Ex-Gophers kicker Rhys Lloyd is married to a former women’s pro golfer, Tina Miller, an All-American at Miami.  Lloyd said his wife could only break even financially on the pro circuit because of expenses.  She’s not playing now and is a full time mom to the couple’s six month old son.   Lloyd, who has a 0.2 handicap, grew up in England and is excited about the June 12 World Cup soccer match between the United States and his native country.

Lloyd might make the Vikings roster as a kickoff specialist, a role previously filled by Ryan Longwell who is expected to again be the team’s field goal kicker.  Longwell, 35, said he realizes the NFL is a business and that specialists like him are “fair game” as the team determines its roster.

There’s been speculation about O.J. Atogwe, the former Rams free agent safety, being interested in the Vikings.  The team’s starting safeties last season, Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams, combined for one interception (Johnson).

Tyus Jones, the Apple Valley High eighth grader, continues to turn heads among basketball people.  He’s following up an impressive first high school season with AAU games this spring.  Jones is already a national name in amateur basketball and could become the most highly recruited Minnesota prep ever by colleges.

Baseball’s amateur draft begins today with the Twins selecting at No. 21 in the first round.  Washington, for the second consecutive season, has the No. 1 pick.

The Twins will hold an open tryout at the Metrodome on June 21 and 22.  The event is held annually and among the notable signings was Charley Walters in 1966.  The former Edison High pitcher had a brief baseball career before becoming a sports columnist for the Pioneer Press.

The Twins, averaging 38,871, are third in average American League attendance. Only the Yankees at 44,943 and Angels with 39,383 have higher averages, according to https://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance.

The Twins play in Philadelphia for an Interleague series June 18-20.  It will be the franchise’s first visit to Philadelphia since 2002 and only the third series ever against the Phillies.

St. Thomas senior pitcher Matt Schuld is an American Baseball Coaches Association Division III first team All-American.  Hamline junior outfielder Tony Rogers is among the recipients of an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award recognizing the nation’s best defensive players.

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Kevin Garnett, who in 12 seasons with the Timberwolves never played for an NBA finals team, now finds himself within reach of a second world championship in three years as a member of the Boston Celtics.  His team is in Los Angeles tonight for game one of the finals against the Lakers.

For Garnett, there’s more than another ring in the offering.  His legacy can be enhanced, too.

At 33, Garnett’s career is far closer to the finish than the beginning.  Except for 24-year-old point guard Rajon Rondo, Boston’s best players are “geezers” like Garnett, guard Ray Allen, 34, and forward Paul Pierce, 32.  Even 6-11 long distance shooting sub Rasheed Wallace is an NBA old timer at 35.

This Celtics team is built to win in June, 2010, not a year or two from now.  Garnett, Pierce and Allen could move into fast company among Celtics legends by winning a second championship in three years.

Boston won three world titles in the 1980s with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.  In the 1970’s Dave Cowens and John Havlicek led two NBA title teams.  And in the 1950’s and 1960’s basketball’s ultimate winner, Bill Russell, teamed with players like Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, Sam Jones and Havlicek to win 10 championships.

A title in 2010 will enhance how Garnett is remembered among the game’s great players.  Winning championships commands attention, provides a personal showcase and builds the most favorable of reputations.

For Garnett, the seven game world championship series is an ideal stage.  The 6-11 power forward has no attribute that sets him apart from basketball’s greatest players.  Instead, he’s a master of many skills, a superstar who brings to almost every game 20 points and 11 rebounds, plus timely passes and blocks.

But there’s more.  He also arrives at work with a scowl, with a focus on defense and determination to win.  His resolve to keep opponents from scoring and teammates in check helped produce a title two years ago, according to basketball writer Bill Simmons.

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Simmons is the author of the “Basketball Book” which delivers a comprehensive and insider’s look at the best players, past and present, who have played in the NBA.

Simmons believes what Garnett did in Boston after arriving in 2007 from the Timberwolves can’t be quantified by the numbers.  “He transformed the culture of a perennial doormat,” Simmons writes in his book.  “He taught teammates to care about defense, practice, professionalism, and leaving everything they had on the court.  He taught them to stop caring about stats and start caring about wins.”

In the book Simmons ranks Garnett No. 22 among the NBA’s greatest players.  Among those ahead of Garnett are two other power forwards, No. 19 Charles Barkley and No. 18 Karl Malone.  Barkley, who played for three NBA teams, never was on a world championship club.  Malone played in two NBA finals with Utah but lost both times to Chicago.

The Celtics are likely to win their 18^th world championship against the Lakers, the defending champs.  Boston has the better defense.  The Celtics’ defense can destroy opponents and evidence includes 32 and 29 point wins in this spring’s playoffs.

The Celtics have four players that on most nights can make a big impact on any game.  Two years ago Boston had its big three but now Rondo is so good he’s transitioned the Celtics to a big four while taking his place among the elite point guards in the league.

The Lakers Kobe Bryant will be the best player in the series but only teammate Pau Gasol, perhaps the NBA’s most efficient offensive center, can be counted on to bring more star power game after game for Los Angeles.  Point guard Derek Fisher is the team’s next best contributor while center Andrew Bynum and forwards Ron Artest and Lamar Odom tease with their up and down performances.

No guarantees, but odds are the Celtics win this series.  If so, it will be the ninth time that the Celtics have defeated the Lakers in the finals.  Garnett won’t carry his team but he will shoulder plenty of the effort, and he will put a lot more space and time between himself and those many difficult seasons in Target Center when the NBA nation wondered if he would ever escape the Timberwolves and win a title.

Make it two.

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