Maturi will be in New York on Thursday where he is one of four nominees for Athletic Director of the Year, determined by a selection committee from SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily. The other nominees are Sandy Barbour (California), Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma) and Jeremy Foley (Florida). Maturi’s profile has been enhanced by the realization of TCF Bank Stadium, the hiring of basketball coach Tubby Smith and the Gophers current No. 2 Director’s Cup ranking that measures total sports success of programs across the country.
A source reported to Sports Headliners that Minneapolis Community and Technical College has decided to eliminate its men’s and women’s basketball programs (the only two sports offered at the downtown school) effective after next season. A permanent decision to eliminate the programs would leave the metro area with only one community college offering basketball, Anoka-Ramsey.
Basketball makes a difference in the lives of young people, both on and off the court. In the men’s program at MCTC, two-thirds of the players since 1990 have gone on to play basketball at a four-year school, according to an e-mail from the source. Two-thirds of those students then earn a bachelor’s degree.
New Timberwolves president David Kahn was articulate and impressive during his news conference last week. Owner Glen Taylor expressed confidence in his new hire but also said Kahn might ultimately not be successful and could be terminated.
Taylor also said regardless of whether coach Kevin McHale remains with the franchise, he will “always have a friendship” with him.
Timberwolves TV analyst Jim Petersen told Sports Headliners last week he’s picking Denver and Cleveland in the NBA Finals, with the Cavs winning the series.
Hopkins senior Royce White was recently presented with the Mr. Basketball award in front of family and friends during an event at the Martin Luther King Center in St. Paul. White said he plans to play on the team of former Wolves guard Troy Hudson in the Howard Pulley summer league. Games start next month and although the league isn’t known for its defense, White said his team will be focused that way because he wants “to win.”
Best wishes to Bob Werness, former leader of the Mr. Basketball selection group, who is ill with cancer. His wife Shirley also has cancer.
Joe Mauer homered in his third straight game for the first time in his career yesterday as the Twins lost 6-5 to Boston at the Metrodome. He has hit 10 of his 11 home runs in his last 17 games. This is the fifth time in club history that a player has hit 10-plus home runs in May. Harmon Killebrew hit 12 in 1964, 11 in 1961 and 10 in 1970, while Justin Morneau had 10 in 2007.
Twins losing pitcher yesterday Francisco Liriano (2-6, 6.42 ERA) pitched only four innings for the second consecutive outing. He has allowed five-plus earned runs five times in 10 starts. His seven strikeouts were his second-most this season (nine on May 4 at Detroit).