The Wild’s Gaborik is a skating and scoring delight.  Whether he’s here short term, or long, enjoy him now.  At 26, it seems like only injuries can stop his progress toward being remembered as one of the NHL’s greatest players in this era.  Last year he had career highs in games, goals, assists and points as the team’s star forward.

Mikko Koivuu, 25, is going to be here for awhile.  He accounted for five points on one goal and four assists in a game last week, a microcosm of his playmaking ability.  The Wild forward was given a leadership opportunity, too, when he was named team captain for October.

Basketball purists are already raving about the low post scoring of Timberwolves center Al Jefferson.  Although he’s only 23, few NBA players have had Jefferson’s assortment of moves and effectiveness near the basket.  He scored 21 points per game last season and averaged 11.1 rebounds, one of only four players in the league to average 20-10 or more.

Past failures have made the public skeptical about Gopher football but the facts are black and white regarding wide receiver Eric Decker.  He is tied for fourth in the country among Division I receivers in receptions with 59, and his 111.71 yards per game ranks fifth.  The Cold Spring, Minnesota junior is a cinch to be all-Big Ten, maybe all-American and remembered as one of the Gophers’ greatest receivers ever.

Adam Weber, a sophomore, has improved from last season in not only his understanding of the Gophers’ offense, but also as a passer and leader.  He’s thrown nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions in seven games (19 in 12 games last season).  Along with Decker, he’s a Gopher Mr. Indispensable and a star in the making.

The last fella to make our star power list is Blake Hoffarber.  Although he was a substitute last season as a Gopher basketball freshman, Hoffarber makes the list because of YouTube high school and Big Ten tournament game highlights when his miraculous shots made national news.  He’s only 20 but you have to call him Mr. Clutch and also admire his three point field goal percentage last season of .427, among the best in the Big Ten.

So there’s the list.  Stop worrying, dump the pity party, and enjoy.

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NBA regular season rosters have to be finalized by 5 p.m. Minneapolis time on October 27.  Timberwolves decisions will include who to keep as a reserve point guard, 24-year-old Blake Ahearn or 37-year-old Kevin Ollie.

The Wolves are telecasting pre-season games for the first time in franchise history  tonight and tomorrow night, according to Ted Johnson, the team’s marketing vice president.  The Wolves have Target Center games on FSN North tonight versus Chicago and tomorrow evening against Milwaukee.

Johnson said there are 1,200 to 1,500 tickets remaining for the regular season and home opener October 29 with Sacramento.

The Vikings special teams received scrutiny at Brad Childress’ news conference Monday, a day after a blocked punt and mishandled punt return gift wrapped a pair of scores for Chicago in the Bears’ 48-41 win.  Childress said he is in the special teams meeting every day.  “And they get coached every day,” he added.  “There is somebody back there with them.  They’re not standing back there in a vacuum. …I will say an encouraging note.  I think the coverage teams have done a good job here in the last couple of weeks.”

Although the Vikings auditioned other punters after Chris Kluwe had two of his punts returned for touchdowns by New Orleans earlier this month, Childress said he doesn’t expect to look further.  He made it clear he isn’t blaming special teams coach Paul Ferraro, Kluwe or other players for special team mistakes.

“It all comes back to me,” Childress said. “I am not going to pin it on a coach or a player.  That’s what it is.  I am the guy that’s got the wins and losses by my record so it’s not the special teams guy. …”

Childress said he typically meets a couple times per week with owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.  Topics include team status, injuries and personnel.  “We talk about all those things,” he said. “Obviously as owners, they have the right to know.  It’s important that you explain rationale.”

He also said the Wilfs have “pretty good wisdom” but are also willing to learn about the football side of owning an NFL team.

The Gopher football program has had its late season losing trend well documented through the years but since 1999 Minnesota has managed to finish two seasons in the top 25 national polls.  In 1999 the Gophers were No. 18 in the Associated Press and No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today final polls.  Minnesota was No. 20 and No. 17 in those final polls in 2003.

Radio-TV journalist Mike Max had a pre-recorded interview with Michael Jordan on his “Life to the Max” show last Saturday night.   Max said Jordan discussed various subjects including the challenge of being a world celebrity.  The show had major competition airing opposite “Saturday Night Live” and Sarah Palin.

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Although the Vikings played another game making too many mistakes and their record is a disappointing 3-4, Vikings coach Brad Childress told a post-game audience yesterday on KFAN Radio that his approach will be positive as the team heads into its bye week before taking on Houston at the Metrodome on November 2.

The Vikings are off next Sunday after playing seven straight regular season games and four pre-season games, plus training camp.  “The big thing is you want to get physically healthy and you want to get mentally healthy,” Childress said.  “You don’t want to get mentally ill.  And so I am a big proponent of don’t beat up the players and don’t beat up the coaches. ..”

The bye week, though, should be a time for soul searching.  Yesterday the Vikings had a punt blocked, an errant touch of the ball on a punt return and a Gus Frerotte interception that gift wrapped three touchdowns for the Bears in Minnesota’s 48-41 loss in Chicago.  The Vikings got away with turnovers the week before to beat Detroit 12-10 at home and had survived a wild game in New Orleans two weeks ago to win even though Reggie Bush ran two punts back for touchdowns.

Down 48-31 in the fourth quarter, the Vikings seemed determined to rally and tie the game.  It was the kind of grit the offense has sometimes demonstrated since Frerotte took over as the starting quarterback in game three.  Frerotte has at times brought life and steadiness to the passing game, although he threw four interceptions yesterday including a poorly thrown ball that ended the team’s comeback attempt in the last minute.  The throw left an observer wondering if even after just five games the 37-year-old quarterback is weary from the physical play of the NFL.

With inconsistency on offense and too many mistakes on special teams, the Vikings can only be judged as disappointing in their first seven games.  This was a team that most everyone thought would play better than .500 football, maybe a lot better.

Today the Vikings can be pleased that no other team in the NFC North is excelling either.  The Bears and Packers lead the division at 4-3, the Vikings are 3-4.  And they can also be pleased to have a bye and opportunity to regroup.

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