Congratulations to Larry Fitzgerald Sr. who won $103,000 last week playing poker at Running Aces Harness Park.

With less than two weeks until the regular season opener, the impression is the Twins will use the early part of the season to determine who can help in the bullpen.  The eighth inning role looks iffy and that’s a pretty good term for the whole roster of relief pitchers except closer Joe Nathan.

The Twins optioned Luke Hughes to their Triple-A Rochester farm club earlier this week but he’s a prospect to follow with interest.  The Twins have an ongoing need for infielders who can hit for power and the 24-year-old right handed hitter had 18 home runs in 99 minor league games last year.  He hit over .400 for the Twins in spring training.

Speculation has the NBA in financial trouble and possibly one day stopping play but commissioner David Stern told the Washington Post it won’t happen.  Stern said there might have to be changes in the league’s labor contract that expires in two years, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030902903.html

The five finalists for the Mr. Basketball award are Mike Bruesewitz, Henry Sibley; Raymond Cowels, Hopkins; Sam Dower, Osseo; Jordair Jett, St. Bernard’s; and Royce White, Hopkins.  Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien said in a news release on Tuesday the winner will be announced within “two weeks.”

Former Minnesota Lynx staffer Bryant Pfeiffer is senior director of team services for Major League Soccer in New York.  The league has a new franchise in Seattle and recently announced expansion franchises for Vancouver and Portland.  What criteria does the league look for when considering an expansion franchise?  “Key criteria right now for a prospective market would be a dynamic ownership group, soccer specific stadium solution and 40 million expansion fee to join league,” Pfeiffer said via e-mail to Sports Headliners.

What’s his view of the Minneapolis area?  “Definitely an interesting market when you factor in some of (the) professional soccer history and very strong youth soccer numbers,” Pfeiffer wrote.

Soccer history here includes the Minnesota Kicks of the 1970s and the present day Minnesota Thunder, a member of the United Soccer Leagues who relocated last year from St. Paul to the National Sports Center in Blaine.

The Wild plays its second-ever NBC national game on Sunday, April 5 at Detroit in a telecast that begins at 11:30 a.m. Minnesota time.  The telecast will be in high definition and seen locally on KARE 11.  The Wild will also make eight national appearances on VERSUS this season, tied for the most in the NHL, including a home game on Tuesday, April 7 against Dallas.

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Tubby Smith’s statements about his future as Minnesota’s basketball coach satisfy Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi.  During an interview with Sports Headliners on Saturday, Maturi also said that if Smith does leave it will probably not be because of compensation, and that the athletic department wants to build a new practice facility “sooner rather than later” but the planning and approval process is just developing.

Smith’s job status is speculated about locally and nationally almost daily.  A former national championship coach at Kentucky who is under contract at Minnesota and has finished two seasons here, Smith’s name has been rumored with job vacancies this year at multiple schools, the latest being Virginia.  Smith has coaching and personal ties to the state of Virginia but has said repeatedly he’s “happy” at Minnesota.

Charlottesville TV station WVIR quoted Smith last Wednesday on its Website as saying: “I have a job, I have a great job. We’re enjoying Minnesota. We have no reason to be looking at anything else, and we’re very happy where we are. It’s flattering sometimes but it can be a distraction. It’s good to be wanted, but it’s more important to be needed. I feel like I’m not only wanted at Minnesota, but needed there as well.”

That statement, or a similar one, may not satisfy someone who wants Smith, 57, to say Minnesota will be his last coaching job.   “He’s made the statement that he’s happy at Minnesota and is going to stay, and I believe that,” Maturi said.   “We’ve made the statement that we’re ecstatic to have him here and we’re going to do everything we can to keep him. ..”

Maturi said he will never instruct his coaches regarding statements in these circumstances.  Could Smith make even a stronger statement?  “What stronger statement can you make?  That’s not for me to do,” Maturi said. “Tubby and I have spoken.  I think he’s happy at Minnesota.  I think he believes he can be successful at Minnesota.  I think he believes that we’re committed and that we have kept our word in what we’re going to do. ..”

When Smith was hired Maturi said there was discussion about a new practice facility, the kind many powerful basketball programs already have.  Such a facility is both of practical use and a resource to impress recruits.  Maturi said there’s no decision yet where such a facility will be and how much it will cost.  “To say it’s green lighted would be not fair to the process but to say that we’re committed to getting this done would be accurate,”  he said.

It’s believed another school could offer Smith salary and other incentives totaling $3 million or more.  At Minnesota, Smith’s total package can pay him more than $2 million and for this year his guaranteed compensation is $1,775,000.  Maturi doesn’t think Smith will leave for more money but that if the coach felt a lack of commitment and support he would.  Potentially that could include frustration with facilities, recruiting budgets and staff salaries, but Maturi didn’t say these are presently issues.

The University has a salary freeze and even in better times the financially challenged athletic department isn’t believed to be in position for a bidding war against the richest of schools to keep its basketball and football coaches.  “We have to be sensitive to all of the economy,” Maturi said.  “We have to be sensitive to all of the University and I think coach Smith understands that.”

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Joe Mauer’sback problems are a “headache” for all concerned including fans who wonder if the 25-year-old batting champion should be moved from catcher to another position.  Persistent inflammation in the lower back leaves anyone who has experienced years of back pain concerned about how Mauer will perform this season and beyond.  Catcher seems the worst position Mauer could play.

The Twins-Cincinnati 6 p.m. game on Thursday will be telecast on FSN.  Next Sunday’s noon game with St. Louis will air on WFTC, Ch. 29.

Kentucky, the school that Smith left to come here, didn’t make the NCAA tournament.  ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger, talking on a Big Ten Tournament telecast, said “shame” on Kentucky fans who were so critical of Smith when he was in Lexington.

Minneapolis Community Technical College coach Jay Pivec, whose team lost in the Division III junior college national championship game earlier this month, reported via e-mail that three of his players are receiving lots of interest from Division II four year schools but no commitments yet.  The three are guard Sean Mayberry, and wings Cameron Hodges and Cortez Wallace.  They helped the Mavericks to a 53-10 two-year record, according Pivec.

Pivec has been friends with Kansas coach Bill Self for years and the Jayhawks practiced at MCTC last Thursday morning when they were here for the NCAA tournament games at the Metrodome.

Five MIAC men’s basketball players were named to the D3hoops.com All-West Region team. Carleton senior forward Zach Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) was a first team All-Region selection.  Bethel senior guard Tim Madson (Redwood Falls, Minn./Redwood Valley) and St. Thomas junior guard Joe Scott (St. Anthony, Minn./DeLaSalle) were second team selections.  Augsburg senior forward Nate Alm (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Concordia sophomore forward John Fraase (Bismarck, N.D./Century) were third team choices.  St. Thomas head coach Steve Fritz, completing his 29th season, was chosen West Region Coach of the Year after his Tommies finished 30-1.

Zyg Kauls just finished his 42^nd season as Mounds View head basketball coach.  His team won the Suburban East Conference title and he plans to coach again next season.

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