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Panicking Wild in mess of own making; Vikings film review; Minnesota United eliminated Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

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.

Birthday Reusse on the Vikings, Hugh McCutcheon, Wild and more Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

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.

Is Vikings' success (and O-line play) sustainable? + Two Wild concerns from blowout opening loss Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

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.

Wild preview: Step forward or step back? + Five years ago, a Kirk Cousins what-if moment Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

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.

Chip Scoggins on a must-win Gophers football game + The downfall of Brett Favre Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

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.

Twins are running out of people to blame; Vikings are here for a good time Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

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 penalty.

Patrick Reusse on the worst Twins seasons, another Vikings escape and more Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

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.

Why is the NFL so bad? + Ben Goessling on Vikings vs. Bears intrigue Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

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.

Dueling collapses for Twins, Loons + Appreciating Luis Arraez Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

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.

Gophers football: What went wrong? + U hockey talk, a freshman golf sensation and a Vikings wish Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

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 Bears on Sunday for Rand to feel good about this season.

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