Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton hopes to return to Wimbledon to play doubles later this year. Wheaton, with partner T.J. Middleton of Mobile, Alabama, won the 35 and over doubles in 2004 and finished second the last two years. Wheaton told Sports Headliners he doesn’t have an invitation currently because so many former Wimbledon singles champions expressed interest in the doubles which is no longer 35 and over, but 45 and under. Also, the number of teams for doubles has been reduced from 16 to eight.
Wheaton, who once was ranked No. 12 in world singles, is the new touring pro at Wayzata Country Club where his brother, John, is the new director of tennis. Wheaton will be involved with group and individual activities. Tim Herron is the club’s touring golf pro.
Ben,Wheaton’s eight-year-old yellow lab retriever, has terminal prostate cancer. A bachelor, Wheaton describes Ben as his “best friend.”
Tom Wistrcill, University of Minnesota associate athletic director, talking about whether character and ethics were important in hiring Tubby Smith as the new Gopher basketball coach: “Extremely important. He’s such a man of character, such a good person, great family man. The discussions we had with him about academics, about building the family and all that were fantastic so we knew he was going to bring that here (from Kentucky) as well.”
“Hi, Everybody,” Herb Carneal’s autobiography, is available through Adventure Publications, 763-689-9800, or 800-678-7006. Carneal, who past away Sunday, began his career as a Minnesota Twins play-by-play announcer in 1962, the team’s second year here.
Wild single-game tickets for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office and noon at all Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com) locations. Fans can also order by calling Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151. There’s a limit of two tickets per game per person.
Tickets went on sale Monday for the Minnesota Vikings Draft Party on Saturday, April 28 at Winter Park. General admission tickets at $20 each can be purchased at Vikings Locker Room stores, or by calling 612-33-VIKES. Special Red Zone tickets are $70 each and benefits include an autograph session with 2006 No. 1 draft choice Chad Greenway. Other Vikings expected at the party are Tony Richardson, Cedric Griffin and Mewelde Moore, plus team alumni. The event has sold out six consecutive years.
Through the end of the winter sports season, five MIAC schools ranked in the United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup Top 100. Schools receive points for team placements in national championship events. At No. 22 and with 302.5 points, Gustavus Adolphus is the top ranked MIAC school. Next are Saint John’s (24th, 289.5 points), St. Thomas (54th, 187 points), St. Olaf College (83rd, 140 points) and Bethel (85th, 136.5 points). Williams College (Mass.) leads the national standings with 704.5 points.