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Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on his big season, funniest teammates and more Mar 08, 2021

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Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson joins the podcast to talk about his big rookie season and how those who doubt the Vikings in 2021 are motivating him to be even better next year. He also has a TV recommendation and gives you the list of his funniest Vikings teammates.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse also joins to talk through his bid to become the next, ahem, Gophers football writer and checks in with thoughts on Richard Pitino and the Twins.

Plus: The Gophers women's hockey team was snubbed! And the Wild has a big one tonight

Har Mar Superstar delivers: halftime shows, new music and the mail Mar 05, 2021

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Har Mar Superstar (Sean Tillmann) joins host Michael Rand on today's show for an interview as wide-ranging as his musical offerings. Information about his new release "Roseville"? Of course. Pandemic life for a touring musician? You bet. Becoming a postal carrier? Why not. The time he played "Pink Cadillac" with Joe Piscopo after a St. Paul Saints game? Um, yes.

New Twins beat writer Megan Ryan also joins to talk about the excitement she has for her new assignment and the style she hopes to bring to her coverage of the team.

Plus: Was Kevin Garnett even really in the mix to buy the Wolves in the first place? And what is the difference between a beat writer and a columnist?

The three biggest takeaways as the Vikings prepare for free agency Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by Andrew Krammer as they set up the start of Vikings free agency in a couple of weeks. Krammer reported on general manager Rick Spielman's long session with reporters on Wednesday and distills that information into some big takeaways as the Vikings face a lot of decisions and a shrinking salary cap.

At the outset of the show, Rand breaks down what could be a defining night in Minnesota sports: Zach Parise is benched for the Wild's 5-1 loss, a move that showed a lack of accountability on Parise's part but could divide the team. The Wolves were blown out again, and Karl-Anthony Towns' patience is wearing thin. And the Gophers lost by 19 at Penn State, doing nothing to help Richard Pitino's job security.

GM Thad Levine and La Velle E. Neal III on a big question: Twins pitching Mar 03, 2021

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Twins general manager Thad Levine joins the podcast to talk about the team's offseason moves (which included his son giving him the "stink eye" because of a slow start to free agency), their transition into being a team that can win with pitching and defense plus an update on what 2021 has in store for injured 2017 No. 1 overall pick Royce Lewis. La Velle E. Neal III then joins for a deeper look at a Twins pitcher who could hold the key to the season: Jose Berrios.

Also: The Vikings released veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph on Tuesday in a widely expected move. What's still unclear, though: Why didn't the Vikings use him more, particularly in the red zone?

Richard Pitino's Gophers: What went wrong? Mar 02, 2021

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Fresh off of reporting that Gophers players took Richard Pitino's postgame comments after a loss Saturday to Nebraska as a sign that his coaching tenure is about to end, Marcus Fuller joins Michael Rand for a breakdown of what has gone wrong during Pitino's eight seasons. The short answer: Missteps in recruiting and a lack of player development left the Gophers without much depth, a story that played out again this season down the stretch.

Also: An entertaining Wild game ends in a loss but still leads to thoughts of the playoffs. And what exactly did Ricky Rubio intend with his strong postgame comments after Sunday's Timberwolves loss?

Streaming Twins, Wild, Wolves games on FSN? The future is bleak Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by Jason Gurwin from The Streamable for an update on the ongoing battle between Sinclair-owned regional sports networks like Fox Sports North and streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu. The upshot: Don't expect to watch the Twins (or Wild or Wolves) on those services in 2021. Gurwin helps explain why and tries to give you some options.

Columnist Patrick Reusse also joins at the start of the show to expand on his opinion that the Gophers need to move on from men's basketball coach Richard Pitino. We get into a couple of possible replacements if the Gophers do, indeed, fire Pitino.

An awful Gophers loss and a deep look at the whirlwind Timberwolves week Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand breaks down Minnesota's 67-59 loss to Northwestern -- a team that entered on a 13-game losing streak -- on Thursday. It could spell doom for their NCAA tournament chances and spark even more talk of a coaching change.

Rand is also joined by Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine for a look at a very eventful week. On Sunday the Wolves fired Ryan Saunders. On Monday they officially hired Chris Finch. And on Thursday they learned Malik Beasley has been suspended for 12 games. What does it all mean in the short-term and the long-term?

Plus a 40-year brawl anniversary and the debut column of La Velle E. Neal III.

Everything there is to know about the NFL draft process Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Former Gophers defensive back Brock Vereen joins host Michael Rand to take listeners behind the scenes of everything that happens as a young player tries to get drafted and make it in the NFL. Vereen, a fourth-round pick of the Bears in 2014, said the mental grind of the scouting combine -- which normally happens this time of year -- is far more excruciating than anything on the physical side.

Rand also digs into the Minnesota Wild, a team that had his curiosity but now has his attention.

And an interesting stat about Ricky Rubio and what has gone wrong -- or right -- for the Wolves in the clutch lately.

Answering the four biggest questions in Minnesota sports Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Chip Scoggins joins Michael Rand as they answer the four biggest questions in Minnesota sports: Will the Wolves ever get it right? Are the Twins a serious October threat? Will the Gophers make the NCAA men's basketball tournament? And should the Vikings pursue a Kirk Cousins trade?

Rand also picks apart the Timberwolves after a 139-112 loss in Chris Finch's coaching debut, offering a pointed critique of their roster construction.

Trade machine: Is a Deshaun Watson deal starting to feel like the Herschel Walker trade? And should the Wolves have made a different Jimmy Butler deal.

When can I go see a Twins game at Target Field? Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune reporter Rochelle Olson as they talk through the Twins' proposal to have around 10,000 fans per game at Target Field at the start of the season in April. Is that realistic? What hurdles are in place? And most importantly the fundamental question: When can fans expect to safely see games in person?

Nick Kelly also joins to talk about his story in the Star Tribune about youth sports and challenges facing different youth basketball organizations.

Plus: What did we learn from Chris Finch's introductory news conference at Wolves coach -- and what should you look for in tonight's game based on what he said.

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