The Twins will measure themselves against their Central Division rivals in April, playing each of their rival four teams. Minnesota faces division opponents in 16 of its first 28 games. The Twins play seven straight dates starting with tonight’s opener at home with Los Angeles.
The 2008 Miller Lite Vikings’ Draft Party will be Saturday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and general admission tickets go on sale tomorrow, according to the team’s Web site, www.vikings.com. The event will be in the Winter Park field house with Vikings players and cheerleaders in attendance. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 on April 26. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, at the Vikings’ ticket office in the Metrodome, or the Vikings’ Locker Room store locations. The Vikings have the 17th pick on the first round.
University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks told Sports Headliners during an interview that his long term plan to improve recreational and intercollegiate facilities could possibly provide a basketball practice facility for coach Tubby Smith. The facility might be used both for recreational activities and basketball.
Bruininks said a new baseball stadium, to be located on the present Siebert Field site, may cost about $10 million. Private fund-raising for the stadium has to increase; and he declined to set a date for completion of the facility.
Bruininks enjoys watching various sports including baseball. His father umpired years ago in the women’s professional baseball league.
His salary is approximately $438,000 while football coach Tim Brewster makes $1 million and Smith earns $1.8 million. As Bruininks looks at the college “arms race” in salaries where compensation levels for coaching is pushing near or beyond $4 million, he has concerns. He won’t pay salaries at that level.
Brewster and his staff are hosting high school football coaches for a fish fry dinner preceded by a Gopher scrimmage on Friday, April 11. More information is available by calling the Gopher football office, 612-624-6004.
Brewster talking about quarterback Adam Weber who was named to the Sporting News freshman All-American team last season: “Adam has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country as he progresses.”
If it’s been a few weeks since you drove by the TCF Bank Stadium, you will be impressed with how much structure there is to the new stadium that opens in the summer of 2009.