Posted October 4, 2010    

•Ricky Rubio

•J Robinson

•Carl Pavano

•Tom Brokaw

•Todd Richards

Taylor Expects Rubio Next Year, Won’t Buy Vikings 

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is about “90 percent” certain that a year from now his team will have Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio in training camp and preparing for his first ever NBA season.  In a telephone interview with Sports Headliners, Taylor also said he isn’t interested in purchasing the Vikings if the local NFL franchise becomes available.  

Several years ago Taylor was interested in owning the Vikings and was asked about a scenario where the Wilf family, discouraged by lack of progress in approving a new stadium, might put the team up for sale.  “No, this wouldn’t be a time for me to do this,” Taylor said.  “At my age I’ve got enough to do.” 

Taylor, 69, is still involved with his business empire and owning the Timberwolves.  He and wife Becky are in Europe where the Wolves have exhibition games against the Lakers and Knicks.   

While in Europe Taylor hopes to meet with Rubio’s parents.  Rubio was drafted with the No. 5 pick in the 2009 NBA draft but so far has remained in Europe where he has continued to impress teammates, rivals and other observers with his playmaking skills even though he is not yet 20 years old.  

Taylor said Rubio has told Timberwolves basketball president David Kahn he plans to play here next season.  “Yes, I am very confident we will have him,” Taylor said.  “I would say in my mind it’s like 90 percent.” 

Following their stay in Europe, Taylor and Becky will go to South Africa and help with the distribution of hearing aids for about 5,000 youngsters.  He’s made a $100,000 donation to the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help those kids.  This is the sixth year that Taylor has been involved with such a project.  

 

Philosophy for Your Life? Look No Further 

J Robinson, 64, served in Vietnam and has coached three national championship Gophers wrestling teams.  He formed a philosophy about life while serving with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam and his beliefs are still entrenched. 

“You gotta have a philosophy about life,” he said.  “You gotta have rules, and then those rules guide what you do.   

“You make all your decisions based on those guidelines.  Rule No. 1 is understand who you work for.  If you’re in it for 90 percent, and they’re in it for 40 percent, you ain’t ever going over 40 percent.   

“Rule No. 2 is understand who you’re against, or who the enemy is.  If they’re willing to fight for 25 years, and you’re only willing to fight for 24 years and 11 months, you’re going to lose.   

“Rule No. 3 is let the other side dictate the rules and then play by them.  And rule No. 4 is don’t take any job where your decisions don’t control the outcome.” 

Robinson draws a comparison between the Vietnam War and the fight in Afghanistan. “All the guys that went there (Vietnam) went for the right seasons, but the politicians stopped them,” he said.  “It’s the same thing that’s going on now.” 

Robinson, who has been head wrestling coach at the University since 1986, includes striving for excellence on a daily basis as part of his philosophy.   

A former Olympic wrestler, Robinson was also an assistant Olympic coach.  In addition to his national titles, his teams have won six Big Ten championships.  

The Gophers, among the top rated teams in the country, open their schedule in Fargo on November 13 at the Bison Open.

 

Worth Noting    

The Twins’ starting foursome for the post-season has pitched a total of seven games in division playoff games.  Carl Pavano has four games, with one each for Franciso Liriano, Brian Duensing and Nick Blackburn.  

Pavano is the only one with experience in league division and championship games and the World Series.  He had one start in each during the 2003 season with Florida. 

Liriano is 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA in his last three starts.  He has given up five home runs in those games. 

Twins reliever Brian Fuentes, acquired in August, has an ERA of 0.88 in 30.2 innings pitched during 30 games since June 22.  He has yet to allow a run with the Twins. 

Although the Yankees will play here twice in the division championship series (starting Wednesday at Target Field), they won’t be back again until August 18-21 for their only regular season appearance in Minneapolis during 2011. 

Justin Morneau is a clutch hitter and the Twins will miss his bat in the pressure filled- division playoff games.  In 29 at bats during division playoff games Morneau has a .310 batting average with two home runs and four RBI.  

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said Target Center needs about a $100 million remodeling.  He said it’s important that a renovation project receive financing from the state or city.  The arena, which opened in 1990, is one of the oldest in the NBA.  

Tom Brokaw, the much admired television journalist and author of The Greatest Generation, was the keynote speaker Thursday evening for the Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund.  The nonprofit has raised about $11 million since its inception and provided approximately 12,000 grants to soldiers and their families.  http://www.thankmntroops.org/ 

Brokaw, who grew up in South Dakota, met Metropolitan Sports Facilities Chair Roy Terwilliger when both were students at the University of Iowa and they remain friends.  Brokaw is a passionate sports fan and a boyhood hero was former Gophers All-American football player Paul Giel.  

Sports Illustrated predicts the Wild will finish 14^th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference.  In its October 4 issue the magazine writes that the local NHL team is committed to a better start than last year’s 3-9.  The publication quotes coach Todd Richards as saying the disastrous start “did us in mentally.” 

It will be Washington over Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals, according to Sports Illustrated.  

The Big Ten Conference leadership will probably sell its TV rights for the annual football division championship game (starting in 2011) to the highest bidder among networks and perhaps command a deal of $20 million to $30 million.  

 

Glen Taylor

  Todd Richards