Condolences to friends and family of former Gopher basketball player and University of Minnesota educator LeRoy Gardner, 61, who passed away last week. He was admired by many people in this community and elsewhere. A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Thursday) beginning at 1 p.m. at the Estes Funeral Chapel, 2210 Plymouth Ave. North. A repast will immediately follow at the Minneapolis Urban League office, 2100 Plymouth Ave. North.
A Gopher basketball reunion earlier this summer was the last time a lot of friends saw LeRoy who died from lung cancer. Former Gopher Greg Troland expressed the feelings of many in a group e-mail when he wrote: “Guys, I am so saddened to hear about the passing of LeRoy. He was such a great friend to all of us. He meant so much to me since my first step on the University campus. He is going to be missed by so many people not only among us but to all people he was connected with. … Thank God, I got to see him at the reunion.”
Former Minnesota North Stars executive Lou Nanne told Sports Headliners he believes it will take a new contract of at least $8.5 million for the Minnesota Wild to re-sign Marian Gaborik. How important is it for the Wild to keep Gaborik here beyond next season?
“It’s very important because he’s the face of the franchise,” Nanne said. “He’s the most exciting player they’ve got. He’s the guy that gets the most goals, generates the most offense so it’s a big thing.”
If the Wild decide a new contract won’t happen, then a trade involving Gaborik is the team’s alternate move. Nanne said not signing Gaborik doesn’t necessarily mean a fan fall out. “You can’t say there’d be a fall out unless they (the team) didn’t win,” Nanne said. “If they didn’t win after the trade that they made…it could hurt them.”
Gopher football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners recruiting strategy for next season includes junior college players. Defensive backs Traye Simmons and Tramaine Brock, both junior college transfers, have been important to the team’s 2-0 start.
Minneapolis natives Dan Coleman and Troy Bell will be playing basketball in Europe. Coleman, the former Gopher, left for Portugal last Saturday. Bell, who attended Boston College, has already played an exhibition game for his team in Italy.
Former Gopher center Joel Przybilla figures to have backup duty to Greg Oden in Portland. However, the 7-foot-1 Przybilla, who could help the Wolves’ need for a big center, is a human insurance policy for the Trail Blazers. Oden missed all of last season, his rookie year, because of a knee injury. Przybilla has two years left on his Portland contract, with a third year option at his discretion, a source said.