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Mike Conley paying dividends; Best and worst Super Bowl ads; In praise of Ant, Jefferson Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

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.

Super Bowl controversy, Vikings in 2023 and a whole lot of listener questions Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

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.

Chris Hine on the D'Angelo Russell trade; Breaking down the Wild's 5v5 struggles; Kirk Cousins sings! Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

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.

Reacting to the D'Angelo Russell trade; La Velle E. Neal III on Emanuel Reynoso, Kirk Cousins Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

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.

The future of sports on TV; LeBron's greatness; the thing holding the Wild back Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

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.

Vikings hire Brian Flores; Year 5 under Lindsay Whalen; What's the plan for Lynx? Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

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.

Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves at the trade deadline, Gophers basketball and a Pro Bowl rant Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

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.

A champion in five years? What's the best NFL draft strategy? What's up with Emanuel Reynoso? Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

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.

What the Vikings should do this offseason + Familiar problems for one team Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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.

Patrick Reusse on NFL officiating, Gophers basketball and the Timberwolves Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

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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