>> There were two clues why smart people felt Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez would prevail over Glen Taylor in the recent arbitration case for the $1.5 billion sale of the Timberwolves and Lynx.

First was when Michael Bloomberg, reportedly worth more than $100 billion, joined Lore and Rodriguez to infuse cash for ownership, and secondly, last fall while the arbitration hearing was underway, Taylor’s lawyers quietly subpoenaed the NBA for records and assorted documents, which couldn’t have delighted the league.

>> No doubt Lore, and not Rodriguez, will be controlling owner if the Wolves-Lynx sale becomes official. And it wouldn’t be surprising, in a year or two, if Lore decides he doesn’t need Rodriguez and his baseball steroid-past as a partner.

>> Since Taylor agreed to sell to Lore and Rodriguez nearly four years ago, the value of the Wolves-Lynx has doubled. Taylor told the Pioneer Press two years ago that he had no reqrets about his decision to sell, that he had made his decision with the information he had at the time.

>> Before the outcome of the arbitration hearing, Taylor was asked by the Pioneer Press if he would be interested in buying the Twins. He said he would need to resolve his arbitration before considering the Twins.

>> If Lore and Rodriguez end up with the Wolves-Lynx, it’s certain they will seek public financing for a new arena. NBA arenas now cost at least $1 billion to build. One site that has been quietly mentioned for the Wolves-Lynx is just southeast from Mall of America in Bloomington.

>> A little birdie says Kevin Garnett will become part of the Timberwolves’ front office as soon as it’s official that Lore and Rodriguez get ownership.

>> There’s an outside chance that QB Matthew Stafford and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was offensive coordinator for the Rams’ Super Bowl season of 2021, could be reunited if Stafford can’t work out a new contract with the Rams.

>> O’Connell, the NFL coach of the year last season, now is 50-1 odds to repeat next season, per SportsBetting.ag.

>> There is no chance of Aaron Rodgers, 41, disposed of by the Jets, coming to the Vikings. The last thing O’Connell needs is that headache.

>> Aside from a season-ending collapse, notable victories at USC and UCLA last week should now make it an easy call to retain Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson, who is signed through 2027. Johnson has proven all he needs to win is more name, image and likeness (NIL) cash.

Johnson should be helped on July 1, when NCAA schools can begin spending up to $20 million a year to buy athletes in addition to NIL money.

>> Entering Saturday’s game against Penn State, of the 334 Division I men’s basketball teams in the nation, the Gophers ranked No. 91. The NCAA tournament starts with 68 teams.

>> Ran into Al Geiberger, the first PGA Tour golfer to shoot 59 (1977 Memphis Classic), the other day in Palm Desert, Calif. Geiberger, 87, played on two USA Ryder Cup teams and recounted an experience with teammate Lee Trevino.

It happened that a European golfer of note had won both his matches entering the final day, and would be playing Trevino in his last match. In the clubhouse before the match, Trevino vowed that he would defeat the European or kiss each of his USA teammates’ backsides.

Trevino subsequently lost and, Geiberger told the Pioneer Press, when he entered the clubhouse each of his teammates were bent over with trousers pulled down.

>> Pssst: Just weeks after accepting the head football coaching job at Cretin-Derham Hall, former Lakeville South coach Ben Burk has had second thoughts and decided he doesn’t want the Raiders job after all.

The obvious successor would be Dan O’Brien, the highly successful former St. Thomas Academy and Holy Angels coach whose son Casey is a 2017 CDH grad. Insiders say Dan O’Brien is interested.

>> While coach Johnny Tauer’s work with the University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team could someday warrant membership in the Big East, the school’s football team seems destined long term in the no-scholarship Pioneer Football League.

>> With 6-9, 250-pound Pharrel Payne’s exit from the Gophers for $500,000 and a new Mercedes, Texas A&M has risen to No. 7 nationally in men’s basketball.

>> New golf head professional at Edina Country Club will be Adam Chandler, formerly of TPC in Blaine.

>> Because Jared Allen was recently elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, don’t be surprised if the Vikings are named to play in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on July 31.

>> The NFL is considering up to eight international games for next season. If the Vikings are picked, it won’t be as a home team. That’s because, per their stadium lease, from 2026 to 2030 the Vikings can give up just one home game to play internationally.

>> Ex-Vikings QB Matt Cassel, 42, asked the other day if there was one thing he could change about his 15-year career, it would be staying in Minnesota in 2014 rather than having been traded to Buffalo.

>> Simley grad Michael Busch, 27, after playing for $741,500 with the Cubs last season and hitting 21 home runs, will play this season for $800,000.

Overheard

>> Patti Brooks on the 45-year anniversary Saturday of husband Herb’s USA Olympic men’s hockey team upsetting the Russians en route to winning the gold medal in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y.: “It’s funny because sometimes it seems like just yesterday, and then it seems like another lifetime ago. It does seem like 45 years when I look at the wrinkles on my face.”