Thirty thousand plus baseball fans gathered over three days in the Metro Dome at the end of January to celebrate their favorite team, The Minnesota Twins. Congratulations to the teams management for another great event. Vice President of marketing Patrick Klinger and his staff put on a show for people of all ages. Soon the boys of summer will hit the diamond to the roar of a new season ahead. The TV facts sports team was there to take it all in and talk with the fans. Publisher Gary Magrum, analyst Mike Sosa and myself mingled with the crowd, watched the kids take batting practice, got some autographs from the players, traded baseball cards, bid on the silent auction items and looked over the scale model of the new ballpark.

The number one question on everyone's mind was really twofold, will Santana still be here for the season or traded away, and how is Francisco Liriano's arm? The answer to the first question is ongoing at the time of this publication. Speculation is he will go to the Mets, but that changes every day. Remember the ace has a no trade clause, so Johan can hold up any deal if he doesn't like the team or the team's offer. Twins general manager Billy Smith is very firm on wanting the two time Cy young award winner to stay with the team. The Twins have offered #57 a four year deal worth $80 grand, but Santana wants a six or seven year deal and most teams won't contract that long with pitchers. If he stays for this season there will be a huge bidding war as a free agent.

As far as Liriano is concerned, he says "My arm is feeling Great!" Pitching coach Rick Anderson said the 24 year old has completed his 15 month rehab following Tommy John's elbow surgery, and is looking good but added "his status for the coming season remains uncertain. What we need to do now is break down his delivery, we can make minor adjustments, but whole-sale adjustments, you can't do that." As of now there are three set for the starting rotation, Scott Baker, Boof Bonser and Kevin Slowey.

Twins CEO Jim Pohlad did the right move when invested $104 million for contract extensions in Justin Morneu and Michael Cuddyer. The team has a payroll formula of spending a bit more than 50 percent of overall revenue. Pohlad added "The revenue will increase when we get the new ballpark."

Congratulations to the Timberwolves Big Al Jefferson, he scored 40 points in beating the Nets and has been named NBA player of the week. Gopher women's coach Pam Borten has her Gophers paying as a team with Emily Fox leading the way, averaging 22.5 points per game. Her outstanding play against Ohio State and the Spartans won her the Big Ten player of the week as well.

Speaking of team work, congratulations to our new TV Facts sponsor McDonald's of south Minneapolis, on Hiawatha. Owner operator Connie Williams invited TV Facts to their store to celebrate a wonderful achievement. Golden arches team member, Jean Stephenson, was named employee of the year (2007) for the Midwest region.

Until the next issue sports fans, stop by Sosa Foods on Minnehaha and 39th Street. Mike is starting to design his new in-store Deli. If you catch him wearing a Yankee's hat, make him buy you a cup of coffee. This issue also has the Academy Awards contest entry blank, fill it out and drop it by our favorite movie screen, The Riverview Theater on 38th and 42nd. I pick " No country for Old Men" and Daniel Day Lewis as the big winners. You could win movie passes and more, how fun.