Happy Hour with John Gaskins

You could make a darn compelling movie about the career of Adam Thielen, the small town Minnesota kid who played Div. II football, went undrafted, and became a Top 5 all-time wide receiver for his boyhood team, the Minnesota Vikings.   South Dakota men's basketball coach Eric Peterson says that if his M*A*S*H unit Coyotes — with eight lost players due to injury or departure since the start of the season — somehow cut down the nets in Sioux Falls in March, Hollywood should make a movie about them.   You could certainly produce a gripping documentary about 26th year head coach Aaron Johnston and his mid-major juggernaut South Dakota State women's basketball program's wildly impressive stretch of excellence and dominance in Sioux Falls and the Summit League.   And when a 30 for 30 or even Hollywood film about Aaron Rodgers' career and life is made, the host of "Happy Hour with John Gaskins" says the final chapter should involve Rodgers' year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2026. Rodgers, 42, and arguably on the Mount Rushmore of most talented NFL QB's of all time, might retire. But last offseason, the former Green Bay Packer flirted with the Minnesota Vikings and reportedly wanted to play for them.    Hear why — despite most Vikings fans wanting nothing to do with Rodgers either because he was a Packer or because they don't think he is an elite QB anymore — the Vikings should go after him again, despite Monday's playoff performance that suggested he's cooked.   The host digs into Rodgers' key clutch stats and what he was working with in Pittsburgh — which suggests he was a Top 10 QB in '25 — and projects success with a receiving core that includes Justin Jefferson, a still-brilliant offensive mind like Kevin O'Connell (who lost his way this season, then found it before it was too late), and a top shelf defensive coordinator in Brian Flores, who the Vikes are supposedly trying to lock down.   That topic leads off Wednesday's show. Then, we ask the question: Is Adam Thielen on the Mount Rushmore of Minnesota Vikings receivers?    Then, Johnston and Peterson each joined the program for over a half hour to talk about their seasons so far.   Hear about Johnston's endeavors as a youth sports parent to his kids, including as a shot clock operator in basketball games. Plus, his thoughts on how the Summit League schedules games, how Brooklyn Meyer has established herself as one of the best posts in the country, and a monster matchup with surging North Dakota State on Saturday.   Then, hear about the depths Peterson has had to go to keep perhaps the most injured college basketball team of all time's head above water.

Happy Hour host John Gaskins says yes, the Vikings — who are aggressively pushing to retain DC Brian Flores and seeking QB competition for J.J. McCarthy — should actively pursue Aaron Rodgers again because Rodgers was a Top 10 NFL QB in 2025, working with "dog meat" on his OL and with his WR. What would this mean for McCarthy's development and future? Plus, Adam Thielen announced his retirement. Where is he in the Pantheon of all-time Vikings receivers? 

Aaron Johnston on being a sports dad, Nancy Neiber (then and now), Brooklyn Meyer's dominance, identity of this year's team

USD's men have lost seven players to injury and another who left the team for personal reasons. The Coyotes even signed and enrolled two players — one from Arizona, another from Alaska — with eligbility who thought their college careers were over. Hear how fourth year coach Eric Peterson has handled the chaos, how he was able to sign new players mid-season, and how the Coyotes are navigating their schedule with seemingly one hand tied behind their backs.

The monster basketball showdowns SDSU's men and women have with North Dakota State this week — we need more of this! How good are the Jacks and Bison? Why is David Richman one of our favorite Dakotas coaches? Speaking of favorites, why is O'Gorman boys basketball coach Derek Robey — who announced Friday that after 40 seasons and six state titles that this season will be his last — is "one of the most underrated coaches in South Dakota history," not just for high school hoops, but all sports at all levels? But we start with, "holy (bleep), Nebraska is 17-0 and ranked in the Top 10!" Zim has a buzzkill "what if" for Husker fan John.