Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork. Cheap Swell .com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves officially named Flip Saunders as the franchises new head coach on Friday. Saunders served as the Timberwolves bench boss for parts of 10 seasons from 1995-2005 and oversaw the most successful era of the franchises history, highlighted by trip to the Western Conference finals following a franchise- best 58-24 regular-season record in 2003-04. "After an exhaustive process and several thorough discussions with Flip, we came to the conclusion that he was the stabilizing force needed to lead our team," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. "Flip led us to our most successful seasons; he knows what it takes to win in the NBA as his track record speaks for itself." After struggling to a 25-26 record to start the 2004-05 season, the Timberwolves decided to dismiss Saunders, who returned to the organization in May 2013 as president of basketball operations. He also took a minority ownership stake in the team. "In talking to Glen, we came to the decision that this outcome would be the best for our franchise," said Saunders, who will continue to serve as the teams president of basketball operations. "I will work tirelessly to bring back the success our franchise experienced in the late 90s to early 2000s. To that end, I will assemble a diverse, experienced coaching staff that will bring out the best in our players." Saunders also spent time as head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards before his return to the Twin Cities. He has a record of 638-526 in parts of 16 seasons, including 411-326 with the Wolves. He replaces the retired Rick Adelman, who spent three seasons with the Wolves and 23 years as a head coach in the NBA. Adelman guided Minnesota to a record of 97-133, including 40-42 this past season. The Wolves missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year, but the 40 wins were the clubs most since a 44-38 mark in 2004-05. Liberty London sWell Bottle . Ive said it before, Ive worked with top pros and I could have made my own program. Cheap Swell Water Bottle . It will mark the 22nd time the tournament has been held in this country and fourth in Atlanta Canada but will make its first appearance ever in played Nova Scotia. http://www.swellbottleuk.com/ .com) - They didnt meet in the regular season, so Sam Houston State might be saying it won the de facto title game between the two Southland Conference co-champions Saturday.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Betty Finnegan made the 5 1/2-hour drive from Fort Worth, Texas, with a friend Aug. 31 to watch the last two games of the season for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Her 21-year-old son was finishing his first summer as a professional baseball player on the Double-A team after helping pitch TCU into the College World Series.They had checked into a Holiday Inn and left for the ballpark when her cellphone rang, and she saw Brandon Finnegans number flash.I said, Oh my God, somethings wrong. The first thing in my mind is did he get hurt? she recalled last week.Nothing of the sort.Instead, the Kansas City Royals minor leaguer said: You know the hotel you just paid for? Youre not going to need it.I just got promoted to the major leagues, he told her. And we have to be there by midnight tonight.Sitting in a car with her friend and Brandons girlfriend, Betty started screaming.We were laughing and crying, all at the same time, she said.They quickly packed up his stuff and made the 3 1/2-hour drive to Kansas City, Betty in her grey Chevy Equinox and Brandon in his black Cadillac Escalade, which had been delivered just the night before.And the ride has kept on going.Betty Finnegan had been prepared for the trip to Omaha, Nebraska, and the College World Series last June. She never expected her son could become the first player to appear in the CWS and the big league World Series in the same season.I was sitting in a classroom probably about four months ago, Brandon Finnegan said Monday as his Royals got ready to play San Francisco. Its insane to even think of. I lived the college dream and major league dream in one year.Talk about long seasons: After going 0-8 for the Horned Frogs as a sophomore in 2013, he started bullpen sessions for fall ball that August and never stopped. He began his 2014 season by striking out 13 over seven shutout innings against Jacksonville in TCUs Valentines Day opener — more than eight months ago.In the CWS, he gave up a double on his first pitch. He trailed after two pitches and wound up going eight innings in a 15-inning, 3-2 loss to Virginia.TCU teammate Preston Morrison, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, said they pushed each other over their three seasons together. Pitching coach Kirk Saarloos, a former big leaguer, developed a system where his staff would compete for Frog Points, earned for first-pitch strikes, quick innings and fielding prowess.Hed be super upset if I got one more Frog than him and Id get super upset if he was one Frog above me. It was probably about 50-50 on who won, Morrison said.Kansas City took Finnegan with the 17th pick of the June draft — unusual, given that hes just 5-foot-11 and not the prototypical 6-foot-4 pitcher many teams seek.The left-hander signed for a bonus of $2,200,600 and made his pro debut in Delaware on July 10 for Class A Wilmington. Marble Water Bottle Cheap. He went 0-1 with an 0.60 ERA in five starts and on Aug. 1 moved up to Double-A, where he was shifted to the bullpen and went 0-3 with a 2.25 ERA in eight relief appearances.While the organization envisions him as a starter long-term, he quickly became its best short-term option for late lefty heat.Chad Lee, the Kansas City scout who tracked Finnegan the past two years, thought back to a conversation they had last October. Lee asked whether Finnegan saw himself someday as a starter or reliever in the majors.He goes, I think I can get hitters out right now in the big leagues, Lee recalled.Finnegan made his big league debut at Yankee Stadium in early September, a nationally televised game before a crowd of 45,262 on a steamy Saturday afternoon. He was the first player from this years draft to reach the majors.With the Royals trailing 6-1, Finnegan took the mound wearing the No. 29 pendant with a TCU marking, even though the Royals assigned him 27. He worked exclusively from the set position when he entered in the bottom of the sixth and John Ryan Murphy flied out.Jacoby Ellsbury got fooled on a changeup, a pitch Finnegan developed in the last year, and was left with just one hand on the bat as he flailed at strike three. And then Derek Jeter — Finnegan was 2 years old when the Yankees star made his big league debut — struck out when he swung over a 94 mph sinking fastball.It was such a whirlwind for him. I dont think he knew where he was at the time, TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said. He said, Coach, I didnt even realize it was Jeter. As soon as I toed the rubber and looked up to get the sign, its like, Holy cow! Its Derek Jeter!Finnegan allowed one run in seven regular-appearances with the Royals and two more in four post-season outings, getting the win in Game 2 of the AL Division Series sweep of the Angels.Finnegan played first base and outfield at Southwest High School in Fort Worth and also pitched once a week. He still speaks frequently with Frankie Gasca, his freshman team coach in 2008 and varsity coach in 2011.Ill tell you what, he definitely likes his shoes — sneakers, Gasca said. It seems like hes got one that will match for whatever outfit hes got on.Finnegan was drafted by his hometown Texas Rangers with the 1,374th pick in the 45th round in 2011. But he decided to accept a scholarship from TCU — as a freshman, he once hit six batters in a game.Finnegans father, Gary, pitched at TCU in 1979. But he never had the chance Brandon has now.I hurt my arm, and that was the end of it, Gary said. Shoulder. Back then they didnt do the surgeries like they do now. ' ' '