Listen up, local sports fans, it’s time to show more love toward Kevin Love.

The Wolves marketers have concocted more ticket bargains than any franchise in town but there are still a lot of empty seats in Target Center for Timberwolves games.  Those unfilled seats are commentary by a disinterested public that has watched the Wolves make an annual habit of losing records and missing the playoffs, but this year’s model is better and nobody deserves attention more than Love, the 22-year-old power forward who leads the NBA in rebounding.

In his third NBA season Love is averaging 15.6 rebounds per game.  He has a single game high of 31 on a night last month when he also scored 31 points.  It was the first 30-30 performance in the league since 1982.  “This guy is one of the greatest rebounders ever to play this game,” said Jim Petersen, the Wolves TV analyst, during a game last week.

At least for now that might be beyond where some observers would go, but heed this: No NBA player has averaged more than 16 rebounds since Dennis Rodman (16.1) did so during the 1996-97 season.  Love is also second on the team in scoring, averaging 20.5  points per game, and is also a creative and unselfish passer.

But what makes insiders gush about Love is he’s a modest young man with values as worthy of praise as his impressive rebounding totals.  I’ve never been around him, seen him on TV or heard him on the radio when he hasn’t been cordial.  He even thanks the media for interviewing him.

This fall he’s promoting his annual coat drive for the disadvantaged, partnering with Comcast and the Salvation Army.  Fans can bring new or “gently” used coats to any of eight metro-area drop-off locations, including the Target Center Box Office and Comcast service centers.  The drive ends Friday.

In the NBA some players have been known for their police record or number of children they fathered with different women.  On-court stats have been nice but in their personal lives the facts don’t always look so good.

Get out and see Love.  Applaud him for his basketball skills, the all-out effort he’s giving to help transform the Wolves into a better team, and for being a welcome addition to this community.

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Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell has a 0.4 handicap and when his NFL career ends might devote two years (starting with small tournaments) to see if he can play professional golf.  Another post-football option could be an expanded role on the Golf Channel where he’s already done some off-season TV work.

Longwell, 36, has only four games remaining on his contract with the Vikings, and so he’s unsure of his future.  He makes his off-season home in Orlando where his dad, a former golf pro, lives nearby.  Longwell said he’s within a 10 minute drive of Disney World and frequently visits the famous entertainment attraction multiple times per week. “We’ll certainly eat over there or go on a ride or something three or four times a week,” he said.

The Vikings need help at wide receiver and might find it in next year’s college draft.  A mock first round draft in the December 6 issue of Sporting News Magazine projects seven wide receivers being drafted in the first round.  Among them is Notre Dame and former Cretin-Derham Hall wide receiver Michael Floyd projected at No. 14.

Here’s one way to evaluate the minimal exceptional talent that new Gophers coach Jerry Kill inherits from former coach Tim Brewster: the All-Big Ten team selected by the media gave honorable mention recognition to two underclassmen, kick returner/cornerback Troy Stoudermire and linebacker Gary Tinsley, both juniors.  The coaches All-Big Ten team included only senior center D.J. Burris among  Minnesota honorable mention selections. Burris was also on the media team, receiving honorable mention recognition.  No Gophers were chosen first or second team All-Big Ten by either the coaches or media.

Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien said Hopkins star and Gopher recruit Joe Coleman has improved his shooting during the off-season and his form looks smoother.

Apple Valley ninth grader and point guard Tyus Jones continues to be among the most watched Minnesota preps.  Lien said it’s important for Jones to keep his competitive approach with so many years of high school basketball ahead.  “By the time he’s a junior, he could be bored with the whole thing,” Lien said.  “I wish he would play multiple sports. It would be good for him.”

ESPN.com’s top 50 ratings of major league hitters includes only two Twins on the list, Joe Mauer at No. 22 and Delmon Young, No. 40.  Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera is No. 1. https://espn.go.com/mlb/playerratings/_/type/batting

With the addition of slugger Adam Dunn in Chicago, the American League team power rankings for 2011 likely will have the Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox ahead of the Twins unless Minnesota makes a major personnel upgrade.

Sixty-two of the best boys and girls high school hockey teams in the Upper Midwest participate in the 10th annual Schwan Cup hockey tournament, December 27-January 1. The tournament field is divided into four divisions each for boys and girls. https://www.nscsports.org/index.htm

The Swarm lacrosse team lost a local connection with the retirement of Colin Achenbach, the only Minnesota born player in the franchise’s six-year history.
The graduate of Apple Valley High School signed with the Swarm as a free agent in 2007.  The Swarm opens its 2011 season on January 8 at home against Rochester.

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