In 1995, the Winnipeg Jets were trying to move in time for the 1996-97 NHL season. Gary Bettman was intent on getting the team to move to Target Center.
The NHL commissioner held off officials from Houston and Phoenix while waiting for the great Minneapolis City Council to appropriate some funds so that top-level professional hockey could return to the Twin Cities.
Wheelock Whitney, one of the great civic leaders here, made a speech pointing out that Metropolitan Stadium, Met Center, Target Center and the Metrodome had been built without taxing the public. The Metrodome was funded on a liquor tax.
And maybe this was the time for the city of Minneapolis to step up and provide some funding so the North Stars could be replaced.
But the city council did nothing. And the Jets went to Phoenix and became the Coyotes. And though the NHL eventually returned with the Wild, Xcel Energy Center and Target Center continue to compete for big shows and lose money.
Well today, court hearings will be held on the condemnation situation of the land that will be home for the new Twins stadium. The price could come out a lot higher than the $13.5 million the space has been taxed on. The Pohlad family has agreed to pay an additional amount to help Hennepin Country when and if the condemnation comes out higher.
But Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat points out that a lot of the infrastructure connected with the ballpark will have to be eliminated if the condemnation figure comes out high.
Here would be a chance for Barbara Johnson, Lisa Goodman and other geniuses in the city council to say, "If that happens, we will contribute."
The city will be the beneficiary of its 3 percent entertainment tax on the sale of Twins tickets at the new stadium, something that the city hasn't been getting on tickets sold at the Metrodome. That new income could amount to $3 million or more per season for Minneapolis.
In addition, there will be a lot of other benefits financial and otherwise to downtown Minneapolis with the building of the ballpark. The state will gain a ton in revenue from the parking ramps.
But rest assured, Mayor R.T. Rybak; council President Johnson; and Goodman, whose Ward 7 includes the area where the ballpark will be built, will stand by and do nothing. They will be consistent.
Wolves like Brewer
While the Timberwolves basketball brass aren't going to reveal who they want to take first in Thursday's NBA draft, I expect them to take Corey Brewer of Florida if he is there at No. 7 overall.
Wolves coach Randy Wittman was asked to describe Brewer.
"He does everything," Witt- man said. "Well, he's a scorer. He's a shooter. Those guys in that slot there bring different things, he plays an all-around game. He can put the ball on the floor. I think ... what he's going to be best known [for] early in his career at our level is his ability to defend.
"He's a legitimate 6-9, really probably going to fit more into the shooting guard, the 2 position, but can play the 3 position. But when you have a guy who's 6-9 who can just get down and lock down and defend you, that's a luxury that you don't always come across."
Wild scouts agreed
Wild President Doug Risebrough normally likes to see any potential first-round picks play, but he didn't see Colton Gillies play this past season. Instead, he relied on three scouts who all agreed that the British Columbia native has a great future.
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