Rambis said the Wolves’ appetite for the fast break will not be done with “reckless abandon,” and “repeating the same mistakes will not be tolerated.”
Even before Rambis was hired there was speculation the Wolves next coach will not be around for more than a couple years. The Wolves have won only 46 of 164 games the last two years, and have just six players remaining from a roster that’s been gutted in a plan to remake the personnel next season and beyond.
Rambis admitted having a four-year contract was important to him and he’s determined to be around here when the team improves. “ I did not want to be the individual that put in the work, that put in the time and then somebody else come in and took it to another level,” Rambis said. “I feel like I am that coach to not only help this team develop and grow but then take it to the next level where we are winning playoff games.”
The California native said that in considering the “pros and cons” of accepting the Wolves position there was only one negative. “The con being that I have to go out and buy some big winter coats because I have none,” he joked.
ESPN college basketball reporter Andy Katz wrote about two players with Gopher connections this week, Ralph Sampson III and Klay Thompson. Sampson will be a sophomore with the Gophers next season while Thompson, the son of former Gopher All-American Mychal Thompson, starts his second season at Washington State. https://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4388545
The Vikings, who open their preseason schedule tonight on Ch. 5 against the Colts in Indianapolis, must cut their 80 man roster down to 75 by September 1. The roster needs to be finalized at 53 by September 5. On September 6 a practice squad of eight players can be established.
Tonight’s rosters include all four NFL players who grew up in South Dakota. The Vikings have three of the players, linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber, and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, while kicker Adam Vinatieri plays for the Colts.
The biggest Viking in camp is rookie offensive tackle Phil Loadholt, 6-8, 343. The smallest is cornerback Antoine Winfield, 5-9, 180.
Former prison warden turned author Jim Bruton has assisted ex-Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton with his new autobiography. A successful businessman, Tarkenton’s book is titled “Every Day is Game Day.” Bruton told Sports Headliners that he made several trips to Georgia to interview the hall of fame quarterback. “He was so interesting,” Bruton said. “We spent one day down in Athens where he grew up.”
Bruton also said Tarkenton has purchased 5,000 copies of the book. Bruton, who lives in White Bear Lake, has authored a book about the Gophers due out next month, “Gopher Glory: The Pride of the Maroon and Gold.”