On his weekly radio show Friday morning, Gov. Tim Pawlenty mixed the serious with sports.

He defended his decision not to take part in a key part of the federal health care law that he calls Obamacare, a day after three of Minnesota's most influential medical groups did an end run around them.

"That's their right -- it's an open process," Pawlenty said of the groups' decision to send a letter to federal officials that he had decided against sending. The letter contained comments and recommendations on health insurance exchanges, where people could shop for policies,

"The best exchange is something called the free market," Pawlenty said, once again blasting what he called "a top-down, command-and-control" approach to health care he says is exemplified by the health care law.

Before that, though, he opened the show by declaring "the Freak is back," referring to the return of Randy Moss to the Vikings, using Moss' longtime nickname.

"He's freakishly good, he's freakishly fast and he's freakish in some of his thoughts," Pawlenty said, saying Moss will have "a dramatic and noticeable effect" on the team.

The Vikings' Monday night game against the New York Jets "is going to be a terrific game," he said.

As for the brink-of-elimination Twins, he bemoaned the team's eight straight playoff losses to the Yankees. "At some point, its a little psychological," he said, adding, "the hitting's been missing."