Posted August 1, 2011    

•Mark Wilf

•Lester Bagley

•Michael Cuddyer

•Khalid El-Amin

•Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Vikings Owners Still Committed to Payroll 

Vikings president Mark Wilf told Sports Headliners his franchise remains committed to spending money on player personnel despite the franchise’s ongoing attempts to gain approval for a new stadium.   

“We want a championship team,” Wilf said.     

Vikings owners, led by Mark and his brother Zygi Wilf, have demonstrated a willingness to spend money on high profile players since they became franchise owners in 2005.  Expensive deals that brought defensive end Jared Allen and quarterback Brett Favre here gave the Wilfs credibility with fans and media, showing ownership was serious about winning.  

The Vikings were 12-4 and within a play or two of the Super Bowl during the 2009 season.  Last season team performance deteriorated and the record was 6-10.  Parts of the roster have to be both retained and upgraded.  Among the payroll tasks will be re-signing Adrian Peterson—perhaps the NFL’s best running back— to a new contract that should place him among the league’s highest paid players. 

Vikings owners have spent money in areas beyond personnel.  They have funded upgrades at Winter Park and during the NFL labor dispute Vikings ownership kept front office workers employed, rather than laying them off.   

“These are great owners,” a prominent Minneapolis businessman said.

 

Vikings Optimistic about Arden Hills Approval 

Passionate football fans, the Wilfs want a Super Bowl team.  Although the state legislature didn’t put a stadium plan to a vote this year, the franchise appears closer to a new venue than at any time during the last 10 years.   

The plan the Wilfs continue to support is building a stadium in Arden Hills.  The Vikings would welcome a special legislative session this year to pass an Arden Hills bill.  

Vikings executive Lester Bagley, who has been involved with the stadium issue for years, told Sports Headliners the Vikings are “100 percent committed” to the Arden Hills plan that would have Ramsey County, the state and Vikings contributing to build a facility expected to cost about $1 billion.   

“We’re adamant and optimistic we’re going to get it done,” he said. 

Bagley declined to predict whether a special session will be called to address the stadium issue before 2011 ends, saying a decision is up to political leaders.  He reminded, though, that the franchise’s  Metrodome lease expires after this season, and also said that delaying approval of a stadium will cost about $53 million more because of inflation.  

Specifics of a deal between the Vikings, county and state are so close to being finalized that Bagley said remaining details could be “ironed out in a few hours.” 

Based on sources Sports Headliners hears from, St. Paul backers are worried the stadium may be built in Minneapolis, likely the Farmers Market site.  Minneapolis stadium supporters believe Arden Hills is clearly in the stadium derby lead. 

Either the Arden Hills or Farmers Market sites will allow the Vikings to continue to play in the Metrodome until a new stadium is built.  The third option of building on the Metrodome site would force the Vikings to play at TCF Bank Stadium for a few seasons.  That is not a temporary transition the franchise ownership would welcome because the club will generate less revenue at the Gophers stadium than playing at the dome. 

 

Worth Noting    

Alex Wimmers, the Twins’ 2010 No. 1 draft choice, has been a reliever in four games and started one this season for Fort Myers in Class A.  He is 0-1 in 10 innings with a 6.30 ERA. 

For a late season promotion to increase Twins attendance, Cesar Tovar played all nine positions in a 1968 game.  Mostly an outfielder who had major league experience in the infield, too, Tovar accepted the challenge of also catching and pitching in the game.   

Last week when Michael Cuddyer pitched one inning for the Twins it brought back memories of Tovar’s performance.  Tony Oliva, who was a teammate of Tovar, was asked about Cuddyer who has major league experience in the infield and outfield.  “I think if Minnesota asked him to catch, he would go and catch, too,” Oliva said. 

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Sunday on his 1500 ESPN radio show he expects Denard Span to rejoin the team in Anaheim on Tuesday for the start of the Angels series.  The manager has told Span, who hasn’t played with the Twins since June 6, that instead of his regular center field spot he may sometimes be assigned to right or left field.   

Span is more comfortable in center, but Gardenhire said Span is willing to play where asked.  Center fielder Ben Revere’s arm isn’t strong enough to play right field. 

An article in the August 1 issue of Sporting News Magazine lists “Sports’ Greatest Individual Performances” and No. 4 on the all-time list is Jack Morris’ 10 innings, 1-0 shutout of Atlanta for the Twins in game seven of the 1991 World Series. 

Minnesota’s 1997 Mr. Basketball Khalid El-Amin, now 32, said he will play foreign pro basketball again next winter but isn’t sure where.  El-Amin is interested in a coaching career after he retires from playing.  

Former Gophers basketball assistant coach Silas McKinnie, who worked for head coach Clem Haskins, is a scout for the Detroit Lions.   

Minneapolis native and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is on the cover of the August 1 issue of Sports Illustrated.  He is praised in an NFL article for his off-season work ethic.   

Vegasinsider.com makes Alabama the favorite at 4/1 odds to win the 2012 national championship.  Nebraska at 22/1 is the most likely Big Ten team to win the title.  

General public tickets for the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 3 in Indianapolis sold out within two hours on Saturday.  After the two participating schools are determined, each will receive 7,500 tickets.  The game will be played at 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

Ron Gardenhire
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins

Larry Fitzgerald Jr.