Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

I couldn’t settle on just one topic this week, so I cut it down to nine.

• Let’s start with the Purple. I own the same jersey as Gov. Mark Dayton. The governor was sporting a purple Percy Harvin jersey during a rally on Saturday at the Mall of America. The vote on the stadium bill in the House might be completed by the time you read this, and I have a bad feeling it doesn’t pass on a close vote. If you are hoping for a yes vote, some good news, I am awful at predictions.

• The Chicago Bulls, who had the best record in the regular season, trail their first-round series three games to one to the eighth seeded Philadelphia. Injuries have depleted the Bulls, but I think they come back and win in seven. Don’t worry 76er fans, did you read what I wrote above?

• Amare Stoudemire cut his left hand badly after punching the glass around a fire extinguisher after his team lost Game 2 to the Heat. Not a smart move, but at least it showed his passion, and pain from losing. The pain continued as stitches were used to repair the lacerations on his hand.

• I saw the Avengers on Saturday and loved it. If you had to match up a superhero with a Minnesota athlete I would go with: Kevin Love-Iron Man, besides injury Love logged tons of minutes this season; Thor-Jared Allen, the God of sacks; Captain America- Michael Cuddyer, OK he’s no longer in Minnesota, but was a true team leader); and Hulk-Cal Clutterbuck. That might be a stretch, but he did record the most penalty minutes of any other Wild player with 103 this season, and the team wears green.

• “I’ll Have Another” won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. I cheer for the horse with the best name, and that was my second favorite name behind “Daddy Nose Best,” who placed 10th in the Derby.

• Albert Pujols finally hit his first home run of the season on Sunday, after signing his 10-year $240 million deal in the off season with the Angels. It’s too early to say he wasn’t worth the money. This year he is just making $12 million, as his salary increases each year in the contract. In 2021 at the age of 42 he is set to make $30 million a year.

•Brian Dozier and Liam Hendricks visited the studios as part of the Twins winter caravan this year. Last year both were named Minor League players of the year in the Twins organization. Hendricks has started four games for the Twins this year and has struggled, with a 0-2 record and a 9.00 ERA. When it comes to Dozier, look for him to start for the Twins at shortstop during this week’s series against the Angels.

• Preseason begins for the Lynx on Thursday with the regular season beginning a week from Sunday. Make your plans for another parade in October. With pretty much everyone back, the Lynx should cruise to back to back WNBA titles.

• And are you crossing off the days on your calendar? 80 days to go until the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Basketball and Swimming are fun to watch, but I can’t wait for table tennis and water polo.