Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was one of the newsmakers featured Wednesday night on ABC TV’s “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.” He was the only sports figure included and unlike everyone else wasn’t shown in an interview during his segment. Walters read a script about Favre’s career while viewers saw him playing football and speaking at his Green Bay retirement news conference.
I don’t know who to credit but a GopherIllustrated.com reader researched the first three rounds of the NFL draft during the last 15 years. According to his research, the Gophers had three players drafted in that span, the fewest of any Big Ten school. Among major college programs only Duke with two had fewer players, according to the research.
At the request of Sports Headliners, Mr. Basketball chair Ken Lien provided his early season rankings of the best teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. His top five in big school 4A are: Hopkins, Henry Sibley, Stillwater Area, Minnetonka and Tartan. Benilde-St. Margaret’s is No. 1 in 3A followed by Columbia Heights, Patrick Henry, Johnson and Winona.
The top five in 2A are Plainview-Elgin-Millville, New London Spicer, Crosby-Ironton, Sibley East and Pequot Lakes. Minnesota Transitions is No. 1 in 1A followed by MACCRAY, Ellsworth, Sebeka and Maranatha Christian.
St. Joseph’s, a team that plays the Gophers tomorrow at Williams Arena, played No. 3 ranked Villanova close on Wednesday night, losing 97-79.
Point guard glut? The Timberwolves own the rights to two young point guards in Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. The best player in next year’s NBA draft could well be Kentucky point guard John Wall. If the Wolves pick No. 1, they could be forced to expand their point guard depth, although trading the rights to Rubio might be a likely option.
St. Thomas’ famed O’Shaughnessy Hall will close in early January, 70 years after it opened. The final sports event will be held there tonight starting at 6 p.m. when Gustavus and St. Thomas compete in a men’s and women’s swimming dual meet. O’Shaughnessy Hall is the oldest swimming venue being used by a Minnesota college or university, and one of the state’s oldest on-campus college buildings that hosts varsity sports events. O’Shaughnessy Hall, built for $400,000, will be demolished this spring and the $66 million Anderson Student Center will be constructed to replace it.
Coach Steve Fritz and the St. Thomas men’s basketball team are ranked No. 3 by D3Hoops.com for the third consecutive week.
Former Hopkins basketball player Trent Lockett has been playing about 25 minutes per game as a freshman for Arizona State. Watch his dunk: https://www.youtube.com/user/ASUAthletics#p/a/u/0/vKuMb6o2n0o
The Wild’s Andrew Brunette was tied earlier this week for third in the NHL with seven power play goals. His career high is 11 in 2005-06. He has 10 goals this season, giving him 12 straight years with 10 or more goals in the NHL.
Wild prospects Matt Hackett (goalie) and Marco Scandella (defense) were recently named to the roster for Canada’s World Junior Team Selection camp.
Six Minnesotans were named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. World Junior team: Justin Faulk (South Saint Paul, United States National Team Development Program); Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka, University of Wisconsin); Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, University of North Dakota); Mike Lee (Roseau, St. Cloud State University); Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, University of Minnesota); and Derek Stepan (Hastings, University of Wisconsin).
Twins front office workers will move from the Metrodome to Target Field at month’s end.