Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse had plenty of bones to pick with Minnesota sports figures this year, but in the end, his “Turkey of the Year” award went to the general manager of the Minnesota Twins.
Terry Ryan was named the “grand gobbler” by Reusse in his annual Thanksgiving Day column Thursday.
While analyzing his 36th turkey pick, Reusse called the American League Central cellar dwelling Twins a “sunken ship.”
Judging the team’s ability to adapt “to the changes in evaluation that have overtaken the game,” Reusse noted how “the teams appearing in the World Series are on a six-lane freeway and the Twins are on a county road.”
It was a hard year for executives, at least according to Reusse. The writer named Vikings general manager Rick Spielman first runner-up for turkey dishonor, calling him out for the $2.5 million he spent on former Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman.
Flip Saunders, the president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, was second-runner up. Among other things, Reusse questioned Saunders’ decision to draft first-round pick Shabazz Muhammad.
Last year, Reusse named then-Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith as his top turkey.
Reusse also published lists of prior “Turkey of the Year” recipients in individual categories, including executives, coaches, players and miscellaneous sports figures.
