When the Twins play their last game in the Metrodome on Sunday against Kansas City, they say goodbye to one of the best home field advantages in the history of pro sports.  The quirky place gave the Twins an edge including in two World Series championships that were won in game sevens at home.  The 1991 World Series against Atlanta is arguably one of the greatest ever.  The dome was frequently a place in which opponents found it difficult to see the ball in the air and on occasion was totally deafening.  To the Twins the place could be inspirational.

The dome was a financial silver bullet for the Twins who never drew more than 1.5 million at Met Stadium, the franchise’s home from 1961-1981.  Original team owner Calvin Griffith saw attendance increase from 469,090 in 1981 to 921,186 in 1982.  A few years later owner Carl Pohlad counted the cash when the Twins became the first American League franchise to draw over three million fans.

The dome may have prevented franchise relocations by the Twins and/or the Vikings.  Moving to a covered facility boosted attendance for both teams.

While the Twins will play in a full stadium with more than 50,000 fans on Sunday, their last game ever at Met Stadium (also against Kansas City) drew only about 16,000 in 1981.

Gophers’ coach John Anderson hopes to have a new baseball stadium no later than three years from next spring when the program is celebrating its 125^th anniversary.  Baseball is the oldest sport on the University of Minnesota campus.

If Badger fans buy football tickets from University of Minnesota students for tomorrow’s game, they face an obstacle for entrance into TCF Bank Stadium.  They will have to show photo identification as a Minnesota student.

Gopher quarterback Adam Weber said Wisconsin and Minnesota were his two final choices for college.  The former Mounds View High School player said that for the final decision his Minnesota background was too significant not to become a Gopher.  His dad Bobby Weber played for the Gophers, although he grew up in Wisconsin and attended medical school at UW Madison.

Weber said his roommate, Eric Decker, feels like he has two years to “make up for” when the Gophers play Wisconsin tomorrow.  Decker, now a senior, was injured and couldn’t play in last year’s 35-32 loss in Madison.

Decker now ranks sixth in Big Ten history with 212 career receptions.

Nate Tice, the former Edina High School quarterback and son of ex-Gophers coach Mike, is a walk-on with Wisconsin.  Nate started his college career at Central Florida, and then left for junior college before joining the Badgers earlier this year.  He’s a sophomore quarterback.

The Badger offense is 16-for-16 in scoring opportunities inside the 20 yard line this season.  Texas, best in the nation, is 23-for-23.

Minneapolis area resident Michele Tafoya will be a sideline reporter along with Suzy Kolber for Monday night’s ESPN Vikings-Packers game at the Metrodome.

All-time, the Packers have a 49-46-1 record against the Vikings.  The Vikings are 24-23 at home in the series that began in 1961.  In the last 23 games the Packers have outscored the Vikings by three points, 541-538.

Vikings’ rookie Percy Harvin leads the NFL in kickoff return yardage at 35.8.

Russell Gliadon of Saint John’s is one of 18 Division II and III players on the watch list for the annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award.  The award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.

Canadian native Cory Joseph is one of six high school point guards with a five star rating by Rivals.com. The Gophers are in the chase for him and may have an edge because of family connections.  Brother Devoe will be a sophomore guard for the Gophers this season.  If Cory comes to Minnesota he not only can play for two years with his brother, but their mother won’t have to split travel time to two different schools to watch her sons play college basketball.

No decision has been made on who will be selected as the color commentator on Gophers radio broadcasts but a former Gopher seems a likely choice.

The Wild is 7-0-1 in home openers at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild hosts Anaheim on Tuesday and tickets are available.

Former Wild defenseman Martin Skoula recently signed a one-year contract with Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh after tryouts with Florida and Columbus.

Former Wild forward Marian Gaborik and other New York Rangers presented the “Top 10 List” earlier this week on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y859_hB2VLo&feature=player_embedded

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After the season will Joe Mauer be voted American League MVP by the Baseball Writers Association of America?  “If Mauer played for the Yankees he might be a shoo-in,” said Gregg Wong.

Wong is a former sportswriter for the Pioneer Press and his assignments included covering the Twins.  “There always tends to be a bias tilted toward (favoring) major media markets,” he said.  “Who do you see on TV each weekend? The Red Sox and Yankees.”

It’s not that writers across the country are predisposed to favor players with those teams but the exposure of major market teams showcases their best players.  That advantage could impact the MVP voting in favor of New York’s Mark Teixeira or Derek Jeter.  Boston’s Jason Bay will receive votes, too.

Teixeira leads the American League in RBI, is tied for the lead in home runs and ranks second in slugging percentage.  Jeter, the Yankee captain, is fourth in hitting and third for on base percentage.  He also became the Yankees’ all-time hits leader this year. Bay is second in AL home runs and RBI’s.

Mauer, at 26, is headed toward his third career batting title, hitting .367 right now.  He also leads the American League in slugging percentage and on base percentage.

Wong said the first criteria the writers use for voting is to look at the “numbers.”  But there’s more involved including team success.  The Yankees have won the East Division and their record of 102-56 is the best in baseball.  Boston will be a wild card team and the Red Sox record (91-66) is among the best in the majors. The Twins, 82-75, are still trying to catch Detroit in the Central Division race and finish better than seven games over .500.

The long list of past MVP winners is dominated by players who were on winning teams, sometimes pennant winners.  Only a few times has an American or National League MVP played for a losing team.

There’s no absolute MVP voting definition for the writers to follow, though, and that could help Mauer.  Certainly the Twins would not be even close to what they are without him.  Wong views Mauer as “the best catcher” in baseball and a complete player.  He said Mauer is even a “great base runner.”

Another Mauer asset is his likeability.  He’s no quote master with the media, and tends to be shy, but you’re really having a bad day to develop a disliking to our hometown guy.

In a “toss up” voting situation for the MVP award involving a perceived jerk and nice person, writers will “lean toward the good guy,” Wong said.  The personality element, he added, could not only help Mauer but also Jeter.

In what looks like a close vote for 2009 AL MVP, Mauer’s teammates could certainly help him by finishing strong and winning the Central Division.  That won’t be as much of an asset to Mauer as being with a team having the best record in the league, but it will help.

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Gophers’ coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners that fans will be pleased when they see the passing ability of second team quarterback MarQueis Gray.  He said fans are already excited about glimpses of the freshman running the ball but it will be “even more exciting” to see Gray as a passer.

Gray’s minutes have been limited in the team’s first four games but last Saturday was his busiest day.  He ran five times for 34 yards including an 18 yard run.  For the season, the 6-4, 222-pound Gray has eight carries for 51 yards, while not attempting a pass.  He has, however, caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Eric Decker.

Decker describes Gray, who coming out of high school in Indianapolis was among the top rated dual threat quarterbacks in the country, as the “most athletic” player on the Gophers.  Gray’s playing time is going to be limited, though, because of junior Adam Weber’s experience and his ability to pass and direct the team.

“I just think there’s certain instances in every game where we’re going to utilize MarQueis,” Brewster said.  “We want to do it without totaling disrupting the game.”

That means the Gophers have a plan built around playmakers Weber and Decker, and also the team’s tailbacks. “Flow of the game” will dictate playing time for the 18-year-old, Brewster said.

Gray is still learning the system but, like the rest of the players, knows he has to be ready.  Someone could get hurt or for another reason not be able to play.  “You must prepare as if you’re a starter,” Brewster said.  “Next man up.”

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel coached Brett Favre in Green Bay and he told Sports Headliners “nothing surprises me with him.”  That even includes Favre’s miracle throw to Greg Lewis on Sunday that gave the Vikings a 27-24 lead with two seconds remaining in the game.

Despite all the comebacks that Favre has led over the years he was at a loss for words in describing what happened on Sunday when the Vikings shocked football fans with a dramatic win that not only was a lead story on local news but also nationally.

“It makes you feel great,” Bevell said.  “I am excited for him.  I am excited for coach Childress.  I am excited for our team.  It was a storybook ending for one game.  He made a great play.”

At times during the game the crowd had been surly about the Vikings’ play calling.  One instance was the team’s final possession at the end of the first half.  The first play was a run and some fans assumed the Vikings were trying to run out the clock with no intent of scoring points.

On second down the Vikings began passing and reached the 49er 19 yard line.  But Ryan Longwell’s attempted field goal was blocked and returned for a 59 yard touchdown by Nate Clements as time ran out.  The 49ers had a 14-13 lead at halftime because of the touchdown.

Bevell said the coaches try not to be influenced in their play calling by the crowd and weren’t in this instance.  He said the team has two goals as the half comes to a close, possess the ball or score points.

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