Morris said his KFAN show is third in the morning ratings after KQRS and 93X.

When Hicks played for the Eagles, he appeared in a 2004 Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial with teammate Donovan McNabb.

Vikings rookie Steve Hauschka, who handled the kickoffs, extra points and field goals in the opening pre-season game, never played high school football.  He’s a free agent from North Carolina State.

In its fantasy football preview, Sports Illustrated ranks former Gopher Marion Barber, now with Dallas, No. 5 among running backs.  His former Gopher running mate Laurence Maroney, now with New England, is No. 28.

Larry Fitzgerald’s column in the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder reports that former Vikings coach Denny Green is teaching a class in sports management at San Diego State University in San Diego.  https://larry-fitzgerald.com/articles/Are_the_Vikings_ready.htm

Harmon Killebrew hosts the Kwik Trip Harmon Killebrew Classic Wednesday and Thursday with events benefiting the Twins Community Fund and the Miracle League of Minnesota.  Among the events is tomorrow’s tailgate party on the Metrodome Plaza starting at 11 a.m.  Prior to the New York-Twins game, the public can meet Killebrew and have all-you-can-eat hot dogs, chips, pop and water for $10.  Beer will be available for $5.

Twins’ designated hitter Jason Kubel has 16 home runs, three more than his previous career high set last year.  With 58 RBI, he will soon surpass his career best of 65 set last year.

Former Twins left-hander Kyle Lohse, who won 14 games combined during the previous three seasons, is 13-4 with a .380 ERA for St. Louis.  His 13 wins lead the staff.

Tom Mahoney, the former Fairmont High School football coach who died earlier this month, was a friendly, warm-hearted Irishman who was one of the winningest coaches in state prep history and a leader among his peers.  “We called him the idea guy,” said Don Swanson, the former Patrick Henry coach.  Both Swanson and Mahoney were leaders in the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.  “He could come up with something five days a week,” said Swanson who knew Mahoney for 50 years.  Swanson gave Mahoney credit for developing the Butch Nash award that honors high school assistant coaches and helping to revive the Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game.

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said he has no plans to switch former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback John Nance to another position.  He said Nance, a 6-4, 185-pound freshman, needs to add strength.

Brewster has a bed in his office so he can sleep over night during the demanding work days and nights of August as he prepares the Gophers for their opening game with Northern Illinois at home on August 30.  He plans to sleep in his office until about a week before the first game.

Brewster is a high energy person, even for a coach.  He jogs and also eats what he describes as a “boring” diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, minimizing red meats and desserts.

Jason LaFrenz, director of marketing and ticket sales for the Gophers, told Sports Headliners on Sunday that he expects season ticket sales (public, staff and students) to total about 39,000.  He’s projecting another 4,000 will be sold prior to the Gophers moving into TCF Bank stadium next season.  A 43,000 total means a sellout for the season in the 50,000 seat stadium because about 3,000 seats are committed to premium seating and another 3,000 are kept for fans of visiting teams.

LaFrenz said about 2,000 people attended last Sunday’s Gopher Nation Fan Fest that included autographs from Brewster and players.  He also said 750 seats with unobstructed views are still available for Gopher basketball season tickets.

Bill Fitch, the former Gopher and NBA coach, told Sports Headliners that Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love was deserving of being picked among the top five players in the June NBA draft, but local fans will need to be patient with his development.

The 6-10, 250-pound power forward will need “at least two years” to develop, just like other big players when they come into the league, according to Fitch who is now retired and living in New Mexico and Texas.  “He’s a project,” Fitch said.  “He’s got a lot of growing (improving) to do.  What you’re seeing now is just the beginning. …”

Fitch said it’s important for a rookie to join an NBA team where he’s needed and fits the personnel.  Love is a match with the Wolves who need another big player to complement center Al Jefferson.

The plan is for Love to help Jefferson with rebounding, plus feed the ball to the 6-10, 265-pound 23-year-old center and ease defensive pressure on him by scoring from the outside.  Last season Jefferson scored 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game (fifth best in the NBA) after coming to Minneapolis a year ago in the Kevin Garnett trade with Boston.  “I think the kid from Boston is going to be a helluva player,” Fitch said.

Fitch also said Love was probably as well coached in college as anyone coming into this year’s NBA draft.  Love is “very coachable” as proven by his willingness to accept instruction throughout his life including from his dad, Stan, a former NBA player.

Fitch would have no part of any comparison between Love and Larry Bird, a player he coached in 1981 when the Celtics won the NBA title.  Love has been an outstanding passer, rebounder and scorer in college, three areas that Bird excelled in, too.  “I don’t see anybody like Bird,” Fitch said.   He believes when healthy and at his best that Bird was as good as any player ever.

Wolves vice presidentKevin McHale, who was also on that 1981 team, has said Minnesota could win another 20 games next season after being 22-60 during the 2007-08 season.  Fitch indicated that’s ambitious but he thinks the Wolves have some “good young players” and it’s an asset to be in the Northwest Division, and not in the Southwest where they would face Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio.