David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on November 15, 2011December 28, 2011 by David Shama

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, who twice since 2007 has been rumored to be a candidate for the Gophers job, is head coaching material, said Barry Alvarez. The Badgers athletic director told Sports Headliners he’s received inquiries about Chryst and coaching jobs this fall.

Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb said although he hasn’t been asked by the coaching staff, he‘s willing to become a wide receiver. Webb played both positions in college and his experience could help him get open and catch the ball. He has the size (6-4) and speed (4.4) to be an intriguing wide receiver prospect.

The Oakland Raiders, now in first place in the AFC West with a 5-4 record, play the Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field and the franchise has a historic tie to this area. In 1960 Minneapolis was going to be one of the founding franchises in the new AFL but preferred an invitation to join the established NFL. Oakland accepted the franchise opening caused by the Minneapolis decision.

Vikings :30 and :60 second TV commercials advocating for a stadium in Arden Hills can be seen on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imCQC_Yd2Wg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnQaKCzUyGo

Former Gopher Royce White scored 25 points in his first regular season game for Iowa State, making nine of 15 field goals and seven of nine free throws last week. The Cyclones play at Drake tonight.

In its college basketball issue distributed last week, Sports Illustrated doesn’t include the Gophers among teams predicted to make the NCAA tournament. Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in the country, and also among the top 20 teams is No. 13 Wisconsin. Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern are other Big Ten teams predicted to qualify for the tournament.

Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald finished first in an NFL players poll about “who has the best fashion sense off the field,” according to S.I.’s November 14 issue.

St. Thomas received the most votes in a poll of league coaches to determine the preseason favorite to win the MIAC basketball championship. Former Gophers quarterback John Nance is expected to be among the Tommies’ key players. The other three MIAC teams receiving the most votes were St. Olaf, Augsburg and Carleton.

St. Thomas also received the most votes in the women’s coaches poll followed by Gustavus, Saint Benedict and Concordia.

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Notes Plus

Posted on November 15, 2011December 28, 2011 by David Shama

The average NBA player reportedly earned $5.15 million last season, but players and team owners can’t reach agreement on a new labor deal. When hall of famer Elgin Baylor played for the Minneapolis Lakers in the late 1950’s he was one of the top players in the league but earned $7,500, according to Minnesota native Ed Cohen who represented Baylor.

Michigan senior guard Courtney Boylan, who played for Chaska High School, is the women’s Big Ten player of the week after scoring a career high 21 points in a road win at Florida. The 5-7 Boylan tied a career single game high of seven rebounds.

Jay Pivec, the former head coach at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, takes his 2-0 Dakota Community and Technical College team to Rochester on Friday night. This is the initial season for DCTC basketball and the Blue Knights will play Rochester Community and Technical College, a team ranked No.2 in the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Division III poll.

The Twins are renting Target Field to country music stars Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw for a concert on Sunday, July 8. It will be the first concert in the two-year-old stadium’s history but certainly not the last. A source told Sports Headliners that smaller concerts using a portion of the stadium are possible next year and beyond. Look for full stadium concerts like the Chesney and McGraw show in possibly 2013 or further out.

The Minnesota State High School League pays a total of $50,000 for rental of the Metrodome for semifinals and finals games in soccer and football this month, according to Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. The league also pays 10 percent admissions tax and event costs such as ushering.

Wild forwards Dany Heatley and Mikko Koivu and defenseman Marek Zidlicky have been named to the 2012 NHL All-Star ballot. Players appearing on the ballot were selected by the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department.

Author Jim Hoey has written a new book that will challenge anyone who likes Minnesota boys’ hockey tournament trivia. The book is titled Puck Heaven, and Hoey also authored Minnesota Twins Trivia.

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Frazier: Rookie QB Ponder ‘Unflappable’

Posted on November 14, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

How will Christian Ponder play tonight?

That’s a question being discussed at lunch tables today by Vikings fans. The Vikings rookie quarterback will make his third NFL start tonight in Green Bay playing in front of a rabid crowd and national TV audience. And the 8-0 Packers might be the best team in football.

Ponder made his first ever start last month in Minneapolis against the Packers. He gave life to a season-long struggling Vikings offense. Although the Vikings lost 33-27, Ponder did throw for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

The next week in Carolina, Ponder helped the Vikings to a second half win over the Panthers. Ponder directed a long fourth quarter drive that resulted in a Ryan Longwell field goal and a 24-21 win, only the Vikings second of the season.

What’s impressive about Ponder is that he has completed 70.4 percent of his passes on third downs. That’s second best in the NFL among passers with 20 or more third down attempts. Inside the 20-yard line no league passer can match his stats of five-for-five completions and two touchdown passes.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder has been “unflappable” in his two starts for the Vikings. He doesn’t expect the stage to be too big for the rookie tonight. “…I don’t think it’ll overwhelm him on Monday night at Lambeau,” Frazier said last week. “He just has a way about him of being able to handle situations. Of course we’ll do some things to prep him but I have a feeling he’ll be able to absorb it.”

Ponder has impressed teammates, too. “He’s doing a great job,” center John Sullivan said. “…He’s studying hard and he’s making great throws. He’s really leading the team, and he’s a very intelligent guy.”

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