featured-image

Simons Says...

It’s been an unforgettable week. I think you might agree. It’s also been a hard week for a lot of us. There have been some significant people, those sports figures we have grown to love and appreciate and they have left us way too soon.

But life marches on and so do all the events and the craziness-at-full-speed that makes up our days. For all of us in Minnesota, we’ve mixed some exciting events such as the Wolves lottery selection, the NBA/NHL playoffs, the Twins rough season start and the back and forth of a Vikings stadium push.

All that somewhat stalls when we hear about the passing of Harmon Killebrew. It comes to a halt when we hear that fan favorite Derek Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis home.

It serves to remind me of how fortunate I am to be able to spend this time with you, to live in such a wonderful region of our country and to have remarkable family and friends.

Just a short “thank you” is what I wanted to share with you. Rest in Peace Harmon and “Boogey.” Lottery Luck:
The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery was great. As I sit watching the NBA playoffs, I don’t care if Cleveland gets the top pick. The Wolves landed right where I was hoping they would.

I don’t make the draft selections for the Wolves (wish I did) but I don’t want a point guard taken. We need best athlete and if that pick winds through Arizona, so be it!

I say wrap this draft around the young and talented players we have coming back, add a dash of strong veterans and get our Euro golden nugget on USA turf and we’re in business.

I was a guest on a Portland radio station on lottery selection night and you’d be pleasantly surprised by the way other fans look at the talent in Minnesota. The people who interviewed me indicated their strong and positive views regarding the Wolves and their upside.

I also spent a lot of time listening (and continue to do so) and reading the various lottery breakdowns and I was shocked at how many actually walked the same side of the street as me.

Make no mistake there are significant moves to be made. NO question. Having the No. 2 pick will give the Wolves what they need, whether it’s a contributing young athlete or the ability to deal and get more from that pick. Flexibility and ability to get a strong player is there. Mission accomplished in my mind, for now.

Some people will just always have issues and that’s what drives a lot of today’s media. From my vantage point, it fits the bill here.

As long as the Wolves make something of that second pick, the firestorm will fade and I believe, as sure as I’m sitting here, the Wolves are going to come out of this just fine and better as a result. Just watch.

Oh, and one other note from my friends in the Wolves media department. That second pick in the NBA Draft has delivered some serious and Hall of Fame players. From Wes Unseld, Jerry West to Earl "The Pearl" Monroe to greats such as Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas, Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge, outstanding athletes are picked at two.

A good night in New Jersey. Take it with a grain of salt please. Way to Lynx:
As the Wolves prepare for their important off season, I’m jazzed to see basketball, Lynx style. There’s been some significant news surrounding the Lynx as camp has started.

All world Maya Moore is grabbing some more major headlines. Jordan Brand (a division of NIKE) has signed Moore and now becomes the first female basketball player to join the Jordan Brand. That’s rare air reserved for the Derek Jeter, D-Wade and Chris Paul’s of the basketball world.

It’s no wonder. Maya is a two‐time NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion and college basketball’s all‐time leader in games won as a player. Quite simply, Moore is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of collegiate sports.

So. More on the Conference Finals and the playoffs as well as some great viewer e-mail next week. By the way, GameON! is delighted to talk basketball on Sunday when former Gophers and Hopkins star Blake Hoffarber joins us from Courtside B & G. Also this Sunday, Former Viking and Canadian Football wide receiver Taye Biddle, St. Thomas softball and MIAC Coach of the year John Tschida, the Centennial High baseball team and a shout out to Defending the Blue Line. That’s this Sunday on FOX sister station My29 @ 11A. Keep your GameON!