Bob Lurtsema, a member of Zygi Wilf’s advisory board, believes the Vikings will obtain state backing for a new stadium within two years, but even if the team has to remain in the Metrodome he doesn’t think the franchise will relocate.  During an interview earlier this month with Sports Headliners, Lurtsema, speaking for himself and not the Vikings, said Governor Tim Pawlenty is “behind” a new stadium.

“He can’t push it just by himself,” the former Viking and local businessman said.  “Of course, he’ll have to have a little financial justification to the public on how it’s going to be paid for.

“Everybody knows that taxes right now are out of hand and who knows what’s going to happen next year?  But we’ve got to maintain first class facilities because that’s why your 3M’s stay here.  All your major corporations come here because they have football, basketball, baseball. They have all these different things for their employees…”

In 1984 the Colts unexpectedly deserted Baltimore for Indianapolis, a move that still reverberates with negativity.  It was an outcome the NFL won’t forget and Lurtsema  believes Vikings fans are beneficiaries of Baltimore’s disaster.

“I think the National Football League learned from the Baltimore Colts moving to Indianapolis that the rivalries that you have, that you created over the years, you can’t eliminate those,” Lurtsema said.  “The Vikings, the Bears, Packers, Lions (those) rivalries, that’s history.  Don’t take history and try to change everything over. …”

Lurtsema also talked about when the Cleveland Browns franchise relocated to Baltimore after the 1995 season and became the Ravens, with the name Browns retained for the expansion franchise that came later to Cleveland.  The Browns’ team colors and records were also retained for Cleveland, not Baltimore.  “Baltimore shouldn’t be the Ravens,” Lurtsema said.  “It should be the Indianapolis Ravens and the Baltimore Colts.”

Lurtsema admires Wilf, the Vikings’ owner.  “I love Zygi and what he’s done here as far as opening up his checkbook to coach (Brad) Childress and bring somebody in like a Jared Allen (All-Pro defensive end) who not only played unbelievable but he picked up the play of the other three defensive linemen,” Lurtsema said.  “Because if you look at the stats, you can see how many more tackles they had, how many more hurries they had…”

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Purdue coach Matt Painter talking about holding Minnesota to a field goal percentage of 27.6 percent in last night’s 70-62 win over the Gophers: “You hold them to 28 percent.  There’s no way I thought that would happen.”

Among the spectators at last night’s sold out Gopher game were Timberwolves Brian Cardinal (former Purdue player) and Kevin Love, along with New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay.

Mr. Basketball chairman Ken Lien, who has traveled the state for years scouting players, experienced a first this week.  He watched Spring Lake Park make 17 three point shots in an 85-81 loss to Cooper.

Team president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners he hopes to have Michael Cuddyer at TwinsFest this weekend even though the Twins’ outfielder has been sick with food poisoning.

Forward Nick Schultz said on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle show on Sunday that he couldn’t attend Justin Morneau’s wedding earlier this month because the Wild was playing in Columbus.  Schultz said his wife Jessica did attend the wedding of Justin and his girl friend Krista.  Schultz is a baseball fan and has taken batting practice with the Twins at the Metrodome.

Morneau, who loves hockey, signed a reported six year $80 million                         deal with the Twins last year.  Meanwhile, Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard (48 home runs, 146 RBI and .251 average last year) is asking for $18 million this season through arbitration, according to www.mlb.com.  Morneau, who won the American League MVP in 2006 when Howard was the National League MVP, hit 23 home runs, with 129 RBI and a .300 average last season.

Third baseman Garrett Atkins, whose name has drawn speculation as a possible third baseman for the Twins, asked Colorado for $7.95 million while the Rockies countered with $6.65 million, per mlb.com.  That’s likely too rich for the Twins.

Free agent third baseman Joe Crede, who hit 17 home runs in 97 games last season with the White Sox, seems a better possibility for the Twins.  He makes $5.1 million, according to www.espn.go.com.

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said reports of future games against USC are premature and a contract hasn’t been signed.  Brewster remains interested in scheduling outstanding teams including Texas.

All of coach Brad Childress‘ assistant coaches are under contract for next season and he said that because there’s now so much player movement in the NFL it’s important to have effective instructors on the staff.  He said it’s “critical” that assistants are good teachers because many players are only with a team for a few years.

Canterbury Park’s “Canterbury College,” a free five class series to improve handicapping skills, begins February 15.  Canterbury Park’s Jeff Maday, part of the “faculty” along with Kevin Gorg, Dark Star and Paul Allen, said maximum enrollment will be 120 and 110 are already enrolled.  More information is available by e-mailing jmaday@canterburypark.com

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President Barack Obama is making history this month but there’s another significant African American story, too.  Mike Tomlin, three seasons ago the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, coached the Pittsburgh Steelers to an AFC championship win on Sunday and will lead his team against the Arizona Cardinals in next month’s Super Bowl.  Tomlin is now the third African American head coach in three years to have his team in the Super Bowl and can become the second to win it.

Tomlin’s win on Sunday against Baltimore comes during a week that Obama is inaugurated as the nation’s first African American president and the country celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.  Tomlin will try to win a Super Bowl almost two years to the day that Lovie Smith of Chicago and Tony Dungy of Indianapolis made history.  They were the first African American head coaches in the Super Bowl and Dungy was the first black coach to win it.

If Tomlin can win the Super Bowl he will do so on Sunday, February 1, becoming the second African American head coach to win pro football’s biggest prize and doing it during Black History Month.  Smith and Dungy’s historic Super Bowl also came during February.

A football team’s performance, perhaps more than in any sport, is impacted by its coaching.  The fact three of the last six teams to qualify for the Super Bowl have been led by African Americans will probably lessen remaining prejudices in the NFL and perhaps in college football, too, where head coaching opportunities have been far fewer.

Tomlin, 36, impressed observers here with his football knowledge and calm leadership style.  His success in just two seasons in Pittsburgh, with a 22-10 regular season record and two AFC North titles, has come despite not having previous head coaching experience.

Tomlin deserves praise but so, too, do those who have helped him including the Pittsburgh organization and coaches like Dungy and the Vikings’ Brad Childress.  The Steelers are part of the gold standard among NFL organizations.  The Steelers make wise personnel decisions (see former No. 1 draft choice and franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) and encourage stability within the organization, having hired just three head coaches since 1969.

Dungy, another former Vikings’ defensive coordinator, hired Tomlin for his staff when he was head coach at Tampa Bay.  He saw a bright young assistant and let him coach the defensive backs.  Dungy, also known for his steady approach and calm leadership, had once been the youngest assistant in the NFL at 25 coaching the Steelers’ defensive backs.

Dungy, who recently retired as Indianapolis coach, will make his home in Tampa, site of next month’s Super Bowl.

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