Paul Carter, the outstanding junior college basketball player from Missouri State-West Plains College who will play for the Gophers next season, is expected to recover from his sports hernia injury in four weeks or more and resume his season, according to Minnesota assistant coach Ron Jirsa.
Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi gives Tim Brewster a “B” letter grade for his work so far as football coach. Brewster received an “F” for the Gophers 1-11 season record but in all other areas including setting expectations and reaching out to people the first year coach earned “A” grades.
Maturi is a jogger just like Brewster, but Maturi said the two don’t run together very often. “He’s just too fast,” Maturi said.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said on C-SPAN2 last Friday that the Red Sox will win the World Series next year, with or without Johan Santana.
Don’t discount the role of egos in the eventual trading of Santana. The Twins star pitcher and his representatives have large expectations about the money and who the employer will be. Twins management wants to make a shrewd deal while those executives who ultimately acquire Santana will enjoy an outcome where they obtained arguably baseball’s best pitcher and left everyone else with their noses pressed against the window in envy. Plus, there’s so much ego and momentum already invested in this soap opera that it’s unlikely he will remain a Twin. No turning back now.
Patrick Klinger, the Twins vice president of marketing, told Sports Headliners the organization will continue to use its award winning advertising theme “This is Twins Territory” for a fourth year in 2008. He predicts the theme will probably be used in 2010 when the Twins begin play in their new downtown ballpark.
The organization already has one new TV commercial produced for next year (with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer) and plans to film three more during TwinsFest next month. Klinger said it’s uncertain who the players will be in those ads but among the candidates are new outfielder Delmon Young. The popular ads that aired this year included a commercial with Joe Nathan riding in a car driven by Santana. Klinger said the commercial won a regional Emmy. The success of the commercials has reached a point where players are “honored to be asked to be in the spots,” Klinger said.
Brett Favre has befriended former Viking Koren Robinson, now with Green Bay. Favre said in last week’s Sports Illustrated that his own past “substance abuse” problems were probably worse than Robinson’s. Favre has been helpful to Robinson who has struggled for years with alcohol and is trying to restart his career in the NFL as a wide receiver and kick returner. The magazine honored Favre as its Sportsman of the Year, recognizing the great quarterback for his imact on helping others.
Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton is the radio host of The Christian Worldview with David Wheaton, a program focusing on “current events, cultural issues and matters of faith.” The show is heard live on Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. on KKMS, 980 AM. It’s also rebroadcast from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Wheaton told Sports Headliners he is coaching former Eden Prairie High School star Nick Edlefsen, 23, who is preparing to start on the pro tour in January. Wheaton has suggested to Edlefsen, who also played for the Gophers, that he make a two-year commitment to the tour.
Wheaton, 38, said he won’t decide until next spring whether he will play in Wimbledon and U.S. Open events for veteran players. He will continue to write Grand Slam event previews for the Star Tribune next year, starting with the Australian Open in January. He’s been previewing the major tournaments for the newspaper since 2002.