Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell has a home in the Isleworth golf and residential community near Orlando and lives less than a mile from Tiger Woods.  Until they came up here last week for the holidays, Longwell’s wife and children had to deal with the intense media coverage of the Woods story that has caused national attention.  With helicopters over head and media outside the gated community, it has all been annoying for Longwell’s family and other neighbors.

Longwell said he and his wife had to explain to their young children what all the fuss is about, saying that “Tiger had made some really, really bad decisions and bad choices in not putting his family first.”

Vikings rookie running back Ian Johnson, on the practice squad this year, told Sports Headliners he’s learned “what a business” the NFL is.  He hopes to be on the field playing for the Vikings next year, or with another NFL team, or even playing in Canada.

Blake Hoffarber, who set the school record for a single game with eight three pointers on Tuesday night, has improved his defense, according to coach Tubby Smith who likes Hoffarber’s defensive fundamentals.  Hoffarber is converting .483 percent of his three point field goal attempts after making only .341 percent last season.  Smith said one reason for the improvement is Hoffarber has stopped dipping the ball in his shooting approach.  “He’s got great mechanics, great form,” Smith said.

Wild right wing Martin Havlat has seven points (two goals and five assists) in his last five games.  The Wild have won four of those games.

Defenseman Tyler Cuma, a 2008 Wild first round draft choice, was recently added to the roster for Canada’s World Junior selection camp.  He joins Wild prospects Matt Hackett (goalie) and Marco Scandella (defense) on the roster.

Three MIAC women’s soccer players have been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III All-America team.  Macalester’s Maddie Mette was a second team honoree.  Concordia’s Sam Johnson and St. Thomas’ Kirsten Moran were third team selections.

Three MIAC football players will participate in the Tazón de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) tomorrow at a site near Mexico City.  Bethel’s Tim Cornish (cornerback) and Jared Lyle (nose guard), and St. Thomas’ Jeffrey Hilliard (cornerback) will play on Team Stars and Stripes against the Tec Monterrey All-Stars of Mexico.  The American roster consists of 52 Division III players while the Tec Monterrey All-Stars are from two Mexican campuses.

The Lynx earlier this week selected six-year WNBA veteran and All-Star Rebekkah Brunson in the Dispersal Draft involving Sacramento Monarchs players.  The Lynx  have four players on their roster who played in the WNBA All-Star game during their careers: Seimone Augustus (2006, 2007), Nicky Anosike (2009), Charde Houston (2009) and Brunson (2007).

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News that state Senator Dick Day will lead a lobbying effort to allow slot machines at Canterbury Park and Running Aces Harness Park to help fund a new Vikings stadium isn’t enough to convince a stadium expert that this potential revenue source will ultimately be approved.  The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has extensive experience with stadium funding and building, and considerable knowledge of local politics.

Day is resigning from his position in January to lobby for slots and video games at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, a revenue source that reportedly could produce $125 million per year for the state.  That money could be dedicated to various state causes ranging from education to a Vikings stadium that might come with a price tag of $900 million or more.  The Vikings ownership, along with support from the public sector, is expected to pay for a stadium.

The source said that because of the “Native American gaming lobby, it will be incredibly difficult” to achieve approval by the legislature for expanded gambling.  He believes, though, there’s “wide spread public support” for such legislation and that the issue could be put to a referendum.

“There’s a risk to that (the referendum) but a good chance of passing,” the source said.  The referendum would specify how funding will be used, including for the proposed new Vikings stadium which is being marketed as a multi-use facility to benefit not only the NFL team but also amateur sports and other activities that serve a public need, plus highly attended events such as motor sports and NCAA basketball tournament games that generate revenues for the local economy.

If a referendum doesn’t pass, it could be “very damaging” to the stadium campaign being made by the Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, according to the source.  A defeated referendum could be interpreted as a general rejection of a new stadium and send the wrong message to the Vikings and NFL.

“I doubt this (expansion of gambling) will be their No. 1 play (funding source),” the source said.  He believes a metropolitan area tax of some kind is more likely to eventually be approved by the legislature.  The tax revenues would be dedicated for more uses than the Vikings stadium.

The source predicts passage of a Vikings stadium bill is much more “realistic” in 2011 than 2010.  The stadium campaign, though, is building momentum and he said “never say never” about approval in 2010.

Next year is an election year for legislators and the legislature must face difficult budget decisions.  The Vikings’ lease at the Metrodome expires following the 2011 season.

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At its monthly meeting tomorrow the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission will hear results of the Metrodome Next study announcing new stadium costs and design, plus a proposed stadium schedule.  The announcement follows 18 months of study by two companies, HKS, Inc. and Mortenson Construction.

An MSFC spokesman told Sports Headliners the report will have a reduced stadium cost from the $950 million that’s been used in the past but he didn’t offer a figure.  He said the retractable roof stadium will be “state of the art,” comparing favorably with other new NFL facilities.  With a nod to the environment, he said it will also be the “greenest” in the NFL.  The facility will be located on the Metrodome site.

A Vikings spokesman said neither team executives nor ownership will attend the meeting tomorrow.  Vikings leaders aren’t happy about a commission resolution that in exchange for extending the Metrodome lease by two years the Vikings would receive reduced stadium expenses for playoff games.

The Vikings (11-2) can clinch their second consecutive NFC North championship on Sunday night in Carolina but the team has the ultimate prize in mind.  “You gotta go win every single game because our goal is not just to make the Super Bowl but to win the Super Bowl,” defensive end Brian Robison told Sports Headliners.

On Sunday night quarterback Brett Favre can become the Vikings record holder for the most 100+ rated games in a single season.  Favre has eight games this season with a 100+ rating (tied all-time with Daunte Culpepper).

Near the end of Sunday’s 30-10 win over Cincinnati, defensive tackle Pat Williams, 37, and quarterback Brett Favre, 40, were having a good laugh on the sidelines.  Williams said the two were talking about how the Vikings had returned to playing “smash mouth” football after a loss to Arizona last week.  “We were just laughing about it,” Williams said. “Like a couple old guys do.”

Vikings defensive tackle Jared Allen said that even a win late in the season (game No. 13) builds team confidence.  “Absolutely,” he said. “This is just how we expect to play.  Our expectations are high.  You always build confidence with every win.”

Linebacker Ben Leber, who has been with the Vikings since the 2006 season and was on a playoff team in San Diego before that, was asked if this is the best Vikings team he has played for.  “Certainly,” he answered.  “It’s probably the best team I’ve played on in my career both (in) San Diego and here.  It’s just the way these guys’ attitude is during the week and on game day.  The way we can go out and perform.  It’s a heck of a fun…team to play on.”

Rob Neyer of ESPN.com named his top 100 baseball players of this decade and ranked Joe Mauer No. 40.  Former Twins Johan Santana, David Ortiz, Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, Brad Radke and Kenny Rogers ranked No. 10, 53, 70 , 92, 93 and 99 respectively.  https://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=4740695

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