One of the strangest aspects of covering multiple sports, for me, is seeing the difference between perception and reality.

For example, general perception holds that NHL players are gritty warriors and NBA players are low-energy prima donnas.

When I watch the Timberwolves up close, I see a team that generally plays hard. Ricky Rubio, whatever his flaws, is a maximum-effort players ,and the team's best young players, whatever their flaws, seem to care and make an effort.

When I watch the Wild up close, I see a team that will take entire nights off, that got Mike Yeo fired and that on Thursday night made no effort to play an intelligent, committed game even at home against a bad opponent in the middle of a playoff race.

The Wild played like dogs for Mike Yeo, and on Thursday night they played like dogs for John Torchetti.

Scratch that: Most dogs I know are energetic and loyal. The Wild played more like drugged three-toed sloths.

The roster isn't strong enough. The on-ice leadership is invisible. The young players are not committed enough.

In a market where most of the teams are termed young and promising, the Wild may be the team that has already reached its peak. That Game 7 overtime winner in Colorado two years ago might be as good as it gets for this group.

---------------------------

There is a distinction that needs to be made about Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino.

Does he deserve to be fired? Sure. He has accomplished nothing in his time in Minnesota to justify him keeping the job.

Should he be fired? No. Not now. Not with the athletic department a mess and an excellent recrutiing class coming in. Amir Coffey is a mature talent, and as ugly as this season was, the Gophers could make dramatic improvements last year. Given that the University of Minnesota does not seem to know how to hire a good basketball coach, there is no reason not to see what Pitino can do with Coffey and Company.

-----------------------------

As meaningless as spring training can be, i keep seeing positives in Fort Myers. I don't know that I've ever covered a more peaceful camp, with no injuries or controversies in play. And the players you would want to see perform well at this juncture - Jose Berrios, Byung Ho Park - have. I continue to believe this team is better than the national forecasts, which have them winning 70-something games.

-----------------------------

New shows are up at MalePatternPodcasts.com with Roy Smalley, Michael Russo, Jon Krawczysnki and Viking Update's Tim Yotter, and my interview show is going to start up again with some of my conversations from spring training. You can go right to the website or subscribe at Itunes or download the Soundcloud.com ap. Thanks.

@Souhanstrib