Brewster’s 2010 recruiting class is ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com.  Players can’t formally commit until February of next season.

“The name of the game is recruiting and we’ve done it at a very high level,” Brewster said. “This class that we’re bringing in this year will be another outstanding class. And what it’s going to do is, it’s going to allow us to again continue to create competition (for playing time).”

Adam Weber, who has been a starter since 2007 and remains the Gophers first team quarterback, has no problem with MarQueis Gray receiving more playing time at that position if it helps the team.  “It’s all about winning,” Weber said.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said he’s not aware of any University plans to lobby the legislature next year to allow alcohol in premium seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena.

Long-time followers of the Packers-Vikings rivalry recall former St. Paul newspaper columnist Don Riley.  He loved to agitate Packers fans everywhere, habitually referring to “Green Bush.”

Former sports writing colleague Gregg Wong said Riley agitated the Packers fandom for more than fun.  Riley’s playful insults about Green Bay helped sell newspapers in nearby western Wisconsin.  Riley’s columns were profitable for him too. “He made a fortune speaking at banquets in western Wisconsin,” Wong said.

Riley was a character and nobody knew it better than his sports writing brethren at the Pioneer Press and Dispatch.  Wong recalled that one night Riley phoned the sports department and spoke with Mike Augustin.  Riley sensed that he had a speaking engagement but couldn’t remember where and what time that evening.

Augustin confirmed the time and place.  Riley, who was calling form a pay phone, requested directions.  Augustin asked Riley where exactly he was calling from.  Riley replied he didn’t know and Augustin wondered aloud how he could possibly provide directions.  “Augie, my boy, put a trace on this call,” Riley said.

Augsburg’s football team has experienced dramatic finishes in its last three games, all victories. The Auggies rallied in the fourth quarter for a 31-28 win over Carleton on October 10, and withstood a late Concordia comeback for a 27-20 overtime win a week later. Then last Saturday Augsburg scored the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left for a 28-21 win over Gustavus.  Wide receiver Mike Nourie won MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the third straight week that Augsburg had an MIAC Player of the Week.  Nourie had a nine-catch, 129-yard performance, including the game-winning touchdown reception against the Gusties.

Kevin Love told Sports Headliners he could be back playing for the Wolves within four weeks.  In about 10 days he will receive more medical input about his injured left hand.

Harrison Barnes, the Ames, Iowa, high school basketball player considered by many as the top recruit in the country, wrote about his recent recruiting visit to Kansas at https://www.highschoolhoop.com/high-school-stories/2009/10/the-harrison-barnes-diary-official-visit-to-kansas/,

The 2009 MIAC Hockey Showcase is today through Sunday at the Bloomington Ice Gardens. All nine MIAC men’s hockey teams will play two non-conference games over the weekend. Game times are 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. all three days.

The Rangers Marian Gaborik isn’t expected to play tonight in his first game against the Wild since leaving during the off-season.  He has what’s been described as a lower body injury.  A knowledgeable hockey source said the following about Gaborik’s time here: “He was a very nice person who learned the English language on his own while playing for the Wild because he wanted to communicate with players, fans, sponsors and the media.  He was a good teammate and was generally liked in the locker room by other players.

“The team was better when he did perform on the ice.  He did not always see eye to eye with (general manager) Doug Risebrough and (coach) Jacques Lemaire, but remained a team-oriented player and performer.  He did leave on decent terms with the Wild organization, who did offer him a long-term deal in 2008 that Gaborik and his agent turned down last year.”

Niklas Backstrom was unbeaten in 15 straight decisions at Xcel Energy Center until the Wild lost on Wednesday night to Nashville.  His streak was a franchise record for a goalie.

Former Gustavus tennis player Eric Butorac continues to have success on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour, winning two doubles titles recently.  Butorac teamed with Rajeev Ram to win the Thailand Open on September 28 and then he partnered with Lovro Zovko to win at Rennes, France on October 12.  Butorac, No. 37 in the ATP doubles rankings, has won three ATP doubles titles this year and seven in his career.

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A former NFL coach, who still follows the league closely, was asked if the Vikings personnel area that is most suspect is the secondary.  “I still say the offensive line is not where it needs to be,” he responded.

The Vikings have improved by replacing last year’s starter at right tackle, Ryan Cook, with rookie Phil Loadholt, said a source who asked that his name not be used.  He considers right guard Anthony Herrera a so-so talent and second year center John Sullivan is a downgrade from veteran center Matt Birk who left the Vikings during the off-season.  The left side of the line, with guard Steve Hutchinson (ranked with the best linemen in the NFL) and tackle Bryant McKinnie, is the strength of the unit.

With franchise cornerback Antoine Winfield injured and unable to play last Sunday against the Steelers, a visitor had asked the former coach on Saturday if the secondary wasn’t the most suspect area.  The secondary has been part of the problem with a defense that has given up a lot of fourth quarter points including 21 against the Ravens on October 18 when the Vikings almost lost (33-31).  The secondary played okay against the Steelers and Winfield could return for Sunday’s game in Green Bay.

The Vikings offensive line at times couldn’t block the Steelers and Minnesota only rushed for 83 yards in the 27-17 loss, the Purple’s first defeat of the year (6-1).  A strong Steelers pass rush sometimes pressured quarterback Brett Favre.  In the fourth quarter the Vikings, trailing 13-10, were driving for the go ahead touchdown when Favre had the ball stripped from his right hand.  The Steelers LaMarr Woodley, coming through the left side of the Vikings line, recovered the fumble and ran 77 yards for a touchdown.

Favre was sacked four times in the game, matching a season high against the Browns.  For the year he has been sacked 18 times.  Not all sacks can be blamed on an offensive line because running backs can fail to block and quarterbacks may hold onto the ball too long, but the Vikings’ Super Bowl goal may end up being determined by the big guys in front of Favre.

The Packers have allowed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be sacked 25 times, highest among NFC North teams.  The Vikings defense, which leads the NFL in sacks with 24, sacked Rodgers eight times in Minnesota’s 30-23 win at the Metrodome earlier this month.  The Packers’ offensive line has been even more of a project than the Vikings and those two units will play major roles in determining who wins on Sunday when Green Bay (4-2) could move closer to first place in the NFC North.  The only question will be the size of the role.

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With the NBA season starting this week, here are several intriguing subjects that have my attention:

There’s not a better basketball rivalry, pro or college, than Lakers-Celtics.  Nostradamus types have the two storied franchises meeting in the NBA finals next June for the second time in three years.  Tune in before then for regular season games on January 31 and February 18.

The Lakers will be trying to repeat as World Champions without former assistant coach Kurt Rambis.  He brings his California cool to cold Minneapolis and will adjust to a new culture on and off the court.  He will operate using mentor Phil Jackson’s triangle offense and psychology book.  Neither was ever tested in L.A. like it will be here, coaching a Wolves team trying to prove it’s not the worst in the league.

Kobe Bryant won’t win a popularity vote by fans but he was the best player in the league last year.  Nobody closes a game out like he does.  At 31, watch him while his skills remain extraordinary.

At age 20, Jonny Flynn is the youngest player on the Wolves roster. The talented Wolves’ point guard can flash to the basket with the best young players in the world right now.  How complete the rest of Flynn’s game (including his outside shot) becomes will have much to do with the Wolves moving toward .500 in the next few years.

Manu Ginobili is another guy who is adept at driving to the basket.  He played in only 44 games for the Spurs last year because of injury.  He’s back and presumably fearless as ever, and ready to make a run at the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.

The Wolves don’t figure to have any Man of the Year candidates this season but it’s not so far fetched to think that one day guard Corey Brewer could be Defensive Player of the Year.  The 6-9 Brewer can guard players who play multiple positions and with his long arms bother them all.  First, he has to show some offensive improvements (career 38 percent shooting) to deserve major playing time.

Shaquille O’Neal might not be a better all-time NBA center than Kareem Abdul– Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, but none of them played for so many teams as Shaq Daddy.  His Mammothness, now 37, is working for his fifth employer, the Cavaliers.  Shaq is past his prime, and folks in Cleveland may need to call a “plumber” by mid-season to unplug the lane so that King James (that be LeBron James) can find a clearer path to the basket.

Let’s hope with the Wolves’ mission to fast break and run their triangle offense that center Al Jefferson doesn’t spend too much time away from the basket.  Put the big fella down low near the basket where he scored 23.1 points per game last season. At 24 and after just five NBA seasons, Jefferson deserves to be included in conversations about players with the best low post moves in the last 20 years.

The Wolves open their season tonight at home against New Jersey.  On Friday night King James, Shaq Daddy and the rest of the Cavs come to Target Center.  And then a week from tonight the Celtics, including Kevin Garnett, are in Minneapolis.

No reason not to be intrigued by all of this.

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