Before last weekend’s NFL draft Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman identified Notre Dame center John Sullivan, picked by the Vikings on the sixth round, as one of seven “late sleepers.” Notre Dame teammate Trevor Laws, the defensive tackle from Apple Valley drafted in the second round by Philadelphia, was another of the “potential post-Round 1 steals.”
St. Olaf senior wide receiver Horace Gant agreed to a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins earlier this week, according to the St. Olaf College Athletics Web site. Gant holds school records for receptions (185), receiving yards (3,061) and receiving touchdowns (27). The Web site reported that he will leave tomorrow (Thursday) for Washington’s minicamp. He will be reunited with former St. Olaf head coach Chris Meidt who left the Oles last winter to become an assistant coach for new Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.
President Chris Wright reported via e-mail on Monday that the Timberwolves have deposits on 300 new season tickets from the team’s “Pay the Pick” promotion allowing fans to purchase season tickets for the price of the team’s draft position. The price per game will match the team’s draft pick number (determined at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 20). With the No. 1 selection, fans will be able to purchase tickets for $1 ($43 per season ticket, with the No. 2 pick $86 etc. The price is based on 43 home games at Target Center (41 regular season and two preseason). The “Pay the Pick” promotion requires a $43 non-refundable deposit before the draft lottery. The offer is limited to the first 500 fans to place a deposit, with a limit of 10 tickets per person, and is valid for select sections in Target Center.
Former Gopher Dan Coleman, who finished his senior season in March, is hoping to play professionally in Europe, according to John Bell Wilson, a UBS financial advisor. Wilson works with former Gopher Bill Duffy whose company, BDA Sports Management, represents Coleman.
A team of Minnesota basketball players won the AAU 16 and under Pump N Run Invitational in Denver recently. Marshall Bjorklund, a 6-8 power forward who plays for Sibley East High School, was the second leading scorer in the tournament and is being recruited by Washington State and other schools, according to local sportswriter John Sherman who coached the Minnesota Transitions to the Class 1A state championship in March. He also said Chad Calcaterra, a 6-10 center from Cloquet High School, was effective blocking shots at the invitational and is being recruited by 12 Division I schools including Minnesota.
Wally’s Choice, the local race horse who didn’t race at all last year after a career threatening torn tendon in 2006, is expected to run in races at Canterbury Park this season. Wally’s Choice is owned by Wally “the Beerman” McNeil, his wife Joyce McNeil and Canterbury Park Board Chairman Curtis Sampson. With over $428,500 in career earnings, the owners hope that one day Wally’s Choice can break Blair’s Cove’s all-time record of $533,528 for Minnesota bred race horses. Wally’s Choice, a seven-year-old thoroughbred, received stem cells from his own body to help the healing process from the torn tendon. Canterbury Park opens on Saturday, the same day as the Kentucky Derby.
Also on Saturday the Minnesota Swarm will host its first ever National Lacrosse League playoff game starting at 7 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. A crowd of over 11,000 is expected to watch the East Division champion Swarm play the third place New York Titans.