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Patrick Reusse on big failures -- and necessary changes -- for the Vikings Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand in the aftermath of a disappointing 8-9 Vikings season that ended Sunday with a win over Chicago. Mike Zimmer, Rick Spielman and Kirk Cousins all had missteps this year and in past seasons. Reusse weighs in on the aftermath of the year and how he divides the blame.

Plus more heroics for the kicker the Vikings cut in 2018 (Daniel Carlson), a Wolves winning streak, Wild back on the right track despite missing several players and the Gophers men's basketball team starting to slide.

Cheap hit injures Kaprizov in Wild win; Marcus Fuller on Gophers hoops + NFL picks Jan 07, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: The Wild got a much-needed 3-2 win in Boston on Thursday, highlighted by Matt Boldy's first career goal in his first career game (all of it in front of family in his home state). Those good feelings, though, were dampened by what looks to be a significant upper body injury to Kirill Kaprizov after he was sent sprawling into the boards by the Bruins' Trent Frederic. Wild coach Dean Evason called it a "predatorial hit," and it will add to the adversity the short-handed Wild is facing.

6:00: Star Tribune basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about the Gophers men's basketball team and the debut of his new Basketball Across Minnesota feature. Plus a much-needed road win for the Gophers women's basketball team, which played without head coach Lindsay Whalen as she recovers from an emergency appendectomy.

27:00: Star Tribune football writer Mark Craig joins with the picks segment off of the final NFL weekend of the season. It figures to be unpredictable.

Left wanting more from Kirk Cousins (again); Sarah McLellan on the Wild's youth movement Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand listens back and shares a few clips from Kirk Cousins' session with reporters on Wednesday -- his first comments since he landed on the COVID list late last week and had to miss the Vikings' pivotal game at Green Bay. Cousins didn't seem very contrite or forthcoming, leaving Rand wanting more -- perhaps a fitting theme for the 2021 Vikings.

8:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to talk about the team's frustrating stretch, which includes a five-game losing streak spread out almost nearly a calendar month because of COVID interruptions. Will the injection of Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi into the lineup Thursday at Boston jump-start the Wild, or will this slide continue?

20:00: Rand takes a look at the Wolves' 98-90 win over Oklahoma City and finds Aaron Rodgers firing back at the MVP voter who called him a "jerk."

Pick one: Cousins, Zimmer or Spielman; No MVP vote for "jerk" Rodgers; Big moves for Wild, Gophers Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand queries listeners/readers on this topic: If they were the Wilf family and had to/could only pick one of these three -- Mike Zimmer, Rick Spielman or Kirk Cousins -- to keep in 2022, which would they pick? Rand reveals the surprising results and also takes a spin through the NFL MVP voter who won't pick "jerk" Aaron Rodgers.

8:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand for an update on that team after a tumultuous last month. Is there a reason to be optimistic even after several December losses and a COVID-wrecked last two weeks? Rand says there is, and Hine agrees.

28:00: The Gophers men's basketball team ran into a size problem Tuesday that could be a recurring theme in Big Ten play, while the Gophers football team and Wild added key players on Tuesday.

Mike Zimmer's insistence on running the ball + Five Vikings who emerged this season Jan 04, 2022

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the Wolves' win over the Clippers on Monday within the context of several local teams dealing with adversity. It appears as though the Wolves made it through a tough December and early January stretch -- in terms of the schedule and COVID absences -- in reasonable shape and might be in good position going forward.

5:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show for a look back at the film on the Vikings' 37-10 loss to Green Bay on Sunday. Did they really abandon the run too soon, as Mike Zimmer familiarly lamented? Plus Krammer looks at five young players this season who showed they are ready for consistent roles.

15:00: My Least Favorite Team is My Favorite Team takes a big-picture look at this Vikings season and the ones that came before it and comes to a conclusion that the ceiling for 2022 is no higher than it was in 2021 -- signaling that it's time for a change.

Patrick Reusse on the Vikings debacle at Lambeau Field -- and the firing(s) likely to follow Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for the first episode of 2022, which so far feels a lot like 2021 and every other year in Minnesota sports: Plenty of drama and not a lot of success.

The Vikings lost 37-10 at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, a defeat that dashed any playoff hopes and came with a lot of baggage. QB Kirk Cousins missed the game because of COVID protocols; backup Sean Mannion didn't produce much of anything; and third string rookie Kellen Mond hardly got a vote of confidence. Head coach Mike Zimmer sounded exhausted and exasperated postgame -- the tone of a man who sounds like he knows his job is ending soon. Reusse builds the case for blowing it all up, which would also mean dumping GM Rick Spielman. Rand and Reusse disagree about whether Kirk Cousins is tradeable.

Plus thoughts on the Winter Classic, the Wolves' stumbles and one thing Reusse is looking forward to in 2022.

Special Delivery! The best of Minnesota sports in 2021 -- and a look ahead to 2022 Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III for a look back at what they liked in 2021 and what they hope to see in 2022.

Breaking down the big Vikings news: Dalvin Cook on the COVID list, Kirk Cousins has a cracked rib Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Another day, more Minnesota athletes sidelined by COVID. This time, it was two of the biggest names: Karl-Anthony Towns and Dalvin Cook. Towns joins six other Wolves teammates on the COVID list, a growing number that was too much for the Wolves to overcome in a 128-116 loss at Utah on Thursday.

4:00: Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins the show to break down the Cook news and his reporting that quarterback Kirk Cousins has a cracked rib that landed him on the injury report for the first time in eight years. While the injury to Cousins doesn't sound like it will keep him out of Sunday's game, it is fair to wonder if it will limit his effectiveness against a stout Rams defense. Even a fully healthy Cousins might have his hands full if the Vikings' slumping offensive line can't perform better in a crucial game against Aaron Donald and co.

19:00: Mark Craig joins for his weekly NFL picks segment with a slate of games that might be as good as any all year. There are huge playoff implications across the board. And don't forget to check out the Saturday games.

Gophers WR Chris Autman-Bell joins the show; A pair of left-handers keying Minnesota basketball Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Jamison Battle had 23 points for the Gophers on Wednesday, helping them overcome a sluggish start to defeat Wisconsin-Green Bay 72-56. Meanwhile, Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell has been such an important part of his team's success that the statistical evidence bears repeating. Those two left-handed shooters will play a large role in determining just how far their teams go this year.

8:00: Gophers football wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell joins the show, fresh off his decision to return for a sixth season along with several other teammates on offense. What went into that decision? What is head coach P.J. Fleck really like every day?

16:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show to help preview Tuesday's bowl game against West Virginia. It's been a year of peaks and valleys. Can Minnesota end on a high note?

25:00: More evidence that pizza is relatively young.

Film review: Kirk Cousins was dismal under pressure again, but the Vikings won again Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at how U.S. pro sports leagues are adapting to another surge in COVID cases. The NFL has tweaked its testing strategy to seemingly try to detect fewer cases. The NBA has no plans to pause, Commissioner Adam Silver said recently, and instead wants to play through it and live with COVID. The NHL isn't sending players to the Olympics and is on an extended break now. With data changing every day, what will be the final outcomes in this season?

5:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for the weekly Vikings film review, which tells a story that is both strange and familiar. The Vikings' offensive line struggled to protect Kirk Cousins on Monday, holding him to less than 100 yards passing. And Cousins didn't complete a single pass when pressured, a staggering repeat of his 0-for-pressure against Pittsburgh. And yet Minnesota won both of those games. It's both a testament to good play in other areas and a warning for what lies ahead.

18:00: My Least Favorite Team is My Favorite Team gets to the heart of Monday's game with this stunning conclusion: Was there one single play from the Vikings' win that made you excited?

33:00: A well-deserved honor for Lindsay Whalen.

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