The State of the Minnesota Vikings, Wild, Twins, Tennis, and AEW Wrestling

On the Jan. 18 edition of Minnesota Foul Play-by-play, we discuss the state of the Minnesota Vikings after their playoff loss to the New York Giants, how the Minnesota Wild stole one in Washington, what the future holds for Minnesota Twins’ batting champion Luis Arraez, the weather destroying the Australian Open, and whether Minneapolis’ own Top Flight can beat the Young Bucks.

Minnesota Vikings’ Playoff Loss and Resulting Press Conference

• Why aren’t we done with Ed Donatell?
  • Cap space is -$13 million
  • You can now trade players on spotrac.com! https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/tools/roster/minnesota-vikings/
    • Trade Dalvin Cook for…
    • PFF CB rankings: https://www.pff.com/nfl/grades/position/cb

Minnesota Wild Steal One in Washington

• Defense played incredibly, especially Fillip Gustavsson
  • Three of four goals scored by defensemen
  • 34 saves, with two big PP saves
• Great start to four-game road trip on East coast
  • Carolina, Florida, and Tampa Bay remain

Australian Open Aussie AF

• Weather has been shit
  • 98-degree weather had all outdoor matches suspended, Monday
  • Rain flooded the courts Tuesday and suspended play again
  • Result has been ESPN+ feeds showing empty outdoor courts four two consecutive nights
• No Nick Kyrgios
  • His doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, will play against Andy Murray around 2 a.m.
• 18-year-old qualifier Diana Shnaider pushes sixth-ranked Maria Sakkari
  • Shnaider plays my kind of game: flat, fast winners on every shot at nasty angles, taking all the chances
• Leyla Fernandez gets out of first round for first time, and with ease
• Two-seed Ons Jabeur faces Marketa Vondrousova around 2 a.m.
• Top seed Rafael Nadal loses after injury: nytimes.com/2023/01/18/sports/tennis/rafael-nadal-australian-open.html
  • Novak Djokovic is probably still the favorite; he takes on qualifier Enzo Coucaud around 2 a.m.

AEW Dynamite Preview

• Jake Hagar vs. Ricky Starks
  • He likes that hat!
• Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm
  • Team Willow all the way
• Bryan Danielson vs Bandido
  • Danielson must win to challenge MJF for the AEW Heavyweight Championship
• Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship
  • You gotta give the people what they want!
• Minneapolis’ own Top Flight in the main event vs. the Young Bucks, two-thirds of the AEW Trios Champions

Is this the big match the Martins finally win?: https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2023/1/18/23560297/aew-dynamite-preview-jan-18-2023-bryan-danielson-bandido-young-bucks-top-flight-jay-briscoe-tribute