Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. -- With frosted, unmarked windows and no sign hanging from the storefront, Target's retail crime investigations center doesn't even look like it is being used.

But inside, analysts and investigators are poring over footage from surveillance cameras and inventory spreadsheets. They are searching for leads on theft rings that have replaced old-school shoplifters with sophisticated criminals.

It's a battle in which major U.S. retailers are struggling to gain ground. While retailers spend $12 billion a year to battle organized retail crime, thieves pilfer $15 billion to $30 billion annually, a huge blow to businesses and, ultimately, their customers.

"This is about the players and them saying and doing the right things. What game number are we at right now? Sixty? Game 60 has little to do with coaches. We're just kind of stepping and getting out of the way and letting these guys play."

--Todd Richards, Feb. 22, after the Wild rose to fifth in the West

MINNEAPOLIS -- This is a story about NFL players that has nothing to do with labor, lockouts and lawyers.

It's a story about Minnesota Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie, yet it shines a light on something other than TMZ, Twitter or the size of the big man's Hollywood bar tab.

No, this is a story about 10 NFL players and their time spent helping on two charitable missions in Africa this month.

As you filled out and tore up your brackets, immersed yourself in buzzer-beaters and shocking upsets for four solid days, and rooted for every underdog from Butler to Binghamton, here's the one thought that probably never occurred to you about the NCAA men's basketball tournament: Gee, it seems so small.

Silly sports fan. That quaint, miniature version of March Madness is about to seem as obsolete as peach baskets.

Everything about the 2011 tournament is bigger and, the NCAA prays, better. There are three additional teams invited, an extra day of competition, dozens more games available to watch on three new channels, and way, way more money at stake than ever before. Heck, even CBS' Final Four broadcast team has added a third voice.

LOS ANGELES -- "Hey, look at that funny guy!"

It was hard not to notice the gentleman in question, with his fake doctor's outfit, giant sunglasses and a big sign that read, "Free test." He pointed toward a storefront harmlessly advertised as The Holistic Center -- with the letters "THC" suspiciously prominent.

Nothing like having your 3-year-old daughter point out a medical marijuana facility to you.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A year ago, the Minnesota Wild broke for the Olympics on Feb. 15 right in the middle of a playoff race, albeit on the outside looking in.

A year later, the Wild again is in the thick of the playoff hunt, but as center Kyle Brodziak says, "It definitely has a different feel than last year."

Sure does. This is a confident hockey team.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Not long before tipoff Friday night the Minnesota Timberwolves learned that Utah's best player and top scorer, point guard Deron Williams, would not play because of a sore right wrist.

Time to start getting worried.

You've seen this before, against a beat-up Charlotte squad. Or against Denver, when the Nuggets were missing three starters, but came to Target Center and won. Heck, you've seen all this before: shaky weak-side defense, turnovers by the dozens, and we mean that literally.