For almost 30 years, Steve Thomson has lived his childhood dream of being a host on Minnesota's most prestigious radio station, WCCO in Minneapolis.

Before he was opining and interviewing big-name guests about the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, Wild, and other local teams, Thomson was the Voice of the University of Sioux Falls athletics for five years in the 1990's, among other gigs in South Dakota's largest city.

The St. Paul native shares stories of Bob Young and the 1996 national championship team that featured future South Dakota coaching legends Kalen DeBoer and Kurtiss Riggs. He also describes his own unique radio path both to Sioux Falls and the Twin Cities, including a vivid memory of the day his dream came true at WCCO.

Thomson also shares how a tragedy in his life involving one of his daughters has shaped his outlook on life ever since.

Before the chat with Thomson, host John Gaskins calls his shot — the Timberwolves will "upset" the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

Once again, the Wolves are picked by both Vegas and many national pundits to lose their playoff series. While OKC won a league-best 68 games in the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed, there are several reasons why the Wolves can beat them and advance to the NBA Finals.

In particular, Gaskins picks apart the prediction of one respected veteran NBA analyst, who favors the Thunder.

For almost 30 years, Steve Thomson has lived his childhood dream of being a radio announcer on Minnesota's most prestigious station, WCCO in Minneapolis.

Before he hosted shows opining and interviewing with big-name guests about the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, Wild, and more in one of the nation's largest markets, Thomson was the Voice of the University of Sioux Falls athletics for five years in the 1990's, among other gigs in South Dakota's largest city.

The St. Paul native shares stories of Bob Young and the 1996 national championship team that featured future South Dakota coaching legends Kalen DeBoer and Kurtiss Riggs. He also describes his own unique radio path both to Sioux Falls and the Twin Cities, including a vivid memory of the day his dream came true at WCCO.

Thomson also shares how a tragic event in his life involving one of his daughters has shaped his outlook on life ever since.

Once again, the Minnesota Timberwolves are picked by both Vegas and many national pundits to lose their playoff series, this time to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

While OKC won 68 games in the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed, Happy Hour host John Gaskins rattles off several reasons why the Wolves are the better team right now.

He also pokes holes in veteran NBA analyst Ric Buecher's OKC pick.

Monday's "John-o-logue" with Happy Host John Gaskins gives a nod to the hot hitting Sioux Falls Canaries, who averaged over 10 runs per game in their six-game homestand at The Birdcage that wrapped up on Sunday. The highlight of the week came on Friday, when Augustana alumnus Jordan Barth hit two grand slams and USF alumnus Josh Rehwaldt hit for the cycle, finishing on a home run.

You can no longer use "the Canaries stink" or "there's no local players to watch" as excuses to skip trips to The Birdcage. Now, it's your loss.

Then, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer provides a potpourri of local sports insights on developments in Augustana softball, Augustana hockey, and USF baseball. Plus, a wrap on the Twins weekend that saw a 13-game winning streak end and the Oklahoma City Thunder emerge as the Minnesota Timeberwolves' opponent in the Western Conference Finals. Who will win the West? 

Before he landed a dream job coaching and thriving Iowa State — where he has earned a reputation as one of the best big-league coaches in the country — T.J. Otzelberger was a struggling rookie head coach at South Dakota State, starting 1-5 in Summit League play.

Otzelberger was an "outsider" coming over from Iowa State's staff. He had never worked in South Dakota when he took over for SDSU legend Scott Nagy, who had just taken the Jackrabbits to their third NCAA Tournament in five seasons before leaving for Wright State.

Pile on that 1-5 start, and there were plenty of people doubting if Otzelberger knew what he was doing. Count the coach himself among them. 

In a 35-minute Happy Hour interview, Otzelberger looks back on the many "sleepless nights" that first season of 2016-17 and how the Jacks turned it into a blazing run back to "the big dance," which included one of the greatest moments in Jackrabbit history — the buzzer-beating "Michael Orris shot" to beat rival and regular season champion South Dakota in the Summit League Tournament semifinals in Sioux Falls. 

The Milwaukee native reminisces about other highlights of his three years in Brookings, most notably coaching Mike Daum during Daum's his ascent to becoming one of the Top 10 scorers in NCAA history. Through all three years, Otzelberger's SDSU successor Eric Henderson showed signs of becoming an effective head coach with his work as an Otzelberger assistant.

But first, Otzelberger addresses one of his trademarks — the tight polo shirt — and tackles the transfer-heavy times coaches like him navigate in the current NIL era, including the departing with Sioux Falls Lincoln alumnus J.T. Rock, who left for New Mexico.

Before you enjoy a juicy Otzelberger, a nod to the hot hitting Sioux Falls Canaries, who averaged over 10 runs per game in their six-game homestand at The Birdcage that wrapped up on Sunday. The highlight of the week came on Friday, when Augustana alumnus Jordan Barth hit two grand slams and USF alumnus Josh Rehwaldt hit for the cycle, finishing on a home run.

You can no longer use "the Canaries stink" or "there's no local players to watch" as excuses to skip trips to The Birdcage. Now, it's your loss.

Then, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer provides a potpourri of local sports insights on developments in Augustana softball, Augustana hockey, and USF baseball. Plus, a wrap on the Twins weekend that saw a 13-game winning streak end and the Oklahoma City Thunder emerge as the Minnesota Timeberwolves' opponent in the Western Conference Finals. Who will win the West? 

Before he landed a dream job coaching and thriving Iowa State — where he has earned a reputation as one of the best big-league coaches in the country — T.J. Otzelberger was a struggling rookie head coach at South Dakota State, starting 1-5 in Summit League play.

Otzelberger was an "outsider" coming over from Iowa State's staff. He had never worked in South Dakota when he took over for SDSU legend Scott Nagy, who had just taken the Jackrabbits to their third NCAA Tournament in five seasons before leaving for Wright State.

Pile on that 1-5 start, and there were plenty of people doubting if Otzelberger knew what he was doing. Count the coach himself among them. 

In a 35-minute Happy Hour interview, Otzelberger looks back on the many "sleepless nights" that first season of 2016-17 and how the Jacks turned it into a blazing run back to "the big dance," which included one of the greatest moments in Jackrabbit history — the buzzer-beating "Michael Orris shot" to beat rival and regular season champion South Dakota in the Summit League Tournament semifinals in Sioux Falls. 

The Milwaukee native reminisces about other highlights of his three years in Brookings, most notably coaching Mike Daum during Daum's his ascent to becoming one of the Top 10 scorers in NCAA history. Through all three years, Otzelberger's SDSU successor Eric Henderson showed signs of becoming an effective head coach with his work as an Otzelberger assistant.

But first, Otzelberger addresses one of his trademarks — the tight polo shirt — and tackles the transfer-heavy times coaches like him navigate in the current NIL era, including the departing with Sioux Falls Lincoln alumnus J.T. Rock, who left for New Mexico.

So, what's Nick Saban really like to deal with when you're his successor?

How do you deal with the scolding hot pressure of being an outsider who is inside the boiling cauldron of a stark-raving fan base and a first season, post-Saban, that becomes the losingest season in Alabama in 17 years and the losingest of your own remarkably successful 10-year head coaching career? 

What applies from playing and coaching for Bob Young at tiny University of Sioux Falls to following Saban and exchanging haymakers in the SEC?

And, what's it like to golf peacefully at Augusta or be in the white-hot spotlight, surrounded by state troopers and gazing, at-times feverish fans in college football heaven? Is it hell?

As you'll find in this hour-long chat full of Sioux Falls memories and descriptions of the Alabama trenches, Kalen DeBoer takes leading the Tide in stride.

Before he skyrocketed the last five years to take the throne of college football's premier kingdom, DeBoer had a meteoric rise as a young NAIA head coach at the University of Sioux Falls. In between, a lot of steady training flying the not-so-friendly skies of Div. I football as an offensive coordinator in struggling, less prominent programs of Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, and Indiana.

In each case, DeBoer learned how to deftly steer out of turbulence and land the plane before his next blast-off.

The Milbank native is as eager to talk about his first gig at Sioux Falls Washington High School — after a short-lived professional baseball career — and the toiling at places that were in the throws of futility and obscurity as he is about the perks of prosperity at USF and Alabama.  

And, DeBoer really likes talking about people closest to him, particularly the high-achieving athletic women of his life — wife Nicole and daughters Alexis and Avery — and Alabama assistants Ryan Grubb and Chuck Morrell, who were part of his journey from three national titles in four years at USF to some of his other stops before Tuscaloosa. 

What is always in the sauce of success no matter where you are and what situation you walk into? 

Listen carefully, and this hour-long chat with DeBoer is more than just an enjoyable stroll down memory lane about the good ol' days in South Dakota or plowing through the pressure of the highest-profile job in his industry. It's a tutorial on seizing the day and finding the "why," no matter who you are.

Before that, host John Gaskins and his happy hour cocktail buddy Jon Oppold — owner of Sunny's Pizzeria and The Orion Pub downtown — tackle the freshly-released Minnesota Vikings 2025 schedule, then take a step back from the teeth-gnashing of the Timberwolves' at-time sloppy play against weaker opponents in the first two rounds of the playoffs to marinate in the sweet stew of having the best team in this history of the franchise and one of the best in the NBA, from front office to star players.

So, what's Nick Saban really like to deal with when you're his successor?

How do you deal with the scolding hot pressure of being an outsider who is inside the boiling cauldron of a stark-raving fan base and a first season, post-Saban, that becomes the losingest season in Alabama in 17 years and the losingest of your own remarkably successful 10-year head coaching career? 

What applies from playing and coaching for Bob Young at tiny University of Sioux Falls to following Saban and exchanging haymakers in the SEC?

And, what's it like to golf peacefully at Augusta or be in the white-hot spotlight, surrounded by state troopers and gazing, at-times feverish fans in college football heaven? Is it hell?

As you'll find in this hour-long chat full of Sioux Falls memories and descriptions of the Alabama trenches, Kalen DeBoer takes leading the Tide in stride.

Before he skyrocketed the last five years to take the throne of college football's premier kingdom, DeBoer had a meteoric rise as a young NAIA head coach at the University of Sioux Falls. In between, a lot of steady training flying the not-so-friendly skies of Div. I football as an offensive coordinator in struggling, less prominent programs of Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, and Indiana.

In each case, DeBoer learned how to deftly steer out of turbulence and land the plane into his next rise.

DeBoer is as eager to talk about his first gig at Sioux Falls Washington High School — after a short-lived professional baseball career — and the toiling at places that were in the throws of futility and obscurity as he is about the perks of prosperity at USF and Alabama.  

And, DeBoer really likes talking about people closest to him, particularly the high-achieving athletic women of his life — wife Nicole and daughters Alexis and Avery — and Alabama assistants Ryan Grubb and Chuck Morrell, who were part of his journey from three national titles in four years at USF to some of his other stops before Tuscaloosa. 

What is always in the sauce of success no matter where you are and what situation you walk into? 

Listen carefully, and this hour-long chat with DeBoer is more than just an enjoyable stroll down memory lane about the good ol' days in South Dakota or plowing through the pressure of the highest-profile job in his industry. It's a tutorial on seizing the day and finding the "why," no matter who you are.

Death. Taxes. And Augustana softball winning NSIC titles and making fierce May runs through the NCAA Tournament.

It's happening again. The Vikings, who have won 24 consecutive games, are two wins away from reaching their fifth NCAA D2 Softball Championships (in other words, the D2 World Series) as they start a best-of-three super regional at Central Oklahoma on Thursday. They got there by sweeping through the Central Region in Missouri last week. 

This after reaching their 13th NCAA tourney in 19 years under Gretta Melsted, a run that has included seven NSIC regular season titles and the 2019 national championship.

Melsted is as constant of a winner as any coach of any sport at any level in the Dakotas. She's won 73 percent of her games and 80 percent of conference matchups.  

But this year, Augie may have the fullest head of steam ever headed into to a super regional because the Vikings are still steaming from dropping to No. 1 to No. 3 in the Central Region rankings — forcing them to hit the road to advance in the tourney — after rippping through the NSIC tournament.

The mild-mannered Melsted is not shy to say it — the Vikings were "pissed." 

How does a coach effectively help players harness or channel that pent-up energy? What buttons does she push now and throughout a season to maximize a team's potential?

The Albert Lea, Minnesota, native answers that, plus walks us through a wildly successful career that almost never happened because of her love of another sport.

Why is she the perfect fit for Augie, and why has she not left despite multiple overtures at higher levels? 

Enjoy an hour with the "blonde-haired, blue-eyed Lutheran" Upper Midwestern face and engineer  of not just the premier program in the region, but a national powerhouse despite its cold weather location. 

Before all that, host John Gaskins dives into the shoe that indeed dropped Thursday afternoon on Twin Cities sports fans who may have been feeling too spoiled with the Timberwolves advancing to the Western Conference Finals again and the Twins' 11-game winning streak:

The Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa crash. 

Death. Taxes. And Augustana softball winning NSIC titles and making fierce May runs through the NCAA Tournament.

It's happening again. The Vikings, who have won 24 consecutive games, are two wins away from reaching their fifth NCAA D2 Softball Championships (in other words, the D2 World Series) as they start a best-of-three super regional at Central Oklahoma on Thursday. They got there by sweeping through the Central Region in Missouri last week. 

This after reaching their 13th NCAA tourney in 19 years under Gretta Melsted, a run that has included seven NSIC regular season titles and the 2019 national championship.

Melsted is as constant of a winner as any coach of any sport at any level in the Dakotas. She's won 73 percent of her games and 80 percent of conference matchups.  

But this year, Augie may have the fullest head of steam ever headed into to a super regional because the Vikings are still steaming from dropping to No. 1 to No. 3 in the Central Region rankings — forcing them to hit the road to advance in the tourney — after rippping through the NSIC tournament.

The mild-mannered Melsted is not shy to say it — the Vikings were "pissed." 

How does a coach effectively help players harness or channel that pent-up energy? What buttons does she push now and throughout a season to maximize a team's potential?

The Albert Lea, Minnesota, native answers that, plus walks us through a wildly successful career that almost never happened because of her love of another sport.

Why is she the perfect fit for Augie, and why has she not left despite multiple overtures at higher levels? 

Enjoy an hour with the "blonde-haired, blue-eyed Lutheran" Upper Midwestern face and engineer  of not just the premier program in the region, but a national powerhouse despite its cold weather location.