Gophers coach Tim Brewster, with an introduction by Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, will be the speaker at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon on Thursday, September 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington.  C.O.R.E.S. organization members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  (C.O.R.E.S. is an abbreviation for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans).

Don’t be surprised if there still is a trade sending Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers to Los Angeles.

The addition this week of Rick Wilson as an assistant coach with the Wild is a good move.  Wilson, 60, was an associate coach last season with Tampa Bay.  Prior to joining the Lightning he spent 16 seasons (1992-2009) with the Stars franchise as an assistant and associate coach.  Under Wilson’s influence the Stars finished in the top three for fewest goals against in the NHL during four seasons including 2007-08.

The Wild are promoting a fan trip to Finland for the team’s games in that country during early October.  Reservations are being accepted at 651-602-2000.

Defending champion University of Minnesota Duluth was selected by the league football coaches as the overall and North Division preseason favorite in the NSIC for 2010. The Bulldogs were the unanimous choice of the coaches receiving 13 first place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team).  Minnesota State University, Mankato was the unanimous pick in the South Division.  St. Cloud State and Augustana tied for third place in the poll while Bemidji State completed the top five.

The coaches voted Bulldogs running back Isaac Odim North Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year.  Teammate and linebacker Robbie Aurich was the choice as North Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.  Southwest Minnesota State quarterback Ryan Ratekin was chosen as the South Division Offensive Preseason Player of the Year while Winona State defensive lineman Matt Ulrich was voted the South Division Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.

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The 31 days of August inspired (??) me to come up with 31 random things I believe that I believe:

1. Anyone complaining about this week’s heat must go directly to January.

2. This is the best month of the year for local sports fans who approach life with the glass is half full philosophy.  The Twins are contending for the playoffs, while the Vikings, Gophers, Wild and Timberwolves, who will all be playing soon, are undefeated. Ah, to dream!

3. Those who bubble with optimism are always looking for saviors and there are at least three on local radar right now:  Brett Favre, MarQueis Gray and Ricky Rubio.

4. Murray’s Restaurant has the best power lunch in town, a superb sirloin steak with awesome au gratins.

5. I’ve lost interest in baseball’s list of the all-time home run leaders.  With steroids associated with various players, how can you take the rankings seriously?

6. Don’t accept any bets that 32-year-old Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson, operating on a one-year contract, will return to the club next year.

7. The Twins are winning even though Delmon Young is their only everyday player having a career season.

8. Suggestion to manager Ron Gardenhire: late in games, send Jason Repko to left field to replace the glove-challenged Young.

9. At 35, Joe Nathan has to be fretting about how effectively he will recover from Tommy John surgery.

10. The economy must still be shaky if my phone rings off the hook with solicitation calls from nonprofits.

11. Good thing I didn’t have a brick nearby last Saturday night.  After looking at those awful throwback St. Paul Gophers jerseys the Twins were wearing, I would have heaved it at the TV screen.

12. I am trying to control frustration with my golf game, too.  I would type “sucks” in cap letters if my anger management techniques weren’t so effective.

13. Do the same people who believe in ancient alien visitations spend their weekends searching for Big Foot?

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14. Brett Favre, who avoids training camp each year, might be the smartest player in the NFL.

15. With or without Favre, and regardless of how the team plays on the field, the Vikings will receive legislative support for a new stadium next year.

16. Despite conjecture about building next to Target Field (demolish the county garbage facility) the new Vikings stadium, featuring a retractable roof, will be constructed on the Metrodome site.

17. The NFL, the golden child of American sports, has major issues to resolve with an expiring collective bargaining agreement and players who are opposed to expanding the regular season schedule from 16 to 18 games.

18. Hall of fame inductions will come yet for former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter and Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven.

19. As long as Bud Grant, 83, is alive someone will be writing another story about his passion for fishing and hunting.

20. In 2012 Tim Pawlenty might be the GOP’s nominee for vice president.  Pawlenty will be the last Minnesota Republican governor for awhile.

21. The Vikings will beat New Orleans in their opening regular season game on September 9.  The big surprise, though, will come when the Gophers upset Southern California at TCF Bank Stadium on September 18.

22. After Nebraska joins the Big Ten Conference, look for the Cornhuskers to play either Wisconsin or Iowa in their final football game each season.

23. Penn State’s Joe Paterno, 83, will call it quits after this season.

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