Jon Marthaler bakes up a batch of delicious links just for you. Other times, you can find him here and here. Jon?

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Happy Saturday, everyone! I don't know about you, but I'm still floating about happily following yesterday's World Cup draw, which saw the USA drawn with England, Algeria, and Slovenia. There are no easy draws at the World Cup, but it's hard to ask for better than two teams outside the world's top 25, plus a chance to beat England again on the world's biggest stage. I'm quite thrilled, and looking forward to next summer already.

But, as they say, that's not why you called. Let's move on with some links:

*At Twinkie Town, it's Christmas with the Twins! (Stu, as always, is a genius.)

*Speaking of the Twins: Erin at the soon-to-be-renamed Plunking Gomez needs some help renaming the blog. Head over there and vote - or, perhaps, suggest your own!

*If you've been following the saga of second-division soccer in the United States at all, you'll know that the whole thing - including the local team, the Thunder - is pretty much in disarray. Brian Quarstad at Inside Minnesota Soccer has given it some thought, and he knows who to blame - Nike.

*Every time the Wilfs are in the news, talking about their need for a stadium, you should probably keep one hand on your wallet - and both eyes on the Vikes Geek, as he breaks down the latest salvo. (On a side note, I desperately want the Vikings to stay, but can't figure out how it can be afforded. Someone please figure this out, will you?)

*And finally: Nathan at Hockey Wilderness goes inside the Wild, and interviews a group behind the scenes you might not have thought of.

That'll do it for me. As always, enjoy the weather; it's now winter, but you can't pretend you didn't see this coming, so buck up. It'll all be over in five or six months, right? (If that doesn't make you feel better, well, this non-sports-related missive from Brandon made me chuckle.)