offensive line, the source said.  “The offensive line is a weak leak,” he added.  

An indication of the ineffective line is the performance of running back Ronnie Brown.  He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry after averaging 4.4 last season. 

How strange is it that both Culpepper and Randy Moss, neither of whom is yet 30 years old and once were the faces of the Vikings franchise, are playing for other teams and currently stalled out in team and individual glory?  “It is interesting, but that’s the modern day NFL (with salary cap and player movement),” the source said.