David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Ready to Celebrate 1991 Champs

Posted on August 10, 2021 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column:

The Minnesota Twins excel at celebrating their history and that will be evident before Saturday’s home game when the 1991 World Series championship team is honored.

Club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this morning that about 30 former players, coaches and front office folks associated with that team will be in attendance.

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

Reunions like these are valued by the Twins not just for the fans but for those who made the World Series championship possible. St. Peter said it’s “the least” the organization can do to honor those who produced one of the franchise’s two world titles (1987 is the other). Attendees are transported and hosted for the weekend at the club’s expense.

The team came off a disappointing 1990 season and wasn’t expected to have a great year in 1991. But there was a core of talent led by Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek. Prior to the season GM Andy MacPhail and manager Tom Kelly (both of whom will be part of the 30th anniversary celebration this weekend) sorted through options to improve the club. They hit the jackpot in acquiring pitcher Jack Morris and the productive bat of Chili Davis. Both were huge contributors to the 1991 success during the season and playoffs.

Alumni from the 1991 team will be on radio and TV broadcasts, sharing stories. Bally Sports North will telecast pregame activities honoring the team. The peerless Jim Kaat, a member of the Twins 1965 World Series team, will work the TV games in the booth with Dick Bremer.

After the Minnesota Vikings cut Jeff Gladney last week, the transaction furthered the second-guessing of not drafting former University of Minnesota All-American Antoine Winfield Jr.

In the 2020 NFL Draft the Vikings, in need of cornerbacks, made Gladney a first round selection. Available, though, was Winfield who the Tampa Bay Bucs took in the second round. He played safety for the Bucs last fall and made nearly 100 tackles while showing he was a draft day steal.

Winfield, who turns 23 next week, could have been the successor to 32-year-old Harrison Smith as Minnesota’s premier safety. This season it looks like Smith will be paired at safety with former Dallas Cowboys sixth round pick Xavier Woods who the Vikings signed as a free agent this offseason. Woods, 26, didn’t grade well last year in Dallas.

Since the 2020 draft the Vikings have strengthened their cornerback roster with the acquisition of younger players and vets. That’s happened without Gladney, who was cut from the team after an indictment for felony assault. He hadn’t been with the club since April following a rookie season when he struggled with mental errors.

Winfield, who was named to the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team, had doubters among pro scouts because of his 5-9 height. But his tackling, instinct to track the football in the air and rare ability to make the biggest of plays was on full display with the Gophers. The Vikings often had personnel evaluators at Winfield’s Gopher games at TCF Bank Stadium but didn’t prioritize him enough to take him in the first round.

It’s an unfortunate draft saga for the Vikings who could have selected a legacy home town player. Winfield’s dad, Antoine Winfield Sr., was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Vikings and a fan favorite. Antoine Jr., beloved by Gophers followers, might have been even more popular here.

The Vikings franchise is worth $3.35 billion. That’s according to the new Forbes.com valuation of NFL franchises. The Vikings, ranked No. 18 in value, were purchased by the current ownership group for $600 million in 2005.

The Vikings practice today at their training camp in Eagan, then host joint practices with the Denver Broncos Wednesday and Thursday. After a players’ day off Friday, the Vikings play the Broncos in a preseason game starting at 3 p.m. Saturday in U.S. Bank Stadium.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are inexpensive on the secondary market, likely available at under $10 per ticket. Actual attendance at the game could be 40,000 to 45,000.

Figure the Vikings at 50/1 odds to win the 2022 Super Bowl.

Fans are welcome at Gophers football practice starting at 7 p.m. Thursday in Huntington Bank Stadium. Attendees are encouraged to donate school supplies and also decorated oars for display inside the stadium.

Looks like Minnesota will be about a 14 point underdog to Ohio State for the September 2 season opener in Minneapolis.

A gambler could probably bet $100 and win $20,000 if coach Ben Johnson’s Minnesota basketball team emerges next spring as NCAA champions.

Wendy Blackshaw, who leads the Minnesota Sports and Events organization, and husband John Blackshaw, are the latest “Behind the Game” guests of co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. John is president of the Bloomington-based Tunheim public relations and public affairs agency. The program is available for viewing on the “Behind the Game” YouTube Channel and via cable access throughout the state.

The newly launched College Football Players Association is a national organization with Minnesota ties. Executive director Jason Stahl is a former faculty member at the University of Minnesota. Three of the seven advisory board members have Minnesota connections: former Gopher football players Gaelin Elmore and Pete Najarian; and ex-University of Minnesota regent Michael Hsu.

One advisory board member is anonymous on the organization’s website because he is a college football player. The CFBPA allows players, whether on the advisory board or paying members of the organization, to have the option of keeping their names private.

The CFBPA is an advocacy organization for current and past college football players. The following is the stated mission on its website: “The CFBPA will engage in nationwide advocacy for the rights of college football players and be dedicated to their health, safety and welfare. The CFBPA will make sure that college football players everywhere are finally organized to have a collective voice in the decision making within their sport.”

The organization allows others to pay the $24 membership fee for players and is having a membership drive targeting donors this month. As of late last week Hsu said there were less than 100 players who are members, but he expects substantial growth. The organization is interested in surveying college football players about many topics including the name, image and likeness issue, and expansion of Power Five Conferences. “There’s no doubt it (CFBPA) can work,” Hsu said.

The CFBPA is not a union and presently unions are not in play for college athletes because of legal precedent. Hsu said none of the CFBPA leadership is paid including Stahl.

Minnesota United CEO Chris Wright will leave his position after the season and his successor will be introduced to the media this afternoon (Tuesday).

Sports trivia enthusiast Bob Klas Jr. reminds friends Jim Thorpe was among the best Olympians ever. The gifted Thorpe excelled in several sports including track and field, and football—and won the 1912 intercollegiate ballroom dancing championship!

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U Deserves More ‘Love’ from Media

Posted on August 8, 2021August 9, 2021 by David Shama

Most media authorities are respectful but not excited about the season ahead for the Golden Gophers. Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern are consistently predicted to finish ahead of Minnesota in the Big Ten West. Top 25 national rankings? Not for the Gophers.

Minnesota, though, is positioned to surprise. The Gophers can match or exceed most Big Ten rivals in the number of returning starters. If quarterback is the most important position in college football, the Gophers boast Tanner Morgan now in his fifth year with the program. Offensive and defensive lines also determine outcomes of games and Minnesota’s lines have experience and depth. The Gophers also have one of the nation’s best running backs in Mohamed Ibrahim.

The Gophers have prove-it positions like wide receiver and linebacker to answer but coach P.J. Fleck’s team has the look of a surprise West Division champion. After an 11-2 season in 2019, Minnesota fell back to 3-4 in the year (2020) of COVID. That record and Minnesota’s defensive woes in the early part of the schedule have impacted predictions of media reps from newspapers, magazines and online.

But that was last year, a season in which the Gophers lost two games by a total of four points and saw the defense improve in November and December. Minnesota, with minimal spring and fall practice time and trying to replace defensive stars from the 2019 team, struggled for awhile last year but got better under the direction of its talented defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi.

Rossi has a line that has added transfer Nyles Pinckney from Clemson and Val Martin from North Carolina State. Boye Mafe, a gifted pass rusher, is a potential All-Big Ten defensive end. The other defensive end, Esezi Otomeow, is a sleeper talent who could do big things. There are several other d-linemen who can play and collectively give the Gophers a steady rotation to keep fresh players on the field.

Based on spring practice Morgan acknowledged the defensive line improvement. “There’s a lot of guys that can make a lot of plays,” he said.

Fleck and his players believe they can beat anyone on their schedule, including Big Ten bully Ohio State with its many gifted players. Because of Minnesota’s talent and experience, Fleck said the program has a “players-led team.” Veteran receiver Chris-Autman Bell describes the Gophers as “super connected.” Mafe said that because of COVID last year it was difficult to bond, but the “chemistry” is much better now.

The coaches and players have stuck together during difficult times. Minnesota’s number of players transferring out of the program ranks among the lowest in the Big Ten during 2020 and 2021, despite the social unrest in the city and other parts of the country. The coaching staff has also remained stable.

“I think one of the big words for this team on the field (in 2021) is consistency and how we play,” Fleck said. “Last year I didn’t think we played consistent enough for a lot of reasons, starting with me.”

In 2020 Minnesota’s inexperience on defense and special teams was problematic. COVID limited practice time and preparation, and sometimes there was unexpected confusion on the field. For the Nebraska game, the Gophers had more than 30 players missing because of COVID but still won the game. This fall the pandemic could be less impactful and Minnesota will take the field with more experience including on special teams where two transfers with prior college success plan to make the field goal and extra point production considerably better. “We know we’re going to have to win really close games,” Fleck said.

The Gophers intend to do just that, with Morgan noting internal expectations for the season are far more optimistic than those of media authorities.

Worth Noting

Last week Fleck acknowledged past recruiting misjudgments. Although he didn’t name units, presumably the transfers from other programs last offseason were corrective moves in the defensive line, linebacker and kicker units. He remains committed to building his program with players just out of high school.

Gopher transfers include Martin, Pinckney, linebacker Jack Gibbens (Abilene Christian) and kickers Will Mobley (Temple) and Matthew Trickett (Kent State).

Newcomer of the year in Dinkytown? Defensive tackle Pinckney was a captain at Clemson and is likely determined to have a breakout final college season to position himself for the NFL Draft. Another candidate is true freshman cornerback Justin Walley, who impressed in the spring after early enrollment at the U and following a prep career where he was named Mississippi Mr. Football.

In a state long known for its successful businesses, name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes has the potential to be a positive for the Gophers. Coaches, though, can’t orchestrate paying of players because of NCAA policy and it will require leaders in the business community to show interest in compensating Gophers for their NIL.

For now it sounds like whatever NIL money comes to the Gophers, will be spread around. Ibrahim, who could be a Heisman Trophy candidate this fall, is committed to sharing. “…Any money that’s coming in is definitely going to get split with my five, six, seven, eight offensive linemen,” he said.

Speculation, including from a Sports Headliners source, is North Dakota State wants to join a soon to be revamped Big 12 Conference after the defections of Oklahoma and Texas. Jumping from FCS to a Power Five Conference will be a reality check for the football Bison who have built much of their success with rosters filled with Minnesotans.

Happy 85th birthday today to former Gopher quarterback and assistant coach Dick Larson. The charismatic Minneapolis native remains active in the work place running Integrity Wealth Management in St. Paul.

Herb Brooks, who tragically died in an auto accident August 11, 2003, would have been 84 last Thursday. The legendary former Gophers and Olympic hockey coach is still missed by countless friends and admirers. A master coach and a person of the highest character.

Former Gophers wide receiver Adam Mayer is working for Palo Alto-based Archer, and is recruiting and hiring engineers for flight, aeronautics and computer systems. Dad Barry Mayer was a starting running back on Gopher teams in the late 1960s.

The reservation deadline is Monday for the Football Hall of Fame Banquet coming up this Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and tickets can be ordered via www.mnfootballcoaches.com

Hall of Fame Inductees from the high school division are: Bill D. Bailey, Starbuck; Richard Robinson, Minneapolis North and Karl Deis, Mora. College Division inductees are: Mike Plinske, Bethel University and Terry Horan, Concordia College.

Butch Nash Assistant Coach Award winners for 2020 are: Jeff Boonstra, NLS; Joe Coenen, Chanhassen; Todd Hamer, Lakeville North; Mark Harris, Stillwater; Kevin Hulke, Minnesota Valley Lutheran; Gregory Johnson, Verndale; John Kyvig, Andover; Matthew Nelson, Kasson-Mantorville; Daniel Svoboda, GSL; Andrew Stephenson, Spring Lake Park; Michael Wenninger, Luverne.

Several other award winners will be announced Friday including the State Coach of the Year.

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Twins GM Levine: Club Not Rebuilding

Posted on August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 by David Shama

Multiple trades last month, including departing headliners Jose Berrios and Nelson Cruz, left Minnesota Twins fans wondering if the club front office is signaling a rebuild for a team that is currently a disappointing 44-62 this season and in last place in the AL Central Division.

General manager Thad Levine told Sports Headliners rebuilding is not the direction of the franchise that this spring was a favorite to win a third consecutive division title. “Our intent is to maintain our competitiveness. We think we’ve been a force in the American League Central the last handful of seasons. We expect to do that moving forward as well.”

Trades last month by Levine and executive VP Derek Falvey focused on prospects, not proven MLB talent. Pitchers dominated the new talent crop, along with highly hyped infielder-outfielder Austin Martin.

“We are not in a rebuild mode,” Levine said. “I think if we had been you would have seen a very different complexion to the trading deadline as we had a number of assets…players that could have drawn a ton of interest in the game. I think if anything, I would clarify it for a little bit more of a retool where we were making adjustments on the fly.

“No one expected the season we just had. But rather than just being muddled and confounded with what transpired and inactive at the deadline, I think we took an opportunity to add to what we feel is already a strong farm system to better position ourselves for 2022 and beyond.

“Painful decisions without question, in terms of departing with a guy like Jose Berrios, in terms of parting with a leader like Nelson Cruz. But I do think there’s an obligation we have to fans, (and) the players to try to build for the future when we’re not winning at the present. So we took advantage of that, but we think the core of this team has a chance to be very competitive in 2022 and beyond.”

Martin had been ranked the Toronto Blue Jays’ second best prospect and 16th overall in baseball, per Mlb.com. He has been assigned to the Wichita Wind Surge, Minnesota’s Double-A affiliate. He was activated today.

As a college player in 2019 at Vanderbilt, Martin hit .392 and helped Vandy to the NCAA championship. When the Twins acquired him last Friday he was batting .281 (55-for-196) with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 16 RBI, 43 runs scored and 37 walks. He had a .424 on-base percentage and an .807 OPS in 55 games for Double-A New Hampshire. This is his first season of professional baseball.

In college and professional baseball he has shown scouts exceptional knowledge of the strike zone and making contact with the baseball. “Those are fundamental skills that are exceptionally valuable to major league hitters,” Levine said. “We believe the power will come with him. …”

The 6-foot, 185-pound Martin has the athleticism to play multiple positions in the majors, perhaps even shortstop. Levine said Martin is not “preordained” by the Twins to any position yet and the organization will go through an assessment process in the weeks and months ahead. He is listed as an outfielder on the Wind Surge roster. “He actually will have the opportunity to fill a variety of holes when he gets here,” Levine said.

The Twins GM is appreciative of Martin’s versatility in the field but said, “The best position we think he has is being in the batter’s box and hitting good pitching.”

Worth Noting

Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, another top 100 prospect acquired from the Blue Jays, is pitching for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics and will later join Martin in Wichita. His Olympic teammate, right-handed pitcher Joe Ryan who was acquired in the Cruz deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, will be assigned to Triple-A St. Paul. Right-hander Drew Strotman, also part of the Rays deal, is already on the St. Paul roster.

It was 20 years ago last Sunday that Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer died. He collapsed from exertional heatstroke in training camp on July 31, 2001 and passed away the next day. The Vikings are honoring his memory including partnering with the NFL Foundation and the Korey Stringer Institute to create the Korey and Kelci Stringer Athletic Training Scholarship with an initial $50,000 endowment.

Prominent Minneapolis attorney and former Minnesota Daily sports editor Marshall Tanick wrote in a Minnpost.com article last week about how Stringer’s death changed protocols in the NFL. “It prompted changes in the game, how it is played and monitored, and the team, but not the law,” Tanick wrote in his story that makes reference to lawsuits and legal precedent.

Word is the Vikings are hoping for a crowd of 20,000 at Saturday afternoon’s scrimmage open to fans at U.S. Bank Stadium. An adult ticket is $20, with a $10 cost for those 17 and younger (children under 36 inches admitted free). The practice begins at noon, with activities and promotions available for fans outside the stadium prior to watching the Vikings.

Target attendance is 45,000 for the recently announced U.S. Bank Stadium game September 2, 2023 between FCS powers North Dakota State and Eastern Washington. NDSU has nearly 15,000 alums in the metro area and 26,000 in the state of Minnesota, per a news release. A 2019 game between the Bison and Butler drew a crowd of 34,544 to Target Field.

The football Golden Gophers open their 2023 schedule at home August 31, playing Big Ten opponent Nebraska.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck didn’t identify the players but said today those who have been sidelined will make their way back to practice in different phases this month. Minnesota opens training camp Wednesday.

Dave Matter, writing yesterday for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, speculated Gophers AD Mark Coyle could be a candidate for the vacancy at Missouri. Matter writes that Missouri may want to hire an existing AD from a Power Five conference and someone with SEC experience. Coyle has been an AD at three schools including Minnesota and he was once deputy athletics director at Kentucky, an SEC member.

Ken Novak Sr. enriched so many lives as a high school basketball coach, his legacy will endure for a long time. The legendary Hopkins High School figure passed away last week. Condolences to his family and many friends.

Patrick Mader, the author of two books on Minnesota Olympians, is promoting a Zoom event next Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. He will present a slide show about the rich history of Minnesota Olympians, and then be joined by former Olympians who will talk about their experiences. More at http://patrickmader.com.

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