David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Love’s Off-Season Lessons Shape Leadership

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Kevin Love’s off-season surgery on his jaw and time spent with family were defining developments in his progression as a leader, according to Timberwolves president Chris Wright.

New coach Rick Adelman wants the fourth-year forward to emerge as a team leader. It’s a role the 23-year-old Love has said he’s prepared for and Wright told Sports Headliners he agrees.

Love had surgery on his jaw to correct his bite. The rehabilitation provided opportunity for quality time with his parents.

“Stan and Karen, Kevin’s mom and dad, they’re phenomenal people,” Wright said. “Kevin did some growing up this summer. He was wired up for awhile and he could only sort of drink his food rather than eat his food. During that rehab he spent a lot of time with his parents, and I think they spent really good quality time. Stan, I am sure, talked to him about leadership and what it means.

“We love his family and we love the kid. He’s not a kid any more. He’s growing up into a real man. I believe Kevin Love will go down as one of the best young men and one of the best leaders we’ve ever had on this team.”

Love lost about 25 pounds during the off-season and he almost looks like a different person including because his jaw is set differently. “He looks to be in absolutely fantastic shape,” Wright said.

Love said he improved his diet during the off-season that was longer than normal because of the NBA labor dispute. He also conditioned himself playing beach volleyball during an eventful off-season.

Last Saturday night at Target Center he had 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Wolves’ opening preseason game, a 117-96 win over Milwaukee. Wednesday night in Milwaukee he and the Wolves play their second and final preseason game. Then come 66 regular season games to show Love’s leadership and build on the past months of emotional growth.

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Gophers Basketball Notes

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

It will be a year ago this coming Friday that Gophers freshman forward Maurice Walker injured his right knee against South Dakota State. Walker missed the rest of the season because of a torn posterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, and he’s yet to play this fall.

Coach Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners he is uncertain when the 6-foot-10, 289-pound Canadian will play again. “We don’t have one (a timeline),” Smith said. “Every day he’s getting better. He’s working out now. He’s doing some running with some drills. …We just want to take it along slow.”

Smith said there’s a possibility of Walker playing this season but more evaluation will be made after Christmas. With the inconsistent play of 6-11 Ralph Sampson III and 6-11 Elliott Eliason, the Gophers could certainly use Walker’s size.

Walker averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Gophers in 12 games last season. He’s a three time member of the Canadian Junior National Team.

Meanwhile, the Gophers (11-1) end their nonconference schedule on Thursday night at home against North Dakota State (8-2), a team that lost by three points at Arizona State and lists seven Minnesotans on the roster. The Bison will be looking forward to the game and a possible upset.

Smith is happy with his team through 12 games. “I am fired up,” he said. “I like our kids. I like the way they’re playing. They really, I think, genuinely enjoy each other’s company. They all have the passion, the competitiveness, but now they’re starting to play for one another. That’s something I was really concerned about. Because you get guys, and you gotta get them to be willing to play (together). You gotta get them to be willing to sacrifice some things. We got very unselfish players. …”

Smith said there is no update regarding progress to fund and build a new practice facility adjacent to Williams Arena. Minnesota and Northwestern are the only schools in the Big Ten Conference without such a facility. The Minnesota facility will be used by both the men’s and women’s teams, and ease the use of Williams Arena for practice while providing a more attractive venue to show recruits.

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Worth Noting

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Within about 48 hours approximately 4,000 tickets were sold for TwinsFest last week, according to Patrick Klinger, Twins marketing VP. In addition, season ticket holders receive complimentary tickets and crowds could total over 30,000 for the three-day event at the Metrodome January 27-29.

Klinger said most of the players on the Twins roster, including Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, are expected at TwinsFest. In addition, former players are likely to include Rod Carew, Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva. Among the attractions will be Bert Blyleven’s Hall of Fame plaque.

Tickets for adults and children under 14 are available at a discount if purchased in advance. Tickets are sold at the Twins Pro Shops, by telephone or via the team’s Website.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill said yesterday on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle he’s optimistic senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire will be given a medical redshirt and allowed to play again next season.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who threw five touchdown passes to help defeat the Vikings yesterday, was seen dining at McCormick & Schmick’s in Edina Saturday night.

Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler and former Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker, now with Denver, are among 26 NFL players selected by USA Football for its third annual USA Football All-Fundamentals Team. The team honors NFL players who exhibit exemplary techniques for youth players to emulate.

The Timberwolves will have a free scrimmage at Target Center open to the public starting at noon today.

The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, Minnesota Adoption Resource Network (MARN), and Minnesota Department of Human Services will host the seventh annual “Holiday Shopping for Kids” event late today at Seven Restaurant and the downtown Target store. Thirteen local foster children from MARN waiting for adoption have been invited.

Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson and his wife Landyn will host a holiday party tomorrow for young patients and their families (about 100 people) at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. The Hutchinsons purchased gifts for every young patient at the hospital. Players joining them will include Patrick Brown, Caleb King, Tyrone McKenzie, Sage Rosenfels, John Sullivan and Kerry Taylor.

Legendary former St. Louis Park High School athletes Jim Petersen and Bob Stein periodically schedule breakfasts with former Orioles assistant football coach Cliff Bombach, now 94.

Harvey Mackay, Minneapolis businessman and former Gophers golfer, said his new book, The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World, climbed in the first 10 days of sales to No. 1 among business books on the Wall Street Journal list and No. 2 on USA Today.

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