Tuomala Joins The TV Haves, Could Care Less About People With Old TVs And/Or No Cable

Last night's Wild vs. Avalanche game was a tough one to watch. Because the Wild once again didn't score until the third period? No. Because the game once again went to overtime? No. Because it started at 9 pm and didn't end until after midnight? No.

The game was tough to watch because it was on channel 45 and wasn't offered in HD. I bought myself an HDTV for Christmas and sports looks amazing in HD. How does a regular cable sports airing look now? As I sniffed last week at my sister's while watching the Kansas vs. Memphis championship hoops game: It's tough watching sports on a regular definition TV.

To make it worse, channel 45's picture looked even grainier than a normal cable picture. In fact, I don't think I've seen such a grainy picture for a hockey game on TV since watching Sioux games in the dorm in the mid-eighties with a beat-up Zenith using rabbit ears. C'mon channel 45 - enter the 21st century and get an HD channel! Or else the Wild/NHL/whoever decides these things should take up Joe Anderson's suggestion today on Dan Barrerio's KFAN program - don't black out the Versus HD broadcast and let Twin Cities viewers watch that one if they choose.

No problem tonight: The even-numbered games in the series are on FSN HD.