Sid's jottings

• Apparently millionaire T. Denny Sanford lost interest in contributing to the Gophers athletic program when the University of Minnesota administration killed any chance of Sanford's giant medical group merging with the Fairview Health System. But while Gophers football coach Jerry Kill won't talk about his relations with Sanford, the word from a good source is that Sanford still has contact with Kill, and if he contributes to the school's $190 million campaign for athletic practice facilities, it will be only to aid the university football program.

• Despite another losing season and a history of not drawing well in September with school in session, the Twins expect to average 30,000 fans per home game this month,

team President Dave St. Peter said.

• Through three games with the Spanish national team at the European basketball championships, Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio is averaging 7.7 points, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes of action per game. Spain is 2-1, having lost to host Slovenia but beating the Czech Republic 60-39 on Saturday.

• Look for Nate Burleson again as the Lions' No. 2 receiver Sunday against his former squad. Burleson is entering his 11th NFL season and caught 37 passes for 240 yards in an injury-shortened season last year.

• Browns coach Rod Chudzinski told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer that former Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray, claimed last week after being waived by the 49ers, will be looked at as an all-around player. "He's a heck of an athlete," Chudzinski said.