David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Michael Floyd Praised for Attitude

Posted on June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 by David Shama

Vikings wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell likes Michael Floyd’s attitude but he wants the Minnesota native, who joined the team last month, to master the subtleties of his position.

Floyd, the former Cretin Derham-Hall High School All-American, has played five seasons in the NFL. Most of his five year pro career was spent with the Cardinals where he was a sometimes starter. Three of his seasons in Arizona he had 840 yards or more in receptions. Hazell has been working with Floyd in spring practices and was asked Tuesday where the 27-year-old needs to improve.

“The details of the position,” Hazell answered.

The former Purdue head coach, who joined the Vikings last winter, spoke footballese in providing examples of those details—talking about positioning the body and catching the ball in minimum time. “All those things are so important,” Hazell said. “The details of it. I mean that’s where we’ve got to get him to take the next step.”

No. 18 Michael Floyd (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

No doubt, Hazell emphasizes mastery of details when talking about his other wide receivers, too. Floyd, though, is a focus of attention by Minnesota fans and media because of his background. His history includes not only Twin Cities roots and successes at Notre Dame and with the Cardinals, but an incident last December when he was charged with driving under the influence. In February he spent time in jail.

“His attitude has been great,” Hazell said. “He’s fit in well with the guys. You always wonder how guys are going to mesh. They are so welcoming to whoever is in the room and they help each other. They coach each other, and that makes my job that much easier.”

Floyd was released by the Cardinals after his DUI in mid-December and picked up by the Patriots. The Vikings signed him in May as an unrestricted free agent. He then reunited with Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph who was a teammate at Notre Dame.

Rudolph had reached out to Floyd after his incident. “We all make mistakes,” Rudolph said. “It’s about what you do after and the lesson that you learn from it. He realizes he made a mistake, and he is in a great place right now. He’s happy to be home. I am just here as a friend and now as a teammate to try to help him out.”

Floyd and Rudolph have communicated almost every day for years. “We have been friends since we were 16 years old,” Rudolph said. “Anytime he used to come in town he stayed at my house (and) when he’d come…to workout in the summer, or see family. More times than not, he stayed at the house, so just kind of a natural fit.”

Since joining the Vikings, Floyd has been living in Rudolph’s basement. “As long as he is okay putting up with my 8-month-old twins, he is welcome to stay as long as he wants.”

Worth Noting

Rudolph talking about running back Dalvin Cook, the Vikings 2017 first round draft choice: ”He is really fun to watch. You can tell why he had so much success at Florida State. He is a special runner. He is a guy who has great vision, and always seems to make the right cut.”

Jerick McKinnon started seven games for the Vikings last season and rushed for a career high 539 yards in his third NFL year. He spent a few months during the offseason training with Adrian Peterson and another advisor in Houston. “I think it’s going to pay off tremendously, so I am excited to see,” said McKinnon.

McKinnon is 5-9, about 211 pounds. Last season he had just two rushes of 15 yards or more, running for 25 yards against the Giants and 36 versus the Bears. “I feel more explosive now,” he said.

J.D. Spielman, the son of Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, could be a starting wide receiver for Nebraska this season as a redshirt freshman.

Dom Barber is leaving his administrative position with the Gophers football program to work in private business. The Wayzata High School graduate played defensive back for the Gophers from 2004-2007.

Former Gopher wide receiver Tony Levine from St. Paul is part of the new coaching staff at Purdue where he has varied duties including co-offensive coordinator.

Despite losing two of three games this week in Seattle, the Twins have the second best road record in Major League Baseball at 18-8. Minnesota, 12-18 at home this season, hasn’t had a winning road percentage since 2010 when the club was 41-40. The Twins’ world title team of 1987 was 29-52 in regular season away games, while the 1991 club was 44-37 on the road.

Miguel Sano has 15 home runs in 189 at bats and could join some rare company by season’s end. Only Bob Allison, Brian Dozier, Harmon Killebrew and Josh Willingham have hit 35 home runs or more in a single season for the Twins.

MLB Network will cover Monday’s Major League Baseball Draft, with the Twins selecting first overall and their announced choice expected to come shortly after 6 p.m. The Twins are holding a draft party for ticketholders attending Monday night’s game against the Mariners at Target Field. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and patrons can follow the draft via the MLB Network and other sources at the ballpark.

The 46th annual Tapemark Charity Pro-Am Tournament, benefitting people with developmental learning disabilities, is Friday-Sunday at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. Learn more about the tournament at Tapemarkgolf.org.

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Taylor: Wolves May Trade Draft Pick

Posted on June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 by David Shama

Owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners his basketball decision makers are looking at a “scenario” where the Timberwolves acquire a veteran player by giving up their No. 7 pick from the first round of the June 22 NBA Draft.

The team’s starting lineup has three players 22 or younger, and the others are ages 27 and 26. That young core has talent and promise but the last two seasons the Wolves have won a combined total of only 50 games, and haven’t made the playoffs since 2004. The team’s development could be enhanced by a skilled veteran player. Specifically, a defensive stopper who will limit the opposition’s best scorer, according to Taylor.

President-coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden are looking at alternatives on how to improve the team including evaluation of potential draft choices. Taylor won’t demand roster changes before next season but he wants potential moves to be explored by his two top basketball executives.

Glen Taylor (photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves).

“I don’t think we’re just going to sit there and say we’re going to go with what we’ve got,” Taylor said. “We could do that. I think they’re willing (Thibodeau and Layden) to do that, but I think they want us to look at…other opportunities…and I guess it would be a free agent or a trade. I don’t think their expectations are our draft choice, even though it’s seven, is going to be an immediate answer.”

Taylor said a challenge in evaluating players for the June 22 draft is sometimes access to watch them, and also to obtain medical information. Agents will set limitations in both areas, trying to do what they think is most advantageous for clients.

“I was hopeful that when we were doing the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) discussions that we would get some of these things handled better so that we would have more consistency,” Taylor said. “That all medical records were shown equally. (That) everybody had access to watching a player scrimmage against some of the other players.

“We weren’t able to get that. Personally, I don’t think it’s the best way to do things, that the agents are controlling the players much more and giving you less access to them.”

Worth Noting

Taylor met with Thibodeau and Layden recently to understand why his promising team won only two more games last season than the year before. He was told it was a combination of things including major injuries to starting guard Zach LaVine and reserve forward Nemanja Bjelica. Another key was the team’s inconsistent and often inadequate defense.

Taylor had news about center Nikola Pekovic who didn’t play last season and has a history of recurring injuries. About a month ago Taylor said a doctor declared Pekovic probably can’t play next season and now the Wolves need corroboration from an NBA doctor. “We’re waiting for that confirmation,” said Taylor.

Next season is the last of Pekovic’s contract with the Wolves and likely the end of his NBA career. If doctors rule the 31-year-old can’t play, insurance covers 80 percent of the Wolves’ obligation.

Starting guard Ricky Rubio had his best of six NBA seasons in 2016-2017 but rumors continue to circulate about the Wolves trading him. “I don’t know where they’re coming from,” Taylor said. “I’ve read them just like you’ve read them, but I don’t know where they’re coming from, or why they’re saying that.”

College football magazines are now on newsstands offering predictions including for the Big Ten’s West Division. Athlon, Lindy’s and Street & Smith’s all forecast a fifth place finish for Minnesota in the seven-team division.

“The first seven games all are very winnable. After that—yikes,” Lindy’s says. Minnesota’s last five games are on the road at Iowa, Michigan and Northwestern, and at home against Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Lindy’s has the Gophers ranked 40th in the country and Street & Smith’s projects a Quick Lane Bowl invite to Detroit. Athlon sees Minnesota finishing with a 6-6 overall record and 4-5 in the Big Ten.

Both Athlon and Lindy’s include Gopher junior placekicker Emmit Carpenter on their first team All-Big Ten offensive units. Gopher senior Steven Richardson is part of Lindy’s first team All-Big Ten defensive line.

Street & Smith’s labeled new Gophers coach P.J. Fleck best interview on a Big Ten list that also says Ohio State’s Urban Meyer is the league’s best coach and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is the best tweeter. “No coach will be more entertaining at Big Ten Media Day than Fleck,” the magazine says.

The 46th annual Big Ten Football Media Days are July 24 and 25 in Chicago. Fleck addresses the media on the second day.

The Big Ten office announced TV times for 35 games on ESPN and FOX Sports last week. The only Gophers’ game listed was Minnesota’s Homecoming against Illinois on October 21 with a 2:30 or 3 p.m. kickoff.

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Not too Late for Grant Bobblehead

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

A Thursday notes column leading off with—you never expected this—Bud Grant Bobblehead news, plus Gophers basketball, the Twins, and fishing.

Grant sold Bobbleheads at his annual garage sale last month but those who missed out can still obtain the plastic statue through Joe Florenzano and Triple Crown Sports Collectibles. The former Vikings coach is depicted to reflect his football career and passion for the outdoors. The figurine shows him wearing a Vikings cap and jacket, holding a duck, and accompanied by his hunting dog Boom. The Bobblehead is a first for the 90-year-old Minnesota sports legend, and probably the last.

Mail orders are being accepted while limited supplies last, with the cost $55 for an unsigned Bobblehead and $90 for a signed. More information is available at Vikingstwinsman@gmail.com.

Grant will sign autographs at Florenzano’s collectibles show from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 30 at Southtown Shopping Center. Fees are charged for autographs and photos.

Sportingnews.com has the Gophers No. 10 in its top 25 national basketball rankings for 2017-2018. The rankings, posted online yesterday, listed Michigan State No. 2, with the Spartans the only Big Ten team ahead of Minnesota. The Gophers were a surprise last season finishing 11-7 in Big Ten regular season games, and they are losing only one key player. Ryan Fagan wrote the “Gophers will push for the Big Ten championship.”

The other ranked Big Ten teams are No. 23 Purdue and No. 24 Northwestern. Arizona is No. 1.

There is some speculation that when the ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups are announced the Gophers will host Duke at Williams Arena. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 3 by Sportingsnews.com, and the Gophers have never played them in the Challenge. Minnesota is 1-2 historically (all neutral court games) against the famed program, with the last game coming in a 2013 Duke win in the Bahamas.

The Gophers are “drowning” in Challenge games against Florida State, having played the Seminoles three times in the last five years.

Christine Clifford (photo credit: Ephraim Moore)

Christine Clifford, a Golden Valley resident, won a tarpon invitational tournament in the Florida Keys last month where 127 tarpon were caught. She hauled in a record 14 tarpon in the 33rd annual tourney, breaking the previous record of 11.

The Twins have lost four straight but with a surprise 26-23 record still have the best winning percentage in the AL Central. Minnesota lost 8-6 to the Rays on Sunday in a 15 inning game that took 6 hours and 26 minutes—longest in club history. The Twins blew a late inning 8-2 lead on Memorial Day, losing 16-8 to the Astros. In losses to the Astros Tuesday and yesterday, the Twins were defeated 7-2 and 17-6. For the three game series the Astros scored 40 runs, the Twins 16.

“Building character right now, along with building a winning attitude,” said Jim Rantz. The now retired Twins front office executive spoke to Sports Headliners yesterday morning before another loss at Target Field.

The Twins can now show the defeats aren’t demoralizing to a team that was 59-103 last season. A strong June led by revived pitching would help. The club hasn’t played better than .500 baseball in June since a 14-13 record in 2012. Last year the Twins were 10-17 during the month, on their way to the worst record in the majors.

The June schedule has the Twins on the road for two-thirds of the month but Minnesota is 14-5 in away games so far, 12-18 in Minneapolis. The Twins play the Angels in Anaheim tonight and won’t have to face Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout who was in the early running to win the AL Triple Crown before tearing a ligament in his left thumb.

The Twins had the opportunity to select Trout in the 2009 first-year player draft but took Kyle Gibson with the No. 22 choice. The Angels found Trout still available drafting at No. 25. Gibson has been inconsistent with the Twins during his career, and this season has been disappointing so far. His record is 1-4 with a 7.75 ERA.

In the Astros series the Twins faced star shortstop Carlos Correa who Houston chose with the No. 1 selection in the 2012 draft. The Twins, picking next at No. 2, drafted center fielder Byron Buxton. “I think we were leaning toward Buxton all along,” said Rantz who was involved with that draft.

Buxton has been sensational in the field and a major contributor to the improved Twins defense that has played a key role in the club’s early contention for a division title. After a miserable start at the plate, Buxton is contacting the ball with some consistency and he hit .254 in May. His average now is .201.

Rantz thinks Buxton might be the fastest player in baseball and refers to him as a hitter who eventually may average .250 to .280 each season, with double digit totals in home runs. “He’s going to get his hits and some of them won’t be pretty, but that’s what speed does,” said Rantz.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners he hasn’t been surprised how consistent the Twins outfield and infield defense has been. Minnesota has the second fewest errors among MLB teams, according to Espn.com. “Our outfield defense has been as good as any outfield defense in Major League Baseball,” St. Peter said. “All of the modern metrics demonstrate that.”

St. Peter said minor league performances by Buxton and fellow outfielders Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario indicated they would perform well in the majors. Early signs were also present with shortstop Jorge Polanco and third baseman Miguel Sano. “I think the other person that probably doesn’t get enough credit is Joe Mauer at first base,” St. Peter said. “Joe is having an incredible year defensively over there and certainly should be somebody who gets Gold Glove consideration.”

St. Peter talking about the club’s personnel: “We’re always open to discussions about how we make our team better. I don’t think there is a single player on our roster that is immune from those types of discussions. …”

ByungHo Park is playing again for Triple A Rochester. He had a hamstring injury earlier in the year and is hitting .228 in 92 at bats after an impressive spring with the Twins and almost making the big league roster. “But I certainly expect to see Byung in Minnesota at some point in 2017,” St. Peter said about the DH and first baseman.

The Twins sold about 1,500 of the new Spring Ballpark Pass, St. Peter said. The pass provided access inside Target Field but not a seat and cost $99 to watch Twins games in April and May. That type of product is something the Twins will consider in the future.

St. Peter said the club has sold more than 13,500 season tickets and could exceed 14,000 for 2017. The team’s season ticket total last year was about 14,000.

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