Interview with Minnesota's Duane Bennett

 What was one of the main reasons you decided to come to the University of Minnesota?

DB – I love the city atmosphere, and the people up here where extremely friendly, and it just seemed like the perfect fit for me.

 What is the biggest change you see in the football program from last year to this year?

At this point I have not seen much change but I’m sure there will be lots to come heading into the season this year.

DP – Who has had the biggest impact on your life, who got you going into football?

 My father & my brothers. Having them behind me my whole life and supporting me was a huge reason for getting into football, although my mother is my #1 supporter.

 If you could play any other sport other than football, what would you play?

DB – I would play baseball, I played it when I was younger and really enjoyed it.

 What are some personal goals you have for this season?

DB – (To) reach 1,000 yards rushing and be a constant impact player for my team.

 As a senior, what is one thing you will always remember about the U of M?

DB – I will always remember The Barn. The fans get crazy at our home basketball games.

 What Big Ten game do you look forward to the most?

DB – I look forward to playing Wisconsin for the Axe. Last go round, would be lovely to leave with the Axe.

 How excited are you about the upcoming season under new head coach, coach Kill?

DB – I very excited, he’s a great guy and knows what he wants out of his players and I love that about him.

 What is your favorite thing to do on campus?

DB – I enjoy going to eat at the different restaurants, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Tony’s Diner, and Anne’s.

Eric Lair Interview

Eric Lair will be the University of Minnesota Gophers' starting tight end for the 2011 season.  A Sophomore last season, Lair was 3rd on the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Would you consider yourself more of a blocking or receiving tight end?

EL – I am better at catching the ball right now so I would say receiving, but I’m working this spring to become a better blocker.

If you played any other position other than right end, where would you see yourself playing?

EL – Receiver or maybe a outside linebacker.

What is a normal game day routine like for you?

EL - I sit alone on the bus and listen to Houston music artists to remember where I come from and what it took to get to this point. Also, all of those people cheering for me back home that I do not want to let down.

New Nathan, New Pitchers... Better than Ever?

 Twins Closer Joe Nathan

After finishing the 2010 season with the 8th best bullpen ERA in the league, the Twins knew that much of their success was due to their solid relief pitchers eating up those middle innings before John Rauch or Matt Capps came out to seal the deal.  With a lead going into the 7th or 8th inning, the Twins were confident their guys could close out the game.

This season, however, they will be looking to a lot of new names to try to mimic that success.  After losing Jessie Crain to the division rival Chicago White Sox, Matt Guerrier to the Dodgers, Brian Fuentes to the A's, and John Rauch to the Blue Jays, much of what made the Twins a good pitching team is gone.  In fact, the Twins stellar bullpen is much of what gave Minnesota the edge in the always tight AL Central.  Without them, their playoff hopes would have gone drastically down, and that inaugural season in Target Field, would have seemed far less magical.

But hope is not lost for 2011... in fact, I think they will be better.  First, Nathan's return is huge.  As with any pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery, you don't know how he'll play until the season progresses.  But if his preseason workouts tell us anything, Nathan may be better than ever.  Nathan says he hit 88-89 repeatedly, and topped out at 91.  If this is accurate, not only is he healthy, he's weeks ahead of where he usually is during spring training.  If this pattern continues, and Nathan returns with an even stronger arm (something not unheard of with Tommy John recipients), the 2011 bullpen will already be off to a good start.  More importantly, with Nathan returning to the mound, Matt Capps suddenly becomes one of the better setup men in the league.  Add a healthy Pat Neshek, who is hoping a full offseason of rest and a new vigorous weightlifting program can help him rebound from surgery to anywhere near his 2007 level, where he pitched 70+ innings with a 2.94 ERA, and the Twins might just have one of the best late inning bullpens in the league.

Turning Down the Heat

Arguably no team has improved as much as the Miami Heat have this season.  After starting the season slowly with losses to Utah, New Orleans, Boston (twice), Memphis, Indiana and Orlando, the Heat have gone 29-8 with victories over the Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, Knicks, and Thunder.  To many, the Heat have already established themselves as a legitimate title contender.  To others, however, there resume has one glaring weakness... they can't beat the Boston Celtics.  Three times the Heat have taken on the defending Eastern Conference champs, and three times LeBron and Co. have walked away without a win.  Now the Miami Heat need to figure out how to best the original Big 3 come playoff time, or watch the NBA finals on TV.  The problem is, if Boston is healthy, I'm not sure if they can do it.

Keanon Cooper Interview

Keanon Cooper is a linebacker for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.  Cooper will be returning in 2011 for his Junior season, hoping to help turn the program in the right direction under new coach Jerry Kill.  You can follow Keanon on Twitter here.

In high school you played safety among other positions, when did the transition to linebacker take place?

I actually only played safety spring ball of my sophomore year. I started out my junior season in the secondary, but was back to played linebacker by the start of the season. Then, was moved to defensive end by the fourth game of the season, and finished out the season there.

If you played on the offensive side of the ball, what position would you see yourself playing?

I really feel like I could play running back. I have above average speed for a running back, and I also have the size for the position. The other characteristics of a good back, such as vision, cutting, and awareness would come along with experience.

What Big 10 game do you look forward to the most every year?

I would have to go with Wisconsin. I love the buzz the game creates, and the challenge they bring with defending the Ax. It’s also one of those games that’s easy to prepared for because you know what they’re going to do, but you have to dig deep down inside to endure the pounding. It’s a game of will. Who’s going to break who’s will first?

Dunk of the Week

Blake Griffin is starting to become somewhat of a mainstay in this segment but this time he's even more ridiculous than usual.  On a breakaway against the Heat the other day Griffin brought his talents to South Beach... Enjoy.

Adam Weber Interview

Weber is a former quarterback from the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.  Playing 4 full seasons, Adam holds the record for touchdown passes in Gopher history, and is second in Big Ten history in passing yards.

What do you think of the new Gopher Coach, Coach Jerry Kill?

AW - Coach Kill comes in with a winning program, he has proven it at every school he has been at.  I believe his style and system will fit our program and its players well.

How are you preparing yourself for the NFL combine?

AW - I have been training with Pete Bommarito Performance Systems (BPS) in Miami, FL since Jan 3rd.  It is an intense training program that is working on increasing speed and strength.  There are about 35 other football players down here from all over the country.  We train 6 days a week 6:30am-4:30pm

Desmond Bishop Interview

Desmond Bishop is a linebacker for the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers.  Drafted out of Cal in the 6th round of the 2007 draft, Bishop will be playing in his first Super Bowl tomorrow.  

How does it feel knowing that you will be playing in Super Bowl XVL?

DB – It feels great. It’s really a surreal experience, I really can’t believe it. I can’t believe I’m in this situation, it’s really like a dream right now, and I’m in a dream right now.

 So has it actually settled in that you will be playing in the Super Bowl, or when do you expect that time to come?

DB – I think it will come either after kick off or after the game and I’m hosting the Lombardi trophy.

What kind of pre-game routine do you have for the Super Bowl?

DB – You know what; I’m just going to keep it normal. I’m going to have the same routine I’ve been having, I’m not going to switch it up now, just keep doing the same thing.

Where's the Love?

Yesterday the NBA announced the reserves for this season's NBA All-Star Game.  While players such as Blake Griffin and Kevin Garnett have been planning their trip to Los Angeles for weeks, one player, Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love, was nearly forced to make vacation plans.  Amazingly, despite having one of the more impressive resumes in the NBA, Love was not chosen by league coaches to represent the Western Conference this season...at least right away.  Fortunately for Love, he was selected today as an injury replacement for Rockets center Yao Ming.  Yet the initial snub still leaves me wondering, by what standards can Love not be considered an All-Star?

Yes, he plays for a Minnesota team that is just 11-37, and is lacking significant talent around him, but that hardly negates what he has done on the court this season.  Averaging 21.4 PPG and 15.5 RPG, Love is on pace to be the first 20-15 player since Mosas Malone in the 1982-83 season.  He leads the league in double-doubles and is just 3 shy of Kevin Garnett's NBA record 37 in a row.  He's shooting .563 from the field and is 6th in the league in PER.  For comparison, Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game and is 8th in PER while Amar'e Stoudemire is putting up 26.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest.  Thats not to say that Love is just as naturally talented and athletic as those players, he's not, but his combination of hard work, natural ability and 'never quit' attitude gave him stats superior to those players.

In my opinion, lots of things can get you into the All-Star Game.  As mentioned earlier, Love could break a record currently held by a future Hall of Famer.  He's putting up over 20 a game and is easily the leagues best rebounder.  Regardless of what team you are on, those stats don't lie.  Kevin Love is an all star.