Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer is financing brother Bill’s purchase of Southview Chevrolet in Inver Grove Heights, according to Jake Mauer, the boys’ grandfather.  The older Mauer told Sports Headliners the dealership will be open in early September to provide parts and service, and sell vehicles by October 1.

“He (Joe) takes care of his family,” Jake said.  “His brother needs something, he always gives. His dad and mom, he always gives.  That’s what’s really nice about him.  He takes care of family first.”

Bill has previous experience in the car business including past employment in sales at Southview when it was owned by Denny Hecker.  Joe is expected to make personal appearances at the dealership which as yet is unnamed but could be Mauer Chevrolet.  “I think this thing is a natural,” said Jake who knows the Mauer name is legendary in St. Paul.  “I really do.”

An owner in the auto business today typically needs patience.  When does the Mauer dealership plan to be profitable? “They say it will take at least a couple years to come around,” Jake said.

What’s Joe’s feeling about the business?  “He doesn’t mind it,” Jake said.  “What the hell.  He’s got more money than you can talk about.  He might as well use it.  He’s single.  He can do what he wants to do.”

Joe is in the next to last season of a four-year contract worth $33 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts on the Web.  It’s believed that he’s paying less than $5 million for the dealership.

Jake said another Joe Mauer deal was closing last week on a large amount of land near Rush City.  “What he bought it for really and truly was for his mom and dad’s home,” Jake said.

Joe took possession of a $110,000 Mercedes-Benz earlier this week, Jake said.

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Adrian Peterson told Jim Brown, the legendary former Cleveland Browns running back, that he’s not sure if his Vikings coaches fully understand his ability.   Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing last season and has gained 3,101 yards during his first two pro seasons, was interviewed by Brown in the August 3 issue of the Sporting News Magazine.

Brown, who even during his playing days in the 1960s was outspoken, entertained Peterson at his California home for an extensive and direct interview.  Among Brown’s questions and Peterson’s answers were: 

“Do your coaches understand and contribute to your ability the way you would like them to?  And do they give you the plays that you would like?” 

“I would say they understand my ability, but I don’t know to what extent.  Our running backs coach, Eric Bieniemy, understands the potential that I have but that I still have room to grow and get better.  We talk about some of the plays, not really in the running game but more spreading me out and finding other ways to put the ball in my hands.  I pressure him to get me out on reverses and stuff like that.   But I feel like they do a pretty good job.”

“You know why I’m asking you these questions, don’t you?  People think that coaches are always right, but it’s difficult to teach a runner with your special ability how to run.  Sometimes it’s kind of hard for a coach to make those adjustments. Is that why you have that smile?” 

“Yes, sir.  You hear all that stuff about getting out of bounds, or if two guys are roughing you up and your forward progress is stopped, you might as well go ahead and fall down.  That’s not really my mindset.”

Late last month, when training camp opened, Peterson talked about goals for this season. He said the “ultimate goal” is to have the Vikings repeat as NFC North champions. “My goal is doing whatever I can to contribute, whether that is on special teams or punt return; anything to make this team the best team when we step on the field.”

Peterson wants to improve his “route running” to be a bigger contributor to the team’s passing game.  How about rushing for 2,000 yards or more?  “It is something I think about and dream about,” he said.  “I don’t focus on it because you’ll never accomplish it that way. That’s my bar, it will always be 2,000 or more.  I hope to accomplish that some day.”

League MVP?  “Yes, that definitely fits in the category of my personal goals,” he said.

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The success of Hazeltine National Golf Club in attracting championship tournaments is something that wouldn’t have happened without the ambition of Minnesotan Totton P. Heffelfinger who saw the opportunity about 50 years ago to push for such a course.  Heffelfinger, who once was president of the United States Golf Association, wanted the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis to relocate but when that didn’t happen Hazeltine was developed in Chaska and opened in 1962.

Hazeltine, site of this week’s PGA Championship, has been host to a surprising number of national tournaments considering its relatively young age.  Hazeltine, which will host the prestigious Ryder Cup in 2016, has been the site for one previous PGA and two U.S. Opens.  It has also been home to two U.S. Women’s Opens and the U.S. Senior Open.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, after being asked on Monday at what point he decides on a starting quarterback: “We haven’t decided. That’s not my job to come in here and tell you who the starting quarterback is.  Coach (Brad Childress) will tell you.  We are in the process of talking about it, getting the exact reps in with each and every guy and have it exactly how we want it to play out. I am sure coach will tell you pretty soon.”

Nick Tow-Arnett came to the Gophers as a walk-on and he’s never been a full season starter but coach Tim Brewster thinks his senior tight end could be the best at his position in the Big Ten this season.  Brewster said it’s “amazing” how hard Tow-Arnett has worked to prepare for this season.

Minnesotans Zac Budish, Jake Gardiner, Danny Kristo, Nick Leddy, Mike Lee, Aaron Ness, Jordan Schroeder and Derek Stepan are among 29 of the remaining original 42 invitees to the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp. The players are auditioning for a roster position on the U.S. National Junior Team that will participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Sask.

After last night’s 14-6 loss to Kansas City, the Twins are 2-8 in their last 10 games and winless four consecutive home games.  They are 9-14 since the All-Star break.  Last night was the fourth consecutive home game in which the Twins allowed 10-plus runs. The pitching staff has an ERA of 6.23 in 23 games since the All-Star break and has allowed 260 hits (11.3 hits-per-game).

Joe Mauer is batting .348 since the All-Star break and had his 13^th three-hit game last night. Orlando Cabrera (1-for-4) extended his hit-streak to a career-high 20 games. He is batting .364 (32-for-88) during that period.

An announced crowd of 15,128 attended Canterbury Park’s “Extreme Race Day” last Sunday, the largest gathering of the year at the Shakopee race track.  The day included camel and ostrich racing (non-wagering events).

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