David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Didn’t Miss Out on Brady Hoke

Posted on September 24, 2014September 24, 2014 by David Shama

Brady Hoke has had more than three years to turn around the slumbering Michigan football program but instead he is reeling from a tsunami of criticism in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The Wolverines are 17-13 in Hoke’s last 30 games including 2-2 this season and the coach’s seat is warm.

The Wolverines and Gophers (3-1) open their Big Ten seasons on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Gophers’ followers might wonder if different circumstances could have placed Hoke on the Minnesota sideline tomorrow. In the fall of 2010 Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi had Hoke on his candidates list to replace Tim Brewster. The two met in San Diego about the Minnesota head coaching job.

Hoke confirmed the conversation with the Gophers in a November 23, 2010 online story by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He described the encounter as “informational” and acknowledged other schools with coaching vacancies had contacted his agent.

At the time Hoke was one of the promising head coaches in college football. He was leading San Diego State to what would be an impressive record of 9-4 in 2010. That year was Hoke’s second in San Diego where he had landed after coaching Ball State to a surprising 12-1 record in 2008 that drew national attention.

In the fall of 2010 Rich Rodriguez was on his way out as Michigan head coach. It’s speculated Hoke didn’t have much interest in the Gophers job because Michigan was his target. He was an assistant coach for the Wolverines from 1996-2002. He not only had “Big Blue” blood in his veins but knew Michigan is historically the winningest college football program in the country and resources in Ann Arbor are far greater than at Minnesota where the Gophers glory days haven’t been seen since the 1960s.

The problem, however, is the Wolverines results have been more like the Gophers under Hoke. While Hoke is four games over .500 in his last 30 games so too is Jerry Kill, the coach Maturi hired to replace Brewster after the 2010 season. Kill’s record is also 17-13.

Hoke was a diappointing 7-6 last season including a blowout bowl game loss to Kansas State. “It was a low energy program a year ago,” Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo said back in August.

This season hasn’t gone so well either. The Wolverines were humiliated in a nationally televised 31-0 loss at Notre Dame on September 6. Last Saturday was a dark day at Michigan Stadium for more reasons than a storm that caused play to be suspended for more than two hours. During the long day Utah embarrassed the Wolverines with a 26-10 win in front of more than 100,000 unhappy fans.

Last Sunday an online story from the Detroit News was headlined: “UM Collapse Puts Hoke in Dire Straits.” Writer Bob Wojnowski was hardly impressed with what he saw on Saturday.

“This is as low as it goes, at least so far. This is the stuff that gets a coach fired. Not now, not Monday, but Brady Hoke is on the clock, and it’s ticking ominously.

“It wasn’t just the 26-10 loss to Utah, a wet mess halted for two-and-a-half hours by rain and lightning. It was the horrific offense, the downfall of (quarterback) Devin Gardner and all the other ugly images. It was Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison yelling at each other late in the first half after Michigan was penalized for a sideline infraction, which Hoke later brushed off as a ‘discussion’ between competitors who have known each other for 30 years.

“Whatever it was, it looked like a staff feeling the rising heat. Hoke has to know his job is in jeopardy, and athletic director Dave Brandon’s previous stance of public support seems outdated now. Of course Hoke should finish out the season, and the 2-2 Wolverines should try to salvage something in the Big Ten, but it will take a stirring turnaround for him to recover from this. …”

The Gophers, who once considered Hoke a candidate to come here, have to be hoping any turnaround doesn’t start until at least October.

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Fans Await Word on Twins’ Leaders

Posted on September 24, 2014September 24, 2014 by David Shama

A local sports source told Sports Headliners he believes the Twins will change managers after the season ends on Sunday. “Something has to be done,” he said.

But other sources aren’t so sure the status of manager Ron Gardenhire will change after a fourth consecutive 90-plus loss season. The Twins have demonstrated a remarkable loyalty to Gardenhire who is finishing up his 14th season as manager and he has one year remaining on his contract. He is popular within the organization, and considered a “good soldier” and baseball man.

Gardenhire managed the Twins to first place finishes six times but the angst of Twins followers the last four years has raised speculation about not only Gardenhire but his coaches and the front office baseball decision makers including general manager Terry Ryan. Will Gardenhire be replaced? If he returns will he be told to replace some coaches? Will Ryan, who is recovering from cancer, be encouraged to return as the baseball boss?

Twins president Dave St. Peter and owner Jim Pohlad are silent about the future. However, it seems more likely that Gardenhire returns if Ryan is still around. Ryan is a Gardenhire admirer and the Twins don’t like to make changes. A new general manager, though? That could prompt changes everywhere—from the manager to coaches to front office talent evaluators.

If Gardenhire doesn’t return but Ryan does, the source mentioned above believes the club will look within the organization for a replacement. The candidates he mentioned are Twins coaches Paul Molitor and Terry Steinbach, and farm system managers Gene Glynn and Doug Mientkiewicz.

To many fans and media, Molitor is the most intriguing. “I think he would be a terrific manager,” another local sports source said. “They (the Twins) understand the status quo is not acceptable. I believe some change has to be made at the managerial level or beyond that.”

As a Cooperstown Hall of Famer and Minnesota native, Molitor is not only a sexy hire but one with a high baseball IQ. In the Edina resident’s first season as a Twins coach, he’s been hands-on helping with players and strategies.

Authorities like Gophers assistant head baseball coach Rob Fornasiere have long been impressed with Molitor, a former University of Minnesota All-American. He once spent four hours talking to Molitor about one subject—base running. “I admire Paul Molitor and feel that he’s one of the smartest baseball people I’ve ever met,” Fornasiere said.

Conversations among Twins fans during the winter could be interesting following a Molitor promotion. Already there is speculation that if hired, Molitor will bring former Brewers teammate and Hall of Famer Robin Yount to Minneapolis to work along side him as a coach.

Until the Twins put better players on the field—particularly quality starting pitchers—they’re not going to win division titles again but a change in managers and coaches would boost the optimism of some disgruntled fans. Target Field attendance is the lowest since the club moved into its new outdoor home in 2010. TV ratings suffer when the Twins slog their way through last place division finishes and ratings were down a month ago about 25 percent from 2013, according to a source. The Twins marketing leaders have to be concerned about future attendance, ratings, and corporate involvement by advertisers, sponsors and suite holders.

The Twins won’t be in the playoffs this October but it looks like an interesting month that will set the tone for 2015—status quo versus change. “I don’t think they’re going to let it (a decision) linger,” a source said. “I think it starts with Terry and then if Terry stays he will have the opportunity to decide on the manager. If it’s a new GM, then he will have that right.”

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Peterson Gets Attention but How Is Son?

Posted on September 22, 2014September 22, 2014 by David Shama

Dr. Herb Brenden is a retired Minneapolis area psychologist who devoted much of his 44-year career to family therapy, helping children and adults cope with various issues. He is also a Vikings fan and former high school football player.

Dr. Brenden was asked about the Adrian Peterson incident that has led to Peterson facing criminal charges and indefinite suspension from the Vikings. Peterson allegedly abused his four-year-old son—who lives in Minnesota—during a visit to the running back’s Texas home last spring. Peterson faces a child abuse indictment in Montgomery County and international media attention has been on Peterson during the past week, but what about the status of the four year old that was reportedly punished using a switch with leaves stuffed in his mouth?

Peterson experienced physical discipline during his own childhood. The use of corporal punishment is often passed from one generation to the next. Dr. Brenden said that could be a way the four year old will be impacted long-term after he becomes an adult.

“You see what happened to Adrian. He’s repeating some of the same patterns that his mother and father used,” Dr. Brenden said. “It’s a very quick way to get a response from a child, but the emotional underpinnings are so disastrous.”

In the short-term the child may have learned to become aggressive around his peers while also growing fearful of his famous father, a 29-year-old man with a powerful physical presence. “It’s pretty hard to develop a good bonding if you’re fearful,” Dr. Brenden said.

Photographs of the child’s body showed injuries including bruises and cuts. It’s not difficult to imagine the boy’s emotional hurt and humiliation. “You can see why so many people just kind of almost go into an absent state of mind (in that situation),” Dr. Brenden said. “They’re just powerless. Who is going to be able to counteract a strong guy like Peterson?”

In recent days the subject of corporal punishment in child rearing has prompted a national discussion with proponents arguing if used properly it can be beneficial, and that switches and belts are a widely accepted practice in the South. But using a switch—a tree branch stripped of its leaves—or a belt on a child is not something family therapists approve. “We’ve been discouraging that as long as I can remember,” Dr. Brenden said.

Peterson has stated he didn’t intend to harm his son. The boy reportedly wasn’t crying during the incident, and that may have caused Peterson to go further with the switching than he might otherwise have done, according to Dr. Brenden. “You can see where people become even more aggressive,” Dr. Brenden said.

Peterson’s career is in limbo as he awaits a court hearing next month and possible trial in 2015. He has gone from one of pro sports’ most decorated heroes to someone who may never play for the Vikings again, with a career and reputation in free-fall. His situation has drawn the ire of NFL sponsors, merchandisers, fans and media.

Dr. Brenden said the incident with Peterson’s son has likely been a major blow to the Texas native’s self-esteem. “Can you imagine going from having your picture advertised on the new (Vikings) stadium to just being an outcast where people can’t buy your jersey and anything else? It would be just devastating.”

Peterson has already consulted with a psychologist and Dr. Brenden said it’s important for Peterson to receive counseling over a period of time. Eventually Peterson could learn from his mistakes and become a better dad to the several children he has fathered out of wedlock including the four year old. “I think if this doesn’t trigger some action on his part (to be a better parent) it’s pretty hard to imagine anything that would,” Dr. Brenden said.

The NFL has taken a mega public relations blow over the Peterson incident and the Ray Rice assault of his girlfriend. An optimist would hope Peterson and Rice both become informed and sincere spokesmen about domestic abuse. “I would say that a lot of people become even more of an advocate for the things that they’ve been guilty of doing—child abuse (and) spousal abuse,” Dr. Brenden said. “Some of them are actually doing seminars for other players where they talk about what they’ve learned and new ways of doing what’s best.”

The NFL is facing a flurry of negative publicity including the impact of concussions on players. Public awareness is growing, too, about domestic assault reports, and drinking and drug charges. The league’s policy failures have prompted calls for commissioner Roger Goodell to resign.

But Americans are addicted to the NFL and games continue to be the most watched national TV programming. Fans remain passionate despite the news about players like Peterson and Rice, and the inconsistent and failed responses to problems by the Vikings and league office in disciplining offenders.

Dr. Brenden may be in the minority among fans who will dial down their attention. “I’ll be less interested in what’s happening with them (the Vikings) on the field because of all the things that are happening, not only with the players but with the administration,” he said. “They (the Vikings) really botched this, and then the NFL (too). They’ve been so powerful that they haven’t had to consider any kind of consquences. It looks like when sponsors start cutting back funds it gets their attention. It’s obvious they haven’t had a good plan to deal with abuse.”

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