PHERSY: Well Feldy, I think it's time for quick-hitters. Rapid fire, baby ... The Wolves started their season. Do you care Feldy?

FELDY: I care enough to watch once or twice to see just what Jonny Flynn can add to the offense. I care enough to see what kind of patchwork rotation the Wolves try to use in the low post, and I'm intrigued enough just to see what it looks like to have Kurt Rambis, Bill Laimbeer and Reggie Theus coaching our favorite NBA club. But, as long as the Vikings remain among the best teams in the NFC, I'm about as interested in the Wolves as Ricky Rubio is. ... As for those Vikings, can Brett Favre go into Lambeau and sweep the Packers?

PHERSY: You better believe it. Favre's sweeping the Packers. The better question is, will Packers fans boo him or cheer for him? I say they cheer for him; most of the fans at Lambeau sat in those same seats and watched every pass Favre ever threw in that stadium. For that, they'll cheer him before the game. During and after, the boos will come out. ... I told you the Wild were going to stink this season. Injuries haven't helped, but are you ready to jump off the bandwagon yet Feldy? You don't still believe they're a playoff team, do you?

FELDY: It's not too early to panic. The Wild haven't gained a point in eight road games. They're going to have to find a pretty powerful light switch to flip to get back in the postseason chase. I'm slowly climbing over to your non-playoff bandwagon. It's sad to think our favorite club's postseason hopes are dead and we're not out of October. ... While we're talking about The State of Hockey, the Gophers have been shut out three times and Bemidji State is the only D-I team in the state ranked in the national polls. What gives?

PHERSY: We stink Feldy, that's what gives. Actually, I still think St. Cloud State is the best team in Minnesota. Don Lucia has lost it; those two national titles are barely visible in the rear-view mirror at this point. I really see it being a down year, in general, for the WCHA (minus Denver) and Minnesota college hockey teams. ... Yankees or Phillies, who are you taking in the World Series?

FELDY: I hate to write it, but it has to be the Yanks. They're stronger than Philly at the top and bottom of their order and they have the luxury of only needing six innings out of their starters before turning it over to the murderers row of bullpens. ... Eric Decker's college career may be over. Does the Gophers football team make a bowl game?

PHERSY: No offense to Mr. Decker, but good. Maybe now Adam Weber will look in another direction a time or two. Hopefully this will help officially end the three-year Adam Weber experiment and allow the MarQueis Gray era to begin. But to answer your question, no, they're not going to a bowl game. ... I cover the Ice Hawks, and you cover high school hockey. Who's going to be good in Rochester this winter?

FELDY: Never too early for high school hockey talk, eh? I'm sure coach Frutiger will appreciate the early pressure: I wouldn't be surprised if Century goes back to state. It has one of the best lines in the Big Nine (Cory Kautz, Jordan Martini, Drew Anderson) and experienced players on defense and at goalie. In Section 1A, don't be shocked if Faribault is challenging for a section title. Of course, never count out Red Wing and Lourdes. ... What's it gonna take for the Ice Hawks to get back to the Junior A, Tier III national tournament?

PHERSY: Well, since the Minnesota Junior Hockey League got crazy on us and changed its rules, all it's going to take is for the Ice Hawks to get hot in the postseason. The MnJHL made the regular season almost meaningless, and now the two teams that advance to the Bush Cup finals will represent the league at nationals. Yep, the league's regular-season champ could be left home in late March. That said, the Ice Hawks need to stay healthy, above all else. If the team is healthy come February and March, I don't see Nick Fatis and his boys missing out on a trip to Massachusetts.

Ben Pherson and Jason Feldman are Post-Bulletin sports writers.

There are 0 comments - Display All Comments