FIRED UP FOR THIS: The Timberwolves-Golden State series was going to be fire from the start. But it has picked up even more heat because (1) Stephen Curry’s injury that will keep him out (at least) the next three games, (2) The Wolves disappointing effort in the Game 1 loss, (3) Whether Anthony Edwards can regain the spectacular late-season form that deserted him in the opener. The themes resume plying out tonight at Target Center and then spread west with Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday. Minnesota’s lackluster play in the opener was by no means terminal, but neither am I in the “no big deal, everything’s fine” crowd. Edwards need to step up, Golden State needs to be worn down and the Wolves had better start shooting threes better than the fifth-grade travel team down the street from my house.
ONLY GAME IN TOWN? Not even close. Minnesota United plays host to superstar Lionel Messi and Inter-Miami on Saturday afternoon. The Lynx start their revenge tour toward a WNBA title next week. The Frost plays Game 2 of their PWHL playoff series Friday in Toronto before returning to the X. By this time next week we’ll know the Vikings 2025 schedule. If you’re on the prowl for the next Anthony Edwards, you might find him in a suburban Twin Cities gym this weekend. And look at this: The Twins are on a winning streak. (At least they were when the Sports Take editors hit the send button for today’s newsletter.) We’ve got a lot to get after. Let’s go! — Howard Sinker
EDWARDS HAS TO BE BETTER: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. Edwards didn’t play well in the Game 1 loss and coach Chris Finch called him out afterward. VERBATIM: “For a player who was so mature, so ruthless and so dynamic in the first-round knockout of the Los Angeles Lakers, Edwards got off to the worst start of his playoff career in a 99-88 loss to the Warriors that gave Golden State a 1-0 lead in their second-round series. Edwards did not score until he made one free throw with 1:04 to play in the first half. He didn’t make his first field goal until he scored on a driving layup with 8:02 to play in the third quarter. He finished the night with 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting but missed his first 10 shots of the game and also had three turnovers and only two assists.”
FINCH ON EDWARDS: VERBATIM: “Finch has thanked Edwards over and over again for allowing him to coach him hard, to call him out publicly and in film sessions, to challenge him to raise his level of play when it dips. The coach was clearly frustrated with his star player after the game, believing that his lack of energy trickled down to the rest of the team during one of their worst performances of the season. ‘What is there to talk about? You’re the leader of the team. You’ve got to come out and set the tone,’ Finch said. ‘If your shot is not going, you still have to carry the energy. If I’ve got to talk to guys about having the right energy coming into an opening second-round game, then we’re not on the same page.’ “ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/finch0508
EVEN BIGGER FAVORITE: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. The Wolves were favored to win the series before their Game 1 clunker and should be just as much the favorite, if not more so, now. It’s the Curry injury, of course. VERBATIM: That’s why sportsbooks have the Timberwolves as a larger favorite to win the series now than they were even prior to dropping Game 1. Golden State sans its star guard — the axis for entire offense — is likely a .500 team, or worse. Yes, the Warriors have Jimmy Butler, still a brilliant basketball player. But he’s not capable of physically carrying a team to the degree he could even two years ago. Sure, Golden State is elite defensively, but you do have to score to win basketball games. The Warriors are quickly running short on guys capable of doing so. Golden State is in big trouble, and Minnesota is the beneficiary. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/favorite0508
ABOUT THOSE THREES: Via Nolan O’Hara at SI.com. The Wolves followed up Game 5 against the Lakers, in which they missed 40 of 47 three-point attempts, by not hitting a three until Naz Reid did so midway through the third quarter. The two-game numbers were historically bad. VERBATIM: “Over their last two games, the Wolves are just 12 for 76 from 3 (16%) over their last two games, the worst two-game shooting stretch in NBA playoff history. Minnesota shot just 5 for 29 from 3-point range in Tuesday night's loss. . . . Edwards is the highest volume shooter on the team, and he's 1 for 16 over the two-game stretch. But he's hardly the only one struggling. Donte DiVincenzo is just 3 for 19 in the last two games; Nickeil Alexander-Walker just 2 for 11. All three players shot around 40% from 3 during the regular season. It's been uncharacteristic for a team that's featured a number of knock-down shooters, which it leaned on during its best stretches on play. All they can do now is look to the next shot. ‘Just keep shooting,’ Edwards said. ‘That's the name of the game. You can't worry about the last shot. Shoot the next one, shoot it with confidence.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/threes0508
SERIES SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/playoffsked0508
THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANT: Star Tribune basketball writer Chris Hine’s book Ant: The Incredible Journey of NBA Rising Star Anthony Edwards hits bookstores and the Internet on June 3.The book has been Hine’s passion project at the same time that he’s provided another season of top-shelf coverage on the Wolves. I asked Chris at precisely the wrong time in his busy season if he could answer three questions about Edwards and the book. But then, like a player getting fouled while taking an off-balance three-pointer with the shot clock about to expire, I got bailed out by the extra break between the Wolves beating the Lakers in five games and starting their current series against the Warriors.
Me: What are two or three things about Edwards that were new to you -- and that you think readers will find the most interesting about him?
Chris: That basketball wasn't his best sport growing up. Football was. Those that knew him growing up always thought football would be what he played as he got older and maybe into college and beyond. He was always really good at basketball, but he wasn't a prodigy from a young age. He ended up as a late bloomer in that sense and he didn't take off in basketball until he was a teenager. Another thing is people may not realize how he can read people. He knows how to read a room, and one person close to him called him a "politician." He's very in touch with how to deal with people, who has his best interests at heart and who doesn't, and it's been that way for a long time.
Me: How do you think this season has changed Edwards' standing in the NBA?
Chris: That's still being decided, but the first-round win over the Lakers was something that can't be ignored. This is where your legacy is made, and he's put the league on notice that he doesn't care about the star power or accolades. He's here to win, no matter who he has to take down. I do think getting the title for most made three-pointers meant a lot to him. His standing as one of the best shooters in the league is something that he's worked hard to achieve, considering a lot of people didn't think he'd be a good shooter in the NBA when he was a rookie.
Me: You and Edwards come from different backgrounds and share your passion for basketball in the jobs you do. I'm assuming you learned things that will give you an even deeper understanding of the sport. What do you think Edwards learned from working with you?
Chris: Ant didn't actually work with me on the book. He didn't sit down for a separate interview. He said yes at first but then we got into the season and he backed out because he was tired of doing extra interviews and media. But he also didn't get in the way of me speaking to those close to him, and I've developed great relationships with some of them. I will say I think Ant and I have a good relationship when it comes to my job as a beat writer, and one thing I hope he and other players learn with our jobs on the Wolves beat is we're out to tell good stories — enlightening stories about them as people or about the game. We're not people just looking to get a gotcha quote or moment for social media engagement. I think on some level he and others on the team understand that and it's been a good give and take between the beat writers, Edwards and the rest of the team.
BOOK EXCERPT: In 2020, the Wolves need to decide whether to take Edwards with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Hine tells about something that went very wrong and needed to be addressed by the team’s decision-makers. The excerpt originally appeared on the Star Tribune web site. READ IT: https://fluence-media.co/ant0508
PRE-ORDER THE BOOK HERE: https://fluence-media.co/antbook0508
GOPHERS HOCKEY STAR RETURNING: Abbey Murphy, the Gophers leading scorer this season as a senior, has decided to return to the team instead of entering the PWHL draft. Murphy was second in the nation this season with 33 goals and fourth with 65 points. She was a member of the U.S. team that won gold last month at the Women’s World Championship, scoring a goal in the overtime title game win over Canada. VERBATIM: “She is a staple within our Gopher program and women’s hockey worldwide. Our team and college hockey will be better with her in it,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said in a statement released by the U.
BEHIND THE STORY: Murphy was listed as the top player available in several prospect rankings for this year’s PWHL draft. But the sport’s elite players are currently deciding the best way to prepare themselves for the 2026 Olympics in Italy, and one of the factors is access to resources. At the U, Murphy will have access to training facilities and other benefits that may not be available in the city where she could go after being drafted. In other words, the PWHL can wait.
FINANCIAL ANGLE: Waiting for a season to turn pro may benefit the top players financially. PWHL players work under contracts ranging from one to three years, and some top players who signed on when the league formed last year will have their contracts end in 2026. If they retire, a good possibility after the Olympics, that would free up more salary money for the next group of top players.
DEEPER LOOK. Via Nicole Haase at Victory Press. This story takes a deeper dive into what’s ahead for the PWHL and choices that need to be made.
TWINS TURNING A CORNER? Last week, i held off on judgment about the twins because things looked to be falling apart, and I didn’t know if it was really that bad. This week, I’m holding off because I still need to be convinced that their improved player is a turning point. I’ll get back to you when I think I have it figured out. In the meantime, here are four things I find intriguing.
BUXTON’S ROLLING: We’re 37 games into the season and Byron Buxton has played in 34 of them — and he’s gathering All-Star credentials. He leads the Twins with an .847 OPS, including home runs in his last three games. And he keeps playing extraordinary defense. Manager Rocco Baldelli has moved him to the top of the batting order. The more at-bats the better for him.
SPARE PARTS: It’s annoying that management went cheap on off-season signings. But three of their small moves have paid off extremely well so far. First baseman Ty France, outfielder Harrison Bader and reliever Danny Coulombe have become key cogs. The three have a combined salary of $10.25 million — less than one third of what Carlos Correa is making for his seriously subpar season. What if ownership had made the team more attractive to fans by letting the front office be mire ambitious last off-season? Team stats | Payroll
A PAIR OF ACES: Pablo Lopez (3-2, 2.18 ERA) and Joe Ryan (2-2, 2.93) have been super solid, with their records suffering because of the substandard offense that’s hindered the team much more often than not. Ryan has been attracting attention for a devastating sweeper, including this one against the Angels that set off a social media frenzy.
RETURNING TO HEALTH: Willi Castro and Royce Lewis are back, and the roster is closer to resembling what was expected before the season started. Matt Wallner is still sidelined by a hamstring injury and has an indefinite return date. Keep in mind that when Wallner was on the injured list, he was leading in MLB is swings-and-misses on pitches in the strike zone. The Twins aren’t really worse for having him out.
SAME OLD SAME OLD? Via Heather Rule at Minnesota Hockey Magazine. So much for last week’s optimism about the Wild rallying against Vegas and finishing off the Golden Nights in a Game 7 that didn’t happen. VERBATIM: “Minnesota wasn’t overmatched. The Wild didn’t run into a brick wall of a hot goaltender. They didn’t struggle to score goals and generate offense. Their top players didn’t figuratively disappear. All problems that have plagued this franchise for years in the playoffs. The only game that looked similar to years past was Game 6, because of the close-but-no-cigar chances the Wild had to score more than two goals. The Wild outshot Vegas 31-23 in the game, but they left so much on the table when it came to finishing off plays. It wasn’t for lack of trying or offensive zone time. Wild fans have seen the movie before, where a puck bounces one way, a player’s stick is just in the wrong spot, a gaping net is staring at the Wild while the goalie is out of position, but they can’t cash in, for whatever reason.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/exit0508
THE KAPRIZOV CHALLENGE: Via John Shipley at Pioneer Press. The Wild will be out from the salary cap constraints of the failed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter contracts but now face the task of keeping Kirill Kaprizov in their colors when his contract expires after next season. VERBATIM: “Kaprizov is now officially entering the final year of a five-year, $45 million extension and will be eligible to sign an extension July 1. The Wild have roughly a year to secure the best player in franchise history’s long-term future with the team without him talking to another club. That’s good, but it doesn’t necessarily give the Wild an advantage over what would certainly be a phalanx of other suitors. Everything general manager Bill Guerin hopes his team will achieve in the near future runs through the preternaturally talented Russian winger. But not everything Kaprizov hopes to achieve in the near future necessarily runs through the Minnesota Wild. You see the potential hiccup.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/kaprizov0508
ANOTHER VIEW: Via Joe Smith and Michael Russo at The Athletic. In addition to the Kaprizov contract, here’s a good glimpse at the state of the Wild. VERBATIM: “Guerin also has a No. 1 goalie in Filip Gustavsson, a cornerstone defenseman in Brock Faber, elite forwards like Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek and some talented young players starting to arrive like Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, David Jiricek, Danila Yurov and Jesper Wallstedt. Now, Guerin has to add to that foundation with an aggressive and smart offseason to put the Wild in a class with the top teams in the Western Conference. That means sensible decisions in free agency or bold trades.”
GUERIN SAYS: “There’s always a process involved. But the process gets sped up when you don’t have the constraints that we’ve had. You know me now. I like to be aggressive. I don’t want to sit on my hands at all. And I’m kind of tired of doing that. Since I walked through the door, my goal has been to build a championship-caliber team in this market. And that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to sign any stupid contracts or anything like that. But I want to make this team better than it is today.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0508
VIKINGS SCHEDULE RELEASE: The NFL’s next inorganic media event is next Wednesday’s schedule release. Bits and pieces will be leaked out in advance and the whole thing will be the subject of multi-hour “specials” on ESPN2 and NFL Network at 7 p.m. Barring the trauma of the Wolves getting swept in the playoffs, we should be wrapped up in Game 5 against the Warriors that night, reducing the release to more of a sideshow here.
THE OPPONENTS: The Vikings will play their NFC North rivals Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay at home as well as Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington and Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia. They’ll travel to play the Bears, Lions and packers, as well as Dallas, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Cleveland and the L.A. Chargers.
GOING TO IRELAND? There are seven international games scheduled for this season and there’s been speculation that the Vikings could end up playing the Steelers in the first-ever NFL game in Dublin during Week 4 of the season. A few months back, Yahoo! Sports had Minnesota as a candidate to play their season-opener in Brazil against the Chargers. Or could they play back-to-back games against the Steelers in Dublin for Week 4 and the Browns in London in Week 5? So much created drama. (So much anxiety for sports editors worried about their travel budgets, too.)
GRACEFUL RESPONSE: A Bar Of Their Own held a watch party last night for Game 1 of the Frost-Toronto playoff series, and a fan chided them for using a photo of Britta Curl-Salemme, the Frost’s second-round draft pick last summer who came to the league after making posts on social media that supported excluding transgender women from sports and liking others that users called racist. “Maybe pick a picture that doesn't include Curl, a known transphobic and racist player,” the fan commented. In reply, ABOTO co-owner Jillian Hiscock posted: “Thanks for your note--we are aware of the things in Britta's past, and also work very hard to be full of grace to allow people space to grow and learn. Having talked to several of her teammates directly about my similar concerns (many queer themselves), they have told me she is accepting, loving, and a great teammate. I know I am glad I have not been permanently judged on things I said or did when I was younger, and am eternally grateful for the continuous learning opportunities I've been given. I am not dismissing the hurt--that is very real--*and* I believe in a world where people can change, because I have been given that same grace by others.”
CURL-SALAMME’S OTHER PROBLEM: In Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Toronto, which opened the best-of-five series, Curl-Salamme, was ejected in the second period for throwing an elbow to the head of an opposing player. She was suspended twice during the regular season for cheap shots on opponents and could face further discipline from the league. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/curl0508
MESSI SATURDAY: Via Michelle Kaufman at Miami Herald. Reading this story about Inter-Miami preparing to visit Minnesota on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Apple TV and MLS Season pass), it sounds like Lionel Messi and his team know they have work to do to overcome recent troubles and compete for the MLS title. Inter-Miami won the league’s Supporters’ Shield last year for the best regular-season record but were eliminated in the playoffs. VERBATIM: “Miami has six wins, three ties and one loss through 10 games and trails first-place Columbus Crew by three points in the East. . . . ‘We’re going to fight for the top spots in the Eastern Conference, and then we’ll see what comes [over the summer] with the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup; but right now, the most important game is the next one,’ said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano.” MY TAKE: Those don’t sound like words from a coach fixing to give his superstar an afternoon on the sidelines, which is the fear of Loons fans who have paid big on the resale market for tickets. STORY: https://fluence-media.co/messi0508
TICKET WATCH: Prices have come down a bit from earlier reports. As of Thursday morning, the cheapest tickets were $260, including fees and there were dozens available for under $300. LISTINGS: https://fluence-media.co/loonsmiamitix
SEASON STARTS NEXT WEEK: The Lynx play a preseason game against Chicago on Saturday (7 p.m., FDSN) and then are off until next Friday, when they open the real schedule in Dallas vs. Paige Bueckers and the Wings. Here are some links to ready yourself for the season.
LYNX SEASON PREVIEW: Via Beckett Harrison at Swish Appeal. “For the Minnesota Lynx, it’s championship or bust in 2025.” https://fluence-media.co/lynx0508
REEVE STILL PEEVED: Via Kent Youngblood at Star Tribune. Coach Cheryl Reeve is still annoyed about a call that went against the Lynx late in game 5 of the WNBA Finals in New York. “You have to remember that feeling and make sure you don’t feel it again.” https://fluence-media.co/reeve0508
BUECKERS AND MORE: Via Howard Megdal at Athlon Sports. A look at the 2025 rookie class, including comparisons between Bueckers and Caitlin Clark and between Bueckers and another UConn legend. https://fluence-media.co/rookies0508
AWARD PREDICTIONS: Via Kris Habbas at Fubo News. Everything from MVP to the WNBA’s All-Defensive Team. https://fluence-media.co/awards0508
WANNA SIT NEAR CAITLIN CLARK? Resale tickets just went up for the Lynx vs. Indiana Fever game at Target Center on August 24. A pair of seats in the front row, three seats away from the Fever bench is available — for $8,645. But that does include fees and taxes.
1,000 WINS AND COUNTING: Via John Millea at John’s Journal. Paul Twenge recorded his 1,000th win as a baseball coach last month at Minnetonka. That includes high school and college wins at a number of stops ranging from D-I Valparaiso University to a small high school in North Dakota. Twenge, 71, has been the baseball coach at Minnetonka since 2006. The Skippers are trying for their third straight state trip and have an 11-3 record this season. Twenge grew up with Dave Lee, the retired WCCO-AM morning host who still calls state tournament basketball games. VERBATIM: “He was the hardest worker on every team I played on,” Lee said. “He was always early and he always stayed late. You could tell he would take himself to the next level just by his work ethic. He was fun to hang out with and he was just so honest about everything. To this day he could never really tell an untruth. Morally, he’s the kind of friend you needed. Just a solid, solid friend.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/twenge0508
SPEAKING OF BASEBALL: Crummy April weather has turned this part of May into a hugely busy time for prep baseball. The top team in the state? Right now it’s Cretin-Derham Hall, which has three games in the next five days. There are more than 300 games scheduled around the state in the next three days. FIND A GAME: https://fluence-media.co/schedule0508
TOP 25 BASEBALL TEAMS. Via Star Tribune: https://fluence-media.co/bbpoll0508
BIG TEN FOR WALLEYE: Via Dennis Anderson at Star Tribune. The walleye opener is Saturday for those who celebrate. There are 10 lakes that produce about 40% of the annual walleye catch. Nine of the lakes are north of the metro area. VERBATIM: “So important are these waterways that the DNR assigns a fisheries specialist to each. And every fall, the agency gauges each lake’s productivity so bag limits and other restrictions can be adjusted, if necessary.” THE LIST: https://fluence-media.co/walleye0508
INSPIRATION AT LEECH LAKE: Via Kim Hiatt at Star Tribune. A few years ago, Erin Reyes returned home to Cass Lake to restart a gymnastics program that she had been part of as a young girl. In recent weeks, her Northern Dreams Gymnastics team has placed seventh in a state meet and won at a tournament in New Mexico. Three of her top gymnasts placed first and second at a regional meet in Madison, Wis. All of their training is done in a makeshift gym that once was home to a church and forces the athletes to improvise as they work on their skills. VERBATIM: “It spans 5,750 square feet with balance beams in the lobby. A typical gym is between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet. Short ceilings provide just enough room for bar routines. It can’t fit a full vault runway, which the young athletes race down before they leap, twist and turn into the air, defying gravity — and expectations.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/gymnasts0508
MORE ABOUT THE GYM: Reyes is hoping to build a full-sized on a vacant lot near the current site. Her program currently has 35 gymnasts and another 70 students in an after-school program. WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/northerndreams
ST. THOMAS GETS A HERRO: Via Bring Me The News. Austin Herro, the younger brother of Miami Heat star Tyler Herro, is coming to St. Thomas after two seasons at South Carolina, where he didn’t see much playing time. VERBATIM: “After redshirting in 2023-24, he earned a scholarship in 2024-25. He appeared in 10 total games and scored two points. He will now have at least three years of eligibility remaining with the Tommies. St. Thomas is gearing up for a pivotal 2025-26 season. It will be the first year that they're eligible to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as a Division I program. . . . Herro joins an impressive portal class alongside former Totino Grace High School teammates Isaiah Johnson-Arigu from Iowa and Miami, and Tommy Humphries from Furman. They also added Nick Janowski from Nebraska, rounding out what should be a talented roster for next season.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/herro0508
RANKING THE U’S TRANSFERS: Via Tony Liebert at SI.com. The Gophers currently have seven players joining the men’s basketball team through the transfer portal. No. 1 on the list? That would be Bobby Durkin, a 6-foot-7 swing player who left Davidson for Minnesota. VERBATIM: “I don't see a scenario where Durkin isn't a successful basketball player with the Gophers. Listed at 6-foot-7, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season. He shot 40.6% from the field, 35.5% from three, on 7.8 attempts per game, and 85.0% from the free throw line. He's an incredibly efficient offensive player who continues to improve every year.” FULL LIST: https://fluence-media.co/utransfers0508
U SOCCER GETS TOMMIES STAR: Via Gophersports.com. Mariah Nguyen has left St. Thomas, to join the Gophers. VERBATIM: “Nguyen also competes with the Minnesota Aurora, a member of the USL W League. The forward has been a mainstay since the club's inaugural season. She enters the 2025 season tied for the second-most goals scored in club history (16), while her 40 points rank as the second-most all-time by an Aurora player. During her time at St. Thomas, Nguyen appeared and started in 31 matches. As a sophomore and junior, she led the team in goals, points, and shots on goal. . . .Nguyen was named 2022 Summit League Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the 2022 Summit League All-Newcomer Team. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/nguyen0508
THE NEXT ANTHONY EDWARDS? More than 500 AAU and all-star basketball teams will be in town this weekend at Eden Prairie and Wayzata High Schools for the Battle at the Lakes boys’ tournament. The tournament is as much about hype, brand awareness and college recruitment than it is about who wins and loses. But if you’re looking to see Minnesota’s best players and some of the top recruits from around the nation, sort through the schedule and get a ticket.
DETAILS: Schedule and rosters | Livestream | Tickets
HOW MINNESOTA’S ‘SUPER TEAM’ CAME TOGETHER: Via Marcus Fuller at Star Tribune. VERBATIM: Several high-profile players across the state discussed joining forces on a super team to challenge a national AAU squad known as Rod Wave Elite in this weekend’s. . . . ‘I was at school and heard from my friends that RWE Elite was coming to Minnesota,” said Nolan Groves, a Star Tribune All-Minnesota selection and guard at Orono who recently signed with Texas Tech. “I talked to guys about putting a team together. We had jerseys made. It’s a cool opportunity. We’re going to come together with that talent we have here in Minnesota and try to beat a national powerhouse.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/superteam0508
DID YOU BET THE RIGHT HORSE? If you played handicapper Jay Lietzau’s “most likely to win” Kentucky Derby pick in last week’s newsletter, you ended up with $108 more than you had in your pocket before the race. Lietzau touted Sovereignty and the horse held off the favorite in the race, Journalism, to win the race at 8-1 odds.
DRIVEWAY BASKETBALL UPDATE: Via Jeff Wald at FOX9. The St. Louis Park family whose neighbor is seeking an injunction to keep two young boys from playing basketball in the family’s driveway has responded by saying the neighbor, Julia Ramos, is misusing the court system. VERBATIM: “The Moeding family says Ramos is acting in bad faith litigation, abusing the legal process and weaponizing legal procedure to control others’ lifestyles through failed litigation. The Moeding family says after the case is resolved, the kids will still play sports on their driveway, including basketball.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/driveway0508
WOLVES REACH OUT: Lilly Moeding said that the Timberwolves have invited the family to attend tonight’s playoff game at Target Center and a GoFundMe appeal has raised more than $26,000 to cover legal expenses. The city of St. Louis Park, which is also part of the complaint, has also filed a response in support of the family.
AND FINALLY: Via Julie Brown Davis at sfgate.com. The murder trial of Dan Serafini, the Twins’ No. 1 pick in the 1992 baseball amateur draft, is scheduled to begin May 20 in northern California. Serafini is charged with murder and attempted murder of his in-laws — and the family’s nanny has already pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder. As part of the plea agreement, murder and burglary charges were dropped against the nanny. A left-handed pitcher, Serafini played for the Twins from 1996-1998 and was with five other teams before his career ended in 2007.
BACKGROUND: The shootings took place in Tahoe City, Calif., several hours after Serafini’s wife said she had gotten a $90,000 check from her mother. Last year, Serafini’s wife, Erin Spohr, testified that she and her husband had received $1 million over time from her parents for their home, vacations, school expenses and other things, including a $55,000 car. Spohr also testified that Serafini was not the person seen on video surveillance that has been introduced in the case. The trial is expected to last into July.
MORE: The trial preview story traces Serafini’s life after baseball, which ended when he tested positive for steroids in 2007. He divorced, remarried and got a loan from his parents that he used to open a bar in Nevada. Serafini appeared on an episode of the reality show Bar Rescue. VERBATIM: “The show includes footage of Serafini losing his temper at work, getting angry and physically violent toward employees and slamming doors. ‘It’s really hard to see Dan struggle,’ Erin said on the show. ‘His personality has definitely changed. I miss my old husband.’ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/serafini05408
WATCH THE TRAILER (OR DON’T): It’s pretty ugly stuff. https://fluence-media.co/barrescue0508
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HOW TO WATCH ALMOST ANYTHING
ESPN's guide to sports on about 250 channels and streaming services: https://fluence-media.co/3T4rYw4
Minnesota Division II and III sports: MIAC Network | Northern Sun Network | Upper Midwest Network
NSPN Minnesota high school livestreams: https://fluence-media.co/3My8Tyv
NFHS Minnesota high school livestreams: https://fluence-media.co/3MvFSU6