David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Anticipation Begins with Ricky Rubio

Posted on December 16, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

The anticipation and mystery starts with 21-year-old Ricky Rubio. The rookie Spanish point guard could be an instant rock star here, early disappointment, or more likely both. Whatever the story, there will be excitement surrounding him perhaps matching or exceeding any rookie debut in franchise history.

Rubio is handsome, plays with flair and speaks broken English. His surprise passes could sometimes break a teammate’s nose. We can dream he’s another Pete Maravich while being prepared to settle for the second coming of Jason Williams.

While Rubio is maybe a rock star in waiting, this team has other age-26 and under personnel who could be a lot of fun to watch. Start with the NBA’s leading rebounder and All-Star forward, 21-year-old Kevin Love. This is a guy, by the way, who at least one local writer labeled mediocre during the preseason of Love’s rookie year. What did we tell you about preseason judgments?

In the Rubio mania, rookie forward Derrick Williams, 20, has received less attention than a No. 2 overall pick in the draft would expect. This kid is an explosive scorer and versatile player who will get a look by Adelman at both power and small forward. At Arizona his career field goal percentage was .586 percent (.511 on three point attempts). Word is his attitude is good, and how do you not like a guy that enjoys old-time TV including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?”

Adelman said last week he wants to win now and that “potential” to win gets coaches fired. Wolves fans hope he coaches more production out of a talented trio who often show us both potential and disappointment. The threesome of forward Michael Beasley (22), center Darko Milicic (26) and guard Wes Johnson (24) can within moments both make fans stand and applaud, but also shake our heads with disapproval.

But, hey, that’s why Adelman and his staff have arrived on the scene. Their task is to make the league’s worst defensive team better, convince players to share the ball on offense, reduce turnovers and bust their tails every game. If that sounds like an ambitious to-do list, then you understand why early judgments are a no-no.

Ten games are a place to start with informed opinions. The 10 games after that will be even better. Best yet? At the end of the 66 game strike-shortened season.

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Worth Noting

Posted on December 16, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Christian Ponder threw three interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown last Sunday in a 34-28 loss to Detroit. For the season he has 11 interceptions and a lowly passer rating of 73.4. He also had a fumble in the Lions game leading to a touchdown.

It’s difficult to be patient with a rookie quarterback but reality is it requires time to develop efficiency. Four years ago in New Jersey Giants quarterback Eli Manning, then 26, was still learning the NFL game and threw four interceptions — including three returned for touchdowns — in a 41-17 loss to the Vikings. And Manning was in his third season as a full time starter. This season Manning might be headed for a career season and has a rating of 95.5, his best ever in the NFL.

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin’s 38 receptions since week 10 of the NFL schedule (11/14/11) are the most in the league. His five touchdowns are second best in the NFL during that period.

With 200 career receptions, Harvin ranks third on the franchise’s all-time list for most catches by a wide receiver during the first three seasons.

The 2-11 Vikings have three remaining games on the schedule and will be underdogs in all of them. In franchise history three teams won three games in a season while the 1962 team had a worst ever 2-11-1 record.

The Vikings have chosen 30 prep football players for its All-State team and will recognize them at halftime of Sunday’s home game against New Orleans. Totino-Grace coach Jeff Ferguson has been selected Coach of the Year.

Unlike Rivals.com which lists the projected Gophers 2012 football recruiting class last in the Big Ten, Scout.com has Minnesota ahead of Nebraska and Illinois.

The Twins are sending an electronic holiday greetings card featuring “Gardy Claus.” Poke Gardy in the belly and he announces what he wants for Christmas including “Joe Mauer’s hair” and “lasik” surgery for umpires. Well done.

Minneapolis native and former Mr. Basketball Kevin Noreen, a redshirt freshman forward at West Virginia, is averaging 3.1 points for the Mountaineers. His brother Kyle Noreen is a freshman guard at Radford where he averages 1.7 points per game.

Mike Stehlik announced his resignation after 22 years of directing the women’s soccer program at Gustavus. He had an overall record of 223-137-30 in 22 seasons and ranks 35th in career victories in NCAA Division III women’s soccer.

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Vikings Camarillo Makes a Difference for Kids

Posted on December 14, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Greg Camarillo is a benchwarmer for the Vikings, a wide receiver who has just six receptions for 93 yards this season, but to disadvantaged kids like Kitam Hamm he’s a hero.

Hamm is a high school senior who lives in the infamous town of Compton, California. It’s a place where youngsters are maybe more likely to be shot than attend college. Hamm, a football player and student of promise, has hope for the future because of his own hard work and encouragement from family and people like Camarillo and his brother Jeff Camarillo.

Hamm was a seventh grader when the Camarillos started the Charging Forward program in southern California. Compton was targeted not only for the youngsters there who needed help, but also because the Camarillos’ father Albert grew up in the city.

Greg said the Charging Forward program’s goal is to work with student-athletes “that will benefit from a little encouragement and a little reward for hard work in the classroom and on the playing field.” Rewards for those performing well include meetings with guest speakers and gifts like gloves, cleats and tickets to San Diego Chargers games.

“That simple thing that would get them out of their neighborhood for a day — for a weekend — was just what they needed to work hard,” Greg said. “Something to look forward to, (and) something to be excited about.”

Hamm’s success was documented in a lengthy feature for the December 5 issue of Sports Illustrated. The article details the reality of living in a gang-infested community and how Hamm has excelled on the football field and in the classroom.

“He’s a great kid,” Greg said. “He comes from a great household. The article does a great job of portraying what he made it past to be successful.”

Greg has used his money and also fundraisers to provide a budget for Charging Forward. During the next offseason he and his brother plan to start up with another group of youngsters, similar to what they did six years ago with Hamm. The effort will be made easier now that Camarillo has sold his home in Florida and moved back to San Diego.

Greg and Frank hope to have Charging Forward chapters not only in Compton, but San Diego and East Palo Alto, California. Frank, who was a teacher in Compton, is now an educator in East Palo Alto.

“It’s amazing what just a little bit will do to the hopes and dreams of the kids,” Greg said.

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