Online fireworks

Russo's Rants: Run like a Swede?

Wafer: [Cal] Clutterbuck isn't a pest. He actually drops his purse when challenged and doesn't run like a Swede after hitting someone.

brdhouse: So, now that Gaborik is gone ... and apparently the entire NHL takes a lunch break ... can we get a definitive list of Gaborik nicknames? There are some real gems I've read here, 'Groinerik' being my personal favorite. Russoville needs a Wiki.

On the Wolves: Rookie musings

Foo: Every year a late draft pick turns out to be a very good pro, sometimes a star. I'm not sure of the long-term prognosis on Wayne Ellington; and I'm not over-hyping him like some folks have suggested. But I'm just going on the record to say that he'll be on the 2nd-Team All-Rookie team this year.

jcoleman37: Funny how [Ricky] Rubio is suddenly a "drama queen" when he hasn't made a statement beyond: I want to play in the NBA, would play for free, for anyone who will give me minutes, yet all that is overlooked for his "it's too cold" comment that has been completely twisted out of context (it was a joke).

The Twins' recently completed road trip

Vikes2006: Punto hurt? His not playing is an upgrade. Nice error on the popup, nice failure twice to drive in guys in scoring position, nice failure to move runners. He is getting worse, if that is possible. For all you [Punto] lovers out there, don't worry that he will ever be traded, there is not one single major league team interested in him. Tolbert's hitting .180 but he is still better than Punto. He would be in AA in any other organization. Redmond hurt? He is playing like Tim Laudner. A 50-year-old Tim Laudner. Give it up Red, you'll have a nice job in the organization. Morales is an upgrade. Morneau hurt? Good Lord, is Buscher going to be the starter? So we have a .235 hitter at 3rd, a .215 hitter in Punto, a .180 hitter in Tolbert and a .180 hitter in Buscher???? Gardy will HAVE to play Harris to avoid being the laughingstock of baseball.

Jimbo92107: Twins pitchers are getting good movement on their stuff, and usually are in control, too. R.A. Dickey has been a revelation (how does he keep getting guys out???), and Bobby Keppel has impressed me with his 94-mph hoover sinker. ... Twins have benefited from some timely hitting, too, but still the bottom four in the order are killing too many rallies with easy outs. With Valencia and Tolleson hitting over .350 in Rochester, I wonder how long Gardenhire will put up with weak hitting at the bottom of the lineup ...

The Vikings' oft-ill first-round draft choice

Runeleven11: Is this guy chronically ill? Or is he a hypochondriac? Either way, it all seems strange, you never hear about this sort of thing with other players (for sure not more than once). How many sick days does an NFL player get anyways?

Sdvikings: If you can't be healthy enough to attend a seminar, how can you be healthy enough to play professional sports? I mean seriously, what is this guy doing in June to get sick? Is he out partying all night, not sleeping, not taking care of himself? That's what I wondered as I read this article. I wonder how many games he'll miss this season with a tweaked ankle or a thigh bruise. ... C'mon.