Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was one of the newsmakers featured Wednesday night on ABC TV’s “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.”  He was the only sports figure included and unlike everyone else wasn’t shown in an interview during his segment.  Walters read a script about Favre’s career while viewers saw him playing football and speaking at his Green Bay retirement news conference.

I don’t know who to credit but a GopherIllustrated.com reader researched the first three rounds of the NFL draft during the last 15 years.  According to his research, the Gophers had three players drafted in that span, the fewest of any Big Ten school.  Among major college programs only Duke with two had fewer players, according to the research.

At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien provided his early season rankings of the best teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A.  His top five in big school 4A are: Hopkins, Henry Sibley, Stillwater Area, Minnetonka and Tartan.  Benilde-St. Margaret’s is No. 1 in 3A followed by Columbia Heights, Patrick Henry, Johnson and Winona.

The top five in 2A are Plainview-Elgin-Millville, New London Spicer, Crosby-Ironton, Sibley East and Pequot Lakes.  Minnesota Transitions is No. 1 in 1A followed by MACCRAY, Ellsworth, Sebeka and Maranatha Christian.

St. Joseph’s, a team that plays the Gophers tomorrow at Williams Arena, played No. 3 ranked Villanova close on Wednesday night, losing 97-79.

Point guard glut?  The Timberwolves own the rights to two young point guards in Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio.  The best player in next year’s NBA draft could well be Kentucky point guard John Wall.  If the Wolves pick No. 1, they could be forced to  expand their point guard depth, although trading the rights to Rubio might be a likely option.

St. Thomas’ famed O’Shaughnessy Hall will close in early January, 70 years after it opened. The final sports event will be held there tonight starting at 6 p.m. when Gustavus and St. Thomas compete in a men’s and women’s swimming dual meet. O’Shaughnessy Hall is the oldest swimming venue being used by a Minnesota college or university, and one of the state’s oldest on-campus college buildings that hosts varsity sports events.  O’Shaughnessy Hall, built for $400,000, will be demolished this spring and the $66 million Anderson Student Center will be constructed to replace it.

Coach Steve Fritz and the St. Thomas men’s basketball team are ranked No. 3 by D3Hoops.com for the third consecutive week.

Former Hopkins basketball player Trent Lockett has been playing about 25 minutes per game as a freshman for Arizona State.  Watch his dunk: https://www.youtube.com/user/ASUAthletics#p/a/u/0/vKuMb6o2n0o

The Wild’s Andrew Brunette was tied earlier this week for third in the NHL with seven power play goals.  His career high is 11 in 2005-06.  He has 10 goals this season, giving him 12 straight years with 10 or more goals in the NHL.

Wild prospects Matt Hackett (goalie) and Marco Scandella (defense) were recently named to the roster for Canada’s World Junior Team Selection camp.

Six Minnesotans were named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. World Junior team: Justin Faulk (South Saint Paul, United States National Team Development Program); Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka, University of Wisconsin); Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, University of North Dakota); Mike Lee (Roseau, St. Cloud State University); Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, University of Minnesota); and Derek Stepan (Hastings, University of Wisconsin).

Twins front office workers will move from the Metrodome to Target Field at month’s end.

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Gophers football coach Tim Brewster addressed rumors about his interest in the Kansas football coaching vacancy this afternoon.

“I have had no contact regarding the position,” Brewster told Sports Headliners.  “I haven’t spoken to anybody.  I have no interest in any other job besides the University of Minnesota.”

In answering questions about how the rumors may have started, Brewster said it wasn’t possible that anyone representing him officially or as a friend might have contacted Kansas officials without his knowledge.  Yesterday published stories linked the Gophers coach with the Kansas position which opened recently with the firing coach Mark Mangino.

Brewster has two years remaining on his contract and he wants to build the Gophers into a Big Ten champion.  Brewster said today that he and Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi have discussed the topic of a contract extension but didn’t reveal details or timing.

The rumors of Brewster being a candidate for the vacancy at Kansas added an unwelcome element to the Gophers football situation.  Concern No. 1 is the negative impact on recruiting.  A question about who will be the head coach is a sure way to cause recruits to lose interest. This month the Gophers and other football programs are heavily involved with recruiting high school and junior college players for next season.

Brewster’s commitment to Minnesota will also encourage his supporters who have been confused by the rumors.  They see Brewster as a dedicated coach and recruiter trying to rebuild a program that for years hasn’t been able to win even half of its Big Ten Conference games.

The Gophers football team is scheduled to begin practice for its Insight Bowl game this afternoon.  Tomorrow a news conference with bowl representatives is to be held on campus to help promote the December 31 game in Tempe, Arizona between Minnesota and Iowa State.

The Gophers finished their regular season at 6-6.  A win over Iowa State would give Minnesota a 7-6 record, the same as last year.

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With acknowledgment to his status as the No. 1 prep football recruit in the country, Cretin Derham-Hall coach Mike Scanlan told Sports Headliners on Sunday that Raiders offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson could be “king of the Twin Cities” if Henderson decides to play for the Gophers.

Scanlan said Henderson, about 6-8, 330, will visit 2008 national champion Florida this weekend.  Rated the No. 1 prep prospect in the country regardless of position by Rivals. com and others, Henderson made an official recruiting visit to Southern California last weekend.

Scanlan was asked if he had insight about where Henderson will attend college. “No, I really don’t know,” he answered.  “I do think, though, the Gophers are in the mix.  He might not have made an official visit there but I think there’s a lure of staying close to home, and kind of if he signs with the U he’s king of the Twin Cities automatically.

“I like their line coach Tim Davis.  Seems like a good guy.  The head man I don’t pay as much attention to as your position coach because that’s who you’re going to live with and watch films so to speak.  So you gotta be able to get along with him, and I think Davis would be a good guy to play for, and I think Seantrel realizes that, too.”

Henderson reportedly will wait to announce his college choice in early February when high school players are allowed written commitments.  Scanlan believes Henderson’s focus is presently on these schools: Florida, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Southern California.

Asked if he expects Henderson to qualify academically for his college choice, Scanlan said:  “I think so.  He’s still working hard (in the classroom). …”

Henderson was invaluable in helping the Raiders to the state title.  Scanlan said that when the Raiders had to play without injured quarterback Mark Alt, Henderson’s run blocking was vital to the team’s success.  His pass blocking was perfect during the season, not giving up a sack in 230 attempts.

Henderson was named state Player of the Year by the Associated Press, although other news outlets chose different players for that honor.  “I think the true worth of his athletic ability is being demonstrated by the college attention that he is getting,” Scanlan said.

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