Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, an eight year veteran, said coach Brad Childress was too serious when he started coaching the team in 2007.  “He’s gotten way better,” McKinnie said.

Although USC might not look as attractive now because of NCAA imposed football sanctions, incoming 2010 recruits like Cretin-Derham Hall prep All-American tackle Seantrel Henderson are committed to the Trojans unless they can obtain scholarship releases and want to red shirt for a year at another school.  Among the sanctions facing the Trojans are a two-year ban from post-season play and three-year reduction of 30 scholarships.  Interestingly, USC juniors and seniors can transfer and be immediately eligible elsewhere.

Basketball guard Tyus Jones, who played for Apple Valley High School last season as an eighth grader, has a younger brother, Trey, who is also impressive.  Trey has been playing AAU basketball for a sixth grade team even though he just finished fourth grade.   His coach, John Sherman, told Sports Headliners that Trey shows potential to possibly be better than Tyus who is already a recruiting target for major colleges.

Sherman, also a sportswriter for Sun Newspapers, coached the Minnesota Transitions high school team to the Class A state title in 2010.  With four of his six players returning, Sherman expects another outstanding team next winter.

Klay Thompson, the Washington State guard who averaged 19.6 points per game last season as a sophomore, could be chosen on the first or second round of next year’s NBA draft.  His dad, former Gophers All-American Mychal Thompson, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 draft.

Not that it’s expected but if manager Ron Gardenhire left the Twins, Rockies coach Don Baylor’s name might surface as a candidate.  Baylor is a coach with the Rockies, played on the Twins 1987 World Series championship team and once managed the Rockies and Cubs.

Gardenhire talks about first baseman Justin Morneau “carrying” the team in the following story: https://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=5311771

Rookie catcher Drew Butera, who pinch hit against the Phillies and hit his first big league home run last Saturday, played five seasons in the minor leagues from 2005-2009.  Known for his catching ability, Butera had these modest hitting totals in 1,419 at bats: .214. batting average, 21 home runs and 154 RBI.

This Saturday Canterbury Park celebrates 25 years since its opening in 1985.  The Shakopee racetrack, then known as Canterbury Downs, opened on June 26, 1985.  Admission is free all season at Canterbury.

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Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners yesterday that his last four years as Timberwolves owner have been “the most difficult” since he bought the club in 1995.  The team hasn’t made the playoffs and Taylor acknowledged the franchise has experienced financial losses of at least $10 million per season.

Taylor said there is a financial plan for next year and the franchise might make money.  “It just kind of depends on how well we play,” he said.

Historically, the goal has been to break-even, and Taylor said in the past the franchise has done that or even made money.  The last four years have been difficult not only because of losing money, but also seeing his franchise trying to rebuild its roster and find its way back into the playoffs for the first time since 2004. “You have to be patient and it’s hard on a guy like myself to be patient,” said Taylor, a Minnesota native who is one of the state’s most successful businessmen.

The Wolves’ rebuilding opportunity has taken longer than he hoped.  “A big part of me is a fan just like everybody else and you’d like to see results faster on the court,” Taylor said.

The Wolves have five picks in next week’s NBA draft and also salary cap space for the free agent market this summer.  The window of opportunity for strengthening a team that was 15-67 last season is now.

Taylor said the club needs shooters who can open up the offense and complement the talent of inside players already here.  The Wolves are also in need of better defensive players.

The club is most likely to obtain player help through the draft or a trade, according to the Wolves owner.  Top free agents will stay with their present clubs, Taylor predicts.  “So I think it’s hard to get them away,” he said.

Those free agents who do reject their present clubs are more likely to target a contending team.  “For us it might be easier to get that quality player through a trade…,” Taylor said.

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Because of conference expansion to 12 teams an annual football playoff game to determine the Big Ten champion could begin in 2011 and the venue might one day be the new Vikings stadium, according to Bill Lester.

Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, told Sports Headliners he expects the championship game will be “the kind of event put out for bid” by the Big Ten Conference.  A new state-of-the art Vikings stadium with a fixed or retractable roof presumably would interest conference officials.

The game will almost certainly be played in December and because of the cold weather a covered stadium will probably be preferred.  The annual Southeastern Conference championship game is played in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome and last year’s Big 12 Conference championship game was played in Cowboys Stadium which has a retractable roof.

In the Big Ten’s geographic area there are two modern stadiums with roofs, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and Ford Field in Detroit. The uncertain future and age of the Metrodome probably makes the facility an unlikely candidate to host a Big Ten championship game, but a new Vikings stadium creates possibilities for a local bid.

The Big Ten already has precedent in using pro facilities having staged its post-season conference basketball tournaments in Chicago and Indianapolis.  The games have been played in NBA facilities in each city, the United Center in Chicago and Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Big Ten, with the addition of Nebraska, will have 12 teams for the first time in its history starting in 2011.  Two divisions of six teams each are expected to be created with the division winners playing for the conference championship before a large in-stadium and TV audience.

Most informed sources expect the conference to expand beyond 12 schools, likely adding four more with the majority perhaps coming from the Big East Conference.  An exit by some Big East schools could hasten football independent Notre Dame to join the Big Ten since the Irish compete in the Big East in other sports.  The weakening or collapse of the Big East probably leaves the Irish with the Big Ten being its best alternative.

Don’t even be surprised if the Big Ten announces the addition of more schools within a few weeks.

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