Local writer Brit Robson, who has followed the Wolves for years, predicts the team will have 12 wins by the All-Star break in mid-February.
Timberwolves guard Randy Foye, who was born in New Jersey and played high school basketball there, has bought a home in that state. He is renting a residence in Minneapolis.
Golden State plays the Wolves at Target Center tonight (Wednesday). This is the first of four games with the Warriors this season and all games will be played between now and January 21.
Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners on Monday that the organization’s first preference remains to keep two-time Cy Young award winning pitcher Johan Santana.
St. Peter observed a stadium milestone on Monday when the first concrete for any of the flooring was poured on the mezzanine level of the new downtown ballpark. The stadium opens in 27 months and most of the design work is completed, although St. Peter said about 20 percent of the interior space is yet to be finalized (flooring, walls, art work etc.).
He was part of a group that recently visited the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium that opens this spring. He said the exterior of the stadium almost has a federal building type look and the facility will have three levels of suites.
Seven Vikings have been selected for the 2008 Pro Bowl in Hawaii on February 10. Vikings on the NFC roster playing against the AFC in the annual all-star game are running back Adrian Peterson, fullback Tony Richardson, guard Steve Hutchinson, center Matt Birk, defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and safety Darren Sharper. Peterson is the only rookie running back from the Vikings other than Chuck Foreman (1973) to be selected for the Pro Bowl and the first Minnesota rookie since Randy Moss (1998). All of the Vikings chosen have played in three or more Pro Bowls except for Peterson and Pat Williams (two games). Players are selected by a vote of coaches, players and fans.
Not that they wanted to, but Michigan administrators did the Gophers no favors by hiring Rich Rodriguez as the Wolverines new football coach. Rodriguez is a talented coach and will make an underachieving Michigan program better. He also coaches a spread offense similar to Minnesota’s and that could mean more recruiting competition for prize recruits.
Earlier this year Michigan hired away West Virginia’s basketball coach, John Beilein, as its new coach. Now the Wolverines take Rodriguez. Don’t mention the word Michigan in Morgantown for a few decades.
The Wild’s 2007-08 Puck Series, in conjunction with FSN North, will highlight the greatest goals scored by the Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The four puck series will feature Darby Hendrickson, Richard Park, Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The initial puck features Hendrickson scoring the Wild’s first-ever goal at Xcel on October 11, 2000 against the Philadelphia Flyers and will be given away to all fans on Saturday night.
Wild forward James Sheppard is scheduled to appear and sign autographs at Great Waters Brewing Company (426 St. Peter Street in downtown Saint Paul) on Friday from 5 to 6 p.m.
Players from Augsburg, Macalester, Saint John’s and Gustavus have been selected MIAC Athletes of the Week for men’s and women’s basketball and hockey based on performances last week. Augsburg senior center Femi Solaja earned his third double-double of the season with 19 points (on 9-of-11 shooting) and 10 rebounds as the Auggies defeated St. Scholastica, 84-72. Solaja’s double-double was the seventh in his last 12 games dating to last season. Macalester sophomore forward Alyssa Lunde finished with a game-high 21 points and also had six rebounds in a 60-57 overtime defeat at Wisconsin-River Falls. Saint John’s sophomore forward Gabriel Harren scored three consecutive goals in three minutes and 10 seconds during the first period to lead the Johnnies to a 5-1 win over Gustavus Adolphus. Harren entered the game with five career goals in 27 previous games. Gustavus senior defender Laura Vannelli scored a power play goal at 8:55 of the second period to tie the score at 1-1 against Wisconsin-Superior. It was the Gusties’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss. Vannelli was playing in her first game after suffering a concussion two weeks ago that forced her to miss four games.
Tickets for the 2008 Big Ten Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse, March 1-2, are on sale. All-session tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online through www.gophersports.com, in person at the athletics ticket office in Mariucci Arena or by calling 1-800-846-7437 or 612-624-8080.