Thanks to the many readers who responded on Monday to the Sports Headliners tribute to Harmon Killebrew. Among those who emailed was a fan who said his dad still watches Twins games wearing a Killebrew jersey, and another emailer who wrote: “I have never blogged, called in or sent fan mail but felt compelled to tell you today’s column re: Harmon was ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.”
Local author Dave Wright, who wrote a book about the greatest Twins wins, recalled via email watching Killebrew, a home run hitting legend who passed away yesterday. “When I was a kid in Detroit, he was one of the ‘uh-oh’ guys. Whenever he came to the plate, you would hear a lot of ‘uh-ohs’ in the stands.”
The Toronto team that swept the Twins in three consecutive games in Minneapolis last weekend is 5-1 against Minnesota this season. The Blue Jays have outscored the Twins 44-14.
Prep basketball authority Ken Lien told Sports Headliners that Orono senior guard Jordan Smith, who visited St. Louis University last week, has been offered a basketball scholarship by coach Rick Majerus. Another source said via email that Smith will make a decision on the offer by today.
This past season’s St. Louis roster included Jordair Jett from St. Paul and Grant Gehlen from Edina.
Lien also said Bloomington Jefferson guard Marcus Alipate will play basketball for St. Thomas.
It’s worth a web search to find Bill Simmons’ recent espn.com column on North Dakota native and former Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson. Simmons writes convincingly that Jackson’s physical miseries are such a problem that the 11-time NBA championship coach will never coach again.
Quoting Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi in the May 9 issue of Sporting News Magazine about whether college athletes should be compensated beyond tuition, room, board, books and fees: “I believe that for those kids in need, I have no problems getting them aid to help with cost of attendance (at school). They should be able to buy laundry detergent and go out if they want and have a good time. And they all have access to the Pell Grants, where they can get more resources.
“I don’t think it’s necessary beyond that. If they’re doing what they’re supposed to do and we help them with the costs of the education, that’s a pretty damn good payment. Now, if they don’t get a degree and we only use them to win a championship, that’s not really a good thing for anybody.”
Gophers’ football coach Jerry Kill makes promotional stops in Hutchinson, Willmar and Mankato tomorrow. “On the Road with Coach Kill” will continue on June 6 with visits to Red Wing, Rochester and Owatonna. The tour ends July 7-8 in Brainerd.
Although the Vikings need wide receivers, incarcerated Plaxico Burress isn’t likely to come here next month when released from prison, but his name is being rumored with a few teams including the Jets and Rams.
Marian Gaborik told the Minnesota Wild Radio Network he was “shocked and devastated” by the death of former teammate Derek Boogaard. “Really, we were pretty close,” Gaborik said. “It’s just hard.” The two played together with both the Wild and the Rangers.