SID's JOTTINGS
• TCF Bank Stadium was a big revenue producer for the Gophers athletic department last year. For the second year in a row, the Vikings paid $300,000 per game for rent, so with two preseason, eight regular-season and one postseason game, that's a total of $3.3 million. The NHL paid $800,000 to hold last week's outdoor game between the Wild and Blackhawks. Last summer there also were some big concerts at the stadium: The Rolling Stones brought in $450,000 in income, Luke Bryan $693,000 and One Direction $283,000. That's total income of more than $5.5 million from those events.
• While many Twins fans will be looking for which young prospects will surprise as spring training games start Wednesday, General Manager Terry Ryan says he hopes Byung Ho Park shows the most promise. "We have a lot invested in him, we could use that type of presence in the middle of our lineup," Ryan said. "He does have power. I think everyone is aware of that, from some of the clips you watch to see how far he can hit a ball. But for us to put the money into him and the years into him, his makeup and his athleticism and desire to be a major league player and a good player are all evident. We're hoping that he will be the guy to be a pleasant surprise because he has more of a track record than a lot, though it's not in the United States, it is in a legitimate league."
• Zach LaVine, a big surprise of the Timberwolves season, averaged 19.1 points in his first nine games as a starter (30.8 minutes per game) after averaging 11.8 points in 49 games off the bench (23.7 minutes per game).
• Robbie Hummel, the former Purdue and Wolves forward, was doing well playing in Italy until he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season and now is helping out Boilermakers coach Matt Painter.
