SID'S JOTTINGS

• University of Minnesota Regent Richard Beeson gave President Eric Kaler credit for his great job of lobbying a legislative committee, which voted in favor of allowing the university to sell alcohol in TCF Bank Stadium suites and also allowing for a beer garden to operate inside the stadium.

• Now that Eric Henderson is back with the Vikings, they have only one more of their own free agents they want to sign: his brother and fellow linebacker, E.J. Henderson, who would be spending his 10th year with the team.

• Former Gophers running back Marion Barber III announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday. Barber, who made $2.25 million last season with the Bears, became a Gopher on the last scholarship for his class on a great decision by coach Glen Mason, and what a career he had.

• Royce White will almost certainly be a first-round pick in the 2012 NBA draft after the former Hopkins star's strong season with Iowa State, which ended with his excellent game in the NCAA tournament against Kentucky and one of the best frontcourts in the country. White said last week he would sign with an agent and turn pro, and many websites project him to be a mid-to-late first-round selection.

• Former Gophers infielder Jack Hannahan has been competing for the Indians starting third base job this spring with Lonnie Chisenhall but has been sidelined for the past week by lower back tightness. Hannahan, who returned to full baseball activities Friday, is hitting only .222 this spring, but he has been praised repeatedly by manager Manny Acta for his fielding.

• John Gaub made his major league debut with the Cubs last year as a September call-up, but the former Gophers lefthander was sent to minor league camp by Chicago on March 15.