Let's face it — Mid-July is the Sahara Desert of the sports events landscape, locally and nationally.

But that doesn't mean there aren't some fun local and national topics for Happy Hour host John Gaskins to bounce around over beers on an idle Wednesday afternoon at The Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer:

• What do we make of the "Swing Off" determining the MLB All-Star Game winner?
• Why does baseball have the best all-star game?
• Why is "run it out" is the most annoying fan whine in baseball?
• Why are the Canaries such a fascinating watch full of incredible individual characters and stories?
• How does USD, of all schools, have an incredible pole vaulting dynasty?
• What should we most look forward to for MVFC Football Media Day on Monday?
• What are the top Sioux Falls Metro high school football storylines heading into the fall?
• Wu Tang Clan in Denver or Nelly in Minneapolis — Who saw the better show?

They didn't exactly solve the world's problems, but John and Trent at least killed an hour that hopefully may have made your day, or your long drive or jog somewhere.

Before that...

The college football world opened up its eager eyes toward Alabama and South Dakota native Kalen DeBoer on Wednesday.

So, what was the former University of Sioux Falls Cougar's highlight while facing the white hot spotlight in Atlanta, just a few days after "Kalen-Palooza" swept Sioux Falls last week?

While some Crimson Tide fans or talking heads like Paul Finebaum may think the former University of Sioux Falls player and coach is on a "scorching hot seat" after the worst season in Tuscaloosa in 17 years, Happy Hour host John Gaskins pegged one statement at the podium, plus DeBoer's track record as reason to believe Bama will be back in the national title hunt in second season.