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Patrick Reusse + The significance of Vikings drafting QB Kellen Mond May 03, 2021

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand for a rundown of the weekend in sports, including a home run outburst from the Twins and a restoring of order with the Timberwolves and Wild. Also: Is Minnesota United panicking too much during an 0-3 start?

At the start of the show, Rand explains why he thinks the Vikings drafting QB Kellen Mond is a really big deal. The upshot: For the first time since Kirk Cousins arrived, he has a backup behind him that fans -- and coaches -- will genuinely be interested in seeing play. That probably won't matter in 2021, but it will create a new dynamic.

Drama! Aaron Rodgers wants out of Green Bay; Vikings move down Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand and Andrew Krammer dive into a wild 24 hours. On a Thursday night filled with story lines in the NFL draft, the real story emerged hours earlier when it was reported that Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is disgruntled and doesn't want to return to Green Bay. Though nothing has happened yet -- and the Packers have said already they aren't trading him -- the fracture in the relationship raises the possibility of a breakup that would have a seismic impact on the future of the NFC North.

With that story still percolating, the Vikings entered Thursday's first round with the No. 14 pick. The player some expected them to take -- Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw -- was available, but they traded down to No. 23 with the Jets and picked up two third-round picks in the process. When Darrisaw was still there nine spots later and the Vikings nabbed him, it seemed like a shrewd move from GM Rick Spielman. Adding to the drama of the night: Marshall, Minn. native and former North Dakota State QB Trey Lance went No. 3 to the 49ers; the Bears moved up to No. 11 to take another QB, Ohio State's Justin Fields; and Gophers WR Rashod Bateman landed near the end of the first round with Baltimore.

And oh, by the way: The Wolves won their fourth consecutive game for the first time since 2018 and the Wild forced overtime after trailing St. Louis 3-0.

Vikings draft a QB? + The brilliance of Byron Buxton Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Ben Goessling joins Michael Rand for a full breakdown of his seven-round Vikings mock draft. What will they do with all 10 picks? What are their biggest needs -- both obvious and not-so-obvious? How surprised would Goessling be if they use their first two picks on something other than offensive or defensive linemen? Is this the year the Vikings break with their own habits and draft a real developmental quarterback in the middle rounds to serve at least as this year's backup? And do they dare draft an SEC kicker again?

At the start of the show, Rand takes a few minutes to praise one player who has delivered time after time this season for the Twins: Byron Buxton. Even through this 8-15 start -- a record that improved Wednesday with a 10-2 victory in Cleveland -- Buxton has been everything fans have always wanted him to be. That brilliance was punctuated by a 5-for-5 game in Wednesday's win that had all the elements of vast skill set.

And the Wild lost 4-3 to St. Louis after holding a 3-1 lead in the third period -- a setback that could be damaging to Minnesota's hopes to earn home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

Rashod Bateman's agent takes you behind the scenes of NFL draft weekend Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand wonders at the outset how Twins manager Rocco Baldelli can justify using Alexander Colome in a one-run game Tuesday, with predictably poor results. And he explains how the Wolves -- who are no longer the worst team in the NBA nor the worst team in sports history -- can change perceptions about their draft pick by winning, even if it means slightly decreasing their chances of keeping that pick in 2021.

Blake Baratz, founder of the Institute For Athletes -- an agency that represents Vikings WR Adam Thielen and impending Gophers draft pick Rashod Bateman -- joins the show for an inside look at what happens in the time leading up to and during the draft for a high-level prospect like Bateman. There will be nervous moments starting Thursday, but it's just the start of a long journey for Bateman and countless others.

What will the Vikings do? A sneak peak at Mark Craig's mock draft Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

Longtime Star Tribune Vikings and NFL writer Mark Craig joins Michael Rand to give a sneak peek at his first-round mock draft. He has a whopping five quarterbacks going in the top eight, which should help the Vikings get a quality player at No. 14 -- if they stay at that spot, that is. Will they remain where they are and draft an offensive lineman? Will they look to trade down and recoup the second-round pick they dealt away last season? We're a couple days away from finding out.

At the beginning of the podcast, Rand remains aghast at the Twins' bullpen and ongoing woes for the team overall. At 7-14, they are dealing with adversity unlike anything else during manager Rocco Baldelli's tenure. And he is not handling it well.

Plus, the Wolves completed a season sweep of Utah -- which still has the best record in the NBA -- and won two in a row for the first time since the beginning of the season. Is this just a matchup thing, or are the Wolves finding their stride late in the year?

And a bunch of your hot takes addressed with care and oven mitts.

Patrick Reusse: Panic about Twins, get excited about Wild Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look at the weekend in sports. If you thought the Twins were going to turn things around back at Target Field, two losses to Pittsburgh didn't give you much confidence. Reusse says its time to panic about a team that just doesn't look like it's very good and has a lot of holes on its roster. Plus Rand and Reusse praise the team the Wild has built this season and the seven-game winning streak that has Minnesota surging toward the playoffs. And are the Wolves ... actually building something?

At the outset, Rand takes a look at the possibility that both the Wolves and Wild will have rookies of the year this season with Anthony Edwards and Kirill Kaprizov -- something one market hasn't had with its NBA and NHL teams in more than 40 seasons. And an 0-2 start for Minnesota United is a concern -- and a disappointment for Loons fans who finally got to see their team in person again during Saturday's home opener.

Gophers transfer Jamison Battle + 3 Vikings draft trade ideas Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by incoming Gophers men's basketball player Jamison Battle and Star Tribune men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller. Battle, a former DeLaSalle star -- just like new Gophers coach Ben Johnson -- is transferring from George Washington, where he averaged 17 points and five rebounds last season. Hear Battle's thoughts on getting more local talent to join the Gophers, college athletes making money off their image and likeness and his many interests outside of basketball.

At the start of the show, Rand breaks down the injection of youth heading to the Twins roster with Alex Kirilloff and Nick Gordon on the way to join the team after a disappointing 6-11 start.

And Rand runs down three intriguing draft trade ideas for the Vikings courtesy of ESPN's Bill Barnwell.

Total system failure: What's wrong with the Twins? Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by Twins beat writer Megan Ryan after what can only be described as a disaster of a road trip. The Twins had three games postponed because of COVID spreading through the team, and they lost all four games they did play -- including Wednesday's in spectacularly excruciating fashion on a pair of 10th-inning, two-out errors. The Twins have gone 1-9 in their last 10 games and sit in last place in the American League Central. So what is going on here? Why is a team that has won back-to-back division titles and had high hopes to contend for a World Series this season stuck in such a rut of poor performance? There isn't just one culprit, but Rand and Ryan offer up a number of things that have not gone the Twins' way.

At the start of the show, Rand offers up an impressive Marcus Foligno stat after another Wild victory and tells you not to blame the Wolves' bench players after the team blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead in a loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. And what Minnesota teams would make the cut if North American sports tried (foolishly) to start Super Leagues?

Minnesota sports, accountability and the Derek Chauvin verdict Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand takes note of the continued intersection of sports and social justice with reactions all around the world of sports -- particularly in Minnesota -- to Tuesday's guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. The key word mentioned by LeBron James, Karl-Anthony Towns and others: accountability, which carries particular weight with athletes. You'll hear Towns and the Wolves' Josh Okogie express that in their own words following Tuesday's win in Sacramento.

Rand is also joined by Tru Pettigrew, the Timberwolves vice president of player programs, diversity and inclusion for a discussion of the heaviness of the moment -- and what players have been able to do in an attempt to foster positive change.

Near the end of the show, Rand breaks down the Wolves' win on the court and a pair of shutout losses for the slumping Twins.

With skill and experience, can Gophers football dominate in 2021? Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Michael Rand for a breakdown of the Gophers football team in the midst of spring practice. As a result of planning, one-time transfers and extra eligibility because of COVID, the Gophers have an abundance of experienced players on their roster this season. While other Big Ten teams could have the same benefits, the Gophers should be primed for big things in 2021 after having the momentum from their 2019 season derailed a season ago.

Scoggins and Rand also look at Chet Holmgren's decision to attend Gonzaga on the same day that his former Minnehaha Academy teammate Jalen Suggs announced he was leaving Gonzaga for the NBA -- and whether Suggs might wind up either with the Wolves or Warriors.

At the outset, Rand marvels at Kirill Kaprizov but notes that in breaking the Wild rookie record for points in a season (37) on Monday, Kaprizov revealed as much about the team's history of low-impact young players as he did about his own excellence.

Plus the Twins are set to return to action on Tuesday after a three-day COVID pause. And a Vikings wager for those who dare.

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