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Inside the PWHL Minnesota drama with Rachel Blount + Lynx look like championship material Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Lynx, who earned a decisive victory at defending WNBA champion Las Vegas on Tuesday. With a 9-3 record and several impressive victories already this season, the Lynx look not just like a competitive team but a true contender in the WNBA. Plus the Twins got everything they could have wanted from Louie Varland's spot start, but they couldn't take advantage of it.

7:00: Star Tribune writer Rachel Blount joins the show to offer perspectives and insights into the drama with PWHL Minnesota. Barely a week after winning a championship in the league's first year, general manager Natalie Darwitz was let go in a power struggle. The fallout from that was still reverberating at the PWHL draft in St. Paul on Monday and doesn't figure to let up anytime soon.

32:00: A key injury for the Celtics and a back-and-forth recruiting battle between the Gophers and Badgers.

Huge week for Gophers football recruiting + Who will the Wolves draft? + Twins bounce back Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who shut out Colorado 5-0 behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Chris Paddack to start a 10-game homestand. Paddack has been very good this season against lesser competition but not so much against elite teams. He is a symbol of this year's Twins, and a key to how things go the rest of the way. Plus the drama of the PWHL Draft in St. Paul, just days after GM Natalie Darwitz was ousted from Minnesota following their championship.

10:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to talk about the Gophers' "Summer Splash" recruiting event. P.J. Fleck is putting together a strong class of players against a backdrop of uncertainty in college sports.

26:00: A look at who the Wolves might pick in two weeks in the NBA Draft.

Patrick Reusse on the Minnesota team most (and least) likely to win a championship this decade Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, but they start with a special topic of sorts: Reusse wrote recently about which of the Wolves, Twins, Wild and Vikings are most (or more aptly least) likely to win a championship before 2030, which proved to be a great jumping off point to talk about all four teams and leagues.

Plus they get into the Twins snapping their five-game losing streak, Natalie Darwitz's departure from PWHL Minnesota and how Reusse never expected Caitlin Clark to be on the Olympic team in the first place.

Twins at their worst vs. AL's best; Big name in Wolves ownership; Andrew Krammer on Vikings Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

Host Michael Rand dives into the struggles of the Twins against the AL's top teams after a loss to the Yankees dropped Minnesota to 0-14 against New York, Cleveland and Baltimore this season. It's not just one thing, but this is a big thing: the Twins were No. 2 in starting pitcher ERA last season; this year, they are No. 25. Plus Dallas is apparently not invincible after getting routed by Boston in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, while a huge name has joined the Wolves ownership pursuit.

9:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a breakdown of Vikings minicamp. Who stood out on both sides of the ball? What is J.J. McCarthy's timeline? And what should we look for from Justin Jefferson after his huge contract was signed?

29:00: Natalie Darwitz is reportedly out as GM of PWHL Minnesota.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith on the frustration of Twins fans; A new phase in Justin Jefferson's career Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at Justin Jefferson's first four seasons with the Vikings and how his fifth feels like the start of a new phase of his career. The star wide receiver has a big new contract and a rookie quarterback to help bring along. Plus Rand takes note of another win for the Lynx and a milestone for Cheryl Reeve.

9:00: U.S. Senator Tina Smith joins the show as she takes up the cause for frustrated Twins fans. Smith this week wrote a letter to Comcast's top executive this week urging the cable giant to put Bally Sports North back on the air and noting that her "constituents are furious" that they haven't been able to watch the Twins for more than a month. She explains more of that frustration to Rand.

24:00: Another disappointing Twins vs. Yankees game and an NBA Finals worth watching if you're a Wolves fan.

A hot start for the Lynx, bad news for Twins fans and offseason Timberwolves stability Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes listeners through Tuesday's latest hearing in bankruptcy court as local teams try to learn their TV fates. It doesn't sound like Twins games will be back on Bally Sports North for Comcast subscribers anytime soon, while a six-week delay in the Diamond Sports bankruptcy process is making leagues antsy. If you couldn't watch the Twins on Tuesday, you have probably seen that game anyway. They lost 5-1 to the Yankees.

9:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins Rand for a breakdown of the early part of the WNBA season. The Lynx are off to a hot 6-2 start. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark is still making a lot of headlines.

30:00: Wolves President Tim Connelly adjusted his contract.

Justin Jefferson's big deal; Is it smart for Timberwolves to run it back?; Bally Sports update Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand reacts to Monday's news that the Vikings and wide receiver Justin Jefferson have agreed on a four-year, $140 million contract. Because of how long it took to get to the finish line, all sorts of outlandish thoughts of trading Jefferson crept in. But in the end, this is what should have happened for everyone. Plus Rand looks at Twins vs. Yankees and a hearing Tuesday in bankruptcy court that is another step in untangling the fate of Minnesota teams on Bally Sports North.

12:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand to break down the end of the Wolves' season and what's ahead this offseason. With just a few weeks before the draft and free agency, Minnesota has a lot of decisions in a short amount of time.

33:00: Will Wolves assistant coach Micah Nori still be here next year?

Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves' offseason plans, Twins' surge and Lynx's early success Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports.

The Twins continued their impressive play of late, defeating Houston 4-3 on Sunday to win the series. With Jose Miranda providing the winning hit and swinging a hot bat lately and Royce Lewis set to return from his early injury, the slumping Edouard Julien is the odd man out being sent to Class AAA St. Paul. Reusse wonders who will play second base and who might be the next starting pitcher to get a callup.

Plus a look at a fascinating offseason for the Wolves after their strong playoff run. Will the Wolves essentially run it back with all their key players, or is a major trade part of the plan? Reusse knows one thing: It doesn't matter what the Wolves say, only what they do.

And the Lynx continued a strong start with another win Sunday.

Dissecting the end of the Wolves' run (and what comes next); Jon Marthaler on Reynoso's departure May 31, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes deep breaking down Minnesota's humbling Game 5 loss to Dallas at Target Center, which ended the Western Conference finals. The Wolves came up short in their bid to win a championship but took a major step forward this year. How will they navigate the offseason and what lessons did they learn in a joyous season this year?

18:00: Jon Marthaler joins the show for some Minnesota United talk, including the big news that Emanuel Reynoso has been transferred away from the club. Can the Loons continue to thrive in his absence?

35:00: What should we focus on now that the Wolves season is over?

Is the Minnesota sports 'curse' over? + PWHL Minnesota's excellence, Timberwolves' opportunity May 30, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Playing off of a near-perfect Game 5 performance by Minnesota on Wednesday to win the PWHL championship, host Michael Rand asks whether recent events are evidence enough that any sort of sports curse in this state has been lifted. At the very least, let's give praise to PWHL Minnesota's resilience and 3-0 victory over Boston, while also wondering if the Wolves can follow suit.

9:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand to set up another critical Game 5, this time Thursday at Target Center. Minnesota is trying to come all the way back from a 3-0 series hole, something that has never been done in the NBA.

31:00: A guard coming back to the Vikings, and a guard for sure leaving the Gophers.

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