David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Canterbury Park Launched P.A.’s Career

Posted on May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 by David Shama

Canterbury Park opens its live horse racing season at 4 p.m. today, and Paul Allen will be back for his 23rd season at the Shakopee track. Those who don’t know Allen may well wonder why the man who is the radio voice of the Vikings and a Monday-Friday talk show host on KFAN is also calling races as track announcer.

It’s pretty simple. Allen, 51, has a passion for racing and is loyal to Canterbury Park owner Randy Sampson.

Back in the 1990s, Allen was living in California and at a “tricky spot” in his career. Sampson had heard Allen via simulcasts call races at Bay Meadows in northern California. Sampson liked what he heard and hired Allen, who was on unemployment during the months when Bay Meadows wasn’t operating.

Allen’s first year in Shakopee was in 1997 and he had no idea Canterbury Park would be a catalyst to his career. He knew he wanted to call races or be in broadcasting. “The chances weren’t really emerging as quickly as I was hoping they would,” Allen told Sports Headliners this week.

During that first summer at Canterbury, KFAN’s program director heard Allen’s voice and was intrigued by it. He asked Allen if his general sports knowledge was savvy. Allen said it was and soon he was doing short updates on KFAN. That work continued into 1998 and by fall an opportunity emerged to host a regular show with Jeff Dubay.

The same fall found Allen hosting a Vikings fan-line show. “I fell in love with the team,” Allen said.

A few years later KFAN and the Vikings were looking for a play-by-play voice. Allen got the job, and in August he starts his 16th year calling games.

So now you understand the connection to the track. “If I don’t get the job at Canterbury, I don’t work at KFAN,” Allen said. “If I don’t work at KFAN, I don’t work with the Vikings.”

Allen raves about Canterbury, a clean and family-friendly track offering not only racing but live music and promotions galore. Racetracks in various parts of the country have struggled or even called it quits, but Canterbury is an industry success story that Allen is proud to be part of.

Allen said that each year when racing season begins, his “excitement is off the charts.” Part of the anticipation is the racing but a lot of it is relationships with people he has known for years, including Sampson and track publicist Jeff Maday who he has worked with for 23 years.

When Allen was a young teen growing up outside of Washington, D.C. he lived in an apartment with his single mom who worked as a waitress. The apartment was so close to a racetrack that Allen could see it from his deck. His mom took Allen and friends to the track. The whole experience of racing prompted him to bond with a sport that while declining in popularity even in 1979, still is the “Sport of Kings” to many.

By 1985 Allen was living in southern California and attending classes at Pasadena City College. He hosted a campus radio show, did publicity work for the basketball team and was editor of the school newspaper. He also interned at the Pasadena Star where after college he got a job covering both racing and prep sports.

Allen enjoyed betting the ponies and he became distracted from his newspaper duties, including showing up late for work at the Star. The paper terminated him. “Honestly, I deserved to get fired,” he said.

Allen was out of work for three or four months. Then he heard about an opening calling races at Bay Meadows. There were three finalists for the job and Allen told the track management he would take the position for even less money than they were offering.

Now days with his compensation from the morning radio show, Vikings broadcasts and the track announcing, Allen’s total annual earnings are well into six-figures, but money has never come first for him. In his early years at KFAN, for example, he made annual salaries of $27,000, $29,000 and $31,000. He prides himself on giving his employers “more than they expect.”

Allen is that competitive and he wants to deliver for his bosses. On the air, or behind the microphone at Canterbury, he is energetic, confident and sometimes loud. The passion for his work is always there and if he makes a mistake he is ready to move on.

“I don’t let it get me down,” Allen said. “If I make a mistake, I make sure that it’s gone from the time I call the next play, or I call the next race, or I do the next segment.”

Allen’s intellect and knowledge commands attention from listeners, and so does his sometimes flamboyant style, but he insists all of it is who he is. Yet away from work, he is a different guy, whether spending time with family, friends or by himself.

“You develop multiple personalities. When I am away from the Vikings and KFAN or Canterbury, I am a lot more introverted than people would think,” Allen said. “I am a lot more quiet.

“I don’t like being in places that are loud. I don’t like being in large groups where people feel because of what I do, I have to be that personality—when I am not that personality. I am much more withdrawn and subdued than anybody would ever think, and those closest to me know exactly what I am talking about.

“However, when it’s time to flip on that microphone, what comes out of me is who I am on the other side. God blessed me with a lot of adrenaline, a lot of energy and dedication to making those (who pay me)…a lot of money. I am a company guy through and through, always have been.”

Important, too, are the relationships and friends he has made, including those who sometimes told him things he needed to hear. “There have been people along the line of my career who have cared about me and have not been afraid to tell me what they truly think about who they felt I was becoming,” Allen said. “In the early stages of my career it was Dark Star and Chad Hartman. In the middle stages of my career it was Tom West, media relations guy for the Minnesota Vikings.

“(In) the later stages of my career, now it’s one of my best friends, and a man I just love so much more than anybody will ever know, former Viking safety Corey Chavous. Corey and I are very close on a personal level. Corey has a way of straightening me out that nobody has ever had.”

Allen’s many friends also include 49ers offensive lineman Brandon Fusco, Wild goalie Alex Stalock, Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman, and NFL coaches Norv and Scott Turner. They have a race horse ownership group that also includes Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson. The group bought Skol Sister as a yearling in 2016 and she will run this season at Canterbury Park.

Skol Sister will add to the fun of another year at Canterbury, a place that Allen intends to stay at as long as Sampson is around. “We kind of have a handshake that I am not going to step away from Canterbury until he no longer runs the track,” Allen said. “We’ve had that handshake for about five years. The racetrack still keeps me attached to my childhood, and my dedication to my late mom.”

Comments Welcome

Santana Flirts with No-Hitter Range

Posted on May 3, 2017May 3, 2017 by David Shama

A Wednesday notes column, including items on Twins, Gophers, Vikings and Lynx newsmakers.

Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana has won almost 40 percent of the team’s games this spring. He won last night against the Athletics and is 5-0 for the Twins, who have a 13-11 record this season.

No pitcher has won more games in the major leagues. Among starting pitchers, Santana’s 0.66 ERA is also the best in both the American and National Leagues.

Santana gave up three hits and no runs in six innings last night, while confusing and striking out seven batters. In two games this season he gave up only two hits, and two other times just four hits.

In his April 15 win over the White Sox, he pitched nine innings and threw a one-hitter, becoming the first Twins starter since 2011 to allow just a single hit. The way Santana is pitching, it’s fair to wonder whether this season he can become only the sixth Twin in club history to throw a no-hitter. For the season he has allowed 16 hits and three earned runs in 41 innings.

The 34-year-old right hander, who was acquired by the Twins as a free agent in December of 2014, threw a no-hitter for the Angels against the Indians in 2011. Santana allowed one unearned run and struck out 10 batters.

Going into past seasons with Minnesota, Santana has been labeled a No. 2 or 3 caliber starter on a pitching staff in search of a No. 1. That has changed in a big way so far this season with Santana not just looking like a No. 1, but earning a place among baseball’s most dominant starters.

Former Twin Trevor Plouffe is the Athletics’ third baseman, and had one hit in four at bats last night. In his first season with the A’s he is hitting .209 with four home runs and nine RBI.

Another ex-Twin, Danny Valencia, played third for the Athletics last season but now is with the Mariners as a first baseman where he is batting .182 with two home runs and six RBI.

Write this name down: Nik Turley. The 27-year-old journeyman left-hander was signed by the Twins in the off season and is more than impressing at Double A Chattanooga. Turley, who has been in the minors since 2008 and was with the Red Sox organization last year, has a 0.44 ERA while allowing five hits and one run in four games including two starts.

Meanwhile, Turley teammate Kohl Stewart, the Twins’ first round draft choice in 2013, is 0-4 record with a 6.05 ERA.

The Athletes Village at the University of Minnesota is part of the “Nothing Short of Greatness” fundraising campaign with a $200 million goal. The Athletes Village project will cost about $166 million and the additional $34 million is targeted at existing facilities including renovation at Mariucci Arena. Fundraising now is over $100 million, with the goal of eventually privately raising the $200 million from individuals and others. “It’s breakfast, lunch, dinner fundraising,” said athletic director Mark Coyle.

About 200,000 construction hours have already gone into the Athletes Village, with facilities opening early next year. Sophie Skarzynski from the Gophers hockey team was among the speakers at a celebration progress event for donors, construction workers and others last week. She had the audience laughing with this remark for the construction crew: “It’s very comforting to know that not only the student-athletes are up at 5:30, but you guys are too.”

Reservations for the CORES program and lunch on Thursday, May 11 need to be made by Monday. Michele Tafoya, the sideline reporter on NBC TV’s Sunday Night Football who lives in suburban Minneapolis, will speak to the CORES crowd at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Dick Jonckowski is the popular emcee at CORES programs. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. More information is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotseth@comcast.net.

CORES attendees and other friends of Jonckowski will want to attend the Minnesota Minute Men’s roast of “The Polish Eagle,” who for 31 seasons was the Gophers basketball public address. Tickets remain for the event that starts at noon Friday at Jax Café. Scheduled roasters are Vikings executive Lester Bagley, former Gophers football star Jim Carter and WCHA men’s commissioner Bill Robertson. More information is available by calling Terry Sullivan, 952-451-2104, or at Minnesotaminutemen.com.

As the Vikings move through practices this spring and summer preparing for the season, a national storyline off the field will be the recovery progress of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from his devastating knee injury last year. Bridgewater is passionate about his rehab and has made progress but is far from having full mobility. A leader who is admired by teammates and coaches, it’s not yet clear whether the 24-year-old will ever return to the field—or if he does, when that will be.

Morris Area High School has been named the Minnesota Football Program of the year. The award is sponsored by the Minnesota Vikings, Innovative Office Solutions, the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and KFAN 100.3 FM. A check for $10,000 will be presented to the school today, and on Sunday the award will be recognized as part of the Minnesota Football Honors Event at U.S. Bank Stadium. (See April 6 Sports Headliners).

While Target Center undergoes renovation this year, the Lynx are looking to make a marketing opportunity out of the franchise’s one season at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Chris Wright, president of the WNBA team and NBA Timberwolves, said about 20 percent of the team’s season ticket holders are from the St. Paul area, with most of the balance from Minneapolis and suburbs. “We’re going to grow our business in St. Paul,” Wright told Sports Headliners.

The Lynx has sold approximately 700 new “full season ticket equivalents” and expects to total around 3,600 or more. Equivalents are full and partial season ticket packages. The Lynx, who play a opening exhibition game in St. Paul on Friday night, averaged almost 8,000 in attendance last season, tops in the WNBA, according to Wright. He expects corporate revenues to increase this year also.

There’s no consensus favorite to win Saturday’s 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Smart handicappers will be looking at experienced jockeys in predicting the winning horse. Canterbury Park will offer live racing on Saturday and wagering on the Derby. The Shakopee racetrack opens the 2017 meet on Friday night.

Comments Welcome

U Nears 1,000 New Season Tickets

Posted on May 1, 2017May 1, 2017 by David Shama

As of Friday, the Gophers had sold 861 new football season tickets since January 6 when P.J. Fleck was announced as head coach. The total was obtained from an athletic department spokesman and is for nonstudent season tickets (a student season tickets total will be available later in the year).

Fleck’s outgoing personality, and the reputation he earned at Western Michigan for being one of America’s most promising young coaches has prompted some renewed interest in football at the U. The athletic department sold 253 season tickets in less than 30 days after the 36-year-old Fleck took over as coach.

Fan interest declined last year under head coach Tracy Claeys and the Gophers sold about 5,100 fewer nonstudent season tickets in 2016 than in 2015. The Gophers didn’t sell out a single home game in 50,805 seat TCF Bank Stadium and many sold seats weren’t occupied. Last year the athletic department sold about 23,000 nonstudent season tickets and student season ticket sales were around 7,000.

The new season tickets sold this winter and spring is being accomplished without a marketing campaign. Promotional efforts are expected to start soon and will likely play off of Fleck’s “Row The Boat” mantra to create excitement. The phrase refers to a never give up attitude, and Fleck paid Western Michigan $50,000 for the rights to “Row The Boat.”

Fleck has big ambitions for attendance at TCF Bank Stadium, a venue that ranks near the bottom in seating capacity among Big Ten schools. Sports Headliners reported last month that in three years Fleck wants to expand seating capacity to 85,000. (See April 2, 2017 column).

Worth Noting

Race Thompson told Sports Headliners he hears the encouraging words from Minnesotans to become a Gopher and he appreciates the hometown interest but he won’t be influenced by others in choosing a college destination.

Thompson, the junior power forward from Armstrong High School, has offers from more than 10 schools including the Gophers. The Rivals four-star player said he probably will choose a school next fall and is looking for the place he will feel most comfortable, including a “family atmosphere.”

Thompson will make some college visits after July 1 and could sign a National Letter of Intent in November, the first signing opportunity for class of 2018 players to officially commit to their colleges. While schools like Minnesota and Marquette have been recruiting Thompson for some time, Indiana is now showing interest, too. Thompson said he isn’t sure, though, if he will visit Bloomington.

Darrell Thompson, the Gophers all-time leading rusher in football, has said throughout the recruiting process that he and wife Stephanie won’t direct their son to play for the U, even though their suburban Minneapolis home would make travelling to watch him in college much easier than any other place.

Darrell leads Minneapolis-based Bolder Options, the nonprofit helping kids and teens learn life skills. The organization’s annual gala in Minneapolis last Thursday night raised over $160,000, a record for the event which is the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Another fundraising highlight for the organization is the WCCO Radio Gutter Bowl bowling event that most recently generated about $40,000. Morning show host Dave Lee is among those who have led the event.

The Twins have the first pick in the June MLB Draft and could select Hunter Greene from southern California. Greene throws fast balls over 100 miles per hour, plays with MLB range at shortstop, excels at the plate, and is the subject of considerable hype including from Sports Illustrated. The magazine’s latest issue has him on the cover and gushed the following:

“Baseball’s LeBron, or the new Babe? He’s 17. He mashes. He throws 102. Hunter Greene is the star baseball needs. (First he has to finish high school).”

Dalvin Cook, the former Florida State running back who the Vikings were excited to find available in the second round of Friday’s NFL Draft, was projected in last week’s Sports Illustrated to be the No. 23 pick in the first round by the Giants.

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison, who turned 34 last week, expects to do something with his “big-time passion” for fishing after he retires from football. He told Sports Headliners pro fishing could be his next career, or TV commentary about the sport. He has fished in pro-am tournaments in recent off seasons, and competed in the Texas Team Trail Bass Championships.

Doesn’t seem that long ago but it will be 17 years on Friday that former Gophers and Timberwolves coach Bill Musselman died. In Musselman’s first season at Minnesota, 1971-72, he coached the Gophers to their first Big Ten basketball title since 1937. In 1989-1990 he coached the expansion Timberwolves in their initial NBA season.

Mark Sheffert, the former Gophers football player who founded and leads Minneapolis-based Manchester Companies that provides management consulting, discussed corporate ethics and behavior yesterday on WCCO Radio’s News and Views program.

Comments Welcome