David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

ESPN Filming Segment on U Legend

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

Gophers football and basketball notes:

An ESPN producer was in Minnesota this week working on a story about 1941 Gophers Heisman Trophy winner Bruce Smith, according to Bruce Krinke. The story will be an eight minute segment that will air beginning on November 6 as part of the network’s “Outside the Lines” programming.

“Outside the Lines,” hosted by Bob Ley, is producing segments like the Smith story that ties together sports and Veterans Day on November 11, according to Krinke who is a Smith family friend and was instrumental in giving a bust of the deceased Gophers football hero to the University last month. Smith was presented with the Heisman only two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and he later served in the U.S. Navy.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that he has been “seizure free” for awhile. “I don’t know the exact time, but it’s been 10 days anyway,” he said.

The progress has come with effective control of his medications and having the “right amount of sleep” as he settles into a routine. “We feel very comfortable where we’re at,” Kill said. “I just gotta take care of myself and make sure I do all the things they (doctors) tell me.”

It’s almost one year ago (October 17, 2010) that athletic director Joel Maturi announced the dismissal of Gophers football coach Tim Brewster. “You know, Minnesota can and should be competitive in the Big Ten,” Maturi said at the news conference announcing the change.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith raved about incoming freshmen players Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins yesterday at media day. Smith, now in his 39^th year of coaching, praised the two for their work ethics and maturity. “I don’t think maybe we’ve ever recruited two better people in my career,” he said.

Hollins will be in competition with sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi and junior college transfer Julian Welch for the starting point guard position. Coleman could push junior small forward Rodney Williams for the starting job.

Smith said an announcement on his contract extension could come soon. He also said there’s nothing to report on funding for a new practice facility.

Comments Welcome

Worth Noting

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

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL in sacks through five games. Allen, 29, might be having his best season in the pros. An outdoorsman, he has three dogs, Bonnie, Clyde and Rocco.

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell has made 66 of his last 74 field goal attempts going back to the start of the 2009 season.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph, who looks like one of the NFL’s most promising rookies, is only 21 and doesn’t turn 22 until November 9.

After the Bears play the Vikings on Sunday night in Chicago, the team travels to London for a regular season game against Tampa Bay.

Chicago’s Devin Hester ranks with the elite NFL kickoff and punt returners past and present. Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer was asked if kicker Chris Kluwe might punt toward the sideline on Sunday. “I will let you know that we are going to change our game plan a little bit from what we’ve been doing. We’re going to have to do that, he’s that good. …”

Pro football authority Bob Lurtsema thought the Vikings should draft former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. Instead, the Cincinnati Bengals took Dalton on the first round and he is 20^th in the NFL in passing yards and has a 78.7 passer rating.

Sign of the times: the Vikings are selling two-game ticket packages that include the Packers game here on Sunday, October 23. The Gophers are selling three-game ticket packages in both hockey and basketball.

Minneapolis native and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tied Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning as the third “nicest player in football” in a NFL players poll, according to the September 26 issue of Sports Illustrated. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was No. 2 while Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu ─ Joe Mauer’s TV commercial shampoo buddy ─ was No. 1.

Comments Welcome

Notes Plus

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

Al Davis, who passed away last weekend, started up the Oakland Raiders AFL franchise after Minneapolis interests gave up that franchise and accepted an invitation to join the NFL in 1961.

Team marketing executive Patrick Klinger told Sports Headliners a successor to Twins radio play-by-play man John Gordon is likely to be announced between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Analyst Dan Gladden is “probably” going to remain in that role and not take over the lead assignment for play-by-play, according to Klinger.

Klinger also said the Twins finished sixth highest among all major league teams in local TV ratings. The Twins were No. 2 in that category in 2010, he said, referencing Sports Business Journal.

The club’s annual TwinsFest will be the last weekend in January at the Metrodome.

Andy MacPhail, the former Twins executive who earned praise when the Twins won two World Series titles, has left the Baltimore Orioles but it would be a surprise if he came back to the Twins.

The Lynx made historical local basketball history winning the WNBA title. This was the first time since 1954 that a Minnesota pro basketball team won a league championship. The Minneapolis Lakers won the last of their five titles in Minneapolis in 1954.

Former Timberwolves executive Fred Hoiberg, now preparing for his second season as head coach at Iowa State, turns 39 on Saturday. With multiple transfers, including former Gopher Royce White, there’s opinion the Cyclones could be among the surprise teams in college basketball this season.

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso will be the speaker on Thursday, November 10 at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon in Bloomington. C.O.R.E.S members can contact Jim Dotseth for more information, dotsethj@comcast.net. C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

Sports advisor Jac Sperling, deeply involved with the Wild’s early success, is an advisor with the Minnesota Competitiveness Fund, a business group trying to help the Vikings stadium effort. Sperling’s company Grit Rock Ventures is working on the business side for the New Orleans NBA team including looking for a new owner.

Comments Welcome