Former Gophers Dave Winfield and Paul Giel are deserving of careful consideration when the Big Ten Network determines the Big Ten Conference’s all-time greatest athletes.  The network announced the project last week and said in a news release that a top 50 list will be determined by “a panel of on-air talent, network executives, conference officials and long-time Big Ten observers.”

Athletes selected will be seen in a 20-episode series, Big Ten Icons, hosted by legendary college sports broadcaster Keith Jackson. The series debuts September 18 following a Big Ten Network football game.  The countdown from No. 20 continues every Tuesday night through the end of football season and into the spring.  The greatest athlete will be identified next March in conjunction with the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. Those selected for the top 50 will do so based on their achievements in the Big Ten, not other experiences such as professional or Olympic competition.

Winfield was an All-American baseball player and was both a superior pitcher and hitter.  He was named MVP of the College World Series in 1973 where he almost helped the Gophers, a northern team, to a national championship.  In basketball he was a starting forward and key contributor to the 1972 Gophers’ Big Ten championship team.  Although Winfield didn’t play college football he was such a good athlete he was drafted by the NFL, as well as the NBA and major league baseball.

Giel was All-American in two sports for the Gophers, baseball as a pitcher and football as a quarterback.  Playing in the early 1950’s, Giel was later drafted by the New York Giants and went directly to the major leagues.  In football he was twice named the Big Ten’s most valuable player.  Many historians argue that if he had played with a better team at Minnesota he would have been the 1953 Heisman Trophy winner.

Winfield and Giel should be locks to be included on the top 50 list, and deserving of high ranking.  Other Big Ten athletes with exceptional resumes include Jesse Owens, Archie Griffin, Jerry Lucas, and Jack Nicklaus from Ohio State, Kirk Gibson and Magic Johnson from Michigan State, Red Grange and Dick Butkus from Illinois, Indiana’s Mark Spitz and Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.  In addition to Winfield and Giel, other Gophers who should receive top 50 consideration include Bobby Bell, Shelton Benjamin, Eric Decker, Bud Grant, Noel Jenke, Bronko Nagurski, Mychal Thompson and Bruce Smith.

The top 50 project will be promoted at the Big Ten basketball tournament that starts tomorrow in Indianapolis.  Eight-foot tall bobbleheads representing each school will be stationed around Conseco Fieldhouse during the event. The bobbleheads will include Red Grange (Illinois), Steve Alford (Indiana), Chuck Long (Iowa), Charles Woodson (Michigan), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State), Dave Winfield (Minnesota), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Jesse Owens (Ohio State), John Cappelletti (Penn State), Drew Brees (Purdue) and Ron Dayne (Wisconsin).

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Too bad Cretin-Derham Hall didn’t make the boys’ state hockey tournament so that fans could watch Raiders defenseman Mark Alt who is expected to play college hockey for the Gophers.  Part-time New York Rangers scout Glen Sonmor raved about Alt during an interview earlier this week with Sports Headliners.

“I think Alt is going to be a whale of a player,” Sonmor said. “He’s a great athlete.  He’s a smart kid.  I’ve watched him play (and) for a big 6-3 guy he can shoot like hell.”

Sonmor considers Alt a pro prospect and a player who could be chosen in the first round of this year’s NHL draft.  Because of Alt’s potential in hockey, Sonmor hopes talk about attending Iowa and playing quarterback will not come about.  Alt’s father, John, was a first round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs after playing at Iowa.

Two Gopher recruits who will be in the tournament playing for Minnetonka are forward Max Gardiner and defenseman Justin Holl.  The Skippers will be a favorite to win Class 2A but Hill-Murray might surprise.  The Pioneers have a balance of skills and wear opponents down with constant movement.  A team to watch now and beyond is Apple Valley with a roster full of underclassmen including freshman Hudson Fasching and sophomore A.J. Michaelson, both forwards.  Gophers recruit and Blaine forward Nick Bjugstad, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, is a scoring whiz and will test Apple Valley tomorrow.

In Class 1A  Breck, with outstanding forwards and scorers Ty Fulton and Mike Morin, will be a favorite.  Mahtomedi goalie Brad Wohlers is terrific but his team doesn’t have a lot offense.

The Twins are expected to provide 7,000 to 8,000 tickets to construction workers involved with Target Field when the Twins play exhibition games April 2 and 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Selected guests will participate in activities like throwing out the first pitch and singing the national anthem.

This is the last season of Twins broadcasts on KSTP 1500 unless a new deal is reached.  It’s a good guess WCCO Radio will show interest in regaining the rights that KSTP has held for the last three seasons.

The Twins might lose a dozen wins this season if Joe Nathan can’t pitch, or if the franchise is unable to find an effective closer to replace him.  Management likes staying within the organization so look for the Twins to search for a possible Nathan replacement from among a few candidates including Jon Rauch, Pat Neshek and maybe even Francisco Liriano.

Minnetonka native Will Leer, the nephew of former KSTP TV reporter Robb Leer, is expected to run the 1,500 meters at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Qatar this weekend.  Leer, who was an All-American at Pomona College in California, recently qualified for the USA indoor team.  Robb Leer said via email that his nephew didn’t begin running until his junior year at Minnetonka High School and that Will hopes to compete for the US in the 2012 Olympics.

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Gophers coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners he expects Nick Tow-Arnett to “wow” NFL scouts today at the Gophers’ Pro Day on campus.  Scouts will be evaluating Gophers whose eligibility ended after last season and even though Brewster’s tight end wasn’t invited to the prestigious NFL Combine earlier this month he believes talent evaluators will be impressed with Tow-Arnett’s physical skills, versatility and intelligence.  “I think he’s a second day draft pick,” said Brewster who prior to the Gophers was the Denver Broncos’ tight ends coach.

Rumor NOT to be believed: Zygi Wilf will sell the Vikings and buy his home town New York Giants.

Unless the Gophers shock the college basketball world by winning four straight games in the Big Ten tournament starting with Penn State tomorrow night, Minnesota is headed for the NIT.  The NIT field will be announced early next week and the higher seeds usually host games unless there is something unusual such as a facility not being available.

The Denver Nuggets team that comes to Target Center tonight to play the Timberwolves has a chance to finish with the best record in the Western Conference.  The Nuggets, 42-21, have one of their best teams in franchise history and their record compares favorably to the Los Angeles Lakers, 47-18, and Dallas Mavericks, 44-21.

Coach Jay Pivec is job hunting after Minneapolis Community and Technical College ended the basketball program he led for 20 years.  His record there was 435-115.  He is part of the 2010 class for the National Junior College Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame.  Pivec’s skill set will result in success, whether his future is in basketball or a new career.

St. Thomas junior guard Tyler Nicolai, who led the Tommies to the regular season conference championship, was named the MIAC Player of the Year in a vote of league coaches.  In conference games Nicolai led the Tommies in scoring (13.8), steals (1.90), assist/turnover ratio (2.65) and field goal percentage (48.7 %).

Saint John’s junior wing Sam Blank was selected MIAC Sixth Man of the Year.  Blank finished fourth in MIAC games making 35 three-pointers with a 41.7% average.  Augsburg head coach Aaron Griess was chosen Coach of the Year.  Griess led the Auggies to their best single season win total since 1998-99.  Augsburg tied for second place in the conference with a 13-7 record.

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