SDSU's Rob Bishop, Twins voice Cory Provus, Stampede coach Ryan Cruthers & president Jim Olander & the Herd Homecoming: This week's "South Dakota Sports Lounge" from Midwest Sports Plus

FULL SHOW: UND coach speaks about tampering, Kyler Murray's new lot in life with Vikings, and World Cup 101 for Dummies: Where to watch in Sioux Falls and what to know

It's party time for both soccer die-hards and those who watch the sport only when Team USA plays in the World Cup. For the American men, it has been 12 years. Welcome back to the party, indeed, pal. The first USA game is on Friday night against Paraguay, and Happy Hour provided an entertaining "World Cup 101 for Dummies" cram session for those who want some idea of what to expect on Friday and beyond, but haven't studied yet. Happy Hour isn't taking you to the library. Instead, on Wednesday, the show traveled to kRav'N at 69th and near Louise Avenue, the new World Cup watch party venue for the American Outlaws' Sioux Falls chapter. So, pull up a bar stool, order a cold pint, and enjoy the hosts pepper the American Outlaws of South Dakota president Clint Krahn and kRav'N bartender Jackson Rentschler about the big event. * Who are the players to watch? * What are realistic USA expectations? * Why "style" do the Americans play? * How pivotal is a successful World Cup to "the growth of the game?" * How much has soccer's popularity in Sioux Falls grown since the last men's World Cup came to the U.S. in 1994? Before all this, the Happy Hour host reacts to University of North Dakota football coach Eric Schmidt's explanation of the "tampering violation" the Fighting Hawks self-reported the the NCAA and the recruiting penalties that resulted. Upon further review, maybe this publicity will actually help UND more than hurt it. Plus, Cam Newton provided a quirky but effective analogy comparing Kyler Murray's situation in Minnesota to his conditions in Arizona. In the host's mind, it's more evidence that Murray should not only start over J.J. McCarthy, but there's a decent chance Murray will thrive.

World Cup 101 for Dummies: Sioux Falls watch party and soccer primer with Clint Krahn (American Outlaws of SD) & Jackson Rentschler (kRav'N Bar & Grill)

It's party time for both soccer die-hards and those who watch the sport only when Team USA plays in the World Cup. For the American men, it has been 12 years. Welcome back to the party, indeed, pal. The first USA game is on Friday night against Paraguay, and Happy Hour provided an entertaining "World Cup 101 for Dummies" cram session for those who want some idea of what to expect on Friday and beyond, but haven't studied yet. Happy Hour isn't taking you to the library. Instead, on Wednesday, the show traveled to kRav'N at 69th and near Louise Avenue, the new World Cup watch party venue for the American Outlaws' Sioux Falls chapter. So, pull up a bar stool, order a cold pint, and enjoy the hosts pepper the American Outlaws of South Dakota president Clint Krahn and kRav'N bartender Jackson Rentschler about the big event. * Who are the players to watch? * What are realistic USA expectations? * Why "style" do the Americans play? * How pivotal is a successful World Cup to "the growth of the game?" * How much has soccer's popularity in Sioux Falls grown since the last men's World Cup came to the U.S. in 1994?

Kyler Murray's Vikings upgrade according to Cam Newton, plus latest remarks from Murray & McCarthy on QB battle

Cam Newton provided a quirky but effective analogy comparing Kyler Murray's situation in Minnesota to his conditions in Arizona. In the host's mind, it's more evidence that Murray should not only start over J.J. McCarthy, but there's a decent chance Murray will thrive.

UND coach speaks out about "tampering violation" and NCAA sanctions

The Happy Hour host reacts to University of North Dakota football coach Eric Schmidt's explanation of the "tampering violation" the Fighting Hawks self-reported the the NCAA and the recruiting penalties that resulted. Upon further review, maybe this publicity will actually help UND more than hurt it.

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.