It’s Saturday and time again for the weekend links. This week: ESPN’s soccer coverage just got a lot better, plus a very good Twins link, and a few questions about just what’s happened to NASCAR.

The Wild failed to officially sell out a game for the first time in team history, selling about 90% of capacity for their preseason opener against St. Louis last night. At SBN Minnesota, I write that maybe that’s all for the best.

Michael Rand is an American hero. I know this because he described his Saturday to me, via text message:

1. Get up early and play golf, despite it being about 48 degrees out this morning.
2. Attend Twins game at noon.
3. Ditch early for Gophers-USC game at 2:30.
4. Finish off the day by driving up to Blaine – on a whim, mind you – to watch the NSC Minnesota Stars beat Vancouver 1-0.

This is why we like the guy; he actually likes sports. And on that note: here’s the weekend links! Lots of Twins this week, plus a rugby-flavored air safety video. (Seriously.)

Rumors are rife that, tomorrow, Penn State will announce that the school is adding ice hockey as a varsity sport – a move that could very well lead to the creation of the long-awaited (and long-feared) Big Ten Hockey Conference. At SB Nation Minnesota, I say get ready, because it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. The only question: is it a good idea?

Monday, the Timberwolves bought the entire back page of the Star Tribune sports section, in order to print a letter to fans. The basic message: “We suck. We know. We’re sorry. Buy tickets anyway!”

Over at Canis Hoopus, I added in a few, shall we say, unsaid but implied things that weren’t in the letter. Please go check it out.

This week at RandBall, we’re remembering the Metrodome on football Saturdays (and not fondly, either). While we’re at it, there’s soccer, hockey, baseball, and pro football to discuss, as well, so head on over for another edition of the Weekend Links.

“Weekend links?” you might be saying, right now. “But it’s already Thursday! These things are so old even a dorm cafeteria wouldn’t try to pass them off as goulash!”

Well, I’m sorry. It was Labor Day weekend. What can I say? Anyway, the holiday weekend effort at RandBall contains the usual; football, baseball, more football, more baseball, and some basketball. Don’t tell me I can’t go mainstream, when I want to.

Like many Minnesotans, I’ve got Purple Fever at the moment, as the Vikings open their 2010 campaign against the Saints on Thursday night. It’s so easy to see this game as a continuation of the conference championship from last year, and so easy to take this game as a harbinger of the rest of the year. Unfortunately, it’s still just one of 16 that Minnesota will play this year, and it doesn’t necessarily prove anything. Over at SB Nation Minnesota, I look at three things that this game won’t prove – no matter what happens.

The NSC Minnesota Stars announced yesterday that, without a rather well-off private partner to fund the team, they won’t return in 2011. I cover some of the details at SB Nation Minnesota, but barring a real surprise, it looks like the 21-year run of pro soccer in Minnesota may be at an end.

The Twins were off yesterday, and so I spent my Twinkie Town space making a resolution: to be calm and enjoy the pennant race this year.