CATCHING OUR BREATH — The Vikings are off this weekend and the Loons are on an international break before the final game of their regular season. The Lynx aren’t doing what we expected — which is playing in the WNBA Finals — and the Wild start up tonight. Meanwhile, there’s been little but silence about the Twins search for a new manager. That’s a problem, because the end of baseball season is supposed to be the start of speculation season. People talk with me about the Twins, maybe more than about anything else, because of my background in baseball. The overwhelming emotion right now is what I’m calling “aggressive apathy.” People are following the news, and what they hear reinforces their decision not to care. I brought those concerns to a Twin Cities-based expert in crisis communication to unravel. You’ll read his thoughts below. Want to snitch on a cheating college football program? I tell you how. And read to the end for the inspirational and one-of-a-kind journey of a Minnesota distance runner. Not many big games this week, but still a lot to talk about. Let’s go! — Howard Sinker
FIVE OF ALL KINDS . . .
WILD OPENS: Season opener is tonight at St. Louis (7 p.m., FDSN). Home opener is Saturday vs. Columbus followed by a Monday game at Grand Casino Arena vs. the Kings (both 7 p.m., FDSN). More below, but for now: SCHEDULE | TICKETS | ROSTER
GO ANOKA! The Anoka High football team has scored 102 points in its last two games — and lost them both to drop to 0-6. Andover scored with 12 seconds left to beat the Tornados 62-61 and then, against Champlin Park, Anoka scored with three seconds left but failed on a two-point conversion try to lose 42-41. Justice decrees they win Friday night vs. Rogers and that fans (respectfully) storm the field afterward. TICKETS | LIVESTREAM
NEW BORDER BATTLE: St. Thomas men’s hockey plays at North Dakota at 7 p.m. Friday (Midco) with the second game at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Grand (FOX9+). NOTE: Many Xfinity subscribers have access to Midco on Ch. 1270. SUNDAY TICKETS
GOPHERS BASKETBALL: The men hold a free scrimmage and autograph session at 2:30 p.m. Saturday as part of Homecoming weekend and open their season next Thursday with an exhibition against North Dakota State (7 p.m., BIG+), which was picked to finish fourth in the Summit League coaches poll. TICKETS
NOT DESTINY’S CHILD: Hill-Murray junior Emily Pohl has committed to play for Wisconsin. Her parents, former Gophers hockey standouts John Pohl (Mr. Hockey in 1998) and Krissy Wendell (Ms. Hockey in 2000), are her high school coaches with the Pioneers, who won last season’s Class AA state tournament. Emily also made recruiting visits to Minnesota and Penn State. INSTAGRAM
NOW, DOWN TO BUSINESS . . .
HOW GOOD ARE THE WILD? Via ESPN. They’re good enough to be ranked 13th of 32 teams in the opening ESPN power ratings. POSITIVE: The minor-league system is elite and, between trades and developing their own, the Wild has five rookies who could play key roles — forwards Liam Ohgren and Danila Yurov, defensemen Zeev Buium and David Jiricek and goalie Jesper Wallstedt. NEGATIVE: Will the Wild’s offense improve? Only five teams scored fewer goals last season, and none of them made the playoffs. VERDICT: The health of stars Kirill Kaprizov, who missed 41 games last season, and Joel Eriksson Ek, who missed 36. Kaprizov had 56 points in 41 games and Eriksson Ek was on pace to score 52 on a team that had only four players finish with more than 50. VERBATIM: “Can they find a way to consistently generate scoring chances and turn them into goals?” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/goals1009
TOP YOUNGSTER? Via Ally Chesham at Sportsnet Canada. Among the young stars, Buium’s arrival from Denver University, where he was among college hockey’s top defenseman for two seasons (98 points in 83 games), is generating the most buzz. VERBATIM: “NHL Network ranked him fourth on its list of the league’s top 25 prospects. . . . . Buium, 19, signed his entry-level contract with Minnesota on April 13, just three days after his NCAA season ended, and went on to appear in four of the Wild’s playoff games and record an assist. ‘There’s a reason why he’s here,’ head coach John Hynes said at the time. ‘He has played some big moments. … He’s a smart player, he’s competitive, and he’s got some really good elements to his game.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/zeev1009
BUIUM’S CHALLENGE? Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune. It’s helping the power play, which ranked 20th in the league last season. VERBATIM: “Hynes is going to find the right forwards to get the power play going, but the unit will get a boost from 19-year old Buium. The rookie’s vision and passing ability is strong enough that he is going to quarterback the power play. He’s adapting to the pro game, and he’ll be better off in a couple years as his body fills out. But he has playmaking ability that can help the Wild now. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/powerplay1009
GUS TAKES CENTER STAGE: Via Sarah McLellan at Star Tribune. After sharing time with the now-retired Marc-Andre Fleury, goalie Filip Gustavsson has established himself as the main man in goal on the strength of a five-year, $34 million contract extension announced a few days ago. Yes, Gustavsson got most of the work last season, but Fleury got most of the attention, owing to his farewell tour. His wife Rebecka explained the difference. VERBATIM: “I feel like this is the moment, like the first year of him actually feeling like this is my time pretty much. He’s always been behind someone, and now he’s actually got nothing in front of him. He can just do his thing, and hopefully he’s going to feel good and have fun. I feel like he’s excited to get things going.”
RECOVERING FROM STRUGGLES: After a rough 2023-24, Gustavsson said he got his game back last season by not emulating future Hall of Famer Fleury. VERBATIM: “Gustavsson believed he was copying Fleury’s knack for flashy saves, which isn’t Gustavsson’s bread and butter, and that led to him letting in easy goals. After posting the second-best save percentage in the NHL in his first Wild season at .931, Gustavsson dipped to .899 before recalibrating at .914 last season. ‘When the game is slow is when you feel comfortable,’ he said.“ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/gus1009. CAREER STATISTICS: https://fluence-media.co/gusstats1009
McCARTHY VS. WENTZ: “We didn’t turn down Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones to let Carson Freaking Wentz start over J.J. It makes absolutely no sense.” — quote from a Reddit user. Yes, that’s pretty much the truth. If J.J. McCarthy is at 100% the quarterback job should be his when the Vikings return to action vs. the Eagles a week from Sunday vs. the Eagles and four days later when they play the Chargers in Los Angeles. But . . .
IF J.J. STRUGGLES: That’s when things will get interesting. The Vikings built the roster with the idea that surrounding McCarthy with veterans was their best path to a title. But injuries have been a problem, including the ankle sprain that has sidelined him for the last three games. Save for the fourth quarter in the comeback win over Chicago, McCarthy has struggled — and has the stats to prove it. If that continues, how long until Carson Wentz becomes the best option just to reach the postseason?
WHAT O’CONNELL WANTS: Via Matthew Coller at Vikings Insider. Kevin O’Connell addressed that earlier this week. VERBATIM: “The head coach focused on things that Wentz has done well within the offense that he’d like to see McCarthy replicate. ‘He’s had some real moments of growth through this time. I think watching the way Carson’s kind of gone through progressions quickly, just the value of putting the ball in play, even when it’s not your first progression, even when it’s not the most exciting completion of all time.’ In his first two career starts, McCarthy struggled to get rid of the ball quickly, ranking fifth in the NFL in terms of slowest time from snap to throw (and the four ahead of him are all running QBs).” MORE: “The Vikings’ offense has been described many times by O’Connell as being about ‘rhythm and timing,’ meaning that the first-time starting QB has to be able to match up his footwork and release with the routes. We have seen often during the last three weeks when Wentz is tossing a ball in the direction of Justin Jefferson well before the superstar receiver came out of the break in his route. That’s why it’s important that O’Connell sees the key technical parts of the offense look sharp in McCarthy’s return to practice.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/jj1009
AND THERE’S THIS: Via ESPN. Who are the No. 1 and No. 2 rankings based on ESPN’s QBR rankings? That would be Daniel Jones, followed by Sam Darnold. Wentz is No. 26 among the 32 ranked quarterbacks, one spot ahead of another veteran who was linked to the Vikings. RANKINGS: https://fluence-media.co/qbr1009
FIRED TWINS COACH THRIVES: Via Rosie DiManno at Toronto Star. In 2024, the Toronto Blue Jays scored their fewest runs is more than a quarter-century and were below average in almost every offensive statistic. They also finished last in the AL East. This season, they have transformed into an offensive powerhouse with the guidance of hitting coach David Popkins, who was fired by the Twins after last season. The Jays just steamrolled the Yankees (34 runs in four games) to reach the American League Championship Series. Players crediting Popkins for their improvement include former Twins first baseman Ty France, who went to Toronto as part of the trade deadline roster destruction. France joined the Twins after Popkins was ousted. VERBATIM: “In 2022, there was a throw up the first-base line that I hurt my arm on. From that moment, I changed some stuff mechanically to try and relieve some of the pain. Created a lot of bad habits. I knew something was off, I just couldn’t figure out what. Within 10 minutes of me being traded here, Pop was on the phone saying, ‘Hey, this is what you were doing when you were really good, this is what you’ve been doing the last couple of years, and this is how we’re going to get you back to where you were.’ This is the first time in three years that I’ve felt like myself again.’’
POPKINS SAYS: Occasionally Popkins stands in with the hitting machine, to remind himself what it’s like at the plate. VERBATIM: “If you forget how hard hitting is, especially in today’s game, you’re going to be extremely disconnected from the players and from your job as hitting coach. Check yourself and have some empathy for everything these players have to do consistently.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/popkins1009
CRUNCHING NUMBERS: Via Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic. During their last five years at the Metrodome, the Twins’ payroll was 77% of the major league average. In 2025, the Twins payroll was . . . 77% of the MLB average, with the prospect of that dipping further next year if the Twins unload pitcher Pablo Lopez and decide not to keep some of their arbitration-eligible players. VERBATIM: “Forget a return to 2023 spending, which has become a distant memory. Will the Twins spend similarly to 2024 and 2025, at least? Team president Derek Falvey, who runs both the baseball and business operations, was asked that during last week’s season-ending press conference and claimed ignorance. ‘I don’t have that direction yet,’ Falvey said. ‘I think that’s a conversation we’ll continue to have with the Pohlads, and whatever conversation they’d like me to have with (incoming) limited partners. Candidly, you don’t need that answer today. No one has a perfect plan on October 1.’ It doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that the person running the team in a dual presidency role working directly with ownership wasn’t willing or able to say the Twins’ payroll won’t be dropping further in 2026. That plays into the fan base’s worst fears, and sadly those have often become reality lately.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/payroll1009
TWINS IN CRISIS: Gleeman’s story is a fine lead-in to dissecting the crisis the Twins are facing, even if they don’t seem to be acknowledging it. I’m not being shrill by thinking of it as a full-on public relations crisis.
AN EXPERT’S SUGGESTIONS: I sought out Jon Austin of J. Austin and Associates, a veteran of five decades in public relations — mostly in business and government. I asked him how the Pohlads and their senior management should change the message they’re sending. The Twins can’t change their outcomes until next season, but they can pivot their messaging as quickly as they want. Here’s what Austin wrote:
I can still see the organization (1) has an image problem generally and specifically with their fan base and (2) they are past the “say some positive words and kick the can down the road” phase. At this point, their PR fix has to be substantive as well. So with that in mind:
Stop explaining, start spending. For too long, you’ve been talking like a wealthy uncle promising to pay for college but you keep leaving a community college brochure on the counter. How about a commitment to a public, hard-dollar boost to payroll for the next three years?
Have the buck stop … somewhere. I’m not sure who’s the shot caller in the organization but that fact suggests to me no one is. Hire one – president of baseball operations maybe (Derek Falvey’s former title) – with a huge contract and absolute autonomy over trades, budgets, even rosters. Then we’ll know who gets the credit or the blame.
Help your fans afford your product. Every time fans buy an $8 hot dog, it’s an annoying counterpoint to how little you’ve invested in the team. Implement a sweeping cut to concession prices or offer a perk like free or discounted parking to demonstrate you value their support. Fans want a relationship, not a series of revenue-maximizing transactions that feel like a tax on their passion.
You’re from Minnesota; be Minnesotan. I find it really funny – in a not-good, not-funny way – that the Pohlads, who arguably have the deepest roots, are the least visible, least connected pro team owners in the state. I’d think about how to start changing that especially after the “we-want-to-sell-oh-never-mind-we’ll-keep-it” dance.” How about a live, annual, unscripted town hall with a couple of our toughest local media personalities? It would probably be painful, but sitting there and taking it is a start.
Words not to use. For the next couple of years – at least – nothing coming out of the ownership group should use words like “hope,” “loyalty” or “long-term vision.” Those will be translated – correctly – as manipulative nonsense. Try words like “by Date X, we’ll spend $Y on Z players.”
ABOUT JON AUSTIN: https://fluence-media.co/austin1009
YOUR THOUGHTS? sportstake100@gmail.com
TACKLING PURDUE: Via Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. The success of the Gophers football team may hinge largely on how well the defense plays, and the last few weeks are concerning, all the more because Saturday’s game will be against an improved Purdue team that has staked its reputation this season on offense — averaging just under 30 points per game and just over three dozen passes. The Gophers know their sloppy tackling has to stop. VERBATIM: “Through the season’s first two games — against Buffalo and Northwestern (La.) State — the Gophers had three combined missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Since then, Cal forced 13 missed tackles, Rutgers forced 18 and Ohio State forced 14. . . . Tackling becomes more important against Purdue running back Devin Mockobee, who rushed for 112 yards in 2022 and 153 in 2023 in victories over the Gophers. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/purdue1009
GOPHERS (3-2) VS. PURDUE (2-3): 6:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff on Big Ten Network, KFAN and the Gophers Radio Network. Gophers depth chart | Real-time betting info, match-ups | Purdue web site
PHEE DOUBLES DOWN: Via Maxwell Millington at Axios. While moderating an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in Los Angeles, Lynx star and WNBA players union leader Napheesa Collier explained why she refused to go through with a meeting that has been scheduled with league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. It was a follow-up to the statement she read last week when Lynx players gathered for a media session after being eliminated from the playoffs. The contract between the union and the league expires at the end of the month. VERBATIM: “For her to start her speech saying she has the utmost respect for me and for the players, and then to turn around and call me a liar three minutes later . . . denying words that I heard come straight out of her mouth. I think it just speaks to that lack of accountability and so I really have nothing further to say.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/phee1009
GET CAUGHT UP: Via Anika Besst at MPR: This story is an excellent catch-up on all that’s happened with Collier, the WNBA and the current labor situation. READ, LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/wnba1009
COLLEGE ATHLETES GET TO BET? Via Doug Feinberg at Associated Press. A Division I committee approved a rule change allowing college athletes to bet on pro sports starting November 1, providing the change is also approved by leaders in D-II and D-III. VERBATIM: “The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers,” said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the committee. “This change allows the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college games while, at the same time, encouraging healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities on professional sports.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bet1009
‘SNITCH LINE’ GOES LIVE: Via Justin Williams at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “The College Sports Commission (CSC) launched an anonymous tip line Wednesday that allows people to confidentially report potential violations of the rules surrounding name, image and likeness (NIL) payments and direct revenue sharing in college sports. . . . The new CSC “snitch” line, as some in the industry are referring to it, allows for anonymous reports via phone call, text, email or document uploads. All identifying information from the submissions is protected. These crowdsourced reports can be made by ‘anyone with information or concerns about potential rule violations,’ whether they are directly involved in college athletics or are members of the general public.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/snitch1009
WOLVES NEW ROTATION: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. Seven of the top eight players are back from last season with Nickeil Alexander-Walker gone to Atlanta. Who will get those minutes? VERBATIM: “Asked about replacing Alexander-Walker’s role in many of Minnesota’s best lineup combinations a year ago, Finch pointed to Terrence Shannon Jr.” AND THIS: “We feel like we know we’re going to have an (eight-to-nine man) rotation, for sure,” Finch said. “Probably could push to 10. But whoever plays at nine and 10 might be different every night amongst a small group of guys.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves1009
THOSE GUYS? Look for any remaining minutes to go to some combination of Rob Dillingham, Jaylen Clark, Joan Beringer and Bones Hyland. Tonight, the Wolves play the Knicks in New York (6:30 p.m., FDSN) and the regular season opens Oct. 22 at Portland.
MAJOR COLLEGE HOCKEY RULE CHANGE: Via John Wawrow at Associated Press. Men’s college hockey rosters are getting a quality upgrade because players who decide to play in the Canadian Hockey League — the highest level of junior hockey consisting of 52 Canadian and nine U.S. teams in three leagues — no longer forfeit their college eligibility. Previously, college players could only come from U.S.-based junior leagues or Canadian junior leagues, if they didn’t enroll directly from high school. About 325 players have taken advantage of the rule change. VERBATIM: “We’re witnessing a paradigm shift the size of which college hockey’s never seen,” said Frank Serratore, who’s entering his 29th season as coach at Air Force. “Like it’s massive. I tell you what, DI hockey players have always been members of an exclusive club. And that club is about to become even more exclusive.”
MORE FROM SERRATORE: Players who had made up the third and fourth lines of many teams may find themselves supplanted by the influx. VERBATIM: “Many rosters are going to be unrecognizable from a year ago. I’ve spoken to a lot of coaches who feel their fourth lines this year are going to be as good or better than their second lines.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/juniors1009
U HOCKEY SAYS NO: Via Tony Liebert at Sports Illustrated. Gophers Coach Bob Motzko decided against pursuing CHL juniors. It’s a first cousin of when Minnesota didn’t recruit beyond state borders back when UMD was the state’s only other D-I hockey program. Other state schools adding programs eventually forced the Gophers to reconsider. Currently, 20 of the 25 players on the U’s roster are from Minnesota. VERBATIM: “Right now, I am going to watch and observe. All I can tell you, I like what’s in (our) locker room, and I like what’s coming. We’ll continue to bring in guys we like. It has worked so far.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/motzko1009
HUGE MIDWEEK FOOTBALL: Minnetonka is the “it” team in metro high school football, beating Eden Prairie for the first time since 2004 last month and leaving only vague memories of a program that was winless a few years back. The second-ranked Skippers (6-0) play Edina (3-3) on Friday, the prelude to a Wednesday night game against traditional power and No. 1-ranked Maple Grove, also 6-0. Maple Grove defeated Minnetonka twice last season, including 28-21 for the Class 6A title. The Crimson play Wayzata (1-5) on Friday. LIVESTREAM | TICKETS
GREAT EXPECTATION: Via Jeff Wald at FOX9. St. Thomas is the choice of Summit League coaches to win the men’s basketball title based on a preseason poll. VERBATIM: “St. Thomas won 24 games last season and finished second in the Summit League at 12-4. The Tommies reached the conference tournament title game last season, and because they weren’t eligible for the NCAA Tournament, Omaha got the league’s automatic bid. With 10 players back from last year’s roster, St. Thomas is this year’s preseason favorite to win the league. Sophomore guard Nolan Minessale was voted the league’s Preseason Player of the Year, and Carter Bjerke was named All-Summit League First Team. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/toms1009. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/summit1009
AND NOT SO GREAT: Via Matthew Glenesk at USA Today. Reporters who cover the Big Ten picked the Gophers to finish 16th in the 18-team league, with only Rutgers and Penn State trailing. Purdue was picked to win the title. No Minnesota player received individual recognition. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bigten1009
COACHING LEGEND DIES: Via Joel Rippel at Strib Varsity. Bill King, who coached Orr High School in northeastern Minnesota for 30 years beginning in 1960, has died at age 94. King took three teams to state tournaments and compiled a 405-160 record. He was a member of the Bois Forte Ojibwe community. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/king1009
CARLETON WOMEN CRUSH MIAC GOLF FOES: Via MIAC media relations. Carleton’s women’s golf team shattered a batch of conference records in winning the MIAC title, finishing 32 stokes ahead of second-place Macalester. The Knights broke the tournament scoring record by 18 strokes; medalist Carter Sichol took that honor for the second time and placed in the top four for the fourth time. The five Carleton golfers all finished in the top eight and will compete in the NCAA Division III nationals in May. RESULTS: TEAM | INDIVIDUAL
WONDERFUL READS: Via Andre Anderson at Minnesota Reformer. Andre Anderson was released from the state prison at Lino Lakes two months ago, after time served for second-degree attempted murder related to a 2014 stabbing near Duluth. In prison, he became an ultramarathoner — without knowing it. It started when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and Anderson could run as much as he wanted from 7 a.m. until sunset. His “course” is almost impossible to imagine. Here’s how he described it in a first-person story. VERBATIM: “The courtyard I ran on is a paved concrete triangle between two living units. One unit was shut down due to staffing issues, and the other was my housing unit. The triangle was super small. I measured it using dental floss and found it was 294 feet for one lap, or 18 laps per mile. One long leg of the triangle was 40 strides long, and two short legs were 26 strides apiece. That’s 92 steps per lap. There were two acute angles and one right angle with a few feet of elevation change. It is the oddest track I ever ran on, but necessity turned it into the ground of my greatest triumphs.”
MORE: “The cool thing about my running track was that it sat next to the Lino Lakes water tower, a large outcropping of cottonwood trees, and the southbound lanes of I-35W. If you looked west when you drove by during those years, you might have seen me out running. It might not seem like much to the everyday person, but I found a new appreciation for the small things. I had a gopher friend who poked his head up every once in awhile. A pair of bald eagles flew overhead and patrolled this piece of land. Small airplanes flew overhead, as if to see what is going on at this facility. The sunrises were a beautiful way to start a run and the sunsets signaled the end. On March 12, I started running at 7:19 a.m. and — except for two mandatory counts — did not stop until 7:08 p.m. for a total of 56 miles. It was the best run of my life. For now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/prison1009
AND FINALLY: Via Nicole Ki and Cait Kelley at MPR. Anderson was gifted an entry into Sunday’s Twin Cities Marathon by Mile in My Shoes, a Minnesota-based nonprofit. He finished in 4 hours, 40 minutes, 23 seconds. VERBATIM: “Anderson, 38, said every time he thought about how much his legs hurt, ‘some little kid would put their hand out for a high five and got us all the way through.’ Seeing those kids was a full circle moment for Anderson. As a kid, he volunteered at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth.” READ, LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/andre1009
THANKS FOR READING AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
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