Troy Hudson, who has been with the Timberwolves for four seasons, said the organization has had good point guards through the years but wonders why there has been so much turnover at the position.  He was the Wolves’ point guard in 2002-2003 when the team won 51 games and advanced to the playoffs. 

Hudson said comments every year that the Wolves are “lacking” at the point guard position “bothered” him for awhile but then he thought more about the criticism. “Okay, when I was healthy and I was really getting an opportunity we won 51 games with me at the point guard position,”  Hudson said. “The next year we won 56 games with Sam Cassell at the point guard position. … Then they brought in Marko (Jaric).  And then (years ago) we had Stephon Marbury here (and) Bobby Jackson here (and) Chauncey Billups here.

“So I just started thinking to myself is it really the point guard position?  What’s really being hidden here? I mean, if we’re going to say every year we need a new point guard. … You win 51 games one year, 56 games one year and those two point guards aren’t good enough.  I don’t know what else to say.

“Now I have come to the realization that maybe I am just not the guy they are looking for here.  Maybe it’s the way I play or my style of play but I don’t think it’s because I am not a great point guard or a good point guard.  Maybe they are looking for a point guard around here that doesn’t exist.” 

Hudson said he considers himself a “basketball player” and is prepared to play point guard or off-guard for the Wolves.  “Two or one (positions) is cool with me. … I always do the things that the coaches want me to do,” Hudson said. 

Newcomer Mike James, formerly with Toronto, seems likely to win the point guard position this fall.

Vikings offensive tackle Steve Hutchinson, a former Michigan star, spoke to the Wolverines last Friday night prior to their Saturday game with the Gophers about the home field advantage of the Metrodome.  “He told us then that it’s as loud as any place he’s ever played, if not louder,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. 

Joel Maturi was asked for a reaction to the highly critical article by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse regarding Maturi’s contract extension and past performance as University of Minnesota athletic director. Maturi e-mailed the following:  “Not my mindset to get responsive, defensive.  I am proud of what we have accomplished in four years and feel very good about the direction of this Athletics Department and feel anyone who looks into the facts will surmise much the same.” 

The Gophers sold 1,264 tickets on Saturday for the Michigan game, according to Maturi’s office.  With more use of the Internet and phone sales, fewer day of game sales are being made. 

Timberwolves president Chris Wright reports that over 500 of the “Big Ticket Packages,” offering a $21 per game lower level Target Center seat for the season, have been sold so far.  The team has sold 1,300 new season tickets, up 400 from last year at this time. 

Zimmerman High School football coach Dave Hamlin e-mailed that senior running back Zac Nielsen has 870 yards and 18 touchdowns in five games while playing limited minutes.  “These numbers reflect only 1/2 to 2/3 of every game,” Hamlin wrote.  “I usually take him out in the third quarter as we have been scoring a lot and I don’t want to run up scores or risk injury with my starters.” North Dakota State has shown interest. 

Former Gopher football coach Murray Warmath, 93, was recently interviewed by a volunteer for the Minnesota Historical Society.  There is a project to talk with Minnesotans about their experiences from long ago including World War II.  Wamath served in the Navy and was stationed in Brazil. 

Joe Janasz, former public relations director of the Minnesota North Stars, played Scottish and Irish golf courses on a recent trip with buddies to watch the Ryder Cup.  A 14 handicapper, he reports the famed St. Andrews Old Course is “fairly easy.”

When the Twins weren’t winning earlier in the season, manager Ron Gardenhire’s reaction was that the team lacked athleticism.  The Twins were out of character from their style of aggressive base running and forcing other teams to make mistakes.   

“As it (the season) went along we realized we just were not athletic enough,” Gardenhire said.  “We just didn’t have enough speed to do those things (running the bases, forcing mistakes). When we made the changes, when we put speed in the lineup, I think it kind of set a tone for wrecking havoc on people.  

“We’re a team that likes to run. …I sure like it when those guys are stealing bases and running around and diving all over the place. …I think once we did that the guys got into it and everybody took part in it. … You don’t see people jogging too many times around here.  They’re hauling it and running and busting their tails.” 

The Twins became better defensively and on the bases by exchanging third baseman Tony Batista and shortstop Juan Castro for Nick Punto and Jason Bartlett. The athleticism on the left side of the infield complemented the already effective right side defense with second baseman Luis Castillo and first baseman Justin Morneau.  Batista and Ruben Sierra had been part of a plan to add more power that didn’t work. 

On the morning of May 28 the Twins’ record was 22-26 and the team was 12.5 games behind the Central Division leading Detroit Tigers. The Twins won the division on the last day of the season, finishing with 96 wins, just one fewer than the two winningest teams in baseball the Mets and Yankees.  

“I will remember this team for an amazing comeback and being a really, really close unit out there in the clubhouse, just like the 2002 team,” Gardenhire said.  That club was Gardenhire’s first division championship team.