#-1: Gopher softball (Last Week: -2). It's only two Wins smack dab in the middle of the season, and they were supposed to play a Doubleheader Wednesday at Wisconsin but it was postponed till Tuesday because of the weather. But Iowa isn't a bad club, and the Gophers shut them out both Friday and yesterday/Saturday afternoon. Hayden King of College Sports Madness still projects the U. to be in the NCAA Tournament, even though I think in this Week's projection King has them as a four-Seed when last Week King had them as a three.
After finishing up with the Hawkeyes this/Sunday afternoon and playing in Madison (cross your fingers), they play a three-Game series at Ohio St.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -5). They have lost a Game, and the series is not over yet, not even close. The local sports fanbase is nonetheless over the moon over how the Wild are doing in their First Round Stanley Cup Playoff series against The Team That Was Stolen From Us v.2.0. Game 1's Double Overtime win might prove pivotal. Road teams win all the time in playoff hockey, but the Wild usually don't, plus I heard (I can't watch this series) that they were outplayed all Game. And yet it takes one loose puck that just squirts right in front of the The Bastard North Star Goal for one player (in this case Ryan Hartman) to steal a Game.
That Game 2 Loss wasn't great, but the Wild still proved they could score, especially when they went back-to-back barely a dozen Seconds apart. Besides, they got home-ice advantage, one they were able to keep in an electric atmosphere for Game 3 Friday, where they seemed firmly in control in blasting The BNS 5-1 -- and, by the way, Kirill Kaprizov didn't score or have an Assist.
Aside: I didn't know how much of a locker room poison Ryan Suter apparently was. When he and Zach Parise were bought out, I felt, even though I was prepared to keep them on the roster until their huge-ass contracts ran out, that Suter was the, let's say, less replaceable of the two. He was a steady Defenseman that kept soaking up Minutes without being a huge liability. But, now that the deed has been done and Suter's now on The Enemy, the knives are out. According to a tweet by current sports talk-show host and former Star Tribune writer Judd Zulgad, Suter would pour over the stat sheet after Games to see how much Time On Ice he had. He also demanded that a few practices a season be held in Edina, presumably close to where he is. Well, those diva moves are enough for Minnesota pro hockey fans to turn on a guy who was a loyal soldier for many Years. And you know what? He seems to be a pussy-ass bitch. He likes to talk, and he hits (sometimes borderline dirty), but he won't fight. And that seems to have focused the Wild into playing faster, harder, stronger, and, if this makes any sense, younger.
Like I said, the series isn't over. But I feel as though The Bastard North Stars feel like they're on their heels. If Minnesota wins Game 4 tonight/Sunday night, it's the Wild's to lose. Famous last words, sure. But like I said, Wild fans are feeling good right now, and they have some good reason to.
#-4: Gopher baseball (Last Week: -3). Have lost their first two Games of their set at Illinois this weekend. This after Wednesday's scheduled tilt at Siebert versus St. Thomas was cancelled due to rain and cold. I am still clinging on to my belief this Golden Gopher program has turned the corner. One more vs. The Fighting Illini today/Sunday, then home contests with North Dakota St. and St. Thomas midweek (cross your fingers), before a trio at Nebraska.
#-5: United FC (Last Week: -6). And now the Loons are falling like a rock. They have never beaten the Sounders in Seattle, and I want to say they have never beaten Seattle period, and that shit didn't change last/Saturday night. They were close-ish, but some dude named Albert Rusnak scored in the 79th Minute to give the Sounders the 1-0 Win. And this was even more demoralizing because Seattle was resting most of its starters because some of them were playing for their home countries. There is some talk that Adrian Heath has to give up his pet 4-2-3-1 Formation for a 4-4-2. Well, they were in a 4-2-3-1 and they lost, so. ...
Oh, hey, in last Week's survey I said that the Loons were playing Detroit City on Tuesday as part of the U. S. Open Cup. Yeah, I totally looked one Week ahead. I'm sorry. They are playing them this Tuesday, however, and like I said in last Week's WMNSS, if they win, I won't talk about them, but if they lose, I sure as fuck will read them for filth.
#-6: Timberwolves (Last Week: -4). It's been ... mirthful to see the Wild and the Timberwolves continue their Goofus-and-Gallant routine for us Twin Cities sports faithful. Even though neither team has accomplished anything of note, our pro hockey team remains much better than the pro basketball when it comes to competence and respectability.
So it goes even though the Woofie Dogs are also in the playoffs. But maybe not for long; The Denver Nuggets have rolled Minnesota, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series with the potential to euthanize this squad tonight/Sunday night. The loss of Jaden McDaniels hurts, but it appears as though no one is stepping up with the occasional exception of Anthony Edwards. People have singled out Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns in particular for being invisible on Defense (the former) and not making enough shots (the latter). It was going to be a miracle if they won the series (even though I still think the Nugz will take pity on the Two Elves and give them Game 4 so they can clinch in front of their home fans), but seeing how deficient they have been in three not really competitive Matches has fans shaking their heads whenever they pay attention to them. One big, splashy move has got them right about where they were last Year: Just scraping by to make the postseason, and then seeing themselves out in The First Round. Thanks for showing up, Goofus.
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