Sports Lounge: Kalen DeBoer & Kurtiss Riggs, recently fired Fargo Shanley HS coach Beth Maher, Vikings talk with Thor Nystrom & Diamond Vision with Zach Borg

NLA: Zim on roller coasters, leaving games early, NDSU in CFB27 video game, Sorsby scandal, UND probation, KAT in Finals, Coach Piv at USD

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 Cities over the weekend, and it brought back some squeamish childhood memories. Well, squeamish for Zim, fun for us. So, buckle up and soak in the thrills and spills. Then, at some point, the hosts talk sports during the not-so-dog-days-of-summer-after-all. Just because sanctioned local high school and college sports are now dormant until late August doesn't mean there is nothing to talk about. Not when the lunacy, hypocrisy, and buffoonery of college sports pops up around every corner. What do we make of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby being allowed to play—for now—despite breaking the most sacred rule for all sanctioned sports participants: Don't bet on sport, and, especially, don't bet on your own team? Then, there's the NCAA slapping the University of North Dakota with a few recruiting-related penalties and a $25,000 fine [https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/ncaa-penalizes-und-football-for-tampering-violation] for an assistant football coach's tampering violation, which brings to mind the old Jerry Tarkanian line: "They're so mad at Kentucky, they're going to give Cleveland State another year of probation." Almost every week, a new perk of North Dakota State's leap to the FBS seems to pop up. This week, it's the presence of the Bison in the CFB27 video game. Is this a big deal, if not a recruiting advantage over NDSU's old MVFC rivals like SDSU and USD? Zim also weighs in on the USD softball promotion of associate head coach Shannon Pivovar, the call back up of Royce Lewis to the Twins, and Karl-Anthony Towns emerging as an NBA Finals MVP leader through two games of the series with the Spurs... and how that could make a Timberwolves fan feel about the 2024 trade that took KAT to the Knicks. But we begin with a situation every sports fan encounters when attending one of their favorite team's games in-person: Should you ever leave early when it appears your team is going to lose? Zim faced that quagmire at Target Field the day after his roller coaster nightmares came rushing back. Enjoy the ride.

FULL SHOW: Ed Whiting (JHS softball & football), UND's probation and its impact, Justin Jefferson talks Kyler Murray, and KAT's big moment

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. Before last softball season, Ed Whiting was best known as the blitz-happy, universally-respected veteran prep football defensive coordinator and the father of 6'6 Michigan State tight end Eddie Whiting. Now, he has the undisputed best program in South Dakota's highest level, two years running. How? And why did it only get better this season? Whiting sits down with the Happy Hour host at Shenanigans (west), his local neighborhood bar and grill, to unpack the Cavaliers' success and his approach to softball players compared to his football athletes. The former O'Gorman and Augustana player—who shared plenty of Steve Kueter, Jim Heinitz, and Kim Nelson stories in last June's Happy Hour [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-jefferson-coach-ed-whiting-and-the-house-settlement-latest]chat [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/happy-hour-jefferson-coach-ed-whiting-and-the-house-settlement-latest] — also describes Jefferson football's first year with Eric Struck as the head coach and gives an update on Eddie's progress in East Lansing, where Eddie enrolled in January to get a head start on his freshman season. Before all that, the host broke down North Dakota's recent NCAA tampering violation and penalties. What kind of true impact they'll have on the trending-up Fighting Hawks program? Plus, 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?

Justin Jefferson on Kyler Murray's strengths & How do Timberwolves fans process KAT's MVP NBA Finals appearance (so far)

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?

UND probation for tampering: How much will it affect Fighting Hawks' chances of becoming an FCS title contender?

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

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