FULL SHOW: USD coach Eric Peterson, Thirsty Thursday (LaMelo trade for Wolves, Sioux Falls NCAA hoops chances), & Team USA talk with World Cup watch party coordinator Jackson Rentschler of the American Outlaws

FULL SHOW: USD coach Eric Peterson, Thirsty Thursday (LaMelo trade for Wolves, Sioux Falls NCAA hoops chances), & Team USA talk with World Cup watch party coordinator Jackson Rentschler of the American Outlaws

Nobody ever said that being the head coach or a fan of college or pro sports team is easy. But as Rockford Peaches manager Jimmy Dugan — played by Tom Hanks — said in "A League of their Own:" "It's the hard that makes it great." Will the hard turn out to be great for University of South Dakota basketball coach Eric Peterson after losing most of his roster to the transfer portal? Will the hard turn out to be great for the Minnesota Timberwolves fans who fell in love with Naz Reid for seven years, then woke up Thursday to learn the cult figure power forward was traded to Charlotte in a deal that included point guard and former lottery pick LaMelo Ball? Will the hard turn out to be great for the city of Sioux Falls, the smallest of six cities bidding for NCAA men's basketball tournament "play-in" games [https://x.com/DavidWCobb/status/2067948450709131375] in the newly expanded field of 76 starting next March? The others are reportedly Omaha, Wichita, Albuquerque, Boise, and Des Moines, all of which have hosted games in the event multiple times? Then, there are American soccer fans, who have been treated to easier wins than expected in the first two rounds of the World Cup and are expected to be favored in their next three matches in the event (next two matches, if you don't count Thursday's inconsequential meeting with Turkiye). Should that go to form, the "hard" of playing in the quarterfinals will certainly come with great anticipation. All of those topics were discussed on the "Thirsty Thursday" edition of Happy Hour with the host and Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer. Peterson joined to discuss his top new players, those he lost in the portal, how he finds new players, conversations he has with players who leave USD to "jump in," and his job security. Now in the final season of a five-year deal, Peterson's contract was not renewed following a 16-16 fourth season in which he arguably did his best work with a M*A*S*H unit of key players missing long stetches. What was his reaction to learning he only has one guaranteed year left at USD? How well do the new players he landed fit into the up-tempo, full court pressure style he has established in Vermillion? Later on in the show, Jackson Rentschler, bartender at kRav'N Bar & Grill and Team USA watch party organizer, joined to evaluate the Americans' first two rollicking World Cup wins, their chances of going deep into the event, the atmosphere at kRav'N for the official American Outlaws watch parties, and his once-in-a-lifetime experience attending a World Cup soccer game featuring arguably the GOAT of the sport, Lionel Messi. But the show starts with the host and Trent Singer breaking down the second wild Minnesota Timberwolves trade in the last four days. Why is LaMelo Ball a "perfect fit" in the backcourt with Anthony Edwards, and why was the team willing to let Reid, one of the most popular players in team history, walk out the door? The two hosts also discuss Sioux Falls' chances of beating five larger cities for the NCAA men's tourney play-in games and Augustana's new softball coach.

Team USA talk with World Cup watch party host Jackson Rentschler of kRav'N (the official American Outlaws watch party bar of Sioux Falls)

Jackson Rentschler, bartender at kRav'N Bar & Grill and Team USA watch party organizer, joined to evaluate the Americans' first two rollicking World Cup wins, their chances of going deep into the event, the atmosphere at kRav'N for the official American Outlaws watch parties, and his once-in-a-lifetime experience attending a World Cup soccer game featuring arguably the GOAT of the sport, Lionel Messi.

USD's Eric Peterson on his portal-filled spring, transfers gained and lost, contract situation, 2026-27 outlook, new 5-for-5 rule

The fifth-year coach joined to discuss his top new players, those he lost in the portal, how he finds new players, conversations he has with players who leave USD to "jump in," and his job security after athletic director Jon Schemmel chose to not renew Peterson's contract, which leaves him with just one year on his current deal. Now in the final season of a five-year deal, Peterson's contract was not renewed following a 16-16 fourth season in which he arguably did his best work with a M*A*S*H unit of key players missing long stetches.

Wolves get LaMelo Ball but deal Naz Reid / Sioux Falls chances of hosting NCAA men's play-in games / Augustana's new softball coach

The host and Trent Singer break down the second wild Minnesota Timberwolves trade in the last four days. Why is LaMelo Ball a "perfect fit" in the backcourt with Anthony Edwards, and why was the team willing to let Reid, one of the most popular players in team history, walk out the door? The two hosts also discuss Sioux Falls' chances of beating five larger cities for the NCAA men's tourney play-in games and Augustana's new softball coach.

FULL SHOW: NCAA 5-for-5 & what it means for Jacks & Yotes, Chris Johnson on Wolves trading Randle, and Patrick Lalley on the big mayoral tie

The eligibility of athletes competing in the NCAA will likely never be the same. The Minnesota Timberwolves appeared to cut off their nose to save their face. One of the most incredible outcomes of an election in a city the size of Sioux Falls means it will be at least another couple of weeks before we know who the next mayor will be. Those are three whopping developments over the last three days. Three topics ripe for insight and lively conversation on Happy Hour. The host broke down the unanimously-passed "5-for-5" rule that could mean seismic shifts in how college athletes' careers are spent. What is the rule? How are prominent Div. I athletes in South Dakota impacted? The host used the examples of six of the most high-profile and accomplished recent athletes in the Dakotas to explain how the new rule will or would have applied to them and their chances of getting an extra year to compete: Chase Mason, Aidan Bouman, Brooklyn Meyer, Angelina Robles, Avery Koenen, Bergen Reilly. Of course, like most NCAA rules passed lately, it might get overturned in court. But it might not. Timberwolves tides turn on Randle. Now what? First Karl-Anthony Towns two years ago. Now, Julius Randle. Anthony Edwards again loses his No. 2, or Robin to his Batman, in a trade the Minnesota Timberwolves clearly deemed necessary to strengthen their chances of an NBA title. Or at least reaching the NBA FInals. Randle's undeniably lousy NBA Playoffs performance, made worse by reports of his moodiness that did not go over well with coaches and teammates, led general manager Tim Connely to deal the 31-year-old three-time All-Star power forward — the main piece of the trade two years ago that sent KAT to the Knicks — to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls on Monday. If you believe some NBA circles, ANT is not happy in Minnesota because of these moves. Should we believe that ANT may be itching to leave Minneapolis? As importantly, did the Wolves get better by discarding Randle, which opened room in the bank to sign guard Ayo Dosumnu to a five-year deal worth $122 million, or $22.5M per year? This all happened before the NBA Draft, which started on Tuesday. The Wolves gave up their first round pick (No. 28) as part of the deal. Ahead of Wednesday's second round, in which Minnesota will select the No. 33 pick, Happy Hour sat down with resident Timberwolves analyst and pulls-no-punches die-hard fan Chris Johnson, the University of Sioux Falls men's basketball coach and Twin Cities native. The moves, ANT's happiness, the decision to let Nickeil Alexander-Walker walk last summer, the team's depth, the lack of a true point guard (at the moment)... all factor into the Timberwolves' chances of emerging again as a Western Conference and NBA Finals contender. So... are they? Johnson digs in. Mayor's Race still up in the air You think two points is a narrow margin of victory and defeat in a football or basketball game? Well, 40-38 or 116-114 has nothing on 18,279 to 18,277. That's the vote tally in favor of Christine Erickson from Tuesday's mayoral runoff election in Sioux Falls. By percentages, it was a 49.91 to 49.91 percent tie. There will be a recount. We won't know who will be the city's next mayor for at least a couple of weeks. Sioux Falls Live editor Patrick Lalley has covered political races and elections in Sioux Falls and South Dakota for over 30 years and has tirelessly covered this particular campaign. Lalley sat down with the host at Orion Pub to make sense of the results, including how Smith narrowed the gap between him and Erickson by 9 percent from the initial election three weeks ago. In general, these "postgame" conversations all ask and answer the question, "What does this all mean?" Stocking stuffer: What Lalley makes of the three city council seats won on Tuesday?