Brewster talking about quarterback MarQueis Gray whose fumble cost the Gophers a chance to kick the winning field goal in the Insight Bowl: “He’s got to understand the No. 1 thing is ball security.”
Joe Mauer’s new contract of $184 million for eight years averages $23 million annually. Minnesota’s 201 state legislators each receive $31,140 per year, or about $6.3 million collectively. (But just remember the Twins catcher had a better year in 2009 than the lawmakers).
In mid-August the Rochester Red Wings (the Twins’ AAA farm team) will unveil a statue at Frontier Field of former player and manager Joe Altobelli. He managed the Red Wings to a Junior World Series title in 1971 and later managed the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles. He played 41 games with the Twins in their first season of 1961.
Sidney Ponson, who pitched for the Twins in 2007, is now 33 years old and recently signed a contract to pitch for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
The Twins signed 30-year-old outfielder Charlton Jimerson who hit 21 homers last year in an independent league. In 2001 he was the MVP of the College World Series while playing for the Miami Hurricanes’ national champions. He’ll play at Rochester this year.
San Diego State assistant coach Brian Dutcher was scheduled in town this week to scout Winona 7-foot center Alec Brown, according to Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien. Indiana and Washington State have also contacted Brown who was on the top 25 list for the Mr. Basketball award. The winner will be announced after the state tournament.
New Wild forward Casey Wellman, 22, grew up in northern California rooting for the San Jose Sharks, a team he played against on Tuesday in the third game of his NHL career. Growing up one of Wellman’s favorite Sharks was Owen Nolan, 38, who he now skates with on the Wild. Nolan has scored a goal in every current NHL arena except Boston, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
The 26th Ted Brill Great 8 High School All-Star Hockey Festival will be at Wakota Civic Center in South St. Paul starting tonight and continuing through Sunday. The tourney showcases seniors looking for post-high school playing opportunities. The players represent their high school sections on eight teams. www.minnesotahockey.org.
FOX Sports North will televise NCAA tournament regional hockey games tomorrow beginning at 4 p.m. with the North Dakota versus Yale game and later Bemidji State versus Michigan beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Gustavus senior forward David Martinson is the American Hockey Coaches Association’s winner of the Sid Watson Award, symbolic of the nation’s best Division III men’s hockey player. He helped the Gusties to a 20-7-2 record. Martinson, the Player of the Year in the MIAC, was an All-American this season after leading the conference in scoring with 23 goals and 13 assists for 36 points.
Bethel’s Marie Borner is the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s National Indoor Track Female Athlete of the Year. Borner won the NCAA mile for the second time in her career with a Division III season best clocking of 4:50.20. She won MIAC titles in the mile and 1000 meters.