>> ERIC: FALL IS OFTEN A SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MINNESOTA SPORTS FANS, AND THIS YEAR IS A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE.

THE TWINS SEASON ENDED SO POORLY THEIR MANAGER WAS FIRED.

THE VIKINGS QUARTERBACK CONCERNS CONTINUE.

THE LYNX FAILED TO MAKE THE WNBA FINALS.

BUT, ALAS, THE MINNESOTA WILD GAVE US A GLIMMER OF HOPE BY BEATING ST.

LOUIS 5-ZIP IN THEIR SEASON OPENER THURSDAY NIGHT.

LARRY FITZGERALD IS HERE.

WHEN HE IS NOT TALKING SPORTS WITH US HERE IN STUDIO B, FITZY DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

PHEE, WNBA.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

>> Cathy: DOESN'T THE COMMISSIONER HAVE TO LEAVE?

>> WOW.

I WOULD THINK SHE'D HAVE TO GO, BECAUSE NAPHEESA COLLIER'S GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE BODY OF THE PLAYERS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT DONE, AND CATHY ENGELBERT, TO ME, IS SEEMING LIKE SHE'S JUST TRYING TO PUSH THIS THING ASIDE.

>> Eric: COMMISSIONER.

>> YEAH, AND I DIDN'T SAY THIS, I WAS MISQUOTED ON THAT.

BUT SOMEHOW THEY'VE OT TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A MEETING WHERE THEY COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT SHE REALLY SAID ON THE RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS TERRIBLE FOR THE WNBA FINALS TO HAVE THIS HANGING OVER IT.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE VIKINGS.

I DID NOT WATCH THEM IN EUROPE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> WELL, THEY WERE FORTUNATE.

I THOUGHT CLEVELAND OUTPLAYED THEM, THEY RAN 440 YARDS, THE VIKINGS HAD TWO OPPORTUNITYOVERS AND EVEN HAD A KICK HIT A WIRE.

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE, HANGING IN THE STADIUM.

BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK THE NEXT TIME THEY GO OVER TO LONDON, WHICH WILL BE SUNDAY WHEN DENVER PLAYS THE NEW YORK JETS.

BUT THE VIKINGS ARE 3-2, THEY'RE IN A FORTUNATE POSITION, I THINK, CONSIDERING THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK WENT DOWN.

THEY'VE HAD A TON OF INJURIES.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN A VIKINGS TEAM HAVE THIS KIND OF INJURY SITUATION, I MEAN, THEY PLAYED WITH THREE STARTERS OUT OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE OVER IN LONDON, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO BEAT THAT CLEVELAND BROWN TEAM, FEISTY CLEVELAND BROWN TEAM THAT GAVE UP ON JOE FLACKO LAST WEEK.

>> Eric: ARE THE VIKINGS USING McCARTHY'S INJURY AS KIND OF COVER TO -- BECAUSE HE'S NOT YET READY?

AND THAT WENTZ IS DOING WELL ENOUGH?

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ANALOGY.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT HE SPRAINED HIS ANKLE IN THAT SECOND GAME AGAINST THE ATLANTA FALCONS.

IT WAS LIKE NEWS TO ME.

I SAID, OH, REALLY?

HE WALKED PRETTY STRAIGHT IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER THE GAME.

BUT I THINK THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN THE ABILITY OF CARSON WENTZ AND HIS EXPERIENCE AND HOW HE'S KIND OF LIFTED THIS TEAM IN A WAY THAT IT NEEDED IT BECAUSE WHEN JJ WAS IN THERE, ALTHOUGH HE WAS DOING HIS BEST AND TRYING TO MAKE THE PLAYS, THEY WERE ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OFF OR SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW?

AND, SO, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO JUST LET THIS PLAY OUT.

AND LET HIM CONTINUE TO PLAY CARSON UNTIL THEY DECIDE THAT JJ IS 100%, AND READY TO PICK IT UP.

>> Cathy: I THOUGHT THE WILD LOOKED PRETTY GOOD IN THAT FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON.

>> IT WAS IMPRESSIVE, CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A 28-YEAR-OLD PLAYER WHO'S ON THE BRINK OF BEING A SUPER STAR IN KIRILL KAPRIZOV AND THEY GAVE HIM ALL THIS MONEY, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE STATE OF HOCKEY, AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN PRAYING AND TALKIN' ABOUT -- WE WANT THE STANLEY CUP, OKAY?

IS THIS TEAM GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF BEING ABLE TO COMPETE.

GUSTAVSSON LOOKS PRETTY GOOD IN GOAL, I MEAN, WHEN HE'S GOT 12 SHUTOUTS ALREADY IN HIS CAREER, HE'S A YOUNG GUY, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

>> Eric: YOUR TIMBERWOLVES, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME CAST, MAYBE A LITTLE DEEPER BENCH?

>> I THINK A LITTLE DEEPER BENCH.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIENCE ON THAT TEAM.

AND ANTHONY EDWARDS IS CONTINUING TO, YOU KNOW, HE'S LIKE A JET, STILL FLYIN' AND GRAZING HIS GAME.

IF HE -- RAISING HIS GAME.

IF HE CONTINUES TO RAISE HIS GAME, THEY'RE GOING TO BE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR, BEING IN THE FINALS THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: IS DILLINGHAM READY TO EXSPELL CONNOLLY AT POINT GUARD.

>> I THINK O. HOW LONG CAN CONNOLLY PLAY?

>> Eric: 37, 38.

>> WHEN E PLAYS, HE'S LIMITED FROM THE STANDPOINT, HE CAN'T GET UP AND DOWN THE FLOOR WITH THESE GUYS FOR 48 MINUTES, HE CAN PLAY IN SPURTS.

BUT HE'S STILL VERY VALUABLE TO THEM IN TERMS OF HIS ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN THE OFFENSE TO THE YOUNGER GUYS.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> WHO KIND OF LOOK OVER IT.

>> Eric: WE'LL HEAR YOU ON THE RADIO.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS, MAN.

>> Cathy: THANKS, FITZY.

SEE YOU LATER.