An NBA source told Sports Headliners he will be “surprised” if owner Glen Taylor announces his choice for Timberwolves general manager this week but next week is likely.
Former state Senator Dean Johnson, who was a leader on the Twins stadium, doesn’t expect a special legislative session to address a new Vikings stadium. A major obstacle, Johnson told Sports Headliners, is the Vikings don’t have a local funding partner like Hennepin County which is helping with the Twins stadium.
Johnson, a Lutheran minister, is known for a famous quote made in 2000 that appeared again in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated where he complained to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue about the Vikings playing on Christmas Eve: “I don’t know how I am supposed to explain to my congregation the wires out of my ears and under my robe.”
Interested in owning a race horse? Canterbury Park staffer Jeff Maday is looking for investors willing to put in $250 each to become part owners of Tahitian Queen. That’s the total amount for the summer. A maximum of 60 partners is being sought in the venture to introduce people to horse racing ownership at a minimal cost. More at www.tahitianqueen.blogspot.com.
Canterbury Park opens its season on Friday night. Live racing continues on Saturday, plus wagering at the Shakopee race track on the Preakness Stakes.
Joe Mauer, who has only 33 at bats this season with the Twins, has hit three home runs, all to left field in the Metrodome. Despite playing from the beginning of the season last year, he didn’t hit his third home run until June 27.
Adam Everett, who was a disappointment as the Twins shortstop last year hitting .213, is playing regularly for Detroit and hitting .281. He has four errors in 19 games. The Tigers open a three game series against the Twins at the Metrodome tomorrow night.
Third baseman Casey Blake, who reportedly interested the Twins in the off season before signing with the Dodgers, has hit six home runs and is batting .260. Third baseman Joe Crede, who did sign with the Twins after last season, has three home runs and hitting .232.
Outdoor expert Ron Schara asked by Sports Headliners to name the best walleye fishing lakes in the metro area: “One that’s very good is (Lake) Minnetonka. Minnetonka is amazingly good for a lot of fishing, despite all the boats. … White Bear Lake would be another. …Third might be, this could surprise you, Lake Harriet (which) has a good population of walleyes in it.
“The thing to remember is that these are all stocked walleyes, and stocked walleyes act differently than natural hatched walleyes. And that is they tend to be weed fish much like a bass. I say weeds, (but) there are no such things as weeds. It’s natural vegetation. They’re harder to catch, because they’re harder to get your bait to them where they’re hanging out because of the vegetation.”
Jim Holden will be promoting his book, Tennis in the Northland, from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Reed-Sweatt facility in Minneapolis. The former Northfield tennis coach has written a comprehensive history of boys high school tennis in Minnesota. www.jim-holden.com/