Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Cam Newton provided a quirky but effective analogy comparing Kyler Murray's situation in Minnesota to his conditions in Arizona. In the host's mind, it's more evidence that Murray should not only start over J.J. McCarthy, but there's a decent chance Murray will thrive.

The Happy Hour host reacts to University of North Dakota football coach Eric Schmidt's explanation of the "tampering violation" the Fighting Hawks self-reported the the NCAA and the recruiting penalties that resulted.   Upon further review, maybe this publicity will actually help UND more than hurt it.

Get ready for Matt Zimmer to take you on a roller coaster ride.   That's kind of what happens every week on Happy Hour's "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast when Zim joins the Happy Hour host over beers at Gateway Lounge to talk sports, but we mean it this time.   The Sioux Falls Live sports editor and veteran local scribe was on a family trip to Valleyfair amusement and water park in the Twin Cit...

Back-to-back state titles, 33 consecutive wins, a 23-0 this season, 13 shutouts, 14 mercy-rule wins, an average final score of 12-1, and a combined tally of 18-0 in Sioux Falls Jefferson's three state tournament games.   Not bad for a guy who never intended to coach softball until his wife coaxed him into it 15 years ago at the youth level with their daughter, and he just kind of kept on going.  ...

Hear what Minnesota Vikings star wideout Justin Jefferson had to say about catching passes from newly-acquired free agent Kyler Murray, and what the host makes of them.   Finally, how should Minnesota Timberwolves fans process Karl-Anthony Towns' dominating, MVP-worthy NBA Finals performance so far?     

The host broke down North Dakota's recent NCAA tampering violation and penalties. What kind of true impact will they have on the trending-up Fighting Hawks program?

Ed Whiting on Jefferson's 2nd straight state softball title (23-0), coaching girls vs. boys, son Eddie's early experience at Michigan State

Two Sioux Falls legends and South Dakota football all-time luminaries who combined for national chamionships at the University of Sioux Falls— one as teammates and three more as coaches together on the offensive headset.   One moved on to travel the country and rise up the Div. I ranks to become head coach at Alabama. The other stuck around to win seven more of his 11 professional indoor champions...

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota.   If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of.   It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago.   Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of for...

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was  introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference.  This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her  subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour...

It's a small basketball world after all. At least in South Dakota.   If you were wondering whether there was a local tie to USD and Summit League leading scorer Isaac Bruns' transfer portal landing spot at USC, you were correct. Well, kind of.   It partly circles back to Trojan coach Eric Musselman's time with the Rapid City Thrillers almost 40 years ago.   Yes, that Eric Musselman, the son of for...

On Thursday morning, "Coach Piv" was  introduced publicly as USD's new softball coach via a virtual media conference.  This came two days after the public announcement and just over two weeks after the dismissal of former head coach Robert Wagner, as well as Pivovar's viral moment during the NCAA Tournament and her  subsequent conversation about that and her softball coaching journey on Happy Hour...

The "national search" for a University of South Dakota softball coach circled right back to the USD softball offices.   Associate head coach Shannon PIvovar was promoted to the lead role on Tuesday by athletics director Jon Schemmel. This promotion came two weeks after Robert Wagner's contract was not renewed. Two days before that, "Coach Piv" became a viral sensation for her moment of emotional e...

Doeden-Rhoden, Erickson-Smith & why was Dusty left in the dust? — Patrick Lalley with post-election "Lallygagging" at Orion Pub

USD hires Shannon Pivovar to take over softball, plus the biggest takeaway from new Vikings GM Nolan Teasley's hiring and introductory presser

Yeah, Happy Hour went there again.   Despite the 0-2 result, which included a 17-0 undressing by baseball blueblood Arizona State, South Dakota State baseball's maiden voyage to an NCAA Baseball regional — playing baseball powerhouses in front of 8,000 people in the postseason — made the host and Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer think:   Is playing for FCS national championships really t...

In part 2 of a 72-minute conversation with the SDSU and Summit League all-time leading scorer and rebounder and No. 9 all-time NCAA scorer, Daum regales with stories of mischief on the family farm in the Nebraska panhandle. How did he blossom into a regional force and what was it like having to drive three hours round trip at least twice a week to practice and play club and AAU ball in Colorado? W...

In part one of a 72-minute interview with the Summit League's all-time leading scorer and rebounder and the No. 9 scorer in NCAA basketball history, the Kimball, Nebraska, native describes his globe-traveling ventures in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, and Japan. Plus, the story of how he met and courted his pro volleyball-playing wife is all at once strange, hilarious, and a sign of the times.

the Happy Hour host describes why going Div. I was such the crystal clear right move for South Dakota State 22 years ago, with the baseball team's trip to Lincoln for the NCAA Baseball Tournament being the latest example.    This occurred despite the Jackrabbits' 17-0 loss to Arizona State, a brutal end to the season that highlighted the harsh reality of the gap between Power Four clubs and a nort...

The Happy Hour host describes why going Div. I was such the crystal clear right move for South Dakota State 22 years ago, with the baseball team's trip to Lincoln for the NCAA Baseball Tournament being the latest example.    This occurred despite the Jackrabbits' 17-0 loss to Arizona State, a brutal end to the season that highlighted the harsh reality of the gap between Power Four clubs and a nort...

Perhaps you've heard about this wild basketball journey covering hundreds of thousands if not millions of miles.   The only son of two stud University of Wyoming athletes — his 6'5 dad, an NFL tight end for a cup of coffee and his 6'1 mom, the basketball program's leading scorer and rebounder — grows up tassling corn and shooting endless hours of hoops on the farm in the Nebraska panhandle.   Kid...

The most compelling sports stories and conversations of the week all over the Dakotas are told every week on "South Dakota Sports Lounge," a Midwest Sports+ production that melds segments from Forum Communications talk shows and feature stories and is released every Friday.   You can view these daily shows and features on your TV set (or any device) on the MS+ app for an afforable monthly subscrip...

The record-breaking University of Sioux Falls receiver went on to win three national titles and post a 69-3 record as head coach at his alma mater before several offensive coordinating jobs in Div. I led to head coaching gigs at Fresno State, Washington, and Alabama.   Perhaps you're familiar with Kalen DeBoer's 124-20 career record and 86 percent winning clip and the two College Football Playoff...

After his best friend and South Dakota football legend Kurtiss Riggs left the chat room following a phenomenal 35-minute stroll down memory lane to their days as University of Sioux Falls teammates and coaches, the Alabama head coach sticks around to go 1-on-1 with the Happy Hour host about Riggs' potential to be a Power Four football coach, the joy of watching daughter Alexis dominate college sof...

The record-breaking University of Sioux Falls receiver went on to win three national titles and post a 69-3 record as head coach at his alma mater before several offensive coordinating jobs in Div. I led to head coaching gigs at Fresno State, Washington, and Alabama.   Perhaps you're familiar with Kalen DeBoer's 124-20 career record and 86 percent winning clip and the two College Football Playoff...