Sports

(WCCO) June 30, 2009

The word is that Minnesota Timberwolves first draft pick Ricky Rubio was in town. The word is they could push a contract because the collective bargaining agreement could become less rookie-friendly.

With the team going younger, Mark Jackson's name becomes more mentioned as a leading candidate for the coaching job.

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A concern for the Gopher hockey team could be that New York Islanders intensify on signing Aaron Ness.

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Former North Dakota national champion coach Dean Blaze is back in the WCHA, only this time with Nebraska-Omaha. That didn't surprise a lot of people but there is a buzz in the WCHA circles about what they're paying him. The word is north of $300,000 a year.

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Another local name mentioned with the Wild is that they're trying to acquire Moorhead-native Matt Cullen.

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University of Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi is recovering from Achilles surgery and won't be able to jog -- his passion -- for another four months.

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How big is Brett Favre in the NFL? Even local Ryan Harris, a starter for the Denver Broncos, made it a point to shake his hand with Favre after their game with the New York Jets.

"Who knew if he was coming back or not, who knew if he's playing the next game so I awkwardly got in there and got a hard shake and I was like, 'Oh my God' I was so shocked," said Harris.


June 23, 2009

Minnesota Timberwolves players most mentioned in trades: Randy Foye, who has market value and Mike Miller, who could be attractive to a team needing just one more veteran player.

Sources suggest Sam Mitchell is not on the short list of candidates to replace Kevin McHale as head coach.

The player the Wolves tried hard to bring in for a work out but couldn't get it done was Davison guard Stephen Curry.

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Breck High School and USC tight end Dominique Byrd is getting another NFL shot, this time
with Arizona.

Cris Carter said he plans to come back this summer again and work with Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Carter was in town last week with his son Duron, who will play at Ohio State. His fatherly advice:

"Just the basic principles. If they're going to do something put everything into it. It's not about of you being good. It's a matter of putting everything you have into whatever you're doing. And I'm very, very fortunate that both of my kids, they're very, very athletic," said Carter.

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Andrew Alberts, a Benilde-St. Margaret's grad who is a defenseman in the NHL playing this past season for Philadelphia, could have been a candidate to come to the Minnesota Wild. He'll be a free agent July 1. But he said he's working on and getting close to a deal to remain with the Philadelphia Flyers.

With Pittsburgh winning the Stanley Cup and now Wild GM Chuck Fletcher who was the assistant general manager there, Mike Max asked if he will get in on the tradition of hosting the cup for a day.

"I haven't even gotten to that yet so I'm not sure but hopefully we can win one here in the next couple years and I'll bring it right here, right for this press conference," said Fletcher.


June 9, 2009

The University of Minnesota estimates if they don't get alcohol in the new stadium to sell it could cost the program $2.9 million in revenue.

One interesting law written into the construction of it -- you can't hold more than 15 events a year with crowds better than 15,000.

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Former Edmonton coach Craig McTavish thought he had a good interview with Chuck Fletcher for the Minnesota Wild head coaching job. In part, selling an up-tempo offensive approach.

No doubt if Doug Risebrough had stayed, the team would have signed former Gopher Jordan Leopold, who still could end up with the Wild.

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The Minnesota Vikings led the NFL this past off season with nine players going back to college to get degrees.

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Minnesota Lynx first round pick Renee Montgomery led UConn to a national title, which meant a trip to the White House, which turned into a game of horse with President Barack Obama. After the game she asked for the ball, which was his lucky campaign ball.

"I was like 'Can I have this?' He was like, 'It was my only campaign ball but yes.' And he asked someone to give him a pen, he signs it and he was like 'Let this be a lesson to everybody, you have to be a go-getter' and I was like 'Oh my goodness,'" said Montgomery. "I didn't know that was his only campaign ball when I got it."

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The Minnesota Twins interleague play at Chicago means pitchers will hit. So who's the best hitting pitcher?

"I hate to say it but right now Slowey. It kills me to say it but spring training he put up some good numbers," said Twins Pitcher Nick Blackburn. "I'm convinced that in the offseason he's been working with somebody but he's not telling anybody because that's the guy he is."


May 26, 2009

The Minnesota Timberwolves have three first round picks in the upcoming NBA draft and they will begin bringing through several college prospects to Target Center. This year there's a new twist: Several NBA teams will come to Minneapolis to watch the same prospects at the same time. The idea is to cut down on travel and to be able to watch multiple players at the same time.

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Those that know say Marian Gaborik will at least listen to the Minnesota Wild but will not sign before free agency.

Chuck Fletcher, the new Wild General Manager from Pittsburgh, won't say it but the word is the Penguins would have elevated Todd Richards to head coach in mid-season from the minors had he not taken the San Jose Sharks assistant coaching job.

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Michael Cuddyer's cycle means a call from the Hall of Fame for equipment worn that night but he will keep some.

"I got the ball that I hit the triple on. Yeah, I gave the bat to the Hall of Fame and I got the line-up card and all that stuff," said Cuddyer.

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The University of Minnesota baseball team could have hosted an NCAA region if they had a better facility.

Some believe Eric Decker is playing his final season of college baseball because he will either sign professionally this summer or have to focus on the NFL combine next spring,

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There is more than a little concern that tradition rich Minneapolis Community and Technical College could eliminate basketball.

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People from the Minnesota Vikings thought first round pick wide receiver Percy Harvin was even better than advertised at least week's OTAs.

And his status keeps moving up: running back Adrian Peterson was invited for a Tiger Woods charity event in Las Vegas recently.

 

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