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Michael Rand
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Keep informed about sports news and trends in Minnesota, and laugh along the way, with Michael Rand and other Star Tribune writers and special guests each weekday morning.
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Oldest first
3 days ago
Inside Minnesota's huge -- and still growing -- club volleyball scene
Introduction: Host Michael Rand had an inkling the Celtics could still make it a series against the Heat even after falling behind 3-0. Now the series is 3-2 after another Boston win, and Game 6 will tell us a lot about whether the Celtics can make history and become the first NBA team to rally all the way back in series.
7:00: Jeff Day joins Rand to talk about his deeply reported story on the huge money and participation involved with club volleyball in Minnesota. It's a booming industry, with tournaments often playing out at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
29:00: Another rough game dropped the Lynx to 0-3.
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4 days ago
The task ahead for Vikings D coordinator Brian Flores + Celebrating the Joe Ryan trade
Introduction: Host Michael Rand recognizes that we can all be critical of trades that don't work out, so he decided to start Thursday's show by acknowledging a big deal that did work: the 2021 Twins trade for Joe Ryan, who is now 7-1 after Wednesday's win over the Giants.
7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for an examination of the team's defense and just how much is being put on the plate of new coordinator Brian Flores. His resume suggests he's up to the task.
27:00: Another successful debut for Minnesota Aurora.
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5 days ago
Chip Scoggins on Chris Finch's important year, Rocco Baldelli second-guessing and more
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the struggles of the Twins, Lynx and Loons on what was a rough Tuesday in Twin Cities sports. The Twins in particular have lost six of eight and are now just 25-24 -- still good for a lead in the American League Central but just the ninth-best record overall in the American League.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a deeper look at where Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has succeeded and where he needs to improve. This is an important year coming up for the Wolves coach, which was brought into focus not only by the Wolves' season but the high-profile coaching changes in the league. Plus Scoggins and Rand note a lot of recent second-guessing of Rocco Baldelli and the NFL's decision to allow Thursday night games to be changed.
33:00: Three high-profile Vikings players are not at voluntary workouts.
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6 days ago
Marney Gellner on overcoming breast cancer, 'SNL' dreams and one bold prediction
Michael Rand is joined by Bally Sports North host and play-by-play voice Marney Gellner for a wide-ranging interview touching on a number of subjects.
Gellner, who revealed earlier this year that she had breast cancer but is now cancer-free, talked about the struggle of dealing with that diagnosis and the good that she tried to create from it in her own life and for others. She also talked about her childhood dream of being a star on "Saturday Night Live," her North Dakota roots and her best memories of 20 years in the Twin Cities.
31:00: Rand finished the show with a look at a curious bit of strategy in the Twins' 4-1 loss to the Giants and three Timberwolves connections to the Nuggets' four-game sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
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May 22, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Bud Grant's memorial, Byron Buxton's injury and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Among the main things they cover:
*The Twins are struggling at the plate again and are now dealing with a potential injury to Byron Buxton. Can they maintain their lead in a weak AL Central?
*Bud Grant's public memorial service on Sunday was the right kind of celebration.
*The NBA playoffs continue to surprise us.
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May 19, 2023
Inside a fascinating new book on Pro Football Focus + The return of Napheesa Collier to the Lynx
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts by acknowledging that sometimes we try to make sports more complicated than they really are. What was wrong with the Lynx last season that caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade? Well, they were missing arguably their best player, Napheesa Collier, for almost the entire season. Now that she's back, will the narrative change in 2023?
7:00: Rand is joined by Vikings writer and podcaster Matthew Coller of Purple Insider. Coller recently completed a book about the football stats and data site Pro Football Focus called "Football is a Numbers Game," which tells the origin of PFF and how it has grown into being such an indispensable tool for teams and fans.
39:00: The Twins are suddenly stealing bases.
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May 18, 2023
Second-guessing Twins; in-depth on Gophers softball; Timberwolves lottery history
Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects a listener comment about the Twins' bullpen use during a 7-3 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday during which Emilio Pagan gave up a grand slam. Was it a question of strategy or a question of outcome? Plus the Twins came out of the game pretty banged up, while Minnesota United finally got well with a home victory.
9:00: Rand turns the spotlight on Gophers softball, which enters NCAA play on Friday. Minnesota has been in every NCAA tournament since 2013, and head coach Piper Ritter is a big reason why. She joins Rand for a discussion of her program, her path and her philosophy.
22:00: Jimmy Butler appreciation leads to an NBA Draft lottery rabbit hole. And now we know how much cap savings the Vikings are getting from the Za'Darius Smith trade.
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May 17, 2023
Do Twins have the best rotation in baseball? + Quintessential Minnesota outdoor stories
Introduction: Host Michael Rand has seen evidence for one-fourth of this season that the Twins have one of MLB's best starting rotations, and Tuesday's strong six innings from Bailey Ober in a 5-1 win over the Dodgers proved a good time to pause and recognize all that good work. The Twins lead the majors in innings pitched and strikeouts from starting pitchers -- a stark contrast to a year ago.
9:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer and editor Bob Timmons joins Rand for a look at his recent story on the state park registration system that has resulted in some unhappy Minnesota campers. And Timmons shares other details on enhanced mountain biking in the state and a touching tale he is in the process of reporting.
27:00: Former Wolves players aren't exactly thriving for the Lakers; the Spurs won the most anticipated draft lottery in 20 years.
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May 16, 2023
Old nemesis Phil Cuzzi haunts Twins again; Anthony Edwards' big offseason
Introduction: Host Michael Rand finds that the Twins might have dispatched an old nemesis by beating the Yankees in the season series this year, but they found two more on Monday. In losing their 11th consecutive game to the Dodgers, the Twins were undone by umpires in two key situations -- including some awful strike calls by the infamous Phil Cuzzi in a key situation.
6:00: Chris Hine joins Rand for a further dissection of Hine's recent interview with Wolves star Anthony Edwards. What are the offseason priorities for Ant? And how can the Wolves best support him?
28:00: A what-if for the Wolves and Wild; Za'Darius Smith was a good player here.
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May 15, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Alex Kirilloff's impact, Gophers softball and Za'Darius Smith
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a Target Field-record 29 runs for the Twins in their three-game series against the Cubs. An offense that was struggling is getting a big boost from Alex Kirilloff's return to health.
Reusse and Rand also check in on the NBA playoffs, which included interesting second-round conclusions for the Knicks and 76ers. Also add another voice to the Rudy Gobert "worst trade of all time" chorus.
The powerhouse Gophers softball team is in the NCAA tournament again. They've made it to 10 straight, excluding the COVID year of 2020. And Za'Darius Smith was right to put his house on the market, after all.
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May 12, 2023
Game-by-game Vikings predictions; Zarek Valentin from Minnesota United
Host Michael Rand goes through all 17 games of the Vikings' schedule released Thursday and makes win-loss predictions for each one. Does he come to an optimistic conclusion? Where are the soft and strong parts of the schedule?
11:00: Rand is joined by Minnesota United defender Zarek Valentin. In his first year with the club, Valentin is providing stability and veteran leadership to a team that has already had its share of obstacles. Valentin also talks about his love of Philadelphia sports and the terrible renderings of him in the FIFA soccer games.
28:00: Carlos Correa had the big hit for the Twins on Thursday, and manager Rocco Baldelli thinks it could be the start of a hot streak.
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May 11, 2023
Would a lineup of ex-Twins be better than their current lineup? We make one, 1-9
Introduction: The Twins got a sorely needed 4-3, 11 inning win on Wednesday against the Padres. The offense stalled again, getting just two runs in the first nine innings, but starting pitcher Pablo Lopez was excellent and the Twins got clutch hits in the 10th an 11th innings. It was a further reminder of their identity shift this year.
5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins and St. Paul Academy senior Tommy Verhey join Rand for a practical thought exercise. Rand, with the help of Verhey, put together a completely new Twins lineup comprised almost exclusively of players the Twins have traded in recent years. Plus they talk about recent Karl-Anthony Towns comments about the Rudy Gobert trade and examine Chip's column on sports gambling and college sports.
36:00: Not so fast on that new Phoenix Suns TV deal.
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May 10, 2023
La Velle E. Neal III on Byron Buxton, Emanuel Reynoso and Dalvin Cook
Introduction: Host Michael Rand noticed a lot of angst over Jaden McDaniels not being named to an All-NBA defensive team on Tuesday. Rand's thought: McDaniels is good, but his time will come. The bigger takeaway from the defensive voting is that Wolves center Rudy Gobert -- a first-team defensive player the last six years and a Defensive Player of the Year three years -- didn't get a single vote to be on this year's team. It underscores that he was far from being the player the Wolves thought they were getting in last summer's blockbuster trade.
8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a three-part conversation: How long will it take Emanuel Reynoso to be back on the field for Minnesota United? Is it a good thing that Byron Buxton seems to be the long-term DH for the Twins? And how much longer will Dalvin Cook be on the Vikings?
28:00: The Twins' offense is still stuck, but the Loons broke out on Tuesday.
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May 9, 2023
Which struggling Twins hitters should we be most (and least) worried about?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts the show with the NBA playoffs and two very different thoughts off of Monday's games. He watched the Heat take down the Knicks to take a 3-1 series lead and wondered, as he wrote Monday, whether a Knicks exit could stir up a Karl-Anthony Towns trade market. The nightcap was just a chance to marvel at two aging legends, Stephen Curry and LeBron James, try to will OK teams into the Western Conference Finals.
9:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand with a bunch of interesting news and tidbits, including: Carlos Correa helping to convince Byron Buxton to be a full-time DH; Royce Lewis is ahead of schedule on his injury rehab; with many Twins slumping, who is a candidate to break out and who should we be worried about? And just how exceptional is this Twins starting pitching?
32:00: Emanuel Reynoso is back with Minnesota United, but what will that mean?
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May 8, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the hitless Twins, Tim Connelly and playoff intrigue
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports.
The Twins had just 28 hits on a six-game road trip against AL Central foes Chicago and Cleveland. They're still in first place, but the gap between their excellent pitching and suspect hitting continues to get wider.
Reusse reacts to the lack of firm commitment from Wolves boss Tim Connelly, worries about his pal Tom Thibodeau's Knicks and notes Seattle's scoring outburst against Dallas.
And a finish with a high note: Gophers softball.
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May 5, 2023
Interesting Kevin Garnett thoughts; Why can't Minnesota United score? Endless Vikings QB talk
Introduction: Host Michael Rand was struck recently by a podcast featuring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce talking about the Timberwolves. In particular, KG's assessment of the franchise -- everything from big-picture Minneapolis issues to Anthony Edwards to small details -- was a fresh perspective worth our attention.
10:00: Local soccer writer and podcaster Jon Marthaler joined the show to talk about Minnesota United and their ongoing inability to score. Their identity is clearly built around defense, but until they resolve the Emanuel Reynoso situation the offense is stuck in the mud.
27:00: If you're tired of Vikings QB talk, I have bad news. We have a full year of speculation ahead of us given Kirk Cousins' contract situation.
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May 4, 2023
Adam Thielen on his departure from the Vikings, the receivers still here and his new start in Carolina
Introduction: In a Vikings-heavy show, host Michael Rand starts with the first public comments in a while form Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. He is set to be a free agent after this season and the Vikings were interested in taking a QB in the draft. It all sets up an interesting 2023 season for Cousins, but it's a situation he and the Vikings should be able to navigate.
13:00: Former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen joins Rand and reiterates that he wishes he could still be in Minnesota but that a fresh start in Carolina was probably for the best. Thielen addresses why his fit in Kevin O'Connell's offense wasn't ideal and expresses confidence in the receives still here.
27:00: White Sox reliever relishes striking out "cheater" Carlos Correa; Gophers women's basketball gets two players in one day.
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May 3, 2023
A message of hope from Wild GM Bill Guerin; Lynx forward Aerial Powers on the year ahead
Introduction: Host Michael Rand listened to Wild GM Bill Guerin's end of year comments about the progress the team made and actually agreed with a lot of the optimism for the future. Rand feels much better about the Wild's trajectory than that of the Wolves over the next five years.
14:00: Lynx forward Aerial Powers joins Rand for a look ahead to the season. Powers, one of the veterans on the Lynx, will be tasked with helping lead a turnaround after the Lynx missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons a year ago.
26:00: Final thoughts on the Twins, the suddenly vulnerable Dallas Stars and the NBA playoffs.
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May 2, 2023
Ben Goessling on the Vikings' long-term QB plan; Wild lacks killer instinct
Introduction: Host Michael Rand tried to find a common thread in the Wild's lack of first-round postseason success. Sometimes it's a lack of scoring. Sometimes it's goaltending. Sometimes it's special teams that have doomed them in the last seven playoff appearances. But one common thread: A failure to take advantage of momentum within a series.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to talk through a lot of the questions that persist even after the draft. What's the long-term plan at quarterback after the draft failed to yield Kirk Cousins' obvious successor? How will first-round wide receiver Jordan Addison help the offense? What comes next for Dalvin Cook and Za'Darius Smith?
37:00: Another perspective on Karl-Anthony Towns.
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May 1, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Wild's rut, the Wolves' future and the Twins' success
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for an evaluation of the state of Minnesota sports.
In the always volatile NHL playoffs, which this year has already included massive upsets, the Wild have remained a constant with their postseason futility. How do we explain seven straight postseason exits without advancing, which has spanned multiple GMs and coaches? And will this year's defeat be enough to turn fans away?
The Wolves, meanwhile, head into this offseason with some potential. But these playoffs have also been constant reminders of the failures (sorry Giannis) of their past.
And the Twins look like the best team in the AL Central, even with recent starting pitching injuries.
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Apr 28, 2023
Underwhelming first round for Vikings; Wild on the brink; Is this really the Wolves' plan?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand doesn't have a quibble with the Vikings taking WR Jordan Addison at No. 23, but he was nevertheless underwhelmed by what happened in the first round of Thursday's NFL Draft. Part of that is driven by expectations the Vikings created by putting an end date on the Kirk Cousins era and showing interest in drafting a quarterback. Part of it was an inability to accumulate more picks once it became clear that drafting a QB wasn't in the cards.
8:00: The Wolves say they are going to essentially run it back next year. But is that really the plan?
13:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand in advance of Friday's Game 6. Poor penalty killing and a lack of production from their star players have the Wild on the brink of elimination. But they also have a big opportunity Friday at Xcel Energy Center.
35:00: The Twins look like the best team in the AL Central, but pitching injuries are a concern.
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Apr 27, 2023
Making the case for a Karl-Anthony Towns trade; Vikings create draft expectations
Introduction: Host Michael Rand makes it clear -- it's all about the quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers was introduced Wednesday by the Jets and immediately started talking about adding to both the Jets' legacy, and perhaps unintentionally his own. The Vikings, meanwhile, might draft a quarterback Thursday night. Just the fact that it's a possibility adds a level of intrigue to this year's draft.
8:00: Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a breakdown of the season, which ended Tuesday in Denver. The big question this offseason is whether to make major changes after a disappointing year or to try to run it back with the same core. For multiple reasons, including future salary cap constraints, Rand lays out the case for a Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
35:00: Immaturity from Anthony Edwards, Thibs vs. Jimmy in the East, staying up late (again) for the Wild.
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Apr 26, 2023
Chip Scoggins on the Wild's penalty problem, missed chance for Wolves; Twins dominate Yankees
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the good news on a rough sports night, noting that the Twins won the season series against the Yankees for the first time in 22 years. That's an almost unfathomable amount of time, but maybe breaking that streak signals a bigger shift for the Twins.
7:00: A season of missed opportunities is over for the Wolves, leaving a lot of questions about the future.
12:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a breakdown of the Wild's big problem: If they can't kill penalties, they need to change their strategy. Because it has them on the brink of elimination. Scoggins and Rand also get into what the Wolves should do this offseason.
32:00: A Bill Guerin quote from August feels like foreshadowing now.
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Apr 25, 2023
Nemesis day: Aaron Rodgers, Yankees, Jimmy Butler and more
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the finally completed Aaron Rodgers trade through a personal lens. While he used to respect and like Rodgers, the sentiment changed a few years ago. How Rand feels about Rodgers could explain a lot of what went wrong between the Packers QB and his now former team. Plus the Twins beat the Yankees again, part of an encouraging start to the year against top teams.
12:00: Randy Johnson joins the show to talk about the Wild's pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night, the Gophers football team's spring game and the upcoming NFL Draft.
30:00: Will Hendon Hooker be available at No. 23? ... Jimmy Butler goes off for 56 points and has the Bucks on the brink of elimination ... Can the Wolves make up for another key absence in Game 5?
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Apr 24, 2023
Patrick Reusse on his Sunday adventure: Winning Wolves, whining Wild and welcome Twins
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at a whirlwind Sunday in Minnesota sports.
Reusse took in at least parts of three games Sunday: Twins in the afternoon, followed by Wild Game 4 in the early evening and Wolves Game 4 late at night.
The Wild missed a chance to take a 3-1 series lead in a 3-2 loss to Dallas. The Wild didn't like two penalties called on Marcus Foligno that led to goals. Reusse didn't like the Wild's penalty kill.
And the Wolves mustered up a playoff-worthy effort to stave off elimination even after blowing a 12-point lead late in regulation.
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Apr 21, 2023
Inside the NFL mock draft process; The thing the Wild, Wolves must do
Introduction: Host Michael Rand identifies the keys for the Wild and Wolves, who face critical Game 3s Friday back in Minnesota after disappointing playoff losses Wednesday. For the Wild, it's simple: Get back to the style of play that made the successful and stop being overthinking goalie decisions. For the Wolves, they need to lean into lineups that work -- even if it means pushing aside the struggling Karl-Anthony Towns.
8:00: The Athletic's Nate Tice, an NFL writer and podcaster, joins Rand for an inside look at the process of preparing for the next week's draft. Why do mock drafts change so much? What are evaluators looking at? And what will the Vikings do at No. 23? Plus Tice, the son of former Vikings coach Mike Tice, tells some great stories from that era.
35:00: The Twins pitching depth is about to be tested.
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Apr 20, 2023
Playoff drama: Wild's goalie blunder, Ant's brilliance, KAT's no-show and more
Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune Chip Scoggins in the immediate aftermath of two huge playoff games for Minnesota teams on Wednesday.
1:00: What were the Wild thinking in choosing Marc-Andre Fleury in goal after a brilliant regular season and Game 1 performance from Filip Gustavsson? Dean Evason invited a lot of second-guessing before the puck dropped, and it was only exacerbated in a 7-3 loss to Dallas.
12:00: The Wolves, meanwhile, looked like they were going to get blown out for a second straight game before rallying to take a lead going into the fourth quarter. They ultimately lost 122-113 despite Anthony Edwards' 41 points and in part because of more playoff struggles from Karl-Anthony Towns.
23:00: Hear from Evason on the goalie decision and Wolves head coach Chris Finch on trying to get more from Towns.
28:00: Hey, at least the Twins won and scored a lot of runs.
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Apr 19, 2023
Sarah McLellan on the Wild before Game 2; Twins can't score; QB intiruge
Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Twins after a 5-4, 10 inning loss in Boston on Tuesday. The news has been mostly positive for the 10-7 Twins, but they have been carried predominantly by pitching. Rand fears that the offensive woes -- No. 25 in slugging, No. 26 in batting average in the majors -- might eclipse the excellence of the pitching soon. Plus a look ahead to Game 2 of Wolves at Nuggets.
9:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand in advance of Game 2 at Dallas on Wednesday. After a 3-2, double overtime thriller gave the Wild a 1-0 series lead, what can we expect as they try to take control of the series? And how did playoff newcomers like Brock Faber stay so composed in Game 1?
30:00: The 49ers QB situation is worth watching.
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Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Part II: Chris Hine on the Wolves challenges before Game 2
In Part II of Tuesday's podcast, host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine for a look back at Sunday's disappointing 109-80 loss to the Nuggets and a look ahead to Game 2 of the playoff series on Wednesday.
The Wolves clearly need to make some offensive adjustments and figure out their identity if they are going to be competitive, but how possible is that given their physical and structural limitations?
And if this is a short series, what might that foreshadow for the offseason?
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Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Part I: Wild's 2OT thriller, Vikings drama, big-spending Twins
Introduction: With so much going on in Minnesota sports, host Michael Rand decided to split Tuesday's content into two episodes. But he still started with the biggest story, of course: The Wild's 3-2 double overtime win late, late late against Dallas on Monday (technically Tuesday). A team that rebuilt its style to perform better in the postseason was rewarded in a big way in Game 1.
13:00: There are some key faces missing from Vikings workouts this week, including Danielle Hunter and Dalvin Cook. What does that mean for the days leading up to the draft?
17:00: The Twins made a huge investment in Pablo Lopez, and a Minnesota woman finished fifth in the Boston Marathon.
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Apr 17, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Wolves blowout -- and a confession about the Wild
Host Michael Rand was joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look at a busy stretch in Minnesota sports.
The Wolves were clobbered 109-80 in their playoff opener late Sunday, and Reusse saw it coming. He turned it off midway through the second quarter, sparing himself some of the worst of it and adding a little extra sleep. Minnesota looked tired and lifeless. Can they be more competitive in Game 2 on Wednesday?
They'll be joined Monday by the Wild, who open their series at Dallas. Reusse confesses that he has a hard time generating big opinions about hockey.
Plus thoughts on the Twins and the American League after a split with the Yankees.
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Apr 15, 2023
Special Delivery: Timberwolves crush Thunder, make playoffs, set up crazy week in sports
Host Michael Rand went late, late, late with a special edition of the podcast after a 120-95 victory by Timberwolves over Oklahoma City in Friday's win-or-go-home play-in game at Target Center.
What it means: The Wolves are in the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004; they will open their series Sunday in Denver while the Wild opens Monday in Dallas, but Games 2-5 of both series will be on the same nights. Next weekend, with two home playoff games for each team and a home series for the Twins, will be quite the spectacle.
How they did it: Three big decisions by Chris Finch, excellence from surprise starter Nickeil Alexander-Walker, savvy from veteran Mike Conley and controlled excellence from both Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
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Apr 14, 2023
Wolves, Wild still waiting; Twins clobber Yankees; Boston Marathon, 10 years later
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that pretty much everything has been settled regarding the NBA and NHL playoffs -- unless you live in Minnesota. The Wild and Wolves still don't know their playoff fate heading into Friday night. Will the Wolves get in? And who will the Wild play? The answer could lead to Colorado in both cases. Plus the Twins scored nine runs in the first inning at Yankee Stadium.
11:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer and editor Bob Timmons joins Rand for an exploration of his piece on Minnesotans returning to run the Boston Marathon on Monday -- a race that comes 10 years after the tragic bombing.
27:00: Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell offered some interesting perspectives on quarterback evaluation.
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Apr 13, 2023
Chip Scoggins on what the Wolves, Wild must do; Feeling the MLB pace of play rules
Introduction: Host Michael Rand headed to Target Field for the first time this season on Wednesday to take in some baseball and to more accurately feel the impact of the pace of play rules implemented this season. What he found wasn't unexpected -- a crisper, faster game -- and it reinforced that he will be back sooner rather than later.
9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a look at the Wolves and Wild. The Wolves are now in a must-win game Friday against Oklahoma City, while the Wild are limping into the playoffs with injuries mounting.
28:00: A Gophers team had to cancel the rest of its season.
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Apr 12, 2023
Wolves squander large lead and opportunity; Draft will bring clarity for Vikings
Introduction: Host Michael Rand walks listeners through the disappointment of the Timberwolves' 108-102 overtime loss to the Lakers in Tuesday's play-in game. Even if they came in shorthanded -- by their own doing, mostly -- the game was there to take. But they squandered a 15-point lead and now face the possibility of elimination on Friday.
11:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for an update on the Vikings. We're still waiting for clarity on Dalvin Cook and Za'Darius Smith, but perhaps the draft in two weeks will spur some action and bring some roster balance.
30:00: Pablo Lopez continues to shine for the Twins, while the Wild's playoff seed has been determined.
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Apr 11, 2023
Chris Hine on Wolves fight, Gobert's suspension; did Lynx jump-start their rebuild?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at what the Lynx were able to do with the No. 2 overall pick and four more choices in Monday's WNBA Draft. Combined with comments about the roster from head coach/President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve, a new era seems on the way.
7:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand after an eventful 48 hours. Rudy Gobert took a swing at Kyle Anderson and is suspended for Tuesday's play-in game against the Lakers. Jaden McDaniels punched a wall and broke bones in his hand. What is the impact on both the present and the future of the organization?
33:00: Brock Faber made a strong Wild debut, while the Twins are missing Carlos Correa.
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Apr 10, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the punching Timberwolves, Gophers' pain and resurgent Twins
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at an extremely eventful weekend in sports.
They of course started with the Timberwolves' dramatic Game 82 on Sunday, which included Rudy Gobert taking a swing at teammate Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels taking a swing at a wall and the Wolves surviving to win and get a spot as the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. It wouldn't be the Wolves if there wasn't drama, but bigger questions loom.
Plus: The Gophers were outplayed by Quinnipiac over the final 40 minutes Saturday, even if we want to put the blame elsewhere. And Reusse finds faster games and cheap tickets leading to a Target Field resurgence.
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Apr 9, 2023
Special Delivery! Gophers men's hockey season ends in heartbreak
The top-seeded Gophers men's hockey team led 2-0 midway through the national championship game Saturday against Quinnipiac and was poised to capture its first title in 20 years. But then everything changed, as host Michael Rand and Star Tribune Gophers writer Randy Johnson talk about.
Minnesota couldn't sustain offense and tried to hang on for dear life. A late goal tied it and a very fast overtime winner -- just 10 seconds in -- sealed the Gophers' fate in a 3-2 overtime loss that will sting for a long time. You'll also hear postgame audio from a deflated head coach Bob Motzko.
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Apr 7, 2023
Gophers one win away; Is the Twins starting pitching for real?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Thursday's NCAA men's hockey semifinal between the Gophers and Boston University through the lens of a fatalistic Minnesota sports viewer. It seemed like one of those games where everything was stacking up against a local team ... right up until the third period, when the Gophers pulled away for a 6-2 victory that has them on the brink of their first national title in 20 years.
7:00: Phil Miller joins Rand ahead of Friday's home opener for the Twins. Their starting pitching has allowed just four runs in six games. Was that the competition, is the rotation just that good, or is there some combination of both at play?
24:00: Jim Souhan checks in from The Masters, where a ton of top contenders went low on Thursday but could face challenges over the weekend.
32:00: Jamison Battle to Ohio State.
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Apr 6, 2023
Twins TV battle heats up; La Velle E. Neal on Wolves, drafting a QB; Jim Souhan from The Masters
Introduction: Diamond Sports missed a payment to the Twins at the start of the season for the right to show games on Bally Sports North. As a result, Major League Baseball reportedly filed a temporary injunction in Diamond's bankruptcy case that would force either payment to the Twins by April 13 or allow the league to take over broadcasts. It's all part of an escalation that could usher in a new era of baseball on TV.
6:00: Jim Souhan joins host Michael Rand from Augusta where a very intriguing Masters is about to begin.
16:00: La Velle E. Neal III has a lot of opinions about the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings' quarterback situation.
42:00: How soon will Kirill Kaprizov be back with the Wild?
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Apr 5, 2023
Three big Wild questions: Kaprizov's return, playoff seed and Game 1 goalie?
Host Michael Rand notes at the top of the show the latest twist in a bizarre Timberwolves season. After losing to a tanking Portland team on Sunday at home, the Wolves went on the road and beat a good Nets team. That win gave the Wolves new life in the playoff race and clinched at least a spot in the play-in tournament.
6:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins Rand from Augusta where competing tours are colliding at The Masters.
13:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan talks through three big questions for the Wild: When will Kirill Kaprizov return, can the Wild win the Central Division and who will start in net when the playoffs start?
36:00: Caitlin Clark, the best women's college basketball player and the voice of reason.
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Apr 4, 2023
Dividing blame for disappointing Wolves; Are Twins for real? + Frozen Four preview
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the disappointing Timberwolves season (so far) and tries to discern where to direct the blame. He settles on four key people: GM Tim Connelly, head coach Chris Finch and big men Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.
14:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand in advance of the Frozen Four, where the No. 1 overall seed Gophers are trying to win their first NCAA title in 20 years.
26:00: The Wild clinched a playoff spot but lost ground in the division race; the Twins are 4-0 and looking like a legitimate threat.
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Apr 3, 2023
Patrick Reusse on an all-time Timberwolves low, the 3-0 Twins and great women's basketball
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Included in the mix:
*An all-time bad loss by the Timberwolves to the Blazers, which severely damaged Minnesota's playoff hopes and raises new questions about the offseason.
*The Twins starting 3-0 -- in three crisp and brisk games.
*A tremendous women's basketball Final Four.
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Mar 31, 2023
Championship odds, Claire De Lune on Lakers vs. Wolves, MLB pace of play
Introduction: Host Michael Rand gives gratitude on MLB's opening day for the pace of play changes made in the offseason. As a longtime baseball fan, Rand says he is far more likely to attend a game this year than in recent seasons.
4:00: Musician and NBA writer Clarie De Lune joins Rand for a breakdown of the Lakers ahead of Friday's huge game against the Wolves at Target Center. It's as fun an NBA season as any in recent memory, and plenty of twists are yet to come.
29:00: Rand runs down the playoff chances for local teams, which might surprise you.
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Mar 30, 2023
Rudy Gobert blasts NBA refereeing; Chip Scoggins on Twins; Bally Sports subscriber decline
Introduction: Host Michael Rand makes a run through two very important games Wednesday that had two very different outcomes. The Wild fended off the Avalanche 4-2 to stay in first place in the Central Division. Meanwhile, the Wolves were left fuming after a 107-100 loss to Phoenix -- with Rudy Gobert going off on perceived favoritism he sees with officiating.
9:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand on a number of subjects: The Twins' pitching plan, the Vikings' offseason and the Gophers football team's departures in the transfer portal.
33:00: Bally Sports North has lost more than half its subscribers in the last decade.
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Mar 29, 2023
Are the Twins AL Central favorites? + Mike Conley's impact and the Vikings' plan
Introduction: Host Michael Rand is still trying to discern the Vikings' offseason plan. It's late March, still several months from the start of the season. There is another wave of free agency and the draft to come. New players will obviously be added. But the overall vision of trying to rebuild while being competitive seems a lot muddier than it should be.
8:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an in-depth look at the Twins. With the season opener coming Thursday in Kansas City, there is considerable optimism. Projections suggest the Twins are a likely playoff team, and Miller says starting pitching depth is the big reason why.
31:00: Hear from Twins President Dave St. Peter on ballpark enhancements; Rand notes the impact of Mike Conley Jr. on the Wolves.
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Mar 28, 2023
Surging Wild and Wolves; NFL QB volatility; Marcus Fuller on college hoops
Introduction: Host Michael Rand recaps Monday's big wins for the Wolves and Wild over Sacramento and Seattle, respectively. The Wolves are now in sixth place in the West and the Wild are first in the Central Division. How both teams have been winning is impressive, but there is a lot of work ahead -- including more big games for both on Wednesday.
10:00: Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about the wild NCAA men's basketball tournament, your (likely) busted bracket, the Gophers' ongoing attempts to rebuild their roster and highlights from the boys' high school basketball tournament.
29:00: Lamar Jackson wants a trade, Packers GM fires back at Aaron Rodgers and La Velle E. Neal has a big (optimistic) Twins opinion.
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Mar 27, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Gophers hockey, Timberwolves and Twins pessimism
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Reusse made the trek to Fargo, N.D., for the men's hockey region final and saw the Gophers fend off St. Cloud State in a 4-1 victory for a berth in the Frozen Four. The depth, talent and determination of this year's Gophers team told the story.
12:00: The Timberwolves earned a big win over the Warriors on Sunday, with Karl-Anthony Towns supplying the clutch points in the closing minutes. The Wolves are over .500 again and have a legitimate chance at a top-6 seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Wild are in first place in the Central Division heading into the final stretch of games.
29:00: Twins pitcher Sonny Gray is not content to pitch five innings and doesn't think a lot of the other pitchers in the rotation are, either.
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Mar 24, 2023
Chris Hine on the Wolves + surprise Vikings move + big Gophers win
Introduction: Host Michael Rand was surprised free agent corner Duke Shelley signed with the Raiders, particularly if it meant the Vikings didn't do more to try to keep him. In a decent sample size, he was the team's best cover corner last season, and the Vikings can use all the help they can get in the secondary. Plus a recap of the Gophers men's hockey team's 9-2 win and the Big Ten's ongoing struggle in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine helps break down Wednesday's return of Karl-Anthony Towns and what it meant in the big picture. With eight games left in the regular season, Hine and Rand try to decide how many wins it will take to get the Wolves into the postseason.
32:00: The Wild got a point, but it should have been two.
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Mar 23, 2023
KAT's return, Gophers hockey revival, listener questions and negative Vikings fans
Introduction: Karl-Anthony Towns couldn't have scripted his return much better than what transpired Wednesday. After missing more than 50 games, he returned to an ovation at Target Center -- and later made the game-winning free throws with three seconds left in a 125-124 win over Atlanta. Is the mystery and cynicism over his absence forgotten?
8:00: Former Gophers men's hockey player Casey Hankinson joins Michael Rand for a look at the revival of that program and just how much fun this season has been. The Gophers play Canisius on Thursday in the NCAA tournament opener.
23:00: One report suggests Vikings fans have been -- by far -- the most negative base in the NFL during free agency. And it's time to check my social media for listener questions.
29:00: A big signing for the Loons.
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Mar 22, 2023
La Velle E. Neal on Top 10 Twins prospects; A quarterback to the Vikings at No. 23?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with some appreciation of Wild forward Matt Boldy, who has six goals and four assists in six games since Kirill Kaprizov's injury -- including the game-winning goal with barely any time left in overtime against New Jersey on Tuesday. Plus, is this the night that Karl-Anthony Towns returns for the Wolves?
7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for an update from Twins spring training. Neal gives an in-depth look at his Top 10 Twins minor league prospects list.
32:00: Hendon Hooker, the Tennessee quarterback, is projected to be taken No. 23 overall by the Vikings in one recent mock draft.
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Mar 21, 2023
In-depth with U women's coach Dawn Plitzuweit; Wolves win, KAT close?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand cautioned on Monday's show not to write off the Wolves, and he was proven correct just hours later when a short-handed squad -- still missing Karl-Anthony Towns and now also Anthony Edwards -- defeated the Knicks 140-134. We also learned some contradictory information about Towns, but more importantly that he's very close to returning.
9:00: Rand goes in-depth on the hire of Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit. You'll hear from Plitzuweit, AD Mark Coyle, Star Tribune writer Kent Youngblood, Gophers standout Mara Braun and all-time great Rachel Banham.
33:00: The Vikings' plan feels incomplete at the moment.
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Mar 20, 2023
Anthony Edwards' injury, new Gophers coach, U hockey's return to glory
Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse take a trip through the weekend in sports, which included two losses for the Timberwolves and an ankle sprain for star Anthony Edwards. With just 10 games left in the regular season, time is running out for the depleted Wolves.
12:00: The Gophers men's hockey team lost the Big Ten title game to Michigan, but Reusse still thinks this is a team -- as the No. 1 overall NCAA tournament seed -- that has a great chance to win the program's first national title in 20 years.
19:00: The Gophers hired Dawn Plitzuweit to coach the women's basketball team and will introduce her at a news conference today. Plus thoughts on the transfer portal, the Wild and the Twins.
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Mar 17, 2023
Big Friday for Vikings; warm St. Patrick's Day hockey memories; in praise of the Wild
Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through all the amazing things about the Wild's 14-game point streak, which has spanned a roster overhaul, an injury to Kirill Kaprizov and several different types of wins. Through it all, the Wild are now in great shape to win the Central Division.
7:00: The Vikings had a busy Thursday, but Friday figures to be even more interesting.
11:00: Take a trip down hockey memory lane back to 2012 and the spectacular 80 degree day in St. Paul for St. Patrick's Day, the WCHA Final Five and the Wild.
26:00: Transfer portal news for the Gophers.
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Mar 16, 2023
Wild outburst, Wolves frustration, Aaron Rodgers professes his love for Jets, Gophers women's hockey sendoff
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Introduction: Host Michael Rand hits on a number of topics, including Aaron Rodgers clearing the air (sort of) about his future with the Jets and his past with Packers and the Vikings retaining running back Alexander Mattison.
16:00: Let's focus in on Gophers women's hockey in advance of the Frozen Four.
22:00: The Wolves were left frustrated by a loss, Rand is left frustrated by Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wild won a throwback game.
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Mar 15, 2023
Three smart Vikings moves; Diamond Sports bankruptcy; Are Twins loaded with depth?
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Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at three moves the Vikings made Tuesday that he thinks were very smart: signing a shutdown corner, creating cap space with Kirk Cousins without doing a contract extension, and keeping their kicking game intact for 2023.
10:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller checks in from Florida, where the Twins are showing themselves to have quite a bit of pitching depth. The lineup might come down to health, but there are some encouraging signs there as well with Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco.
36:00: What does the Diamond Sports bankruptcy mean for local fans?
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Mar 14, 2023
'Competitive rebuild' for Vikings is two different years; inside the journey to the boys' hockey tourney
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Introduction: The Vikings are making some necessary and hard choices this offseason to get younger and shed salary with an eye toward the future. But in losing key players like Adam Thielen, Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks and Patrick Peterson (so far), it sure looks like we are very much into the "rebuild" part of the "competitive rebuild" philosophy brought in a year ago. Also, does the signing of a blocking tight end Monday signal a shift in the running game?
9:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by Chip Scoggins and Carlos Gonzalez of the Star Tribune for a behind-the-scenes look at how they told the story of Maple Grove's journey to the boys' hockey state tournament.
29:00: A much-needed win for the Wolves and two departures for the Gophers men's basketball team.
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Mar 13, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Bud Grant's life and legacy
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a remembrance of Bud Grant, the legendary Vikings coach who died Saturday at age 95.
From Grant's stoic sideline nature to his friendship with Sid Hartman to his sustained relevance late in life, Reusse and Rand go on a journey.
Reusse has no shortage of Grant stories, though he does have a regret: missing a recent chance to hear a few more.
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Mar 10, 2023
Kaprizov's injury timeline; the Lindsay Whalen era and what comes next; Vikings moves?
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Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand can't help but notice that it took the Minnesota Wild less than 24 hours to do what the Timberwolves haven't been able to do in 102 days: provide a clear timeline of when a star player is going to return. Kirill Kaprizov is expected to miss three to four weeks after sustaining an injury in Wednesday's game. Karl-Anthony Towns is doing some work, but we still don't know when he'll be back from his late November injury.
5:00: Kent Youngblood joins the show to add perspective to the end of Lindsay Whalen's time coaching the Gophers women's basketball team, what it means that several key players are sticking around and who might be coaching them next season.
23:00: Gophers hockey and football writer Randy Johnson checks in ahead of a big weekend on the ice and a big day for NFL hopefuls next week.
32:00: The Vikings didn't quite…
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Mar 9, 2023
La Velle E. Neal III on Gophers, Twins and Vikings; the Wild's victory, injury and mystery
Introduction: The unofficial "Gordie Howe hat trick" in hockey consists of a goal, assist and a fight in the same game. The Wild had a variation on that Wednesday in terms of making news: a victory, an injury and a mystery. The victory in Winnipeg moved Minnesota into a first place tie; the injury to Kirill Kaprizov overshadowed it; and the mystery is why Wild players didn't wear rainbow warmup jerseys before Tuesday's home game -- something they had planned to do as part of a Pride Night celebration.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on a number of topics, including: Ben Johnson's future with the Gophers; Lindsay Whalen's departure; the Wolves without KAT; the NFL quarterback market; and Twins story lines.
36:00: Johnson's Gophers earned a nice win Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament.
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Mar 8, 2023
Ben Goessling on likely Vikings moves -- and leverage with Kirk Cousins; good news for Gophers
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the lack of offense for the Wolves and Wild during Tuesday home games, including the increasingly conspicuous absence of Karl-Anthony Towns during a 117-94 loss to the 76ers. The Wild went into overtime tied 0-0 before losing in a shootout.
8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for another award-winning "Where's the money, Brzezinski?" segment. He puts on his salary cap analyst hat and determines what is next for the Vikings. The big question: Will they be able to make enough moves that they don't have to do a Kirk Cousins extension?
32:00: Good news for the Gophers: Three freshmen on the Gophers women's basketball team intend to stay even after Lindsay Whalen's departure.
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Mar 7, 2023
Analyzing the Wild's trade deadline moves; the downside of the NFL business; unlocking Rudy
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a pause from frantically analyzing the Vikings' salary cap situation to note that the business side of the NFL -- and sports in general -- kind of stinks. In what other industry would an exemplary employee like Eric Kendricks be a logical candidate to be fired?
7:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for a look at a busy stretch that saw GM Bill Guerin execute seven trades. The net result is a Wild team positioned better to score goals and perhaps make a playoff run.
30:00: St. Thomas carves out a niche; Rudy Gobert starts to shine.
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Mar 6, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Lindsay Whalen, the Wolves, Wild, Adam Thielen and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand had a number of topics to tackle on Monday's show. Among them: Lindsay Whalen and the Gophers going their separate ways during the Big Ten Tournament; the Wolves suddenly coming back to life; the Wild in contention for a top seed in the West; Gophers baseball starting the year 0-11; and Adam Thielen's future with the Vikings.
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Mar 3, 2023
An emotional day for Gophers basketball; Twins boss Derek Falvey on Correa, pitching and more
Introduction: We dealt with the news of the day on a special episode Thursday after Lindsay Whalen stepped down as Gophers women's basketball coach. On this show, host Michael Rand got into more of the emotion of the day -- one that stood in stark contrast to men's basketball coach Ben Johnson's uplifting Thursday on two fronts.
9:00: Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey joins the show for a discussion of the offseason pursuit of Carlos Correa, the assembly of this year's roster and the rules changes that will shape a lot of what transpires in 2023.
32:00: New look for the Wild, but same results.
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Mar 2, 2023
Special Delivery: Lindsay Whalen steps down as Gophers women's basketball coach
Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand off of Thursday's breaking news that Lindsay Whalen has stepped down as Gophers women's basketball coach after five seasons. Why didn't things work out, and where do the Gophers (and Whalen) go from here?
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Mar 2, 2023
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the math of Kirk Cousins; Chris Hine on what's at stake for Wolves
Introduction: Host Michael Rand plays a clip of Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talking at the Scouting Combine about Kirk Cousins and how QB play can be compared to a math problem. It was a complicated way of talking through a familiar question about what the Vikings should do at that position. Meanwhile, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy wants to run the ball to control the clock, which should make Dallas fans nervous.
9:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand as they try to figure out a confusing team. What is the most likely outcome the rest of the season?
31:00: A new look for the Wild and more of the same for the Gophers women's basketball team.
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Mar 1, 2023
Lou Nanne on a life in hockey; Wild make two trades; Wolves surprise us again
Introduction: Tuesday could be an important day to remember when we look back on the Wild and Wolves seasons. The Wild won another close one, 2-1 in a shootout over the Islanders, continuing a recent trend of low-scoring wins. They also added two forwards to their roster who could give them more scoring punch going forward. Meanwhile, the Wolves showed an uncanny ability to win just as all hope seemed to be lost.
10:00: Hockey legend Lou Nanne, one of Wednesday's inductees into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, joined host Michael Rand for a look back at his life in hockey. It's a journey you won't want to miss.
31:00: Afton's Jessie Diggins made skiing history on Tuesday.
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Feb 28, 2023
Chip Scoggins on Dennis Evans + KAT's absence; Will Wild make a move at trade deadline?
Introduction: Two quotes -- one each from Wild GM Bill Guerin and Wolves coach Chris Finch -- gave a pretty good summary of where both franchises are in their evolution right now. In short: They are both still trying to figure out who they are pretty late into their seasons.
8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand as they try to answer this question in the wake of news that Dennis Evans won't be joining the Gophers: How is a struggling program supposed to improve in this modern era of college sports? Plus some skepticism about Karl-Anthony Towns.
35:00: Some good news for the Twins.
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Feb 27, 2023
Patrick Reusse on Gophers basketball downward spiral, Kaprizov's excellence and KAT's absence
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another letdown by the Timberwolves, a natural hat trick for Kirill Kaprizov and more bad news for the Gophers men's basketball team.
With a difficult schedule ahead, Reusse and Rand decide the Wolves won't even make the play-in, and they speculate on Karl-Anthony Towns' future. Meanwhile, Kaprizov saved the Wild on Sunday and has them in contention not just for a playoff spot but a division title.
And with the loss of top recruit Dennis Evans, where do Ben Johnson's Gophers go from here?
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Feb 24, 2023
Special Delivery: Five star recruit Dennis Evans backs out of Gophers commitment
Host Michael Rand and Gophers basketball writer Marcus Fuller hop on for a special edition of the podcast in the wake of Friday's news -- broken by Fuller -- that five-star recruit Dennis Evans has asked to be released from his National Letter of Intent. Why did Evans make that decision, what is the impact on the Gophers and where do they go from here?
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Feb 24, 2023
Minnesota United's Adrian Heath on Emanuel Reynoso, season outlook; When will KAT play?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand saw the Timberwolves injury report to star the post-break schedule and shook his head at Karl-Anthony Towns still being listed as "out" with his calf strain. It's been almost 13 weeks since he injured the calf. We need some transparency soon because right now incomplete information about his injury is inviting speculation. ... Plus a good win for the Wild and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and another interesting trade.
9:00: Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath joins Rand ahead of the Loons' MLS season opener Saturday in Dallas. They discuss the ongoing absence of Emanuel Reynoso and the outlook for the season ahead.
28:00: The transfer portal claims another Gophers defensive back.
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Feb 23, 2023
Over-unders with La Velle E. Neal III: Kirk Cousins, Byron Buxton and more
Introduction: Host Michael Rand lays out three things he wants clarity on as the Wolves get set to resume play after the All-Star break on Friday. The big one: When (or if) Karl-Anthony Towns is returning from his calf injury.
6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand as they both offer predictions on how many games Byron Buxton will play in the outfield, how many more years Kirk Cousins will be the Vikings' quarterback and more.
31:00: Dalvin Tomlinson might have a good chance of staying with the Vikings, after all.
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Feb 22, 2023
Who will stay and go on Vikings defense? + Three big Wild takeaways and Clem Haskins' truth
Introduction: Host Michael Rand identifies three big takeaways from the Wild's recent homestand, which concluded with a 2-1 win over the Kings on Tuesday. Ryan Hartman's re-emergence and Filip Gustavsson's ascent were major keys.
9:00: Clem Haskins unlocked the key to modern coaching.
13:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a breakdown of the Vikings' defensive outlook -- and needs -- under new coordinator Brian Flores.
30:00: The ongoing Emanuel Reynoso saga.
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Feb 21, 2023
High school sports transfers 'out of control'; Red McCombs' legacy; Jerry Kill's giant tattoo
Introduction: Host Michael Rand loosely ties together three very different stories under the broad umbrella of "football personalities," taking note of the Monday death at age 95 of former Vikings owner Red McCombs and trying to define McCombs' legacy. Plus Jerry Kill has a permanent reminder of his 2022 New Mexico State team and new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon considers Mike Zimmer a "mentor."
11:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter Ron Haggstrom joins Rand for a look at his recent reporting on transfers and how they are impacting prep sports -- and particularly high-level boys' basketball in Minnesota.
27:00: Patrick Beverley is going home, but not to the Wolves; the Gophers men's basketball team takes another familiar L.
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Feb 20, 2023
Patrick Reusse on NBA players resting, the Twins' 2023 outlook and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, starting with a conversation about when Anthony Edwards' concept of trying to play every game became such a novel idea in the NBA.
Plus Reusse and Rand have some optimism for the 2023 Twins as the full squad prepares for spring workouts and their first game Saturday. This is very much a wait-and-see team, but the pieces are there for a successful season.
And some Gophers basketball thoughts -- followed by one big Reusse hockey take.
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Feb 17, 2023
Five takeaways from Brian Flores' news conference; Gophers hockey excels; Wolves struggle late
Host Michael Rand pulls out five key quotes from Brian Flores' introductory news conference as defensive coordinator with the Vikings and tries to add context.
11:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand for a breakdown of the Big Ten champion Gophers men's hockey team. Do they have what it takes to win it all?
21:00: The Wolves blew a 20-point lead and revealed a late-game offensive problem.
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Feb 16, 2023
Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert connection; Wild lack talent; Diamond Sports skips payment
Introduction: Wednesday's 3-2 Wild loss to Colorado wasn't for a lack of effort or shot attempts, as Minnesota piled up 43 to just 19 for Colorado. But it did illustrate again an alarming lack of offensive capability, one that will need to be addressed before the trade deadline.
7:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by Timberwolves podcaster Dane Moore (The Dane Moore NBA Podcast) for an early look at what is meshing between Mike Conley Jr. and his new Wolves teammates (particularly Rudy Gobert). How do the Wolves fit into the evolving Western Conference landscape?
32:00: Moore vents frustration about Bally Sports North; both he and Rand dissect Wednesday's news that Diamond Sports is skipping a $140 million interest payment.
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Feb 15, 2023
Phil Miller on the Twins from Ft. Myers; Vikings mock draft; Life without Reynoso
Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through three items that caught his eye in the last 24 hours. An ESPN mock draft has the Vikings taking a wide receiver No. 23 overall, which doesn't seem like a bad idea. The QB carousel is about to spin again in the NFL. And Minnesota United is preparing for life without Emanuel Reynoso.
7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an early look at spring training. Ft. Myers is not the same place you remember five months after the hurricane. Plus on-field story lines, including what will Max Kepler's role be?
29:00: As the Wild struggle to score goals, their play in net becomes even more important.
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Feb 14, 2023
Mike Conley paying dividends; Best and worst Super Bowl ads; In praise of Ant, Jefferson
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes how much different the second game with Mike Conley Jr. was for the Wolves, as he helped unlock Rudy Gobert's offense and ran the point efficiently in a 124-121 win over Dallas. Plus a 2-1 shootout loss for the Wild was a continuation of a goal drought.
9:00: Chris Preston from local ad agency Preston Spire joins Rand for a look at the best and worst Super Bowl ads from Sunday -- and what it really means when we say that.
29:00: In praise of two great 2020 draft picks.
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Feb 13, 2023
Super Bowl controversy, Vikings in 2023 and a whole lot of listener questions
Host Michael Rand takes you on a spin of the weekend in sports, dealing primarily at first with a very competitive Super Bowl. A controversial holding penalty, at least in the eyes of some, was the overriding story line, but let's not discount the greatness of Patrick Mahomes.
Plus Rand evaluates the Super Bowl in terms of the Vikings and looks ahead to 2023, when the Vikings are nowhere near the favorites to win it all.
And Rand will get to a bunch of listener questions about Gophers hockey, the Wild, D'Angelo Russell and more.
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Feb 10, 2023
Chris Hine on the D'Angelo Russell trade; Breaking down the Wild's 5v5 struggles; Kirk Cousins sings!
Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes in-depth on the numbers inside the Wild's struggles at even strength this year. What was a boon for them a year ago is suddenly a glaring weakness, and only better special teams are propping up a quickly deteriorating season.
10:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at the trade that sent out D'Angelo Russell and brought back Mike Conley Jr. (plus draft picks). It signifies a change in hierarchy and style for the Wolves while also preserving some future salary flexibility. What was the underlying reason for the move and where does the organization go from here?
35:00: Justin Jefferson won a major award but Kirk Cousins stole the show.
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Feb 9, 2023
Reacting to the D'Angelo Russell trade; La Velle E. Neal III on Emanuel Reynoso, Kirk Cousins
Introduction: Host Michael Rand could not be more thrilled that the Timberwolves shed themselves of the baggage known as point guard D'Angelo Russell. His inconsistency and lax defense will not be missed, and the Wolves are a better team now than they were a day ago. The big questions now: How much does Mike Conley Jr. help, and what's the long-term plan at point guard?
9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand as they talk through two big topics: Emanuel Reynoso's continued absence from the Loons and a QB plan the Vikings might want to follow.
33:00: Aaron Rodgers, from darkness to spotlight.
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Feb 8, 2023
The future of sports on TV; LeBron's greatness; the thing holding the Wild back
Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched LeBron James break the all-time NBA scoring record on Tuesday and was transported back in time 20 years ago. He talks about traveling to write about James when LeBron was a senior in high school -- and of the unbelievable arc of a career that has somehow lived up to the hype and beyond it.
9:00: Jason Gurwin from The Streamable joins Rand for fresh perspectives on what the impending bankruptcy of Diamond Sports (which runs regional sports networks like Bally Sports North) will mean for consumers, leagues and the future of viewing sports on TV.
28:00: The Wolves were blown out in Denver as the trade deadline nears; and the Wild is back to trying Ryan Hartman on the top line, an ongoing admission of their most glaring weakness: the lack of a true No. 1 center to pair with Kirill Kaprizov.
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Feb 7, 2023
Vikings hire Brian Flores; Year 5 under Lindsay Whalen; What's the plan for Lynx?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Vikings' hire of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, which ended a nearly three-week process. In going a completely different direction from Ed Donatell, head coach Kevin O'Connell is admitting his initial hiring mistake. This is a great hire, but let's hope it doesn't become part of a coordinator revolving door.
11:00: Kent Youngblood joins Rand for a look at Year 5 under Lindsay Whalen with the Gophers women's basketball team and the Lynx's options during free agency and the draft.
29:00: The Wild's post-break schedule started with a thud.
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Feb 6, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves at the trade deadline, Gophers basketball and a Pro Bowl rant
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports.
They start with the Timberwolves, who routed a short-handed Nuggets team Sunday but have bigger questions looming ahead with Thursday's trade deadline and Karl-Anthony Towns' eventual (?) return on the horizon.
Plus thoughts on the Gophers men's and women's basketball teams, who have just three Big Ten wins combined so far this season.
And a good, old-fashioned Reusse rant.
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Feb 1, 2023
A champion in five years? What's the best NFL draft strategy? What's up with Emanuel Reynoso?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the puzzling and troubling development with Minnesota United. It's Feb. 1 and Emanuel Reynoso still hasn't joined his teammates, who began their training on Jan. 6. We're a little over three weeks away from the start of the MLS season, and his absence needs a better explanation, a fast resolution or both.
6:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a wide-ranging discussion of the NFL playoffs, the Vikings' offseason, the Luis Arraez trade and this big question: If you were told a Minnesota team would win a championship by 2028, which team would you think it was?
27:00: A listener question about NFL draft strategy and a first-hand look at the transfer portal for the Gophers women's basketball team on Wednesday.
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Jan 31, 2023
What the Vikings should do this offseason + Familiar problems for one team
Introduction: Host Michael Rand doesn't want to overreact to one Timberwolves game because every one of the final 30 games is going to be critical to a playoff berth. But like head coach Chris Finch, he saw some troubling familiar habits resurface in an overtime loss to Sacramento on Monday.
7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a look at the Vikings' offseason to-do list, after which Rand uses a handy new tool to figure out which cuts he would make and what impact they would have on the Vikings' salary cap.
29:00: Required reading on the Bally Sports North situation.
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Jan 30, 2023
Patrick Reusse on NFL officiating, Gophers basketball and the Timberwolves
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand with an enlightened take on how NFL officiating has an outsized influence on the outcomes of games -- including a huge impact on Sunday's AFC title game between the Chiefs and Bengals.
Plus Reusse and Rand discuss the state of the Gophers men's and women's basketball programs and find themselves starting to believe the Timberwolves have figured a few things out.
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Jan 27, 2023
Bally Sports in financial trouble; Joe Mauer, Hall of Famer?; An Aaron Rodgers reunion?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives into a report this week that Diamond Sports Group, which operates 19 regional sports networks including Bally Sports North, will soon be headed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for local teams in the near- and long-term -- and what might it mean for how we watch sports?
9:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a look at the Twins' very active offseason so far. They also get into story lines for spring training and Joe Mauer's Hall of Fame candidacy.
29:00: The Wild scored a key win, plus does a recent Jets hire portend an Aaron Rodgers trade?
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Jan 26, 2023
Kevin O'Connell snubbed; Sarah McLellan on the Wild, trade deadline; Wolves stay on script
Introduction: The Associated Press named five finalists for NFL Coach of the Year, and the Vikings' Kevin O'Connell wasn't one of them. That seems like a serious lack of respect for a first-year coach of a 13-win team, especially given how he help elevate MVP candidate Justin Jefferson.
7:00: Sarah McLellan joins host Michael Rand for a discussion of the Wild. After three straight losses, there are plenty of questions -- particularly as some roster sorting comes to the forefront.
27:00: The Wolves bounced back with a win over the Pelicans, two nights after a bad loss. That's how this team operates. Plus, will the Gophers win more in the back half of the Big Ten schedule?
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Jan 25, 2023
Chris Hine on Wolves, KAT, Gobert and trade ideas; Wild sink themselves; Aaron Rodgers update
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Wild are No. 3 in the NHL in most penalty minutes, which is sabotaging a lot of other good parts of their game. It showed up again in a 4-2 loss Tuesday in Tampa, after which Ryan Hartman (and Dean Evason) were disappointed.
5:00: Maybe Aaron Rodgers should just stay off the microphone until he knows what he actually wants to do?
9:00: Wolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a discussion of the Wolves' woeful record against bad teams, Rudy Gobert's ongoing fit, Karl-Anthony Towns' injury update and the looming trade deadline.
29:00: The Bomba Squad is no more.
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Jan 24, 2023
Five moves the Vikings should make; WNBA free agency; Twins remain very active
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the complicated world of WNBA free agency, which includes the Lynx, charter travel and superstar Breanna Stewart.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a breakdown of Neal's five moves he would make if he were the Vikings this offseason. Plus he tries to talk himself into liking the trade of Luis Arraez.
27:00: The Twins made yet another trade on Monday; the Vikings are in the thick of their pursuit of a defensive coordinator; and the Wolves lost to another bad team.
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Jan 23, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Luis Arraez trade, the NFL and awful college basketball
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at a busy weekend.
The Twins got things started Friday with a blockbuster Luis Arraez trade, which Reusse doesn't like from a pure at-bat standpoint.
The NFL gave us plenty to think about on Saturday and Sunday, while Reusse had a larger complaint about college basketball.
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Jan 20, 2023
Carlos Correa's influence; Ed Donatell's demise; Kyle Anderson's excellence
Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends some time on the three live local games Thursday, coming away with a new appreciation for the Wolves' Kyle Anderson after watching him up close in a 128-126 comeback win over Toronto. Meanwhile, the Wild had a clunker without the benched Matt Dumba and the Gophers men's basketball team took a step back.
10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Megan Ryan helps explain just how much Carlos Correa means to the team and walks us through the rest of the offseason to-do list.
29:00: The unsurprising end of the Ed Donatell era.
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Jan 19, 2023
The 5 most important things Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said; Marcus Fuller on Gophers hoops
Introduction: Host Michael Rand listened a few times to the Vikings' season-ending news conference Wednesday for clues as to how they might proceed this offseason. He found five things from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah particularly interesting. You'll hear those five things, plus Rand's interpretation of them.
13:00: Star Tribune college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about the Gophers' season, progress, bigger picture basketball news and St. Thomas' massive fundraising win.
32:00: Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson has been the master of the routine.
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Jan 18, 2023
Did Tim Connelly mess up the Timberwolves? + Chip Scoggins on Vikings
Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes back to Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly's introductory news conference to find two instances during which Connelly says he just hopes he doesn't mess up a good thing. A little more than halfway into the season, following his offseason acquisition of Rudy Gobert, things don't feel very good.
10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a breakdown of the Vikings' offseason to-do list and a little Wolves talk, too. Rand had hoped for a little optimism, but things evolved quickly into realism.
29:00: A huge new donation for St. Thomas.
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Jan 17, 2023
The final review: Did the players or the scheme let Vikings down?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a glancing view of the Wolves' 126-125 loss to Utah on Tuesday, with the intent of going more in-depth on the organization's trajectory on a future show.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for the final film review of the season. With the 31-24 loss to the Giants as the backdrop, they tackle this question: Was it the players or the scheme that let the Vikings down in key moments?
26:00: The final installment of Vikings poetry for the year.
40:00: Curtains for Tom Brady?
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Jan 16, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the end of the Vikings, Carlos Correa and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a breakdown of Sunday's 31-24 Vikings loss to the Giants in the playoffs at U.S. Bank Stadium. From another awful game by the defense to a questionable final play from Kirk Cousins, there was plenty to digest.
Plus Reusse gives his thoughts on the rest of the NFL playoffs and the Twins signing Carlos Correa.
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Jan 15, 2023
Special Delivery! Mad at Donatell, mad at Kirk, mad at the end of the Vikings' season
Host Michael Rand brings you a special, vent-filled Daily Delivery from U.S. Bank Stadium in the aftermath of the Vikings' season-ending 31-24 loss to the Giants in the Wild Card playoff game. A 13-4 season gave way to a host of familiar problems, including a disappearing defense. The sum total was the first one-score loss, coming at the worst possible time, to a mediocre foe that was nevertheless better than the Vikings on Sunday.
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Jan 13, 2023
All access to Gophers' big win; robot umpires; the Giants' perspective on Sunday
Introduction: Host Michael Rand found himself intrigued by the Gophers men's basketball game on Thursday for the first time in a while. Not only did Ben Johnson's team end up prevailing in a 70-67 upset of Ohio State, but the broadcast "All Access" style on FS1 brought viewers very close to the action. Rand also touched on the Wild's big win over the Islanders.
10:00: Rand is joined by Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune and then Ed Valentine of Big Blue View -- a New York Giants SB Nation site -- to hit on all angles of Sunday's playoff game.
35:00: Robot umps reportedly are coming to Class AAA.
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Jan 12, 2023
Carlos Correa speaks, Anthony Edwards' hip and a Minnesota United camp preview
Introduction: Host Michael Rand ties a bow around the Carlos Correa coverage, highlighting the most important takeaways (and things Correa said) from Wednesday's news conference. The Twins are dealing in a significant risk-reward space, but they are better now than at the start of the week.
10:00: Jerry Zgoda joins Rand for a look at Minnesota United, which has several things to sort out as it begins training this week.
25:00: Anthony Edwards is fighting through a hip injury, but his teammates didn't show much fight at all in another disappointing loss to the Pistons on Wednesday.
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Jan 11, 2023
Part II of La Velle E. Neal on Correa, Vikings; What to like (and not like) about Wolves at midpoint
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the 20-21 Timberwolves at the midpoint of their season, and offers up a couple reasons for optimism as well as a couple things to be wary of already this year. Bottom line: It feels like the ceiling has been considerably lowered on a season of great expectations, and there's a lot of work to be done to raise it again.
9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for the second half of their Carlos Correa discussion as well as a look around the NFC North. Rand follows with some extended thoughts on why he is skeptical of the Correa deal as well as praise for the 13-4 Vikings.
28:00: Is Minnesota United going to sign a South Korean World Cup star?
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Jan 10, 2023
Special Delivery: Surprise! Carlos Correa agrees to 6-year, $200 million deal with Twins
La Velle E. Neal III joins host Michael Rand for an emergency special edition of the podcast for immediate reaction to the news that Carlos Correa is set to rejoin the Twins on a six-year, $200 million deal.
They discuss the process, the risks for the Twins and ultimately what sort of impact this will have on the 2023 season and beyond.
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Jan 10, 2023
Film review leaves big Vikings questions; Should Twins still want Carlos Correa?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the ongoing developments with Carlos Correa, as multiple reports suggest Minnesota is getting deeper in renegotiations with the free agent shortstop, and wonders what the optics and reality of the situation would be if he really did wind up with the Twins.
5:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings. The Giants' pass rush will test Minnesota's remade offensive line in the playoff opener, and as usual the Vikings will only go as far as the players up front can take them.
20:00: Some Vikings poetry is the only way to pay homage to that Bears game.
29:00: College football's inequality.
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Jan 9, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' chances, the Packers' demise and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the final week of the NFL regular season and more. The Vikings coasted to a win over the disinterested Bears, but plenty of questions remain for Minnesota ahead of Sunday's playoff opener against the Giants.
Meanwhile, the Packers were eliminated by the Lions on Sunday night -- the culmination of a mediocre season that Reusse predicted from the very beginning. Was that Aaron Rodgers' final game (at least in Green Bay)?
Plus Reusse and Rand weigh in on the magic of the Bills, Carlos Correa, Gophers basketball and South Dakota State's championship over North Dakota State.
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Jan 6, 2023
Looking back on the Vikings coaching search; Gophers looking for new coordinator?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but look back a year to when the Vikings were seemingly choosing between Kevin O'Connell and Jim Harbaugh as head coach. O'Connell is 12-4, while Harbaugh had a stellar year after staying at Michigan, but now the Wolverines are being investigated by the NCAA and Harbaugh has been linked to the Carolina NFL job.
5:00: Is Kirk Ciarrocca headed to Rutgers to be their offensive coordinator?
9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at Sunday's Bears game, Justin Jefferson beating double-teams and a playoff look-ahead.
24:00: Some story lines to watch for Minnesota United soccer.
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Jan 5, 2023
Timberwolves finish without D-Lo; Twin Cities cardiologist explains Damar Hamlin situation
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Wolves are finally figuring out a basic premise, that the players who are playing best in a particular game should be the ones on the court at the end. It paid dividends in a win on Wednesday, and maybe it will be a key going forward.
5:00: Wild coach Dean Evason keeps ascending along with his team in the aftermath of a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay.
9:00: Interventional cardiologist Dr. Louis Kohl of Hennepin Healthcare offers perspective on what happened to Bills safety Damar Hamlin and what comes next.
26:00: Some U.S. Soccer drama.
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Jan 4, 2023
Gophers hoops off the radar; Correa still unsigned; Wolves at a critical juncture
Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but wonder what in the world is going on with Carlos Correa. It was mid-December, almost two weeks before Christmas, when it was initially reported that he was signing a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants. A week later that deal fell apart, but now it's been two weeks and he still hasn't signed with the Mets.
5:00: The Gophers men's basketball team fought hard but lost 63-60 to the Badgers in Wisconsin on Tuesday. Perhaps the bigger takeaway is just how far this team is off the sports radar.
8:00: Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at that team. A spirited effort in a win over Denver was preceded by a six-game losing streak. Which Wolves team will show up Wednesday against Portland during Pride Night at Target Center?
29:00: Brian O'Neill to injured reserve, and a defining quote about Damar Hamlin.
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Jan 3, 2023
The scariest NFL moment; Vikings O-line issues; Wolves show some heart
Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched the scary situation unfold along with so many of you on Monday as Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field during a game against the Bengals. In addition to obviously hoping for the best outcome for Hamlin, Rand also encourages you to listen to those who played the game. They're the ones who have the best insights into what it must have felt like Monday.
5:00: The Wolves showed some heart and fight in a big win over Denver on Monday. Can they keep it up as the season goes along.
8:00: The Vikings film review focuses on the Packers shutting down Justin Jefferson and some of the woes of the Vikings' offensive line. Plus some more amazing Vikings poetry.
33:00: Will the offensive line be the Vikings' undoing?
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Jan 2, 2023
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' blowout loss to Packers, the Wolves' woes and college football
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which featured a lot of doom and gloom for two local teams.
The Vikings were clobbered 41-17 by the Packers, dropping their still-strong record to 12-4 but raising even more concerns about how they have been playing lately. Can they rebound -- and get healthy -- in time for the playoffs?
The Wolves, meanwhile, lost their sixth game in a row. They are vowing that they can make changes and that their problems can be fixed, but until we see evidence of progress it's hard to believe them.
Plus thoughts on college football and the Wild.
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Dec 23, 2022
The ideal and nightmare scenarios for the Vikings
Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Thursday night's NFL game with a sense of horror. As we think about the Vikings' future and perhaps an eventual change at quarterback, be careful what you wish for because even with the No. 2 pick in a draft you can wind up with a QB like the Jets' Zach Wilson. He was booed off the field in a Jets loss Thursday, and he's more evidence that the wrong move at QB can set a franchise back for years.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a discussion of Garrett Bradbury's injury, Justin Jefferson's smooth route-running and Vikings playoff scenarios.
28:00: There is a lot to be concerned about with the Gophers men's basketball team.
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Dec 22, 2022
Gophers win recruiting battle vs. 'negative' Wisconsin; Wild keeps rolling; Good TV news for a change
Introduction: Host Michael Rand examines a paradox in sports whereby a winning team can sometimes be taken for granted and underexposed compared to a team that has more drama but doesn't win as much. That seems to be happening this year with the Wild and Wolves; the Wild won their sixth game in a row Wednesday, while the Wolves fell to .500.
10:00: Some good news for local sports fans on the TV front as FuboTV has reached a carriage agreement with Bally Sports regional networks to carry those channels again soon. That gives cord cutters another option and could spur other streaming services like Hulu and YouTube TV to bring the channels back.
13:00: A deep dive into Gophers football recruiting off of Wednesday's signing day, including Gophers coach P.J. Fleck talking about Wisconsin's "negative" recruiting and the U's ability to retain in-state players.
24:00: Will the Carlos Correa deal lead to an Eduardo Escobar trade, and would the Twins make sense if that happened?
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Dec 21, 2022
KFAN's Paul Allen on his rise and style calling Vikings games; Carlos Correa to the Mets!
Introduction: If you were a Twins fan (or executive) disappointed when Carlos Correa chose a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants, it has to hurt even more to wake up to Wednesday's stunning news that he is instead going to the Mets on a 12-year, $315 million deal. That's in the neighborhood of the Twins' final offer (10 years, $285 million) and is in fact less if you add in the $35 million the Twins paid Correa in 2022. Maybe we can say this for sure now: Correa wanted to play in a large market and was never going to sign here long-term.
7:00: KFAN's Paul Allen joins host Michael Rand for a discussion of Allen's style as the Vikings' play-by-play voice, how he rose to lofty positions in the market and more.
32:00: An appreciation of Wild center Sam Steel.
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Dec 20, 2022
How much did the Vikings defense change? + Can Ant be this happy when other stars are back?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the strong play and good vibes from Anthony Edwards lately, and notices a pattern: He seems happiest when he's the unquestioned star of the show. The next step in his maturation process -- a journey that has seen him make key strides already this season -- is finding that same energy and joy when Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert return from their injuries.
7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review from Saturday's dramatic win over the Colts. Lost in the zaniness of the comeback is this fact: the Vikings changed a lot of their defensive schemes in just one week.
21:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry, with a slight edit when it comes to the referees.
34:00: Gophers football recruiting.
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Dec 19, 2022
Patrick Reusse on an all-time Vikings comeback, confusing Twins offseason and more
Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse take a look back at an amazing weekend in Minnesota sports. First and foremost, obviously, was the Vikings' NFL-record comeback from a 33-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Colts 39-36 in overtime Saturday. Trying to make sense of that game -- or this team -- is nearly impossible. But it did cement the Vikings' identity: a flawed team with a flare for drama.
Reusse and Rand also talked about the Twins' signing of Joey Gallo, the Wolves' 150-point record-setting game against the Bulls and the Wild's winning streak.
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Dec 17, 2022
Special Delivery: Vikings stage greatest comeback in NFL history
Host Michael Rand still can't believe what he just saw -- parts of which he admits he did not see -- after the Vikings rallied from a 33-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Colts 39-36 in overtime to clinch the NFC North title in the 1000th game in franchise history.
The twists and turns ... postgame audio from Kirk Cousins and Kevin O'Connell ... and plenty of listener commentary are all part of this bonus episode -- as is an interview with local journalist Aaron Rupar, a huge Vikings fan who made his triumphant return to Twitter late Friday after a suspension.
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Dec 16, 2022
One Vikings fan's victory quest; no Carlos Rodon; Patrick Beverley back to Wolves?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand uses the occasion of the Vikings' 1000th game on Saturday to recount his youth spent watching the Vikings and some of his favorite moments watching the purple over the years.
9:00: Longtime Vikings fan Ted Young joins Rand on the eve of what he hopes is a personal milestone. Young has seen the Vikings beat every team in the NFL in person -- except the Colts, their opponent during Saturday's 1000th game. It also happens to be a chance to clinch the NFC North. Young, who lives in Milwaukee, recalls his journey as a Vikings fan.
28:00: The Twins lost out on Carlos Rodon, but maybe the Wolves will get Patrick Beverley?
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Dec 15, 2022
Ben Goessling dissects Ed Donatell's Vikings defense; the aftermath of Carlos Correa
Introduction: Host Michael Rand has a few questions in the aftermath of the Twins losing out in their bid to sign Carlos Correa. It's a strange duality: Rand thinks the Twins are probably lucky they didn't wind up with Correa based on the cost compared to his ability, but he's also unclear what the Plan B is now that the dust has settled. And he's truly puzzled by Sonny Gray's continued inclusion in trade rumblings.
9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a further dissection of the team's defense. Goessling will help try to explain some key points form defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's session with reporters Wednesday and discern what exactly is fixable this late in the year.
27:00: The Wild seems to be settling into a style and getting healthy, while the Wolves are just the opposite.
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Dec 14, 2022
Dissecting Carlos Correa leaving the Twins; La Velle E. Neal III on the Twins, Vikings and Wolves
Introduction: The big news we had been waiting for arrived Tuesday night, with Carlos Correa making his free agency decision. The shortstop, who played one season for the Twins at $35.1 million, ended up agreeing to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants -- a deal that will weaken the Twins in the short-term but might be the best thing for them in the long run, host Michael Rand says.
7:00: Rand and La Velle E. Neal III talked about the Twins, Vikings and Wolves. Fans of "A Christmas Carol" might either be delighted or horrified by how Rand decided to edit their Correa conversation, but please say regardless for insights into what the Twins might do next and how to fix the leaky Vikings defense.
32:00: Appreciating Mike Leach.
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Dec 13, 2022
Vikings defense at a crossroads + Twins get a catcher + Wolves can't defend
Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand looks at the dismal Timberwolves perimeter defense after another loss to Portland. These are the times when the Wolves miss Patrick Beverley, whether they want to admit it or not.
4:00: The Twins signed a new catcher, Christian Vazquez, to shore up what became an overlooked weakness last season.
8:00: The Vikings are at a crossroads on defense, with coach Kevin O'Connell offering a tepid endorsement of coordinator Ed Donatell. Andrew Krammer will help Rand break that down.
32:00: A new Gophers volleyball coach.
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Dec 12, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the anger at the Vikings, Gophers futility and Carlos Correa
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports, which included a rare loss by the Vikings. Rand notes that they were set up to fail from the start by resting some players with minor injuries, while Reusse takes the pass rush to task. It added up to a lot of fan anger for a team that is still 10-3 and very much in control of its season.
Plus thoughts on P.J. Fleck, the Gophers men's basketball team and Carlos Correa.
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Dec 9, 2022
Ben Goessling on teams the Vikings want to avoid + Would you still make the Rudy Gobert trade?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand revisits the trade that brought Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves ahead of his Friday return to face his old team in Utah. Would the Wolves still make the trade if they knew things would look so clunky so far this year? Would the Wolves have made the trade if someone other than Tim Connelly had been running the team? And would the trade make more sense if you knew another big move was yet to come?
11:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look ahead to Sunday's matchup against the Lions. With a win, the Vikings would clinch the NFC North title. That allows us to look ahead to discern which teams Minnesota might want to face -- and avoid -- once the playoffs come around.
33:00: The Baker Mayfield game was better than the Josh Freeman game.
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Dec 8, 2022
P.J. Fleck's extension; Rudy Gobert's block; Gophers volleyball's opportunity
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a spin through a very busy day in sports, touching on a lot of big subjects. Among them: P.J. Fleck's contract extension, which includes a $1 million annual raise; Carlos Correa's place in the market now that several players have signed; Rudy Gobert's big game and how it impacts the Wolves; the Wild losing a two-goal lead in a loss to Calgary.
12:00: Jeff Day joins Rand for a thorough discussion of the Gophers volleyball team, which faces Ohio State on Thursday in the NCAA Sweet 16.
29:00: The Vikings are being hit by illness at a bad time.
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Dec 7, 2022
Chip Scoggins and Aaron Lavinsky go deep on their Red Lake football story
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the state of leadership on Minnesota sports teams, noting that the void with the Timberwolves stands out just as much as the strong leadership the Wild and Vikings seem to have. The Twins, meanwhile, continue to pursue Carlos Correa -- with leadership being a big piece of his value as well.
7:00: Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins and photojournalist Aaron Lavinsky join Rand for an extended conversation about their excellent story on the Red Lake football program that ran in Sunday's paper. What goes into a story like that? Scoggins and Lavinsky offer numerous insights.
32:00: The Twins moved up eight spots in the very first MLB draft lottery.
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Dec 6, 2022
Vikings step up red zone defense, could use offensive help; Carlos Correa update
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes a few developments that could impact the Twins' attempt to retain shortstop Carlos Correa in free agency. First, Trea Turner agreed to a massive 11-year, $300 million deal with the Phillies. Plus the Yankees said they aren't going to rush Aaron Judge and the Cubs reportedly met with Correa. What does it all mean for the Twins, who have money to spend?
6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review from Sunday's victory. Why was the Vikings' red zone defense so good after being bad much of the year? And should there be a bigger offensive role for Jalen Reagor?
21:00: Your favorite poetry segment is back, with the proper syllables and perspective on the Vikings.
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Dec 5, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the dramatic Vikings, troubled Timberwolves and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports.
The Vikings are now an unbelievable 9-0 in one-score games, displaying not just a flare for drama but a knack again for winning in the critical moments of a game. Their latest high-wire act came Sunday with a 27-22 win over the Jets that required two late defensive stands.
The Wild and Gophers women's basketball teams also won in dramatic fashion, while the Timberwolves came unglued in a loss to the Thunder. For the Wolves, it's starting to look like real trouble is settling in.
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Dec 2, 2022
Ben Goessling on the Vikings; Wolves and Wild are the same team
Introduction: If we look at pure wins and losses, the Wolves and Wild both have identical 11-11 records. Both of them also have transcendent young players (Anthony Edwards and Kirill Kaprizov) who played major roles in encouraging wins this week. Can either or both of these teams generate the type of consistency needed to live up to lofty preseason expectations.
9:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand on a number of subjects, including the ongoing extra point woes of Greg Joseph and the unclear strengths of the team even at 9-2. Rand later takes note of the Patriots not moving the ball nearly as well against the Bills as they did last week vs. Minnesota.
31:00: The U.S. getting through group play in the World Cup seems even more impressive now.
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Dec 1, 2022
With KAT away, Ant steps up play; Marcus Fuller on Gophers men's basketball
Introduction: It was just one game, but Anthony Edwards looked like a different player without Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor during Wednesday's 109-101 victory over Memphis. We'll need to see a larger sample size before we overreact, but host Michael Rand has a couple of theories about why we saw a different Ant without KAT.
9:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand for an early look at Ben Johnson's team. They've struggled on offense so far, but there are signs of better times ahead.
30:00: Vikings corner Patrick Peterson took another shot at Kyler Murray; Will Aaron Rodgers finish the season?; A 12-team college football playoff could only help the Gophers.
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Nov 30, 2022
Critical stretch for Wolves without KAT; St. Thomas' early domination; USA World Cup drama
Introduction: It's been proven through various studies that humans are wired to avoid pain more than they are wired to seek pleasure. That might explain some of the drama of sports, and particularly why it feels so draining while watching a team you are rooting for that is trying to protect a lead as opposed to one that is chasing a deficit. The U.S. men's soccer team gave us another lesson on Tuesday, as the Americans held on for a 1-0 win over Iran in a match that aged all of us more than 90 minutes (plus stoppage time).
8:00: With Karl-Anthony Towns out for several weeks with a calf strain, the Timberwolves are facing a critical (and fascinating) stretch of their season. Rand talked with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine about the implications of a KAT-free lineup and the various issues with the team that cropped up well before his injury.
30:00: St. Thomas is experiencing early D-I success, accelerating their football timeline and arrival on the local sports scene as a major play…
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Nov 29, 2022
Bigger surprise: Vikings or Packers? + KAT's injury scare and Rossi's demotion
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the disaster that was the Wolves game on Monday, when the team gave up 77 first-half points in another lopsided loss and then lost Karl-Anthony Towns to a non-contact injury in the second half. The hope is that the injury is just a calf strain. The bigger issue is an inconsistency of effort that has led to a 10-11 record.
8:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins for a film review, looking at an offensive line that has bounced back against New England. Also this question: Should the Vikings be blitzing more? ... And the Vikings poetry segment explores the question of which team's record is more surprising: The 9-2 Vikings or 4-8 Packers.
34:00: A demotion for Wild rookie Marco Rossi.
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Nov 28, 2022
Patrick Reusse on sensitive P.J. Fleck, the Vikings, Wolves and Gophers volleyball
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports.
The Gophers football team beat Wisconsin for the second straight season and third time in five years Saturday, prompting a moment of honesty and sensitivity from head coach P.J. Fleck. Did reasonable people really want him fired after the loss to Iowa the previous week? No.
The Vikings can clinch the NFC North next week after another series of games went their way. The Wolves are 20 games into their season and no closer to answers than they were at the start. And Gophers volleyball has avoided the dreaded "distractions."
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Nov 24, 2022
Can Vikings overcome injuries? + Gophers and the sting of disappointment
Introduction: On a football-dominant Thanksgiving edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand is joined by Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling. The Vikings were demolished 40-3 on Sunday, and now face Bill Belichick's Patriots on short rest Thursday. Will their injuries -- and mounting inconsistencies -- be too much to overcome?
Later on, Gophers beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show to review the frustrating 13-10 loss to Iowa and to set up what's left to play for Saturday vs. Wisconsin.
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Nov 23, 2022
WCCO's Henry Lake on Wolves and his journey; Kevin O'Connell's biggest coaching challenge
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at perhaps the biggest coaching challenge of Kevin O'Connell's young career. Not only is his team coming off a 40-3 loss to Dallas, but he now must face Bill Belichick -- his former coach -- on a short week. How the Vikings perform Thursday will tell us a lot about the rest of the season.
8:00: WCCO radio's Henry Lake joins Rand for a look at the Wolves, the Vikings and the path that led Lake to WCCO. It's an entertaining conversation you won't want to miss.
30:00: A busy night heading into the holiday.
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Nov 22, 2022
Sarah McLellan on the Wild; Dave St. Peter on the Twins; Can Vikings rebound?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the Timberwolves and Vikings and finds a common thread: Teams that shouldn't have to apologize for winning ugly -- but also teams that still have something to prove. The Wolves have won four in a row but heard some boos in the midst of their 105-101 comeback win Monday. The Vikings need to get their season back on track after Sunday's blowout loss.
10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to talk about the evolving identity of the Wild, and how it is taking time to acclimate to a new style.
27:00: Twins President Dave St. Peter joins Rand to talk about the team's rebrand, on-field projections for 2023 and the TV situation.
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Nov 21, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' historic loss, Gophers' major disappointment and more
It wasn't an overly cheerful edition of the podcast as Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand to primarily talk about the Vikings' 40-3 drubbing at the hands of Dallas and the Gophers' 13-10 loss to Iowa -- two defeats that were frustrating for much different reasons.
The Vikings have major concerns, even at 8-2, after they had no answer for the Cowboys' pass rush nor get off the field on defense. With injuries mounting, Minnesota will need to prove that was just a one-game blip.
The Gophers, meanwhile, will never have an easier path to a Big Ten title. But it eluded them once again, as P.J. Fleck's conservative approach kept him winless still in his career against Iowa.
Plus thoughts on the Twins' new look -- and new left side of the infield.
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Nov 18, 2022
Justin Jefferson for MVP? + What to expect from the U.S. in the World Cup
Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Vikings heading into Sunday's big game against Dallas. Minnesota is a betting underdog despite its 8-1 record, so in a sense this is another prove-it game. The Vikings' lead in the NFC North grew again Thursday when Green Bay lost at home to Tennessee.
17:00: Local soccer guru Jon Marthaler joins Rand to preview the World Cup in Qatar, which begins this weekend. The U.S. squad, after missing the tournament entirely in 2018, has a reasonable chance to get out of group play. They will open Monday against Wales with plenty of questions but some optimism as well.
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Nov 17, 2022
Can the Gophers finally beat Iowa? + Did the light bulb turn on for Anthony Edwards?
Introduction: Wolves guard Anthony Edwards played perhaps his most complete game of the season Wednesday in a 126-108 victory over Orlando. The challenge now for Edwards and the Wolves is stacking those good performances on top of each other -- something both the player and team have struggled to do.
10:00: Star Tribune Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand for a preview of Saturday's huge game against Iowa. Can the Gophers win a defensive battle and defeat the Hawkeyes for the first time since 2014?
24:00: Another key Wild injury and some national spotlight for Vikings voice Paul Allen.
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Nov 16, 2022
The Wolves and a search for winning lineup combinations; Wild suddenly can't score
Introduction: Host Michael Rand came away unimpressed after watching the Wild skate to a drowsy 2-1 loss at Nashville on Tuesday. Head coach Dean Evason said he liked the team's game and thought the Wild generated enough push to succeed, but from the outside looking in Minnesota just doesn't seem like a dangerous team right now.
6:00: Rand asked Wolves coach Chris Finch and guard D'Angelo Russell about lineup combinations and building chemistry. Their answers were pretty different, but both responses underscored things the Wolves are still searching for this season. Later, Rand was joined by Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine for an even deeper dive into the Wolves.
33:00: Something to watch for in tonight's Wolves game in Orlando.
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Nov 15, 2022
Examining Justin Jefferson's excellence + More good news Monday for Vikings
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Eagles' first loss of the season Monday to Washington, which was important to the Vikings for two reasons. First, of course, it pulls the Vikings and Eagles even at 8-1, creating a path to the No. 1 seed that's a little more clear. Second, Philadelphia committed four turnovers in the game after having just three all season coming in. If you're looking for a way the Vikings' season could come undone, start with turnover margin.
6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins for a film review looking at Justin Jefferson's excellence on contested catches Sunday and some offensive line improvement. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry.
31:00: The Gophers men's basketball team looked its age on Monday.
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Nov 14, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the greatest regular-season victory in Vikings history
Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse as they try to figure out all that happened during Sunday's 33-30 overtime Vikings victory over Buffalo. The twists, the turns, the Justin Jefferson catch. The QB sneak that wasn't. The improbable fumble. The ending. The elements. The quality of the opponent. All of it, Reusse says, adds up to the greatest regular-season victory in the franchise's 62 years of existence, and it's hard to argue with that.
Plus Rand and Reusse get into Gophers football, D'Angelo Russell, Gophers women's basketball and St. Thomas sports.
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Nov 11, 2022
Three intriguing Vikings quotes + Ben Goessling on Stefon Diggs
Introduction: In a football-heavy show, host Michael Rand begins with three interesting things he gleaned from the Vikings this week: The moment Kirk Cousins knew Justin Jefferson was special, how Kevin O'Connell views his running backs and the difference T.J. Hockenson sees already in playing for the Vikings instead of the Lions.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins the show to set up Sunday's intrigue-filled game against the Bills. One of the biggest story lines is a revisiting of the Stefon Diggs trade and all that went into a tumultuous time in Minnesota.
30:00: Does Rand actually say something nice about Aaron Rodgers?
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Nov 10, 2022
Carlos Correa, pitching and other big Twins offseason questions as free agency starts
Introduction: Host Michael Rand likens the Timberwolves to a bunch of children who are having a hard time learning the lesson of not repeating mistakes. If we continue the analogy and assign coach Chris Finch the role of parent, he's not doing his job, either. Add it up and you have a 5-7 team that just lost another lopsided home game.
7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a preview of the offseason. With free agency starting Thursday, the Twins have a lot of big questions as they reckon with a 2022 season that started well but fell off the rails in a flurry of injuries and inconsistency. Will the Twins make a hard run at keeping Carlos Correa? Should they? If they don't, who else will they spend money on? And do the Phillies give them hope?
29:00: Standing in contrast to the Wolves are the Wild, who got out of their rut with a 4-1 win Wednesday.
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Nov 9, 2022
A Gophers QB changing of the guard? + Increased frustration for Wild and Wolves
Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wild's second consecutive shutout loss and notices that frustration seems to be mounting for both the Wild and Timberwolves this season.
Plus Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the team's QB situation.
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Nov 8, 2022
A Vikings rookie emerges + The unwatchable Wolves + Goodbye, Miguel Sano
Introduction: Host Michael Rand has had it with the Timberwolves. After wasting more time watching their dismal performance in 120-107 loss to the Knicks, he wonders if it's not just the team but its individual components that are overrated. One thing is for sure: The effort right now isn't there, and they aren't worth watching until that changes.
6:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer for a film review of Sunday's 20-17 win over Washington. New tight end T.J. Hockenson made nine catches in his debut, while rookie corner Akayleb Evans made huge contributions filling in for the injured Cam Dantzler. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry.
32:00: The expected moment is here, as the Twins said goodbye to Miguel Sano.
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Nov 7, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings, Gophers and a sobering boxing story
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at an uncommonly successful weekend in Minnesota sports.
The Vikings and Gophers both overcame double-digit deficits to win, with the former improving to 7-1 and the latter repositioning itself in the Big Ten West mix. Gophers hockey and volleyball swept the weekend as well, and the Wolves won Saturday.
Plus Reusse agrees with a listener: These Vikings have a certain quality that is reminiscent of the Bud Grant era.
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Nov 4, 2022
What does 6-1 start mean for Vikings' future? + Wolves, Wild, Cheryl Reeve thoughts
Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into his conversation with Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling. A surprising 6-1 start led to a move this week to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, a move that will have a ripple effect into 2023 as well. The Vikings' good start will have even more impact on their future, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate things.
24:00: Rand has a bunch of rapid-fire thoughts on the Wild's home loss, how the Warriors' struggles could be a sign for the Wolves, Cheryl Reeve's contract extension and job title change and the World Series.
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Nov 3, 2022
Hear from T.J. Hockenson and others about the trade; Chip Scoggins on college football, D'Angelo Russell
Introduction: All the key figures in the T.J. Hockenson trade spoke with the media on Wednesday, and you'll hear from all of them on this episode. First up: Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on what went into the deal; Hockenson and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on helping get Hockenson integrated into the offense; and QB Kirk Cousins on how he wants to help Hockenson be at his best.
10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a discussion of college football, where Chip's Tennessee Volunteers are having the kind of season Gophers fans dream about. Plus some expanded thoughts on D'Angelo Russell.
32:00: A World Series no-hitter.
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Nov 2, 2022
Vikings trade breakdown + Gophers football + No progress for Wolves
Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Vikings' acquisition of tight end T.J. Hockenson on Tuesday. The move signaled GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will get aggressive in filling a need, which was evident for a 6-1 team after Irv Smith Jr. went on injured reserve. It's a net upgrade and should give Kirk Cousins one more viable target in an evolving passing game.
10:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show. The Gophers are more than a two-touchdown favorite at Nebraska, which feels like both an opportunity and a curse. Plus a look ahead to next year's more daunting Big Ten schedule.
22:00: The Timberwolves' starting lineup was again a net negative in a 116-107 loss to Phoenix, and head coach Chris Finch doesn't seem to have many answers right now. Their performance stood in stark contrast to the suddenly streaking Wild.
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Nov 1, 2022
Vikings red zone offense -- and a trade? + Pondering a Timberwolves lineup change
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes stock of the first seven games of the Timberwolves' season and sees reasons for patience as well as the potential to need a different plan. If this doesn't look more cohesive after 20 games, the recommendation is this: move D'Angelo Russell to the bench and lean into the players you are committed to long-term.
7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings' most recent victory. They've been great in the red zone lately, and it's come in a variety of ways. Plus thoughts on the Vikings and if they should make any moves at the trade deadline.
28:00: The Wild returns home a much different team.
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Oct 31, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' huge division advantage and early Timberwolves clunkers
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports. The Vikings won in familiar fashion, defeating Arizona 34-26 by again making the big plays in the biggest moments. They're now 6-1, and with every other team in the NFC North sitting at 3-5 or worse they are in magnificent early position.
The Timberwolves are 4-3, a record suggestive of a decent start, but their play has been clunky at best. They lost again to the Spurs on Sunday, and Reusse has concerns about how this looks -- plus how it will look once the Wolves start playing better teams.
Thoughts, too, on the Gophers, Wild and St. Thomas.
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Oct 28, 2022
Is Kirk Cousins different? Role change for Patrick Peterson? + The danger of small sample sizes
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of a couple of small sample sizes -- the 0-3 Wild start vs. the 3-0-1 stretch produced since then, as well as the Lakers' 0-4 start heading into Target Center on Friday night -- and notes the danger of putting too much emphasis on such things.
6:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at the 5-1 Vikings coming out of the bye week. Will the Vikings look to be more aggressive on defense -- with Patrick Peterson leading the way? How much more relaxed does Kirk Cousins seem this year? And how much of a threat will the Cardinals pose on Sunday?
31:00: The Twins hired a new athletic trainer Thursday, a piece of their offseason puzzle.
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Oct 27, 2022
Gophers football at a crossroads; Timberwolves less sticky; Aaron Rodgers as a leader
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 134-122 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday and finds plenty of things to like. The ball movement was crisp, and their shooting percentage (65%) was reflective of a lot of open looks. And they limited the Spurs to six fast-break points. Still, there are things to clean up if this team wants to be great.
6:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show, and with help from Gophers defensive end Thomas Rush we try to get to the heart of this question: How can this team still have success after a 4-0 start has turned into a three-game losing streak.
27:00: Aaron Rodgers is griping about his teammates again.
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Oct 26, 2022
Timberwolves searching for chemistry; Wild finds their game at the right time
Introduction: After a discouraging start to the season, the Wild seem to be back on track. They have five points in their last three games, the latest coming in a 3-1 win at Montreal on Tuesday. The Wild played the ideal road game in that contest and gained confidence that they can win a tight-checking game.
6:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a look at the uneven 2-2 start for the Wolves. How much of the early struggles -- chemistry, transition defense, defensive rebounding -- is easily fixable and how much is concerning in the long-term? Plus Rand gets into Karl-Anthony Towns' comments about Anthony Edwards needing to take care of his body better.
28:00: Mystery solved with Hugh McCutcheon.
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Oct 25, 2022
Can the Wild and Wolves figure things out? + The downfall of the Packers
Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Timberwolves after an embarrassing effort Monday in which they were booed off the Target Center court in a loss to San Antonio. The season is still early and the Wolves are 2-2, but they look lethargic and out of sorts in the early stages of the Rudy Gobert era.
7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for an examination of that team's 1-3-1 start. After allowing 20 goals in their first three games, the Wild has settled down somewhat. But defensive zone coverage and goaltending remain questions, while reshuffled forward lines suggest a work in progress. Is the secret to better defense a better offense?
20:00: The Vikings didn't play, but we can still celebrate the weekend with some Packers-based poetry.
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Oct 24, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Gophers' collapse, Packers' woes and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Gophers football team lost for the third consecutive week, a stunning turn of events after a 4-0 start that stirred national title talk.
Even though the Vikings didn't play Sunday, they still gained ground on the bumbling Packers -- another team that lost its third consecutive game. Combined with the Yankees getting bounced from the ALCS, it was an unofficial holiday for Minnesota sports fans.
Plus thoughts on the Timberwolves and Gophers hockey.
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Oct 21, 2022
How did the Gophers land their best recruit in two decades?
Introduction: A massive exhale from St. Paul as the Wild rallied for their first win of the season, 4-3 over Vancouver on Thursday. Still, head coach Dean Evason saw plenty of things to clean up -- with hopes that getting that first victory could be the key to unlocking better play.
6:00: Wolves vs. Jazz on Friday has plenty of intrigue.
9:00: Star Tribune men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to help explain how the Gophers and head coach Ben Johnson landed the No. 13-ranked recruit in the country, a 7-1 shot blocker from California named Dennis Evans.
28:00: The blockbuster traded Thursday of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers is more evidence that teams see the NFC as wide open for the taking. Will the Vikings make a deadline move, too?
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Oct 20, 2022
Let's overreact to the Timberwolves' first game; Who will start at QB for the Gophers?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand has some expanded thoughts on the first of 82 Timberwolves games, including the notion that he can see this becoming Rudy Gobert's team. Everyone in the starting lineup reached double figures in shots and points, but it will be interesting to see how the pecking order is sorted out as the year goes on.
13:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show for a look ahead to the Penn State game and some intrigue over who will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. Plus a preview of Gophers vs. North Dakota in men's hockey.
23:00: What is sustainable and what isn't for the 5-1 Vikings?
30:00: Can Jordan Greenway and an elevated Marco Rossi save the Wild?
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Oct 19, 2022
What's the floor and ceiling for the Timberwolves? + Never been more angry about the Wild
Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into Timberwolves talk with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine. With a season of great expectations set to begin on Wednesday, they try to discern just how good this team can be. The biggest question, of course, is how Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert will mesh. Plus you'll hear from third-year Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels.
21:00: Chicken Fingers 69, a longtime friend of the show and co-host of the Sportive podcast, joins Rand for another edition of "never been more angry." They cover a lot of ground on the 0-3 Wild, much of which Chicken Fingers foreshadowed last week. The king has no pants, as they say.
31:00: Some juicy drama with NFL owners.
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Oct 18, 2022
Panicking Wild in mess of own making; Vikings film review; Minnesota United eliminated
Introduction: The theme of the first part of the show was a mess of their own making. Host Michael Rand picked apart the 0-3 Wild, who have given up 20 goals in their first three games. From benching Marco Rossi to having a shaky plan in net, it already seems like offseason plans are going awry. Is it just puck luck, as coach Dean Evason hopes, or is it something worse?
Plus Minnesota United lost in a shootout in its playoff opener, ending a season that went off the rails late. With a stronger finish, a competent playoff effort like the one delivered Monday would have been rewarded with a win.
8:00: The Vikings put an emphasis on creating turnovers, but the Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer makes a good point about the timing of those takeaways not being sustainable. Then again, we keep saying things about the 5-1 start aren't sustainable as they continue to happen. Plus more award-winning Vikings poetry.
34:00: The Gophers men's basketball team got its best recruit in almost 20 years.
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Oct 17, 2022
Birthday Reusse on the Vikings, Hugh McCutcheon, Wild and more
On Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse's 77th birthday, he joins host Michael Rand for a look at some of the biggest stories in Minnesota sports.
The Vikings are 5-1 after another "horseshoe" game Sunday in which they were badly outgained but still defeated the Dolphins 24-16. It made Reusse think back to the Bud Grant days.
The Gophers football team had no such luck in losing its second straight game, while the Gophers volleyball team will have to learn to live without head coach Hugh McCutcheon after this season.
The Wild gave up a touchdown in each of their first two games, but at least you can still be optimistic about Minnesota United and the Timberwolves.
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Oct 14, 2022
Is Vikings' success (and O-line play) sustainable? + Two Wild concerns from blowout opening loss
Introduction: If you were hoping to see the Wild bring a tighter brand of hockey into the 2022-23 season, Thursday's opener was a disappointment. In losing 7-3 to the Rangers at Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota was outclassed in an up-and-down game. The lack of defensive acumen was a concern -- but perhaps more so was the play of veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Advanced numbers suggest the Wild could have won that game with adequate goaltending instead of suffering a blowout loss.
6:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand to dissect a few aspects of the Vikings heading into Sunday's game at Miami. Among them: Why have the Vikings had such good health this season, are there ways they can improve their depth, and how sustainable is the improved play of Garrett Bradbury?
30:00: Carlos Correa tells a newspaper in Puerto Rico that he is opting out of his Twins contract -- not a surprise, but making the decision closer to official.
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Oct 13, 2022
Wild preview: Step forward or step back? + Five years ago, a Kirk Cousins what-if moment
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes you back to October 15, 2017. That was the date the 3-2 Vikings faced the 4-1 Packers and came away with a victory after an Anthony Barr hit knocked Aaron Rodgers out for most of the rest of the year. That play led to the Vikings' 13-3 season and a rule change protecting quarterbacks -- both of which perhaps led the Vikings to sign and eventually keep quarterback Kirk Cousins.
7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to preview the season, which starts Thursday against the Rangers. After their best regular season in history, followed by a disappointing first-round playoff exit, what will the Wild do this season to take a step forward?
26:00: A listener wants to know if the Timberwolves are NBA title material this year.
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Oct 12, 2022
Chip Scoggins on a must-win Gophers football game + The downfall of Brett Favre
Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins for a three-pronged discussion. First, they get into the Gophers football team and a must-win game Saturday at Illinois. Then Scoggins shares some insights on his Football Across Minnesota feature before the two wrap up with skepticism about the Twins.
18:00: The end of the Jake Cave Era, why Minneapolis is a good host city, good news for Wolves fans and at least the Yankees aren't beating the Twins.
26:00: Punt Brett Favre to the moon.
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Oct 11, 2022
Twins are running out of people to blame; Vikings are here for a good time
Introduction: Host Michael Rand can see some of the logic in the Twins' approach to this offseason -- largely stand pat while hoping for improved health with a new head trainer -- but he can more easily see the flaws. Even with decent health in 2023, Rand sees a team that doesn't look to be much better than .500, and he sees a plan that is by default more than anything else. If Derek Falvey and co. aren't correct about their assessment, there almost certainly will be bigger moves ahead.
8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of Kirk Cousins' play during the Vikings' 29-22 win over the Bears. Cousins has been clutch so far this season, leading three fourth-quarter comebacks and three game-winning drives in their 4-1 start. And some of his success has come from gaining more freedom to make decisions.
22:00: The takeaway from Vikings poetry -- enjoy the winning while it's happening.
35:00: Another NFL game, another questionable roughing the passer pe…
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Oct 10, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the worst Twins seasons, another Vikings escape and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Vikings started fast and then needed more fourth-quarter magic to hold off the Bears. The end result, though, is a 4-1 start and a spot in control of the NFC North.
Reusse then expands on his list of 62 Twins seasons, all of which he graded. The 2022 team was not spared in his assessment, even if it was far from the very worst.
Plus thoughts on Minnesota United saving its season and earning a playoff spot with a win Sunday and the excitement building for Gophers men's hockey.
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Oct 7, 2022
Why is the NFL so bad? + Ben Goessling on Vikings vs. Bears intrigue
Introduction: Yes, host Michael Rand is fully aware of the contradiction in that dual-purpose headline. He spends the first several minutes of the show talking about how a lot of games -- and by extension, a lot of NFL teams -- have been bad this year, including Thursday Night's 12-9 snooze-fest between the Colts and Broncos. How do we explain all the poor play? Rand has some ideas.
7:00: Nonetheless, we can't look away. Rand welcomes Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling to the show to set up Sunday's game against the Bears. The Vikings are one of just eight teams over .500 this season, and they have a chance to improve to 4-1. The Bears are in rebuild mode and offer an interesting "what-if" for the Vikings.
30:00: The Wild, the Wolves, and the race to 82-0.
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Oct 6, 2022
Dueling collapses for Twins, Loons + Appreciating Luis Arraez
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a moment to appreciate Luis Arraez, 2022 AL batting champion, and what it means to hit for a high average during an era that values power over all else. There is still value in hitters like Arraez, who make pitchers work hardest during high-leverage at-bats -- and get results like Arraez does in the clutch.
6:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a big-picture look at the Twins. He offers a few solutions for how to fix things going forward, including an overhaul of the approach to the medical staff.
22:00: Minnesota United beat writer Jerry Zgoda checks in with a report on a team that is collapsing as much as the Twins. The difference: The Loons still have a chance Sunday to make the playoffs.
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Oct 5, 2022
Gophers football: What went wrong? + U hockey talk, a freshman golf sensation and a Vikings wish
Introduction: Host Michael Rand could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the lineup the Twins put on the field at one point Tuesday. Mercifully, their season will be over on Wednesday, and fans have clearly already turned their attention to other things. Wolves fans? They might have been a little too giddy about preseason basketball Tuesday, but it'll be OK as long as they save some energy for the real thing.
7:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand for a two-fold mission: Dissecting what went wrong for the suddenly vulnerable Gophers football team in Saturday's loss to Purdue and setting up the Gophers men's hockey team's big series this weekend against Minnesota State-Mankato.
18:00: Gophers women's golfer Mariana Mesones broke the school record by carding a 64 in the second tournament she ever played. Then a week later, on Sunday, she broke her own record with a 62. She joins Rand to talk about her big rounds and her journey from Peru to Minnesota.
26:00: The Vikings need to crush the bad Be…
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Oct 4, 2022
The delicious tears of Yankees fans; Why so conservative, Kevin O'Connell?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes all the whining from Yankees fans about Twins infielder Luis Arraez sitting out with a hamstring injury while he leads Aaron Judge in the batting race. Judge will need a very strong finish to catch Arraez, who is the only person standing between Judge and a Triple Crown. But you know what? Arraez is 9 for his last 22 since Sept. 24; Judge is 5 for 24 in the same span. Yankees fans should quiet down, but they never will.
6:00: Andrew Krammer joins for the weekly film review, this time on Justin Jefferson's big day and Kevin O'Connell's conservative approach in the red zone. Plus some Vikings poetry to soothe the soul.
34:00: A rough start to training camp for Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Oct 3, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings, Gophers and Carlos Correa
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host host Michael Rand for a dissection of the weekend in Minnesota sports.
The Vikings escaped London with a 28-25 win over the Saints with the help of several penalty flags, an upright and a crossbar. Rand makes the point that not much has changed with the Vikings except their record; Reusse notes that while that might be true, it's the nature of the NFL.
Plus they dig into the Gophers' disappointing loss to Purdue, the shakeup in Wisconsin, what exactly Carlos Correa meant and whether the Loons can hang on and make the playoffs.
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Sep 30, 2022
Vikings and the 'buttpunt'; Ben Goessling in London; Lindsey Vonn on grief and the fight against ALS
Introduction: Host Michael Rand isn't afraid to ask the tough questions, like this one: What did Vikings players think about the "buttpunt" that resulted in a safety on Sunday? Along the way, you might laugh. You might also gain a greater appreciation for special teams.
9:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand from London, where he is attempting to adjust his body clock in order to give you the best possible coverage of Vikings vs. Saints on Sunday. Maybe if defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is crankier, he'll call some blitzes?
29:00: Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn joins the show to remember her mother, Lindy Krohn Lund, who died last month after a battle with ALS.
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Sep 29, 2022
Chris Hine on Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves; Aaron Judge vs. Luis Arraez; Vikings depth test
Introduction: Host Michael Rand is not impressed by Aaron Judge's pursuit of the American League home run record, but he is VERY impressed by a possible triple crown. The main person standing in Judge's way? Twins infielder Luis Arraez, who is tied for the AL batting lead with Judge at .313. It's about the only drama left in the Twins' season, but it is intriguing.
7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a thoughtful discussion of Anthony Edwards' homophobic remarks, his apology and the work that still needs to be done. They also get into the main story lines for the Wolves in a season of big expectations.
27:00: The Vikings are in London, but will another NFL game be in Minneapolis on Sunday? Plus a contract extension for Emanuel Reynoso, just as the Loons push to hold onto an MLS playoff spot.
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Sep 28, 2022
Get to know Gophers WR Mike Brown-Stephens; Vikings scheme schism?; Twins optimism?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand wrote about how few innings Twins starters have thrown in 2022, making him wistful for 2019. And then Bailey Ober threw a gem Tuesday, making Rand wonder if 2023 could at least have a hint of optimism from a depth standpoint.
7:00: Gophers WR Mike Brown-Stephens joins Rand for a wide-ranging conversation. He's the nephew of music mega-star John Legend, and Brown-Stephens tells some great stories about his relationship with his uncle (and how he accidentally broke one of Legend's Grammy Award trophies).
23:00: Gophers writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up Saturday's game against Purdue, which would push the No. 21-ranked Gophers to a 5-0 record. Can they slow down Purdue's passing attack?
34:00: A defensive schism to watch with the Vikings?
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Sep 27, 2022
Production beyond Justin Jefferson; Anthony Edwards' apology; New Twins uniforms
Introduction: Media day for the Timberwolves was Monday, and it served two purposes -- the first public, in-person comments from Anthony Edwards since his homophobic video surfaced and a big-picture outlook for what should be a team on a continued ascent. How Edwards and the Wolves grow this season will be stories to watch.
6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand for a film study on how the Vikings have -- and haven't -- been able to get other receivers aside from Justin Jefferson the ball. And how can Jefferson adjust after being shut down two games in a row?
22:00: Award-winning poetry -- Vi-kus, if you will -- are back.
37:00: New Twins scoreboard, new Twins uniforms.
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Sep 26, 2022
Patrick Reusse: How the heck did the Vikings win? And will the Gophers ever lose?
Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse marvel at the two big Minnesota football outcomes from the weekend. The Vikings were outplayed against Detroit and didn't have a lead until the final minute, but they stole an important 28-24 victory with some clutch late plays. The Gophers, meanwhile, looked completely dominant against Michigan State and are now ranked in the Top 25.
Regrettably, we had to talk about the Twins as well.
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Sep 23, 2022
Vikings defensive scheme -- and culture -- will be put to the test Sunday
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Gophers are a three-point favorite on the road against Michigan State this weekend -- a sign of respect for the program but an edge that might make longtime fans nervous about a letdown. We'll know more about just how good Minnesota is after Saturday's game.
6:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins Rand ahead of Sunday's rather intriguing game against the Lions. Everything looked easy for the Vikings in a Week 1 victory over the Packers, but that changed in a hurry in a Monday loss to the Eagles. Now, on a short week they come back home to face a Lions team in a game that will test both their defensive scheme and their culture under head coach Kevin O'Connell.
28:00: Stop making Cooper Rush a thing.
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Sep 22, 2022
Is Bally Sports (and Sinclair) in trouble as app sets to debut? + A fascinating Gophers linebacker
Introduction: If Patrick Reusse is buying into the Gophers and P.J. Fleck, perhaps more of us should as well. On today's show, host Michael Rand helps you get to know one of the key members of the defense: linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin. He was an Ivy League recruit before signing with the Gophers, and his intelligence plays a big role in his success. Sori-Marin has a fascinating family history tracing back to his family's Cuban roots, and he also has used his love of food to take team bonding to a new level.
16:00: Jason Gurwin from The Streamable joins Rand for the latest on how we watch sports. The rights to NFL Sunday Ticket are up after this season, and where that lands will be interesting. Plus Bally Sports Plus -- the standalone $20 a month app -- is set to launch Monday. Will fans, including supporters of the Wolves and Wild, go for it? And how does the shaky financial situation of Diamond Sports -- which operates all the Bally regional sports networks and is owned by parent com…
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Sep 21, 2022
Did Monday's loss reveal a problem with Vikings' plan -- or with their execution?
Introduction; Before he dives into football talk, host Michael Rand notes that the Twins have been playing at a 91-loss pace since May 24, a span of nearly four months. That's a much larger sample size than their 27-16 start and should prompt a long look at organizational philosophy this offseason.
6:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a Vikings film review. The big question after the Eagles went up and down the field on Minnesota during Monday night's game: Did it reveal a flaw in how the Vikings are trying to defend, with very little man-to-man coverage and a lot of soft zones? Or was the bigger problem in how Vikings defenders executed the game plan?
24:00: Vikings poetry remains undefeated.
37:00: Anthony Edwards fined $40,000.
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Sep 20, 2022
Bad game plan, awful execution doom Vikings in familiar blowout loss
Introduction: If you thought the Vikings had a chance to make a statement on Monday night against the Eagles, well ... they did in a sense. In letting the Eagles jump to a 24-7 halftime lead and then self-destructing with three Kirk Cousins interceptions in the second half, Minnesota showed it still has a long way to go if it is going to change its identity into a consistent winner under new head coach Kevin O'Connell. Host Michael Rand also has exclusive audio of what was going on inside Kirk Cousins' head Monday.
16:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand to discuss the impact of Chris Autman-Bell's injury and the opportunity ahead for Minnesota as it enters Big Ten play.
28:00: Five players who you never would have thought would be playing in a meaningful September game were part of a sequence that sealed the Twins' fate Monday. That is all you need to know about this season.
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Sep 19, 2022
Patrick Reusse: Twins need to re-evaluate and make some changes this offseason
Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse give a eulogy of sorts for a Twins season that isn't officially over but might as well be after they lost the first three games of a critical series against Cleveland. The opening game of the series was another dominant but short start -- this time by Bailey Ober -- wasted by a poor finish. The sum total of a 73-73 season-to-date has Reusse thinking the Twins need to re-evaluate and make some changes after the year is done.
Plus Rand and Reusse talk about the dominant Gophers football team and set up the Vikings' Monday Night Football game, noting that both teams have a great opportunity against weak competition this season. And what has happened to Minnesota United?
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Sep 16, 2022
Vikings ready to make a statement? + Twins are pulling us back in
Introduction: Host Michael Rand was ready for a clean break from the 2022 Twins after they were swept last weekend by Cleveland, but three wins in a row and the Guardians' loss Thursday breathed a little bit of new life into them. They are now four games back heading into a five-game series in Cleveland. Simple math tells us there's still a path to the playoffs over the last 20 games for a team whose best quality is resilience.
9:00: Ben Goessling joins Rand for an extended discussion about the Vikings. Monday Night Football in Philadelphia will be a significant test, but if Minnesota can go on the road and get another win, there will be a buzz around this team that hasn't been felt for years.
33:00: Scott Frost getting fired is a reminder of the relative calm in Minnesota.
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Sep 15, 2022
Twins pitching ... optimism? + A conversation with the new Timberwolves play-by-play voice
Introduction: The Twins have received back-to-back starts of seven innings and no runs from their two most consistent rotation members, Joe Ryan and Sonny Gray. It's enough to make host Michael Rand look ahead to 2023 and think optimistically about what the rotation might look like with reasonable health and continued minor league development -- even if it is probably too late in 2022.
8:00: Rand welcomes new Timberwolves TV play-by-play voice Michael Grady to the show. They caught up at the State Fair a couple weeks ago, with Grady sharing his passion for basketball and his enthusiasm for his new job.
27:00: Brett Favre is in trouble; Patrick Peterson's PFF grade matched his play on Sunday.
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Sep 14, 2022
Are the Gophers the Big Ten West favorites; Removing Joe Ryan after seven no-hit innings
Introduction: If you missed it Tuesday, Twins rookie Joe Ryan had a no-hitter going through seven innings and 106 pitches before being removed by manager Rocco Baldelli. These sorts of things happen frequently enough that they aren't huge debate points any more, but that doesn't change the "what-if" quality and disappointment.
6:00: A well-earned draw for Minnesota United, but some drama along the way.
10:00: How Gophers football players prepare for games and watch games, with perspectives from defensive lineman Thomas Rush and quarterback Tanner Morgan. Then beat writer Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand to talk about the Gophers being No. 1 in total offense and total defense in FBS.
31:00: Revisiting the Monday Night Football finish.
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Sep 13, 2022
Inside Justin Jefferson's big day; How the Twins lost the AL Central in June
Introduction: Host Michael Rand wants listeners to hit rewind on the Twins season before it gets too late and we all move on to other things. Sure, this past weekend against Cleveland was disappointing. But the AL Central race was shaped in June, with five excruciating bullpen meltdowns against the Guardians that kept the Twins from taking control of the division.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show for the first Vikings film review segment of the season, helping Rand break down Justin Jefferson's big day. Plus, what better way to express feelings about the 23-7 victory over Green Bay than with poetry.
33:00: A curious ending to Monday Night Football and an apology from Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.
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Sep 12, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' dominance, Twins' flop and Gophers' opportunity
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at an extremely busy weekend in sports. Like ships passing each other in the night, the Twins drifted toward irrelevance while the Vikings bolted into the spotlight with a 23-7 win over the Packers in Kevin O'Connell's coaching debut.
The Twins getting swept by Cleveland provided a microcosm of all that has been hurting them lately -- injuries, ineffective pitching and a punch-less offense -- while the Vikings got about everything they could have hoped for and more.
Plus thoughts on the Gophers being in prime position in the Big Ten West and the Loons suddenly stumbling.
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Sep 9, 2022
Why I'm pessimistic about the Vikings; Twins are in AL Central race, like it or not
Introduction: Host Michael Rand lays out why he is far more pessimistic about the Vikings' season than his colleagues. He predicts the Vikings will go 7-10 this season, while six other Star Tribune Vikings writers and columnists all think they will go at least 9-8. The bottom line: This team has perilously thin depth and too many unknowns to get the benefit of the doubt.
10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Megan Ryan joins the show for a look at the home stretch. With 26 games left, the Twins are tied with Chicago and 1.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central Race. Do they have one good stretch left in them?
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Sep 8, 2022
Sports are fun, but Twins are not; Patrick Reusse tells some great stories
Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through the latest frustrating night for the Twins, a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Yankees. They are now 1-15 against the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers this season, often playing a joyless brand of baseball in those games and others. We know what to expect from these Twins at this point, and even though they are still very much alive in the AL Central race it doesn't seem nearly as fun as it should.
11:00: Star Tribune columnists Chip Scoggins and Patrick Reusse join Rand for a discussion of their book collaboration on Reusse's life and career, "Tales From the Minnesota Sports Beat." Anytime Reusse starts telling stories, you want to listen.
30:00: An interesting moment from a recent Russell Wilson story; is Kirk Cousins really a top-10 quarterback?
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Sep 7, 2022
Kevin O'Connell vs. Mike Zimmer; Lindsay Whalen on her Hall of Fame induction weekend
Introduction: While host Michael Rand is feeling increasingly pessimistic about the upcoming Vikings season because of the team's lack of depth, he does acknowledge that those who are more optimistic are likely placing their faith in an improved relationship between quarterback Kirk Cousins and the head coach (now Kevin O'Connell, previously Mike Zimmer). Two stories this week underscored just what a difference it will be.
7:00: Gophers women's basketball coach and legend Lindsay Whalen joined the show to talk about the upcoming season and her impending induction Saturday into the Basketball Hall of Fame. You'll hear just how nervous Whalen was to ask her favorite player -- Charles Barkley -- to be one of her presenters.
31:00: A low-tech Spygate controversy in soccer.
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Sep 6, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Twins' low-speed pennant chase and one thing to like about the Vikings
Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look at the week in Minnesota sports. The Twins have been decimated by injuries and have lost four of their last five games, but they have still managed to stay afloat in the AL Central race. But in any other division, they would be trailing by at least 10 games. What is the end-game here?
Plus Reusse and Rand get into a Vikings/Packers preview of sorts. They both agree the Vikings have an alarming lack of depth, but Reusse makes it known that the Vikings have enough talent to be competitive in 2022 even if we don't know much about them yet.
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Sep 2, 2022
The ideal game for Gophers football; in-depth with the Gophers volleyball powerhouse program
Introduction: The Gophers showed they can run. They showed they can pass. They showed they have a stout defense. Head coach P.J. Fleck shook hands with Jerry Kill not once but twice. It was pretty much everything they could have asked for in an opener, including the convincing 38-0 result against New Mexico State.
7:00: The Star Tribune's Jeff Day goes in-depth on the Gophers volleyball program with host Michael Rand. It's a powerhouse program from the standpoint of both on-court success and increasing fan interest. But is there another level? That's the big question in 2022 and beyond.
29:00: The Twins are just one game out of the AL Central lead heading into a critical stretch of their schedule.
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Sep 1, 2022
Trader Kwesi does it again; an important year for Gophers football
Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but be frustrated by the Twins' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday. The near-comeback was a good effort, but Nick Gordon's baserunning blunder in the eighth and disappointing at bats from Luis Arraez and Carlos Correa in the ninth cost the Twins a chance for a truly special night and an opportunity to gain a game on Cleveland. Now the schedule stiffens considerably.
8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a big-picture look at the Gophers football program as head coach P.J. Fleck prepares to begin Year 6 against New Mexico State on Thursday. Will there be more balance on offense? And can the Gophers start to establish themselves as regular contenders?
24:00: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled off his fourth recent trade, this time sending a seventh-round pick and conditional fourth-round pick to Philadelphia for 2020 first round pick WR Jalen Reagor. It was another sign that the Vikings aren't happy with their depth nor impressed by…
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Aug 31, 2022
Revealing roster cuts by Vikings; the line between cheating and 'innovation' in baseball
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Vikings' roster cuts on Tuesday, which included six of the 11 players chosen -- three of them third-round picks -- during Rick Spielman's final draft as GM in 2021. Tuesday was the clearest signal of a regime change, and it was a reminder that rebuilding depth could be a multi-year process. Plus Rand looks at the Twins' five-game winning streak and where they stand.
10:00: Local baseball historian Dan Levitt joins Rand to talk about his new book, "Intentional Balk: Baseball's Thin Line Between Innovation and Cheating."
29:00: Is Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson on the verge of landing a top-30 recruit?
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Aug 30, 2022
Wolves President Tim Connelly on the Rudy Gobert trade; Good and bad news for Twins
Introduction: The Twins had an impressive win keyed by Gio Urshela's big hit and solid work from their bullpen on Monday to pull within 1.5 games of Cleveland. On the flip side, it sounds like Byron Buxton's return is far from imminent and that he won't go with the team on its upcoming road trip to Chicago and New York. In a similar vein, Minnesota United keeps winning but suffered a key setback when it lost Bakaye Dibassy for the season.
10:00: Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly joins Michael Rand from the Star Tribune's State Fair stage to talk about the offseason deal for Rudy Gobert, big expectations and more.
29:00: NFL cutdown day is coming.
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Aug 29, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the comeback Twins, worrisome Vikings and Jerry Kill coming to town
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Twins, who have been buried and revived a few times already this year. They are in a comeback cycle after sweeping the Giants over the weekend to pull within two games of Cleveland. With some key players perhaps returning soon from injury, it should be a fun stretch run.
Rand expresses pessimism -- perhaps prematurely -- about the Vikings after looking at their depth in the preseason. In a role reversal, Reusse is still in wait-and-see mode.
And Reusse caught up recently with former Gophers football coach Jerry Kill, who brings his New Mexico State squad to town against P.J. Fleck's Gophers on Thursday.
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Aug 26, 2022
Wild GM Bill Guerin on Kirill Kaprizov, roster battles and expectations
Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes "micro" on a couple of fringe moves by the Vikings and Twins on Thursday. First, he takes note of the Vikings' decision to keep rookie punter Ryan Wright instead of veteran Jordan Berry. How does it impact kicker Greg Joseph, who had Berry as his holder all of last season? Plus the Twins signed veteran outfielder Billy Hamilton to a minor league contract. Rand wonders why the Twins didn't make any sort of outfield depth move even sooner.
10:00: Wild General Manager Bill Guerin joins the show with a free-flowing conversation from the State Fair. Guerin touches on the dicey offseason situation involving Kirill Kaprizov, how he and head coach Dean Evason have changed their postgame communication and expectations he has for young players trying to stick on this year's roster.
27:00: Wolves forward Taurean Prince was arrested Thursday; former Minnehaha Academy standout and No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren is going to miss the entire NBA season with a foo…
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Aug 25, 2022
Admitting what we don't know about the Vikings; Minnesota United's hot streak
Introduction: One of the hardest things for an "expert" to admit is that they don't know something. But when it comes to the 2022 Vikings, we are dealing with such incomplete information heading into the season that anyone trying to predict how the year will go is ripe with overconfidence. The nature of everything that has transpired this offseason means we are in for surprises when the year actually starts.
9:00: Star Tribune Minnesota United beat writer Jerry Zgoda joins host Michael Rand for a look at the red-hot Loons. They've scored 25 goals in their past 10 matches, losing just once in that span, after averaging about a goal per game until that point. Can United sustain that going forward?
21:00: Rocco Baldelli wants the Twins to play loose. Is that the problem, or do they just not have enough talent in the lineup right now with all the injuries?
26:00: Patrick Beverley is on the move to the Lakers.
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Aug 24, 2022
Rocco Baldelli's frustration mounts; Chip Scoggins on Byron Buxton; Nick Mullens is focused
Introduction: Ejections were the norm during the Ron Gardenhire era, as the Twins manager either led the American League outright or tied for the league lead in ejections every year from 2006-2011. Rocco Baldelli has tended to be much more mild-mannered, but lately he has been positively Gardy-esque. On Tuesday he was ejected for the second time this month and fourth time this season after being tossed just six times combined in his first three seasons as a manager.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a look at Byron Buxton and another stint on the injured list and thoughts on the Vikings' acquisition of Nick Mullens as their presumed backup quarterback.
28:00: Mullens met with the media on Tuesday and vowed to be focused on the task at hand.
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Aug 23, 2022
Going deep on the new Vikings quarterback; Bad news for Byron Buxton, Twins
Introduction: Host Michael Rand is disturbed by the latest Byron Buxton injury news on a couple of fronts. First, the fact that he had to leave Monday's game with hip soreness is a bad sign for the Twins as they try to hang around in the American League Central race. Second, if the Twins haven't been forthright about all of Buxton's injury problems this season they aren't doing anyone a favor.
9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand to dissect the Monday trade for quarterback Nick Mullens. Though nothing is official in the depth chart, Mullens presumably will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Kirk Cousins, ending an underwhelming camp battle between second-year QB Kellen Mond and veteran Sean Mannion.
26:00: Speaking of QBs, Tom Brady is back while Aaron Rodgers is still being himself.
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Aug 22, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Twins' lack of offense, Cesar Tovar and Vikings backup QB options
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the impotent Twins' offense. Minnesota was shut out 7-0 by the Rangers on Sunday, and a look at the lineup reveals a lot of players who just shouldn't scare opposing pitchers that much. With a tough slate of games coming up, the Twins will need to revitalize their hitting to stay in the AL Central race.
Plus Reusse gives his pitch for why Cesar Tovar was such a deserving inductee into the Twins Hall of Fame and who else needs to get in soon.
And both Rand and Reusse offer solutions to the Vikings' backup QB problem.
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Aug 19, 2022
La Velle E. Neal on Twins pitching; DeShaun Watson, NFL didn't learn anything
Introduction: Host Michael Rand rips into the NFL for the negotiated suspension of DeShaun Watson that will bring him back just in time to face his former team in Houston. And Watson himself doesn't seem to have learned anything given the nature of his contradictory words on Thursday.
6:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to talk through the potential impact of Tyler Mahle's shoulder problems with the Twins. Even after a clean MRI on Thursday, there is concern about his availability. Plus Neal has thoughts on Kirk Cousins and the Timberwolves.
27:00: Big money for the Big Ten.
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Aug 18, 2022
Tyler Mahle's injury; Gophers football; $19.99 for Bally Sports North; You (bleeping) like that?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Twins starter Tyler Mahle's early departure from Wednesday's game. Mahle, acquired at the trade deadline, had a dip in velocity. And just before the Twins acquired him, Mahle went three weeks between starts with a shoulder strain. How concerning should this be for a team with a history of acquiring injured pitchers?
9:00: Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a breakdown of that team's strengths and weaknesses so far during camp. With just two weeks before the season opener, it sounds like the defense is ahead of the offense.
20:00: Vikings QB Kirk Cousins was feisty in his return to practice on Wednesday.
25:00: A new standalone Bally Sports app will be available to BSN customers starting Sept. 26, but is the $19.99 monthly price tag too steep?
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Aug 17, 2022
End of an era for Lynx; Highlighting the Twins' positives; Who's next for a title parade?
Introduction: Even as the Twins have spent most of this season either in first place or contending for an AL Central title, the vibe has been negative. So let's spend some time after a 9-0 win over the Royals to highlight three players who have stood out for the Twins so far this season (and did so again on Tuesday).
7:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins host Michael Rand for a look back on a disappointing season. At 14-22, the Lynx missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Big changes are on the way with legendary center Sylvia Fowles retiring. How long will it take the Lynx to return to prominence?
23:00: The Lynx used to be the default pick for Minnesota team most likely to win a championship in the next five years, but that's no longer the case. Now? The Wild and Wolves are at the top of that conversation.
28:00: Sounds like Aaron Rodgers doesn't love his young wide receivers.
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Aug 16, 2022
Can Kellen Mond build on success? + Twins change the narrative at the last moment
Introduction: You are forgiven if you had an impending sense of doom as the 9th inning unfolded for the Twins on Friday. After blowing Saturday's game against the lowly Angels, things were slipping away against the Royals. But this time, All-Star closer Jorge Lopez induced a huge double play to preserve a 4-2 win. Max Kepler had three hits, breaking a huge slump. And the scoreboard watching, which will be a feature of the rest of the season, continued.
8:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand for a breakdown of Sunday's first preseason game. There was a lot to like, including a two-touchdown performance from QB Kellen Mond. Did Mond do enough to re-emerge in the backup QB race? Who else showed flashes? And what areas are still concerns as the preseason rolls on?
26:00: Rand takes note of a key pass rush stat that the Vikings will need to improve upon this season.
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Aug 15, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Twins' West Coast debacle, Kellen Mond, Jerry Kill and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They start with the Twins, who were one strike away from a win Saturday before a series of unfortunate events led to what Reusse called their worst loss of the season against the lowly Angels. Another loss Sunday dropped Minnesota to 1-4 on a disappointing road trip and left the Twins 2.5 games behind Cleveland.
Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Vikings' first preseason game and Kellen Mond's performance at quarterback as well as the latest on Jerry Kill and the end of a career for Sylvia Fowles.
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Aug 10, 2022
A conversation with Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath
With Allianz Field set to host the Major League Soccer All Star Game on Wednesday, and with Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath slated to manage the MLS side, host Michael Rand caught up recently with Heath on a number of subjects.
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Aug 8, 2022
Patrick Reusse on Rocco Baldelli's postgame diatribe, Garrett Bradbury and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the big stories from the weekend. They started -- of course -- with the Twins' 3-2 loss to Toronto on Sunday, which was punctuated by an overturned call at home plate and an extremely rare postgame rant from manager Rocco Baldelli. He said the reversal "beyond embarrassing" and used even stronger language throughout his critique.
Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Vikings' never-ending quest to solve their problems at center and Napheesa Collier's return to the Lynx lineup in a big Sunday win.
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Aug 3, 2022
Analyzing aggressive Twins trades; the relief of Kirill Kaprizov's return; Gophers football with Chip Scoggins
Introduction: Host Michael Rand declares Aug. 2 a sigh of relief day on two fronts in Minnesota sports. Twins fans (and probably players) who were desperate for upgrades to the first-place club watched the front office deliver three impact trades with the additions of relief pitchers Jorge Lopez and Michael Fulmer plus starter Tyler Mahle. And the Wild welcomed Kirill Kaprizov back to Minnesota on Tuesday after an uneasy offseason in which he was temporarily unable to leave Russia.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a more thorough breakdown of the Twins trades plus a look at the big questions facing Gophers football with camp underway.
30:00: Saying goodbye to legend Vin Scully.
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Aug 2, 2022
Can't stay mad at the Twins; All the Vikings' secrets; confidence in the kicker?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand collects up the swirl of negative energy surrounding the Twins at the trade deadline and exhales it as a positive sentiment: Even as fans get frustrated by inconsistency and a lack (so far) of substantive deadline moves, it's hard to stay mad at a team that has shown this much resiliency. Another example arrived Monday with a walk-off win over Detroit.
7:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins the show, but only after he promised not to record video of practice. What's up with fans being asked not to post practice video on social media? Is that normal? Plus Goessling's thoughts on the secondary, the shift to a 3-4 defense and how he thinks the team will fare this year.
30:00: Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels guaranteed a great season from Vikings kicker Greg Joseph. What could go wrong?
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Aug 1, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Twins' lack of trade options, the Vikings' paranoia and more
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Twins. With Tuesday's trade deadline approaching quickly, the organization seems stuck in a strange spot: Leading a weak AL Central, but having seen that lead dwindle; lacking enough depth in the minor leagues to make a major move; and perhaps not being good or bad enough to warrant a big move at all. So what will happen?
Plus Reusse and Rand talk about Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's recent comments about Kirk Cousins and the paranoia of fans recording video at practice.
And a tribute to Bill Russell, the Celtics legend who died Sunday at age 88.
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Jul 29, 2022
A big Kirk Cousins question; How and why we watch sports; revisiting a bad Twins trade
Introduction: Host Michael Rand took note of comments Thursday from Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, who said he is trying to learn not just a new playbook but a new way of progressing through his reads under head coach Kevin O'Connell. How fast the two can get on the same page will go a long way toward determining the Vikings' success in 2022.
9:00: Rand caught up with several local high school athletes earlier this week at the All Metro Sports Awards and asked them this question: How do you watch sports? The answers were interesting and varied.
22:00: Revisiting the Twins' Brandon Kintzler deadline trade from 2017 with our internet friend Chiken Fingerz, who has never been angrier.
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Jul 28, 2022
Twins worst vs. the best; 'A Slap Shot in Time'; Justin Jefferson speaks
Introduction: Host Michael Rand did some unnecessary work to determine the same fact Phil Miller referenced at the top of his story from the Twins' 10-4 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday. The Twins, as Miller had already found, are now 2-10 against other first-place teams in MLB, and they have been outscored 80-41 in those games. Plus Rand looks at the difference between how Carlos Correa and Karl-Anthony Towns approach having input on their respective rosters.
9:00: Dan Whenesota joins Rand for a talk about his new book, "A Slap Shot in Time" about the old Minnesota Fighting Saints. When it comes to stories, you can't do much better than old time hockey. Plus, the book prompted Rand to think about his favorite sports movies of all-time.
27:00: Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is entering an important year in his career.
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Jul 27, 2022
Karl-Anthony Towns on 'championship or bust' and big money + Twins and P.J. Fleck
Introduction: Host Michael Rand explores the dual legacies of Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, noting that Sano's return to the lineup Tuesday and these final two months of 2022 will probably mark the duo's last chance to do something special together. Plus Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Milwaukee was another example of the need for bullpen help.
9:00: Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns joins the show to talk about his new contract, the added pressure to win and faith being rewarded.
19:00: Three interesting takeaways from P.J. Fleck's appearance at Big Ten media day.
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Jul 26, 2022
Patrick Reusse on Cooperstown, Miguel Sano and avoiding the Vikings
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a recap of Reusse's trip to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend. After plenty of adventure and conversations, a grateful Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat could probably use a little peace and quiet for the next couple weeks.
Plus Reusse wonders about the timing of Byron Buxton's All-Star break procedure, considers the cost/benefit of Miguel Sano rejoining the team and once again expresses his disdain for the process of Vikings training camp.
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Jul 22, 2022
Five Twins predictions; Cooperstown with La Velle E. Neal III; Is Joe Mauer a Hall of Famer?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks ahead to the second half of the Twins season with five predictions. Will anyone significant be traded? How about some bullpen help? Which current players are poised for big second halves? And will the Twins win the AL Central? Rand tackles all those questions.
11:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand in advance of Neal's trip to Cooperstown this weekend for the Hall of Fame induction of Twins connections Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat and David Ortiz. Plus the big future question: Is Joe Mauer a Hall of Famer?
27:00: Kyler Murray got paid like Aaron Rodgers, but he shouldn't try to emulate Rodgers in one key area.
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Jul 21, 2022
An ominous look at the Vikings' future; Jerry Zgoda on the 3M Open in Blaine
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of an ESPN assessment of the strengths of each NFL team over the next three years. If the evaluations of the panel of league experts is accurate, there is trouble -- or at least mediocrity -- ahead for the Vikings. While the Packers finished tied for third and were deemed to be top-10 in every category, the Vikings were No. 19 overall and weren't higher than No. 17 in any single marker. That could signal a more honest roster evaluation is still to come depending on how 2022 goes.
13:00: Star Tribune golf writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show ahead of the 3M Open, which begins Thursday in Blaine. With a field impacted by the new LIV Golf tour, who will emerge as the champion? And do we know enough about the PGA Tour event, now in its fourth year, to determine if there is a style of play best suited for the course?
25:00: Rand has no time for the All-Star Game MVP "snub" of Byron Buxton nor the ESPYs ... plus the Loons demolish a Premier League team…
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Jul 18, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the beginning of the end for the Twins?
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins getting steamrolled while losing three of four games to the White Sox heading into the All-Star break. This is still a first-place team through 94 games, but Reusse has never been a believer and is even less of one now.
Plus Rand and Reusse share thoughts on the MLB Draft, British Open and more.
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Jul 15, 2022
Cam Talbot says he didn't want trade; Twins prospect, Aurora forward join show
Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the Twins' blowout loss to the White Sox. It's just one game, but with Sonny Gray pitching a dud and the offense sputtering it was a bad omen for an important series heading into the All-Star break. Plus Rand is joined by Twins prospect and Forest Lake native Matt Wallner, who was called up to St. Paul on Thursday after tearing things up at Class AA Wichita.
11:00: Former Wild goalie Cam Talbot met with the Ottawa media in the aftermath of being traded earlier this week. His message: Talbot didn't really want to be traded. But is that really the case?
15:00: The Lynx had a setback in their playoff push. But Minnesota Aurora is full speed ahead into Sunday's semifinals, and Rand caught up with forward Morgan Turner in advance of the game.
24:00: The Wolves added more depth with the signing of veteran Austin Rivers.
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Jul 14, 2022
Phil Miller on the Twins, draft and trade deadline; Ryan Dungey on his return to Motocross
Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes in Twins beat writer Phil Miller for an extended look at Wednesday's big walk-off win over the Brewers, the upcoming series against the White Sox, Sunday's MLB draft and the trade deadline looming in a few weeks.
20:00: Minnesota native and Motocross legend Ryan Dungey joins the show. After retiring in 2017, Dungey has returned to action this year at age 32. He will compete on his home track in Millville, Minn., this weekend as he continues his comeback.
27:00: Minnesota United earned a draw with Sporting KC on Wednesday while Minnesota Aurora had a thrilling comeback playoff victory.
30:00: The Royals have a staggering number of unvaccinated players.
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Jul 13, 2022
Breaking down the Cam Talbot trade + Miguel Sano's return + an outdoor adventure
Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Wild's trade of goalie Cam Talbot, just a few days after the team signed Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year deal and created the potential for drama with their two veteran goalies. Was it the right hockey move? And how much drama would there have been?
9:00: The Twins lost to the Brewers and Miguel Sano, the forgotten man, returned on a rehab assignment to St. Paul.
12:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer Bob Timmons joins Rand for a preview of his excellent upcoming Sunday story about "bikepacking" on gravel trails in Minnesota.
26:00: The Lynx stayed hot, winning one game seemingly three different times.
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Jul 12, 2022
A huge six games for Twins; impact of transfer portal on high school athletes
Introduction: The Twins are trudging into the All-Star break, but they can't afford a letdown even after a grueling first-half pace. They have six important games against the Brewers and White Sox starting Tuesday, and the results could set the tone for the second half and trade deadline.
7:00: Star Tribune college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins host Michael Rand for a look at how the college sports transfer portal is impacting high school recruits. With some colleges looking at more experienced players in the portal, it is harder for younger players to get noticed.
26:00: We learned the official cause of death of Marion Barber III ... plus can the Lynx make a post-break playoff push?
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Jul 11, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the confusing Twins, Wild drama and NBA Summer League
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports.
The Twins salvaged a game against Texas, and it seems like no matter what they do they manage to maintain a reasonable lead in the weak American League Central. Plus they learned that Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton are All-Stars. Reusse weighs in on the team's biggest pitching need as the trade deadline approaches.
Plus a look at NBA Summer League and the Wild's messy offseason.
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Jul 8, 2022
Kaprizov cloud hangs over Wild; Chip Scoggins on Big Ten expansion to the West Coast
Introduction: On what was a joyous on positive day on a couple fronts for the Wild, after making two first-round picks and signing goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, there is still a sense that there will be a cloud over the team as long as the Kirill Kaprizov situation in Russia remains unresolved. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's non-committal remarks didn't help.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to help sort through last week's seismic shift in college conferences with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten. What does it mean for the big picture, and were are we going from here?
28:00: The Twins schedule will get harder before it gets easier again.
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Jul 7, 2022
Wolves have top-5 NBA lineup?; Wild draft needs; Troubling Kaprizov news;
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of several key developments from the Rudy Gobert introductory news conference on Wednesday, including how he projects to fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. The two players should complement each other, as long as Chris Finch can work his magic.
10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to talk about the Kevin Fiala trade and the NHL draft, while Rand weighs in on the troubling Kirill Kaprizov story that emerged.
27:00: The Twins let one get away, while the Lynx are surging into the break.
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Jul 6, 2022
'Winning' the Rudy Gobert trade; Twins stay hot, even as fans complain
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the suddenly surging Twins, who demolished the White Sox 8-2 on Tuesday and now lead the AL Central again by 4.5 games over Cleveland and 6.5 games over Chicago. Almost all the correspondence from fans is negative, and yet this team keeps winning.
9:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk in more depth about last week's Rudy Gobert blockbuster trade and what it means for the Wolves.
27:00: Kevin Fiala discusses his trade to the Kings, plus Chet Holmgren has a monster NBA Summer League debut.
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Jul 5, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Rudy Gobert blockbuster, Wes Johnson, Big Ten shakeup and more
After a VERY eventful week away, host Michael Rand plays catch-up on all the big Minnesota sports news with Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse. Topics of discussion include:
*The Twins continuing to win (and frustrate) Reusse even after losing pitching coach Wes Johnson to LSU in the middle of the season.
*The blockbuster Timberwolves acquisition of Rudy Gobert and what it means.
*Big Ten expansion to the West Coast.
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Jun 24, 2022
Did the Timberwolves win or lose the NBA Draft? + Twins escape with much-needed win
Introduction: Host Michael Rand, with the help of Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine, takes an in-depth look at Thursday's NBA Draft. Did the Wolves and new personnel boss Tim Connelly, after a lot of wheeling and dealing, end up in a good spot with No. 22 pick Walker Kessler and No. 26 pick Wendell Moore? Time will tell, but they certainly addressed a need with Kessler's size and rebounding ability.
15:00: The Twins avoided a bullpen meltdown, albeit narrowly, in an important win over Cleveland. One day after the teams combined for 21 runs in a crushing Twins loss, Minnesota scored the only run in a 1-0 win.
20:00: The Lynx might be on the upswing again, while Loons fans are mad about the Adrian Heath contract extension. Plus putting a bow on the NBA and looking ahead to D'Angelo Russell and free agency for the Wolves.
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Jun 23, 2022
Voices from 50 years of Title IX; Another Target Field meltdown; Will Timberwolves trade No. 19 pick?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand gives some of his own thoughts on the impact of Title IX, the sweeping anti-discrimination legislation signed into law 50 years ago today. You'll also hear excellent perspectives from three highly successful women athletes: Paralympian Mallory Weggemann, hockey legend Natalie Darwitz and Olympic gold medal skier Jessie Diggins.
21:00: The Twins fell out of first place with a gut-punch loss to Cleveland, losing two big leads and allowing a four-run ninth inning in an 11-10 loss. Manager Rocco Baldelli called it "unsatisfying," which is a supreme understatement.
25:00: The NBA Draft is finally upon us Thursday. What will the Wolves do with the No. 19 pick? You'll hear from personnel boss Tim Connelly as he provides insights into the process.
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Jun 22, 2022
La Velle E. Neal III on Timberwolves draft needs and the next 10 years of Minnesota sports
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes no pleasure in reporting that the Twins have relinquished sole possession of first place in the American League Central for the first time in almost two months. They took over that top spot on April 24, but on Tuesday a late Cleveland rally for a 6-5 win in 11 innings pushed the Guardians into a tie with Minnesota atop the division standings.
7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to express just how much he wants the Timberwolves to find a way to draft Duke center Mark Williams. Plus Rand and Neal debate the idea of which Minnesota athlete will be most loved by fans over the next 10 years.
32:00: A tough break for the Gophers men's basketball team and a much-needed win for the Lynx.
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Jun 21, 2022
A position switch for Karl-Anthony Towns? + U.S. legend Cobi Jones on the past and future of soccer
Introduction: Host Michael Rand is ready to get a better idea of how the AL Central stacks up when the Twins begin a series against Cleveland on Tuesday. The Guardians have made up 6.5 games in the last three weeks and trail Minnesota by just one game. These teams will play eight times before the All-Star break in a month, while the Twins and White Sox will play seven times.
5:00: A look at some interesting comments from new Wolves boss Tim Connelly that -- combined with success Denver had when he was there -- could mean some time at power forward for Karl-Anthony Towns in the future.
13:00: U.S. soccer legend Cobi Jones joins the show to promote the Major League Soccer All-Star Game at Allianz Field in August and to provide perspective on the past and future of soccer. He also answers several listener questions.
27:00: Never count out a champion.
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Jun 20, 2022
Patrick Reusse on Twins, golf, soccer and a word he wants to bring back
Introduction: If you came here to get hard-hitting analysis of the Twins' upcoming series against Cleveland and the excellent final round of the U.S. Open, host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse provide that.
But if you also came for a digression into the good old days of pro indoor soccer and a word that Reusse is trying to work back into circulation, they have you covered there, too.
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Jun 17, 2022
Will Twins add at trade deadline? + Golden State rules, Lynx breakdown and Gophers optimism
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes a recent ESPN article that suggests the White Sox are more likely to add players at the trade deadline than the Twins, even though the Twins are atop the AL Central at the moment. The sentiment makes some sense, but anyone who looks at the Twins' roster can see there are pieces they could add.
9:00: Star Tribune women's basketball writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to offer his perspectives on all the things that have gone wrong for the 3-12 Lynx this season. Plus he looks ahead to an optimistic season for Gophers women's basketball, which started summer workouts this week with four talented Minnesota freshman on the court.
26:00: Golden State took home another NBA title and the World Cup sites in 2026 were revealed.
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Jun 16, 2022
Options and intrigue for the Timberwolves + the difference a Sonny Gray makes
Introduction: Twins pitcher Sonny Gray returned from injury and looked he hadn't missed a step, throwing five shutout innings in a 5-0 Twins win over Seattle. The Twins did well to maintain their first place standing in the AL Central while Gray and other key pitchers were out, but now that they are getting healthy it might be time to do some real damage.
7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins host Michael Rand for a look ahead to the NBA Draft, which is one week from today. Who will the Wolves target at No. 19? What will they do with their three second-round picks? How will things be run differently now that Tim Connelly is in charge?
28:00: The NHL Finals caught up to the NBA Finals, giving you some great viewing options.
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Jun 15, 2022
A revolution in how we watch sports on TV; Chip Scoggins with an unusual recruiting tale
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the new agreement between Major League Soccer and Apple TV, which reportedly will pay the league a minimum of $250 million starting next year to stream all games to all markets. If we like to think of streaming and fragmenting as the future of sports on TV, that future is arriving quickly. This deal is an acceleration of that pace.
5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to talk about his interesting column on Jackson Carver, a former prep lacrosse standout who played one year of football and suddenly was inundated with college offers. Plus Rand and Scoggins get into the high level of play from former Wolves wing Andrew Wiggins in this year's NBA Finals.
27:00: The first-place Twins have been shut out more than any team in the majors this season, a total that grew with a 5-0 loss on Tuesday. ... And the Lynx fell to 3-12. Should our attention turn to the 2023 WNBA Draft and Paige Bueckers?
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Jun 14, 2022
Inside the Twins with Phil Miller; Andrew Wiggins delivers on the biggest stage
Introduction: The two biggest fair criticisms of Andrew Wiggins when he was with the Timberwolves were his inconsistency and his tendency to shrink from big moments. But he is having a terrific NBA Finals for Golden State, including a 26-point, 13-rebound performance in Monday's critical Game 5 win that put the Warriors one game away from another championship.
6:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show with some insights into the first-place Twins and how they keep winning. He pointed to the series win over Toronto -- which had the potential to turn particularly bad with several unvaccinated players missing -- as a big key to their season so far, and he had good news for fans regarding two of the Twins' best pitchers.
28:00: Ryan Saunders is heading back to the NBA, reportedly as a Denver assistant.
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Jun 13, 2022
Patrick Reusse on being wrong about the Twins + the virtues of being a multi-sport athlete
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Twins' 5-4 stretch against top AL East teams, which was fueled by a strong offensive showing against some of MLB's top starting pitchers. After predicting the Twins would not win a game during the nine-game stretch, Reusse is happy to admit he was wrong -- though you will be shocked to learn that he still has some gripes about the process.
Plus Reusse and Rand get into the flat-out bad Lynx, golf's interesting weekend and a rare state baseball tournament appearance for St. Louis Park.
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Jun 10, 2022
Moral victory for Twins, real victory for Yankees; Huge weekend for Gophers football recruiting
Introduction: Just when you thought it was safe to think the Twins might beat the Yankees -- OK, let's be honest, nobody probably thought that, even with a 7-3 lead -- things fall apart. Even after battering ace Gerrit Cole for five home runs, continuing a trend of knocking out Yankees pitchers, the Twins lost 10-7 Thursday and lost the series two games to one. Manager Rocco Baldelli was inclined to look at the positives, but the end result was more of the same.
12:00: Star Tribune Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show to talk about a huge weekend of recruiting for coach P.J. Fleck and the program.
20:00: A curious decision by White Sox manager Tony La Russa -- at least to a lot of us, though not to him -- backfired in yet another Chicago loss.
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Jun 9, 2022
Twins hand Yankees worst loss of year; Willians Astudillo is back!; Saudi-backed golf tour; Jefferson's payday
Introduction: Host Michael Rand spent a lot of time fixated on the Twins' sad two-decade history against the Yankees on Wednesday's show, so it's only fair to lead off with Minnesota's 8-1 win Wednesday, which was the first time all year New York has trailed by six or more runs. The Twins are now 3-2 in their tough nine-game stretch and have a chance to win the series Thursday. Plus Rand champions the return of Willians Astudillo to the spotlight and thinks the Angels got what they deserved with Nickelback.
12:00: Star Tribune golf writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show to talk about new Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour, which begins play Thursday in London. Several notable golfers, including Phil Mickelson, have signed up for big paydays. But is it worth it?
24:00: Draymond Green's podcast was a big talker after Golden State's Game 3 loss to Boston, but Steph Curry's injury is bigger news; Cooper Kupp's big extension could foreshadow Justin Jefferson's next deal.
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Jun 8, 2022
Twins 38-110 vs. Yankees since 2002; Lindsay Whalen and Ben Johnson on recruiting in the transfer portal era
Introduction: The Twins became competitive in the early 2000s after a decade of misery and have played beyond the regularly scheduled season in half of the 20 years from 2002-2021. But that hasn't stopped them from being absolutely dominated by the Yankees, a trend that continued Tuesday at Target Field in a 10-4 loss. Minnesota is now 38-110 against the Yankees -- including 2-16 in the playoffs -- since the start of the 2002 season, an almost unfathomable run of .257 baseball against one team.
8:00: Gophers basketball coaches Lindsay Whalen and Ben Johnson join host Michael Rand for a look at the seasons ahead and trying to stay afloat in recruiting during the transfer portal era. Whalen notes that it's tough keeping up because she has to recruit the portal, re-recruit her own players and bring in high school talent, all while assessing her current team. But it's the way of the sport in 2022. Both coaches are gearing up for the start of summer workouts next week with an influx of new…
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Jun 7, 2022
Denver executive calls Wolves 'desperate'; Gophers AD Mark Coyle; Did Twins know what was coming?
Introduction: It's been a mixed bag over the last two weeks for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Avalanche are on a major upswing, having swept Edmonton to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. But the Nuggets, another Denver team owned by the group, lost executive Tim Connelly to the Timberwolves. And that led vice chairman Josh Kroenke to ramp up the rhetoric in a recent media session, calling the Wolves "desperate" for how they pursued Connelly. Is there a budding rivalry with the two Western Conference teams, host Michael Rand wonders.
12:00: Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle joins the show to talk about his philosophy for hiring coaches, the plan for the department as it hopefully emerges from the COVID era and the daily impact of name, image and likeness on all schools. Plus he deftly dodges one final question about athletic facilities.
24:00: Rand takes note of the Twins' success against Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman on Sunday, which prompted an examination of whether M…
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Jun 6, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Twins miracle in Toronto, the rise of Arraez and yelling at the kicker
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins taking two of three from Toronto after coming into the series ice-cold while the Blue Jays were red-hot. Part of what sparked the Twins was the continued production of Luis Arraez, who had four hits Sunday and is hitting .358 on the season.
Plus thoughts on Rafael Nadal, yelling at Vikings kickers and the NBA Finals.
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Jun 3, 2022
A new Timberwolves arena? + Twins vaccination status and Celtics stun Warriors
Introduction: The Twins head to Toronto in free-fall mode after losing seven of their last 10 against bottom-feeders Detroit and Kansas City. Will they get enough key players back -- and simply start playing/hitting better -- to compete with Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay in the next couple weeks? Or is this the start of a plummet out of first place?
6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins host Michael Rand for an extended look at the Twins and the prospect of a new Timberwolves arena on the horizon. We're already overbuilt. Can we really do this again? La Velle says we might have to given the ambitions of the Wolves' new owners.
24:00: The Celtics blitzed the Warriors with a 40-16 fourth quarter in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, while Rand takes issue with All-NBA processes.
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Jun 2, 2022
The tragic death of Marion Barber III; Josh Donaldson still doesn't get it
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the latest punchless Twins effort -- two hits, no runs in a second consecutive shutout loss to the Tigers -- and notes that there is some urgency in Thursday's series finale against Detroit. A loss Thursday leading into a tough nine-game stretch could send the Twins into a spiral with so many key players out.
5:00: But as rough as things have been lately, the Twins are still in first place. And they have to be elated with their offseason trade of Josh Donaldson to the Yankees. Not only did Minnesota get two productive players -- Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela -- in return, but more importantly the Twins shed themselves of Donaldson's baggage. He proved again with comments Wednesday about the Tim Anderson "Jackie Robinson" situation that he still doesn't get it.
9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to talk about Vikings offseason observations of note, including more autonomy for QB Kirk Cousins.
25:00: The tragic death of…
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Jun 1, 2022
The three biggest Timberwolves takeaways from Tim Connelly's introduction
Introduction: Host Michael Rand explores three paths the Wolves could go down this offseason as they look to improve on last year's 46-win team. Will they run it back? Will new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly look to reshape the core of the team by trading D'Angelo Russell? Or is blowing up the roster something to consider?
10:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to dissect three key things Connelly said during his introductory news conference on Tuesday, which illuminated how Connelly thinks of the Wolves' roster and how he might approach this job.
24:00: The Twins are 3-5 in their last eight games, a rough end to a very good month ... Dustin Johnson had a golf surprise ... and a must-read Patrick Reusse column.
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May 31, 2022
Patrick Reusse on possible Twins June swoon + to-do list for Timberwolves
Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse who -- you might not believe this -- is not optimistic about how the Twins are doing even though they are in first place. He sees a June swoon coming as their pitching comes back down to earth, players miss time for various reasons and the schedule gets tougher.
Plus Rand and Reusse talk through the Wolves' offseason to-do list for new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, who will be introduced to the media on Tuesday. And they set up the NBA Finals, which begin this week.
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May 27, 2022
Twins due for a regression? + Chris Hine on big decisions for the new Wolves boss
Introduction: Host Michael Rand laments the Twins' missed chances in a bad 3-2 loss to the Royals on Thursday and takes note of how during their hot streak the Twins went 14-2 in games decided by one run or two runs. They have dropped two close games since then, and that might happen more as the year goes on. The Twins will hope that Byron Buxton is due for a progression, not more regression, after finally snapping his 0-for-30 skid.
10:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk about the significance of hiring Tim Connelly as the new President of Basketball Operations and all the big decisions ahead for Connelly this offseason.
26:00: Three big decisions in this market ... Aurora soccer starts with a tie ... Golden State is back in the NBA Finals.
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May 26, 2022
Buxton and Loons swoon + a much-anticipated women's soccer debut
Introduction: Minnesota United lost 2-1 at home in a U.S. Open Cup match to third division Union Omaha on Wednesday, a defeat Loons manager Adrian Heath called "embarrassing." It was another inconsistent performance from United this season, and it probably won't lead to more playing time for the Loons reserves who had a chance to play.
6:00: Minnesota Aurora President and co-founder Andrea Yoch joins the show to talk about the debut of the women's soccer club Thursday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The amateur club has sold out all 5,600 tickets for its debut, part of what Yoch terms a "magic carpet ride" or support so far.
20:00: Byron Buxton went hitless again on Wednesday, and it's time to wonder if his balky knee is at least partly to blame for his 0-for-26 slump. Plus a throwback NBA playoff game and a huge NHL comeback.
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May 25, 2022
Slumping Byron Buxton + taking pressure off Kirk Cousins
Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but notice that Byron Buxton is 1 for his last 24, with the slump coinciding with the Twins disclosing a little over a week ago their plan to rest him so he stays healthy enough to play 100 games this season. Buxton's batting average is all the way down to .211. But the Twins have continued to win even without Buxton contributing at the plate, in large part because of pitching outings like the one they got from Sonny Gray (seven innings, zero runs) on Tuesday.
9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show with observations from watching the new-look Vikings in their early offseason work. The defensive changes stand out, but so does the offensive philosophy -- including a big change that might take some pressure off Kirk Cousins.
26:00: The Warriors are on pace for a gentlemen's sweep of the Mavericks, while the Lynx got a big comeback win.
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May 24, 2022
Pros and cons of Wolves hiring Tim Connelly as President; Inside the Gophers volleyball team
Introduction: The Timberwolves hired executive Tim Connelly away from Denver to be their President of Basketball Operations for a reported 5 years and $40 million plus an ownership stake in the team. It's a big-time move, but it's not without risk. While Connelly has a track record of building a team primarily through the draft, the Nuggets haven't even played for a championship let alone won a title in recent years.
8:00: The Star Tribune's Jeff Day joins host Michael Rand for an examination of his story on the inner workings of the Gophers volleyball program.
32:00: The Twins won again, and the vibe in the clubhouse is positively giddy.
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May 23, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the surging Twins, Gophers baseball, Andrew Wiggins and the PGA
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included two stunning comebacks on Sunday: the Twins rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the eighth inning to defeat Kansas City 7-6, while Justin Thomas started the day seven shots off the lead but came back to win the PGA Championship in a playoff. Reusse still doesn't trust the Twins pitching, but he has to concede this is a pretty good team after a 25-16 start.
Plus a look at the struggles of the Gophers baseball team, which finished 16-36 this season, and the surge of Andrew Wiggins in the playoffs for Golden State.
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May 20, 2022
A conversation with Vikings legend Bud Grant on his 95th birthday
Bud Grant, the legendary Vikings coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, turned 95 on Friday and was a very special guest on today's show.
Host Michael Rand and Bud talk about the interesting progression of aging, the joy of living a good, long life, Grant's path into coaching and how he copes with surviving a near-death experience when he was 29.
Plus Rand's thoughts on the Lynx, Vikings and the Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher feud at the end of the show.
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May 19, 2022
A lot of complaining about first-place Twins; Sarah McLellan on the Wild's important offseason
Introduction: We've spent the last few days debating two big decisions by the Twins: Limiting Byron Buxton's workload to 100 (or a few more) games this season and sending promising rookie shortstop Royce Lewis back to the minors. While these are good fodder for discussion, we also shouldn't let those narratives overtake the whole conversation. This is a first-place team on pace to win 94 games.
8:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to help break down an interesting offseason for the Wild. Is there any chance of keeping Kevin Fiala? Is Marc-Andre Fleury really an option in goal next season? And how can the team hope to improve its special teams considering it doesn't have much payroll flexibility?
26:00: Minnesota United equalized late to salvage a tie against the LA Galaxy, but problems finishing chances persisted ... the Wolves might have a change at the top of their organizational structure.
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May 18, 2022
Red-hot Royce Lewis demoted; Kellen Mond speaks; Can the Loons score?; Lynx break through
Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the NBA Draft lottery, normally a major event for Wolves fans, passed without as much as a whisper on Tuesday because Minnesota was a rare non-participant. Orlando ended up with the No. 1 pick, which could mean Chet Holmgren is reunited with former Minnehaha Academy teammate Jalen Suggs.
6:00: Star Tribune writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show to help break down Minnesota United's struggles to finish chances this season, part of the reason the Loons sit No. 10 in the Western Conference standings heading into an important home match on Wednesday.
18:00: The Lynx broke through with a big win over Los Angeles after an 0-4 start. Will they have a similar turnaround as they did last year? ... Bill Guerin says the Wild has a plan to deal with the impact of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, but that plan might include re-signing goalie Marc-Andre Fleury? ... And Kellen Mond, the forgotten man, talks about his progress.
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May 17, 2022
Jim Souhan's take on Byron Buxton; Predicting every game of the Vikings' season
Introduction: Host Michael Rand catches up on the Vikings' schedule, which was released late last week in the midst of the Wild's playoff series against the Blues, and gives his thoughts on story lines and predictions for each game. Rand sees reason for optimism, but the Vikings had better take advantage of favorable stretches in their 17-game season.
10:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show to offer his take on Byron Buxton and the Twins' 100-game plan. He sees the wisdom in it, and he also has more optimism for the 0-4 Lynx than their record might indicate.
28:00: The best high school football recruit in Minnesota has the Gophers on his final list of schools.
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May 16, 2022
Patrick Reusse rips the Byron Buxton 100 game plan and expands on Minnesota playoff misery
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand after Sunday's revelation that the Twins have a plan to limit Byron Buxton's playing time in hopes of preserving his health. The magic number is getting him in at least 100 games, which would be more than Buxton has typically played but far fewer than fans might want. Reusse, as you might expect, is not a fan of the plan.
Plus a deeper look at Minnesota sports playoff misery and musing on the NBA playoffs and the Game 7 no-show by Phoenix on Sunday.
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May 13, 2022
Wild goes out with a whimper (again); ESPN's Malika Andrews on Wolves, NBA; Concerns for Twins, Lynx
Introduction: Different team, different expectations, same playoff results. That's the story of the Wild, which lost Game 6 to St. Louis 5-1 and dropped the series 4 games to 2. The Blues scored nine of the last 10 goals in the series. They had eight power play goals to just four for the Wild. And the Wild is now 32-58 all-time in postseason games. Those are sobering numbers for the organization to wake up to this morning as it tries to chart a path forward that includes a clogged up salary cap from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts.
8:00: ESPN's Malika Andrews joins the show to talk Timberwolves and hoops in general. The host of NBA Today had plenty of thoughts on Anthony Edwards and the Wolves' path forward while also dispensing some great career advice.
33:00: Trouble for the Lynx, a marquee Vikings opener and the one bit of good news from Thursday courtesy of Minnesota United.
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May 12, 2022
Wild's Game 6 checklist; Kent Youngblood on the Lynx; A Terry Tiffee Twins jersey in the wild
Introduction: Host Michael Rand puts together a checklist for the Wild heading into a must-win Game 6 against the Blues on Thursday night. At the top of that list: Someone aside from Kirill Kaprizov stepping up and scoring some goals and a goalie -- whether it's Marc-Andre Fleury or Cam Talbot -- making the sorts of saves that can steal a game. Otherwise, it's going to be a disappointing result and frankly a very disappointing end to the season.
10:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to take a look at the team's 0-3 start and the reasons behind it.
26:00: A Terry Tiffee Twins T-shirt jersey spotted in the wild and an NFL QB who only eats chicken.
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May 11, 2022
Wild needs to help Kaprizov -- and maybe switch goalies; Minnesota high school football recruiting
Introduction: Kirill Kaprizov had two more goals, giving him seven in just five playoff games. But the Wild still finds itself in a 3-2 hole after dropping Tuesday's Game 5 at home 5-2 to St. Louis. Sloppy play in the third period, preceded by a deflating goal late in the second, was the Wild's undoing. Now it faces elimination Thursday in St. Louis. Will anyone step up and join Kaprizov? And should coach Dean Evason consider a switch to Cam Talbot after an average performance from Marc-Andre Fleury?
12:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter David La Vaque joins host Michael Rand for a discussion on the sophistication of football recruiting as well as some top lineman prospects in the state. Plus high school boys' volleyball came within a vote of gaining varsity status.
27:00: The Twins were no match for the stellar Astros on Tuesday. The Lynx were no match for the rebuilding Indiana Fever. We learned a lot about both teams.
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May 10, 2022
Are the first-place Twins for real? Plus Kevin Fiala holds the key for any Wild playoff run
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks ahead to Tuesday's critical Game 5 between the Wild and Blues and finds himself wanting a lot more from Kevin Fiala. After registering just a goal and an assist in seven playoff games last year, Fiala has just one assist through four games against St. Louis. Whether he can get it going will tell the story of how far the Wild ultimately goes in this postseason and could determine his long-term future with the team.
5:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show to try to answer a big mystery: Are the first-place Twins, owners of an 18-11 record after a 14-3 burst, for real? Or will they fall back below the pack as the season goes on? Miller sees pitching as a reason for optimism, even if Emilio Pagan can't keep escaping the way he does.
25:00: The tragic death of former Wolves player Adreian Payne, the Grizzlies getting a taste of their own medicine and more good recruiting news for Ben Johnson.
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May 9, 2022
Patrick Reusse on the Wild's missed opportunity, Twins with more to prove and the amazing Derby
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Wild splitting Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis to set up a critical Game 5 back at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday. Based on the players the Blues are missing, this should be the Wild's series to take, Reusse said, even after missing an opportunity in Game 4.
Plus Reusse wants to see the Twins play better against good teams before getting too excited -- and he has seen all he cares to see of reliever Emilio Pagan.
Rich Strike's amazing Kentucky Derby run did come with one worry, while the Lynx look like they need a lot of help after an 0-2 start.
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May 6, 2022
Can a Minnesota horse with The Kentucky Derby?; Lynx preview; Dave Benz out; Twins adversity
Introduction: Host Michael Rand previews the Lynx season, which starts with a big test Friday in Seattle. Can a largely veteran roster extend the Lynx's streak to 12 straight postseason appearances and compete for a championship, or will a roster squeeze and health concerns derail the season? Head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve weighs in on the challenges of building a team in this era of the WNBA.
9:00: Adversity has hit the Twins, who lost star shortstop Carlos Correa to an apparent broken finger and lost for the second consecutive night to Baltimore -- the same day they learned manager Rocco Baldelli and two players are out with COVID. Will we get a look at 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis in Correa's absence?
12:00: The Star Tribune's Rachel Blount joins the show to preview Saturday's Kentucky Derby, which features not one but two Minnesota horses in the field.
26:00: Keys to Game 3 for the Wild plus a curious decision by the Wolves to part ways with play-by-play voice Dave Benz.
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May 5, 2022
Wild turns tables with big win; $20 a month for Bally Sports North?; Loons goalie Dayne St. Clair
Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the overwhelmingly positive 6-2 final result for the Wild on Wednesday as it evened its playoff series against St. Louis at 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov had a hat trick, Marc-Andre Fleury showed why he is a battle-tested future Hall of Famer and the team in general cashed in on chances. But St. Louis also had more shots, more hits and arguably the better of the play. And the Wild still gave up five power plays (and one goal on the man advantage). Minnesota will need to tighten up its game going forward even after this result.
9:00: Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair joins the show to talk about his early-season success, his Canada pride and his surprising skill outside of soccer.
22:00: Would you pay $20 a month for Bally Sports North? That will be an option soon for standalone customers. Plus the secret Vikings edge this season and another rough start from Twins pitcher Dylan Bundy.
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May 4, 2022
Chip Scoggins on what to do about the Wild and D'Angelo Russell
Introduction: Host Michael Rand tries to make sure the Twins get some proper attention after they won for the 11th time in 12 games Tuesday. Ryan Jeffers was the offensive hero in the win over Baltimore with a three-run homer. The Twins are now 15-9 and four games ahead of any other team in the American League Central.
5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand in the aftermath of the Wild's 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of their playoff series Monday. It was all-too-familiar based on past Wild teams; can Minnesota stay out of the penalty box and even the series Wednesday? Plus Scoggins weighs in on the Wolves' D'Angelo Russell conundrum and hopes for a trade.
26:00: Jared Spurgeon was lucky to avoid a suspension, the Lynx made some interesting roster moves and the Grizzlies/Warriors series looks every bit as compelling as Grizzlies/Wolves was.
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May 3, 2022
The same (bleeping) thing every time: Wild loses 4-0 in playoff opener
Host Michael Rand goes in deep on the Wild after Monday's damaging 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of the playoffs.
Home ice advantage? Gone. Stupid penalties leading to the type of game the Blues wanted and directly leading to three of the four goals? Yes. Second-guessing of the goalie choice? Sure, but that wasn't the reason the Wild lost. It's going to be a day of soul-searching for Minnesota, as St. Louis is now 4-0 this year and 13-1-1 in its last 15 against the favored Wild.
Plus the Twins won for the 10th time in 11 games and a Minnesota horse is the Kentucky Derby favorite.
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May 2, 2022
Patrick Reusse on a Timberwolves regression, the best Wild team ever and great news for the Twins
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand as they tie a bow on the Wolves' season and look ahead to the Wild's playoff series starting Monday night against St. Louis.
Reusse and Rand agree: The Wolves' backcourt is a concern, and if there's a way to move off of D'Angelo Russell this offseason the organization should pursue a trade. After a 46-win season and competitive playoff series, this appears to be a team on the rise, but even getting back to that point next season will be difficult.
Reusse also calls this the best Wild team in franchise history and takes note of Max Kepler's resurgence with the Twins.
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Apr 30, 2022
Special Delivery! Wolves collapse; Vikings anger; Wild ascends
Host Michael Rand watched everything unfold Friday and decided there was too much going on to wait two more days to talk about it all.
First he dissects the ultimate Wolves' collapse, as Minnesota lost a double-digit fourth quarter lead for the third time in its series against Memphis in a season-ending loss Friday. The Wolves were outscored 114-58 in the fourth quarters of Games 3, 5 and 6. Now they must ask themselves how they can get better and tougher going forward -- which starts with daunting questions about big-salary players Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell, who disappeared in Friday's fourth quarter.
14:00: The Wild earned home ice in its playoff series vs. St. Louis with a big 4-1 in over Colorado, but it might have lost Marcus Foligno to an injury after a dirty hit. Regardless, the Wild has the depth to make a deep playoff run. Is this the year it will happen?
18:00: The Vikings made another trade within the NFC North, this time helping the Packers get a talented wide…