Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Looking for the rare feel-good story to come out of the "portal combat" window in college basketball?   Look no further than Fargo, where the Summit League women's player of the year announced Thursday she is returning to NDSU for her senior year.   Wait. That probably doesn't feel good for Jackrabbits and Coyotes fans.    Koenen, the Bison's third all-time leading scorer, cited the loyalty and su...

Looking for the rare feel-good story to come out of the "portal combat" window in college basketball?   Look no further than Fargo, where the Summit League women's player of the year announced Thursday she is returning to NDSU for her senior year.   Wait. That probably doesn't feel good for Jackrabbits and Coyotes fans.    Koenen, the Bison's third all-time leading scorer, cited the loyalty and su...

There's no crying in baseball!   I don't want your life!   My team is on the floor.   Up your butt, JoBu!   Those four lines could be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time sports movie one-liners. And, absolutely, there are plenty more classic or memorable ones you might remember.    That's the thing about Mount Rushmore lists — there's only room for four.   And, that's the fun.    For Wednesday's Hap...

There's no crying in baseball!   I don't want your life!   My team is on the floor.   Up your butt, JoBu!   Those four lines could be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time sports movie one-liners. And, absolutely, there are plenty more classic or memorable ones you might remember.    That's the thing about Mount Rushmore lists — there's only room for four.   And, that's the fun.    For Wednesday's Hap...

The host found a remark about Chase Mason from South Dakota State offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness that should excite Jackrabbit fans about Mason's second season as starter.   Plus, if you are screaming at the clouds about the nearly 3,000 players in college basketball that have entered the transfer portal — more than half of them — perhaps the perspective of one of the most respected analysts...

Zim attended football practices for SDSU, USD, Augustana, and USF and relays some observations, especially the quarterback races (at SDSU, that means the QB2 race behind Chase Mason) at all four schools.   The Twins are mostly Twinning in front of a mostly-empty Target Field. The Wolves are sagging, but does it feel like things will turn for the better in the playoffs?   And, we can't forget about...

On this very day in 1989, the best and funniest sports movie of all time — according to both of Tuesday's Happy Hour hosts — was released in theaters.   Major League  took box office viewers on a rollicking ride a few days after Michigan won its first — and until Monday night, only — national championship in basketball.   Times have changed in 37 years and yet they haven't.  What do we mean by tha...

On this very day in 1989, the best and funniest sports movie of all time — according to both of Tuesday's Happy Hour hosts — was released in theaters.   Major League  took box office viewers on a rollicking ride a few days after Michigan won its first — and until Monday night, only — national championship in basketball.   Times have changed in 37 years and yet they haven't.  What do we mean by tha...

Balling with future NFL running back Zach Zenner. Rooming with current South Dakota State tight ends coach Vince Benedetto. Getting chewed out by Brandon Valley coaching legends. These are stories that can only be told by Austin Sumner, a gun-slinging quarterback who smashed passing records and elevated SDSU from up-and-comers to uppercrusters. No Mount Rushmore of SDSU quarterbacks is complete wi...

The SDSU quarterback legend grew up in Brandon, which would re-emerge as a state football powerhouse during his time with late, great coach Chad Garrow.

Balling with future NFL running back Zach Zenner. Rooming with current South Dakota State tight ends coach Vince Benedetto. Getting chewed out by Brandon Valley coaching legends. These are stories that can only be told by Austin Sumner, a gun-slinging quarterback who smashed passing records and elevated football programs at both BVHS and SDSU from up-and-comers to uppercrusters. No Mount Rushmore...

What a short, strange trip it's been.   Also — spirited, successful, and at times sensational.   Now, it's over. Now what?   Over Miller Lite tallboys at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Live writer Trent Singer joins the Happy Hour host to look back on a unique season of USD women's basketball, which came to an end with a  WNIT "Fab Four" loss on Wednesday .   An almost entirely new...

The veteran columnist recently wrote about the Gopher women's basketball resurgence under former USD coach Dawn Plitzuweit. How did she manage to scrape the program out of the scrap heap of the saturated Twin Cities sports scene, at least for a few days?   Rand also wrote about Augustana hockey coach Garrett Raboin reportedly turning down the plum Gopher job. What is it about the seat that Raboin'...

What a short, strange trip it's been.   Also — spirited, successful, and at times sensational.   Now, it's over. Now what?   Over Miller Lite tallboys at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Live writer Trent Singer joins the Happy Hour host to look back on a unique season of USD women's basketball, which came to an end with a  WNIT "Fab Four" loss on Wednesday .   An almost entirely new...

f only it was an April Fool's trick.   Last week, Roosevelt boys basketball coach Mitch Begeman surprised many by stepping down at age 38, after 10 years, two state titles back-to-back (2021 and '22), and a third place state finish this year, finishing at 19-5.   It was no April Fool's trick. Begeman joins Happy Hour from the Gateway Lounge to explain how this decision was three years in the makin...

The Happy Hour host unfolds some April Fool's Day sports topics. USD tried to pull one on its fans about the Coyote women's WNIT run. A Brandon sportswriter hooked, lined, and sinkered the Happy Hour host into "big breaking news" about that city's high school sports scene.   The host and video producer share their favorite teams' and local colleges' "wish it was April Fool's" sports moments — for...

If only it was an April Fool's trick.   Last week, Roosevelt boys basketball coach Mitch Begeman surprised many by stepping down at age 38, after 10 years, two state titles back-to-back (2021 and '22), and a third place state finish this year, finishing at 19-5.   It was no April Fool's trick. Begeman joins Happy Hour from the Gateway Lounge to explain how this decision was three years in the maki...

Get your head out of your ass!   It may be one of the most common bellows you hear from frustrated sports fans yelling from either their couch at the TV, or from the stadium stands toward the football field.   And it is usually directed toward the offensive coordinator.    Over some beers at Gateway Lounge, Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host discuss and share storie...

Palleschi's day job is as a representative of the Sioux Falls Sports Authority, the organization that lures, prepares, and stages regional and national events in the city.   Talk about March madness. Over the last four weeks, the SFSA hosted the Summit League basketball tournaments, the NCAA Div. II wrestling national championships, and this past weekend's NCAA Div. I men's hockey regional.   The...

Playing in the NCAA Tournament is always the coolest thing that can happen to a college basketball program and its fan base.   But going on a run in the WNIT can be pretty cool. The 2016 USD Coyotes proved that. So did the 2022 SDSU Jackrabbits. Both won the event.   The wave of momentum and goodwill that builds for a program after each win during its March mulligan is palpable, especially when ev...

Playing in the NCAA Tournament is always the coolest thing that can happen to a college basketball program and its fan base.   But going on a run in the WNIT can be pretty cool. The 2016 USD Coyotes proved that. So did the 2022 SDSU Jackrabbits. Both won the event.   The wave of momentum and goodwill that builds for a program after each win during its March mulligan is palpable, especially when ev...

Playing in the NCAA Tournament is always the coolest thing that can happen to a college basketball program and its fan base.   But going on a run in the WNIT can be pretty cool. The 2016 USD Coyotes proved that. So did the 2022 SDSU Jackrabbits. Both won the event.   The wave of momentum and goodwill that builds for a program after each win during its March mulligan is palpable, especially when ev...

Playing in the NCAA Tournament is always the coolest thing that can happen to a college basketball program and its fan base.   But going on a run in the WNIT can be pretty cool. The 2016 USD Coyotes proved that. So did the 2022 SDSU Jackrabbits. Both won the event.   The wave of momentum and goodwill that builds for a program after each win during its March mulligan is palpable, especially when ev...

So, how strong is the urge for South Dakota State's athletic director and head football coach to move up to FBS now that arch football rival North Dakota State has gone bigger time?   How strong is the Summit League as the conference shrinks to eight teams soon, especially with reports and rumors of unrest among the non-Dakotas schools?    What can SDSU possibly do to keep its best athletes happy...

Jackson told Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer last week his football team is "light years" ahead of where it was last year during the early stages of spring football, and that the Jacks are "creating an identity." What  is  that identity?    How have Chase Mason, Chase Van Tol, Lofton O'Groske and other stars progressed — both in their health and skill set — since their injuries took a toll in a 9-5...