HometownSource Blogs

What going on with some of the athletes on the University of Minnesota men’s basketball and football teams?

Ten days ago the Gopher men’s basketball team was deemed a lock to make the NCAA Basketball Tournament and a solid pick to reach the Sweet 16. Today, it looks like coach Tubby Smith’s team will have to scramble to make the 64-team field.

Smith’s incoming group of players was heralded as one of the top groups in the country and included two former Minnesota prep standouts – Trevor Mbakwe (Henry Sibley) and Royce White (Hopkins). Mbakwe played a year at Marquette, then transferred to Miami Dade Junior College where he played last year. White led Hopkins to the Minnesota Class AAAA state title last spring and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball.

Now, it looks like Mbakwe will miss the season because of his court case involving an alleged assault incident in Miami and White’s future is on hold following an incident at the Mall of America where he was caught shoplifting, then knocked a security guard to the floor. White has been suspended indefinitely, along with returning guard Devron Bostick, by Smith.

Several of coach Tim Brewster’s football players have also been in the news for their off-field exploits, too. The most recent was sophomore defensive back Michael Carter who was arrested for underage consumption and obstruction of justice.

These incidents don’t reflect well on the men’s basketball and football programs at the U and certainly don’t boost the Gophers’ image for the parents of recruits considering Minnesota.
Coaches shouldn’t have to be baby-sitters although it appears that may sometimes be part of their job description. And, to compete for conference championships, bowl games, high rankings and postseason tournaments coaches pretty much have to bite their lips and accept athletes who have already raised some red flags. Most fans are concerned about championships, not graduation rates.
Let’s hope future headlines involving the Gophers are about on-court and on-field results, not police reports. And, let’s hope that these troubled players are able to work out their problems.

SN not kind to the Twins
The current issue (Nov. 9) of Sporting News magazine has a feature titled “50 Things We Learned From the 2009 Baseball Season” and writers Ryan Fagan and Stan McNeal aren’t too kind to the Minnesota Twins.

Examples:
- “The Twins need more than Joe Mauer. Mauer was the AL’s best player, but, in the ALDS, the Yankees showed they were better than Minnesota at every other position. Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Joe Nathan are solid, but even with Justin Morneau, this roster isn’t built for more than another first-round exit.”
- “The American League Central will remain mediocre. The lack of free-spending teams and star power means continued inferiority.”
- The Twins are ranked 13th out of the 30 Major League teams in the Sporting News early 2010 power poll.
Ouch. Some harsh stuff about the locals as they head towards their debut at Target Field.
The Yankees, of course, head those power rankings, followed by Philadelphia, Boston and the Los Angeles Angels. In order, the rest of the top 10 includes the LA Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants. I’d move the Twins to at least No. 10 ahead of the Giants, Texas Rangers (11th) and Florida Marlins (12th).
By the way, if you can find the Nov. 9 Sporting News on a news stand, snatch it up. The issue also previews the college basketball season and hands out mid-season National Football League awards.

World Series decided much earlier
The New York Yankees officially won the World Series Wednesday night when they topped Philadelphia 7-3 for a 4-2 edge in games.
Actually, the World Series champion was decided last winter when New York signed pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira for an estimated $400 million. That made an already good Yankee lineup an unbeatable Yankee lineup. The rest of baseball pretty much went along for the ride although many teams, including the Twins, provided a lot of thrills.

Some college/NFL winners
Don’t want to ruin your weekend, but here are some of this weekend’s football winners:
College
Penn State 27, Ohio State 22
Alabama 17, LSU 13
Notre Dame 30, Navy 17
Minnesota 33, Illinois 23
Oklahoma 24, Nebraska 20
Air Force 30, Army 20
Michigan 23, Purdue 13
Arkansas 30, South Carolina 22
Southern Cal 30, Arizona St. 27
Upset special: Stanford 24, Oregon 22
NFL
Chicago 20, Arizona 17
Philadelphia 24, Dallas 17
N.Y. Giants 27, San Diego 23
Jacksonville 24, Kansas City 13
New Orleans 34, Carolina 20
Seattle 27, Detroit 17
Indianapolis 27, Houston 20
New England 31, Miami 13
Cincinnati 20, Baltimore 17
San Francisco 24, Tennessee 22
Pittsburgh 20, Denver 16
Atlanta 30, Washington 20
Upset special: Tampa Bay 23, Green Bay 17
Minnesota 55, Bye 0
Grump Old Man’s NFL top 6: 1. New Orleans, 2. Pittsburgh, 3. Minnesota, 4. Indianapolis, 5. New England, 6. Philadelphia.

Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, success at drawing thousands to Washington for a tea party rally yesterday was chronicled in the influential publication Politico.

The publication noted the strong feelings the throng had for the second term Republican, but also quoted a Democratic spokesman with a “bring it on” mentality.

“If Republicans want to make Michele Bachmann the voice of the party, that’s more than fine with us. We’ll help circulate the petition,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Hari Sevugan. “It’s their extreme right-wing, rigid ideological agenda that has Americans leaving the Republican Party in droves — and so, if displays like today are what they think is a smart political strategy, all we can say is: Go for it.”

State DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez had some thorny words for Gov. Tim Pawlenty on the eve of the governor’s visit to Iowa.

“After taking a beating in nearly every presidential poll for 2012, Governor Pawlenty is headed to the Ronald Reagan Dinner tomorrow so that he can pander to conservatives in Iowa — after stopping in briefly to tell us Minnesotans what we’re doing wrong before he heads off to his latest campaign stop,” said the chairman.

“While it’s nice that the Governor will be closer to home than usual, let’s not kid ourselves — whether he’s just south of the Minnesota border or halfway across the world, the Governor gave up working for Minnesotans long ago,” he said,

Pawlenty is expected to address about 700 Iowa Republicans tomorrow evening at the Iowa state fairgrounds.

“After taking a beating in nearly every presidential poll for 2012, Governor Pawlenty is headed to the Ronald Reagan Dinner tomorrow so that he can pander to conservatives in Iowa — after stopping in briefly to tell us Minnesotans what we’re doing wrong before he heads off to his latest campaign stop. While it’s nice that the Governor will be closer to home than usual, let’s not kid ourselves — whether he’s just south of the Minnesota border or halfway across the world, the Governor gave up working for Minnesotans long ago.”

As I write this posting, July 19, 2009 was a long time ago. Since then we launched our new preps web site, SportsPrepZone, which has been successful in attracting readers to the new venture. But that isn’t the reason for this new-updated posting. As we look ahead to what should be a very exciting winter to follow the local teams, here is a few thoughts from the fall season.

I’m preparing to head out to what will be a rather comfortable evening of friday night lights at Blaine High School tonight where the top seeded Bengals face No. 2 seed Centennial for the Section 7AAAAA crown. The game is a rematch from mid-September where Centennial handed Blaine its lone loss of the season 34-25. One of the match-ups I’m looking forward to seeing is how Cougars quarterback Chris Anderson deals with Blaine’s front four, led by Di-Jonn Star.

Andover and Meadow Creek also conclude section play Nov. 6 in different section finals. Andover faces Forest Lake at North Branch while Meadow Creek faces Heritage Academy at Minnehaha Academy Saturday afternoon. Northwest Suburban Conference girls swimming championships will conclude Saturday, ahead of next week’s section meets.

It’s been a busy fall following a number of state tournament participants, including Andover’s doubles tennis team, Blaine boy’s soccer team, Andover boy’s cross country team, plus numerous individual runners from our area. Stay tuned for the remaining state tournaments – football, volleyball and swimming. I have a feeling the north metro will be represented well in each tournament.

Two days after winning reelection as mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Rybak announced today (Nov. 5) that he filed the paperwork to create the R.T. Rybak for Governor Committee.

In an announcement to supporters, Rybak said he’s been open about his considering a run for governor and doubted his filing the paperwork comes as a surprise.

“Filing these papers is the first step in the process of setting up the Rybak for Governor campaign. In the weeks ahead, we will be building a grassroots campaign to take our message to every corner of the state,” he said.

Senate Tax Committee Chairman Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, candidate for governor, today (Nov. 5) called on Gov. Tim Pawlenty to call a special session in order to pass a bonding bill by the end of the year.

“It’s time to increase the state’s bonding limits to create good paying construction jobs that will spur white- and blue-collar jobs, update Minnesota’s neglected state colleges and universities to train the workforce of the future, and catch up on the deferred maintenance on wastewater treatment facilities to improve our water and environment,” said Bakk in a statement.

At the Capitol, the senator spoke of using bonding dollars for projects at the Duluth airport.

But the governor, while saying the administration is willing to examine Bakk’s proposal, noted that currently there’s some $1.5 billion in authorized bonding that remains unused.

Some of this is to be expected.

State Economist Tom Stinson has noted that a very small percentage of a bonding bill actually enters the economy first year after the bonding is authorized.

Pawlenty styled having a special session within 30 days of the start of the legislative session for bonding — session begins Feb. 4 — “just silly.”

Administration officials are currently working on a revised calculation for determining how much bonding the state can afford to do, Pawlenty explained.

He questioned whether DFLers had any intentions this upcoming session to pay attention to the old mark.

But DFLers had a few observations to share too, one of them being if some $1.5 billion in authorized bonding is sitting idle, why doesn’t the chief executive work to make sure it’s utilized.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials today (Nov. 4) said since the unveiling of the Minnesota FluLine on Oct. 21, the line has received some 13,410 calls.

Flu line traffic volumes remain high, said a MDH official. But on average a caller — only those suffering from flu-like symptoms are encouraged to call — who needs to speak to a nurse can do so within two hours.

Within hours of the flu line first beginning service, stories began to appear in the media about long waits, full lines, disgruntled callers — MDH officials still refer to the stories as anecdotal.

But MDH officials immediately spoke of improving the line, believed first in the nation.

Further, the line, which can be reached by calling 1-866-259-4655, was depicted from the start not as a sole answer to the flu pandemic but instead one more tool.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken today (Nov. 3) delivered a major speech on health care reform on the Senate floor.

Democrat Franken said now is the moment “to meet this great moral and economic challenge.”

Franken spoke of the need for a public option — those who oppose one, “don’t choose it for yourself,” he said.

He spoke of the need to end letting insurance companies deny coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions.

“As an older woman told me at the State Fair this summer, ‘At my age, everything is pre-existing.’” he said.

Franken trumpeted health care reforms already in place in Minnesota, going to say one piece of legislation he was sponsoring would mandate that health care providers must target at least ninety percent of their funds to health care delivery, not wages, administrative costs, advertising.

He further highlighted his push for standardized medical forms, arguing medical forms are purposefully crafted to be complicated as to produce errors and reasons for denying coverage.

“You know who will like this, doctors,” said Franken of standard forms, citing the hours doctors spend filling out insurance forms.

“Yes, this is complicated stuff,” Franken said of the health care debate.

But Franken asked that lawmakers not inject a fear factor into it.

“There is no issue I hear more about than health care. Minnesotans stop me everywhere I go to tell me their stories. I felt it was important to bring their words and their concerns to the floor of the Senate,” said Franken.

He went on:

“I’m proud of what we’re doing in Minnesota – with institutions that are delivering care efficiently and effectively,” he said.

“But I recognize the truth of something one health economist said to me at a health care roundtable I held in Minneapolis. He said, ‘Minnesota gets an “A”…. but only because we’re grading on a curve,’” said Franken.

“There is huge room for improvement all across America,” he concluded.

Franken spoke same day other members of the Minnesota delegation also spoke.

Representatives Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, and Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie, rose on the House floor to speak against health care reform legislation in the that body.

Paulsen argued the Democratic House legislation would result in tax increases — don’t “ramp through” a 2,000 page bill without adequate debate, he argued.

Bachmann spoke of the need for a “positive alternative” to the Democratic offering.

There’s evidence that the Sixth District DFL Congressional  leadership is going to wage a battle royal to defeat Rep. Michelle Bachmann next year .

Her latest statement on the House Floor about sex clinics is an embarrassment to citizens of the district.

When she visits her district, she listens and talks rationally.

But. . . Read more »

House K-12 Finance Committee Chairwoman Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, said she was surprised that some 57 local school districts have referendums on the ballot today.

This proves that school districts are really pressed funds for them to place referendums in this troubled economy, she explained.

“I always say where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said of finding K-12 education more funding when lawmakers return to the Capitol in February.

The new 35W bridge replacing the old bridge that sadly fell into the Mississippi River has won a national prize, the Minnesota Department of Transportation reports.

The 35W replacement project was awarded the America’s Transportation Awards’ Grand Prize for 2009 — $10,000 was awarded to transportation department to support a charity or academic scholarship.

The American Automobile Association, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued the award.

“It is an honor to receive this recognition and a true testament to the value of strong partnerships,” said Khani Sahebjam, deputy commissioner and chief engineer.

“It took the remarkable efforts of many different people to complete this project in a timely manner. It was a triumph over tragedy,” he said.

The new bridge, built in 339 days, features the world’s largest anti-icing system.

Although the six gubernatorial candidates appearing at the Anoka Technical College education forum today (Oct. 29) in general shunned displays of partisanship, a few soft jabs were landed.

Former state senator Steve Kelley, a Democrat from Hopkins who teaches at the Humphrey Institute at the U of M, spoke of teaching a class on government budgeting and perhaps inviting a well known someone to attend.

“I thought about inviting Tim Pawlenty to the class. But I concluded that he didn’t the prerequisites for it. And I really hate to flunk students,” said Kelley.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, another DFLer hoping to become governor, with a touch of irony spoke of how Republican candidate Rep. Marty Seifert, of Marshall, had cut social programs, taken away meals from prisoners, and yet spoke of lowering the cost of attending community college.

“If he becomes governor instead of me, you hold him to that,” she said.

But Seifert, to the amusement of the audience, merely thanked her for the “endorsement.”

“I appreciate that,” he said.

Four Democrats and two Republicans attended the 90-minute forum.

Former Democratic congressman Tim Penny recently indicated that whomever the Independence Party (IP) gubernatorial candidate will be next year, it won’t be him.

Not long ago, the IP sent out a press release on the governor’s race, mentioning Penny’s name and the names of other better known former party candidates.

But Penny allowed his name to be used, he explained, with the understanding that he was not going to run for governor.

Certainly not this election cycle, said Penny.

And maybe never.

“Frankly I’m at a point in my life I can’t imagine an election cycle where I would decide to get back into that arena,” Penny recently said.

Penny did service to the IP as its gubernatorial candidate in 2002, but failed to repeat the success of Jesse Ventura.

Former U.S. senator Mark Dayton, now DFL gubernatorial candidate, made a vow in Chisago County on Saturday night.

Three times his cell phone conversation with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 Director Eliot Seide was disconnected by the cell phone company.

“At which point I made a vow,” said Dayton, speaking today (Oct. 24) at a Capitol press conference announcing Council 5’s endorsement of Dayton for governor, “which I’m glad to state publicly.”

“That if I’m governor, they’ll be cell coverage from border to border as a condition of these companies operating (in Minnesota),” said Dayton.

Greater Minnesota should enjoy the same cell phone coverage as enjoyed in the metro, Dayton explained.

Sen. Sandy Rummel, DFL-White Bear Lake, has endorsed Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner for governor.

“Like her campaign pledge states, what Minnesota needs is a governor who is prepared to do the right thing regardless of the political consequences. I know Susan will be that governor,” said Rummel.

Rummel’s district includes Shoreview, Lexington, Circle Pines, parts of Lino Lakes.

Gaertner’s endorsement press release came shortly after House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s gubernatorial campaign released the names of a number of additional House members endorsing her for governor.