David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on January 27, 2012January 27, 2012 by David Shama

It will be a “who’s who” of players at TwinsFest this weekend but long travel distances will keep pitcher Francisco Liriano (Dominican Republic) and infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Japan) away. The three-day event at the Metrodome begins today and continues through Sunday.

The Twins will issue wristbands in various colors to fans seeking autographs from catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau. Fans with the “winning color” will be able to obtain autographs from the popular twosome. Patrick Klinger, Twins marketing vice president, said the system will eliminate the long autograph lines for the two stars seen at past TwinsFest events.

Klinger said although single game tickets for next season go on sale February 25, the April 9 home opener against Albert Pujlos and the Angels won’t be included. Season ticket holders will be able to purchase extra tickets for the home opener and have priority for that game. Some tickets for purchase by the general public will be available through a random drawing, Klinger said. Details will be available at TwinsFest and the team website.

Mauer, Morneau, pitcher Carl Pavano and broadcaster Bert Blyleven will make TV commercials today. Klinger didn’t disclose details but said the commercials will be “typical Twins humor, offbeat and fun.”

Twins pitcher Glen Perkins will be on the Pro-Alumni & Legends team playing the Gophers starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 at the Metrodome. Third baseman Jack Hannahan from the Indians will also play in the game. Hall of Famer Paul Molitor will manage the alumni team.

Matt Birk recently told media outlets he’s undecided about retiring from the Ravens. The former Vikings center just finished his 14th season of pro football.

Birk is one of three finalists for the 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year award. The others are Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers and Bears cornerback Charles Tillman. The award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities and onfield excellence.

Rich Kallok, Birk’s coach at Cretin-Derham Hall, said the St. Paul native did volunteer work even when he was in high school. “All of our kids do community service of some sort,” Kallok said.

He said Birk played soccer as a ninth grader at St. Thomas Academy. Friends influenced Birk’s decision to transfer to Cretin-Derham Hall and Birk played defensive end and offensive tackle on the football team.

Progress on the football field has characterized Birk’s career in high school, at Harvard and in the NFL. “He’s improved a lot all the way through,” said Kallok. “He’s intelligent and a good athlete. There are no shortcuts with Matt.”

It was 20 years ago yesterday that Minneapolis hosted its only Super Bowl. Washington defeated Buffalo 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI on January 26, 1992.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association chose Mike Grant from Eden Prairie as Class 5A Coach of the Year. The other coach of the year winners are: Mike Rowe, ROCORI, Class 4A; Carl Lemke, St. Croix Lutheran, Class 3A; Brent Schroeder, Caledonia, Class 2A; Cory Larson, Dawson-Boyd, Class 1A; Andrew Fleischman, Edgerton/Ellsworth, Class 9M.

At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien yesterday provided his rankings of the best prep boys teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. His top five in big school 4A are Eastview, Hopkins, Wayzata, Osseo and Lakeville North. Benilde-St. Margaret’s is No. 1 in 3A followed by Minneapolis Washburn, SpringLakePark, DeLaSalle and Blake. The top five in 2A are Perham, Braham, Redwood Valley, St. Peter and Watertown-Mayer. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa is No. 1 in 1A followed byBattle Lake, MACCRAY, Southwest Christian and Dawson-Boyd.

The 17-9-1 Gophers hockey team has lost seven of its games by one goal. Gophers sophomore Nick Bjugstad has 20 goals and 32 assists. He’s the first Minnesota player to have 20 or more goals and 30 or more assists since the 2008-09 season. The Gophers play at home against St. Cloud State (10-12-4) tonight and in St. Cloud tomorrow night.

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Does Love Need to See More Wolves Wins?

Posted on January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 by David Shama

Don’t be surprised if Kevin Love turns down a contract offer from the Timberwolves today.

Why? Perhaps Love and agent Jeff Schwartz figure the Wolves franchise needs to prove it will become a winner before the All-Star forward makes a long term commitment to staying here.

Under NBA rules, the Wolves have through today to negotiate with fourth-year players like Love. If a deal isn’t made by then, contract talks have to wait until after the league season.

The maximum contract the Wolves could extend the 23-year-old power forward is for five years at about $80 million. The Wolves have reportedly offered four years and about $20 million less, but perhaps even the maximum deal might not convince Love to sign a new contract, preferring to become a restricted free agent next summer.

Although the Wolves could match any deal from another NBA team next summer and retain Love, he might opt for a shorter deal and free agency in 2013. That’s not to say Love won’t be here long term but it’s a solid gold bet he wants to play for a winning organization and he might wait to evaluate how much more his team improves this season and next offseason.

In his first three seasons with the Wolves, the team produced records of 24-58, 15-67 and 17-65. With the addition of rookie point guard phenom Ricky Rubio and other changes, the Wolves are improved but still a project.

ESPN in-studio analyst Jon Barry believes Love is the NBA’s best power forward. He’s a gifted scorer, rebounder and passer. Although he’s 6-10, Love can score both inside and outside. He’s averaging 24.9 points per game, fourth best in the league. He’s second in NBA rebounding at 13.9.

Ask anyone around the Wolves and they will tell you Love is a person of character, a team guy and good citizen in a league where often the knuckleheads make headlines. He’s already a star and the kind of player the Wolves would be devastated without.

The NBA is a star-driven league and the local team finally has one legit star in Love and another—Rubio—in production. It takes at least two stars to win a championship and five years from now the Wolves need both warm weather loving players shivering through another Minneapolis winter.

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Tubby: Gophers Add ‘Toughness’

Posted on January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 by David Shama

How real are Tubby Smith’s revitalized Gophers? Before the clock strikes midnight tonight the college basketball world will have an answer.

After opening the Big Ten season with four losses by a combined 29 points, the Gophers have won three straight including two games on the road. Minnesota defeated No. 7 ranked Indiana in Bloomington, beat Penn State by 14 points in State College and last Sunday took apart Northwestern, 75-52 at Williams Arena.

No. 10 ranked Michigan State will offer the Gophers more than a cushy pop quiz tonight. The Spartans, 16-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference, could stop Minnesota’s momentum inEast Lansing.

The guess here is the Spartans will win but somehow coach Tom Izzo’s team managed to lose at Northwestern (2-5) by seven points and more understandably lost by one at nationally ranked Michigan (5-2). The conference schedule isn’t even halfway over and already every team in the league has at least two losses and two wins.

The Spartans are among the favorites to win the Big Ten title but the Gophers have a revised lineup that has been a foundation for their winning streak. Beginning with the Indiana game Smith assigned Julian Welch to point guard and Joe Coleman to one of the team’s two shooting guard spots. Maverick Ahanmisi, who had been starting at point guard, was benched. Coleman took Welch’s position at off-guard, while center Ralph Sampson III, power forward Rodney Williams and guard Austin Hollins remained starters.

Neither Ahanmisi, a sophomore, nor freshman Andre Hollins had shown they were effective as Big Ten point guards. Welch played point guard as a junior college player last season. His experience, strength and court awareness are superior to his two teammates.

Welch has scored 29 points for the Gophers in the three wins. He provides stability handling the ball and had five assists in the Northwestern game. “I love to create for my teammates and see them put the ball in the hoop,” he said.

Coleman has been a catalyst, according to Smith. “We’ve added some toughness to our lineup when we inserted Joe Coleman,” Smith said. “It’s been huge for us. I think it’s been contagious. Ralph is more aggressive. Rodney has been more aggressive taking the ball to the basket. So I think our entire team has certainly benefitted.”

Coleman was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week last week after averaging 15.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in the Indiana and Penn State wins. Against Northwestern he had 16 points and five rebounds.

If Welch, Coleman and their teammates produce a win tonight, it could indicate that despite the slow start this team intends to have plenty to say about the Big Ten race all the way to the end.

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