Randy Foye: Sparkplug, long range shooter, driver to the hoop, shot blocker.

Wait. Shot blocker?

Yup - Foye did it all here in Memphis tonight, using his slick shooting styles and his hops to help Minnesota win for the third time in a row, and the fourth time in the past five games.

I’ve seen Kevin McHale get animated a few times since he took over as coach a month ago. But, man was he amped after Foye’s block on O.J. Mayo led to Ryan Gomes’ layup late in the game. The play all but sealed tonight’s win.

“Now that’s a block! Now that’s a block!” McHale screamed. Later, McHale called the play “ridiculous.” Of course, he meant it in a good way.

(Want more McHale quotes? His advice to one ref tonight, hoping it would get relayed to the guy on the other side: “Tell him to tone it down a bit both ways; nobody came here to watch him.” Ha!)

One aspect of tonight’s game that did not get into the story but I really want to address is the team’s physical play. Everyone seemed to have it; but how about Brian Cardinal? Did you see the play after he made the bad pass early in the second quarter? Mayo saved Cardinal’s poor pass from going out of bounds by flipping it to Hakim Warrick. But before Warrick could get the ball, Cardinal dove in and the two wrestled to the ground. A jump ball ensued, and the Wolves gained possession.

Cardinal also showed some grit by falling over backwards for a rebound (or maybe it was a blocked shot …) in the fourth.

Wolves PR folks give me grief because I think I’m the only person in town who has requested Cardinal for an interview (I think I’m up to four or five now). But if he plays like this, he might be finding tape recorders near by more often.

Finally - Mike Miller is fine. Yes he came down awkward on that right ankle again. But it was just tweaked, and evidenced by his 28 minutes tonight he’ll be good to go for tomorrow against the Thunder. But what a scare, eh? The last thing this team needs is another injury.

OK - I’m out for tonight. I fly back to the Twin Cities tomorrow and will be heading straight to Target Center for more action.

I wonder if it’s still raining outside??? Time to find out.

BYE!

Hello from Seattle Memphis. The weather here has not changed since my flight landed yesterday afternoon: Cold, rainy and fog. I braved the rain last night in search of dinner (and some fine live music) and today heading to FedEx Forum for the shootaround. But tonight, I took the trolley. Hey, it’s only a buck. To stay dry, why not?

If you think folks in the Twin Cities are crazy about the weather, mercy you should see how they treat a good old fashioned rain storm here just north of Mississippi. During the Fiesta Bowl last night, the local TV folks kept reminding viewers that the temperature was “close to 32 degrees” and that travel should cease until morning. Now, I’m all for safety. No one should drive in a glare-ice storm. But this was not. The CONSTANT crawl on the bottom of the screen was just a tick over the top for some cold rain. At least for a lifelong Midwesterner like myself. Back home, we only lead newscasts with the weather when there’s an inch of snow at rush hour

OK - on to some basketball. Coach Kevin McHale today said Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair will see plenty of time at the guard positions while Kevin Ollie is out.

“Hopefully we can begin to get more of a multi-flow offense where different guys are handling the ball,” McHale said. “There’s no ‘they’re guards; they’re forwards.’ They’re basketball players. They’re going to go play basketball.”

Both Foye and Telfair this morning said they’re ready for whatever McHale asks them to do. Telfair, though, did say he would rather play with the ball in his hands than off the ball.

“It’s, again, whatever’s best for the team,” McHale said in response. “Bassy will have the ball some. But it will be in his hands, then out of his hands. Hopefully getting everybody involved.”

Finally, in news that should shock no one but is kind of a head-scratcher when you think about it, it’s Elvis Night here at FedEx Forum. Security guards, ushers and game staff are all wearing big Elvis-esque sunglasses. It’s an interesting sight. However - in Memphis, isn’t every night Elvis night? I say yes, simply based on the music I’ve sampled so far.

Tip-off in an hour. Enjoy the game!

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