Minnesota [18-12 (9-9), RPI: 76, SOS: 46] The Gophers are probably a fringe bubble candidate at best, but they’re back on the board after routing Iowa 88-53 on Sunday to finish 9-9 in Big Ten play. Frankly, the Gophers have as much of an argument as Illinois to be included in the NCAA field. The Gophers are 4-4 in their last eight games, including a 62-60 victory at Illinois on Feb. 27. The Gophers have three high-end victories, having beaten Wisconsin (home), Butler (neutral) and Ohio State (home). Minnesota is 3-6 against RPI top-50 foes, 4-7 against the top 100 and 3-7 in true road games. The Gophers have five losses to RPI sub-100 opponents, including an ugly 83-55 defeat at Michigan on Tuesday night. The Gophers are the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tourney and play No. 11 seed Penn State on Thursday.

Seems like a stretch to me, but it would be fun.

After all, even if you’re not a conspiracy wing nut and want to give people the benefit of the doubt, it is not hard to imagine the Ad Hoc Sub-committee for Selecting a Keynote Speaker deliberations going something like this:

Sub-committee Member #1 (chair): OK, this meeting has come to order. We need to select a speaker to recommend for the keynote address to this year’s convention. The table is open for discussion.

My brother-in-law and sister have met Joe a couple of times. Troglotyke #3 has played catch with him in someone’s back yard and talked to him on the phone. By all accounts, in addition to being one of the best in the game at what he does for the last few years, including setting a team record for saves last year with 47, he’s a quality guy.

By all accounts I have heard, as well, he’s a great guy. I think the hole can be filled by the Twins, but tough not seeing him about there on the hill in crucial situations.

Nathan has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will decide whether to have surgery within two weeks, ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney reported.

Surgery would likely cost Nathan all of 2010.

The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Twins announced today that the first-ever baseball game at Target Field will be played Saturday, March 27 when the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at 1 p.m.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan is headed back to Minnesota to get his surgically repaired right elbow checked out.

The heat is on, and it’s directly targeted at Darryl Sutter, the general manager there, based on the fact that he’s fired his bullets already.

After a fast start, the Flames have been in desperation mode both on and off the ice. If they miss the playoffs, both Sutters should be looking for employment.

How about a nickel tax every time you talk on the cell phone? I understand that there are already taxes on the phone bill, to provide heating assistance to the Inuit people or phone service to the underprivileged or whatever.

Attention Nexus One users: do not sit on your Nexus One! The Nexus seen above, owned by Crave UK, just randomly cracked while being charged.

For a Nexus One user, this is kind of scary. I really wonder if it was heat related.