StribSports Daily Delivery

Latest Episodes:

Dissecting QB controversies for Vikings and Gophers; Big wins for Wolves and Wild Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the QB disparity during P.J. Fleck's tenure with the Gophers. Minnesota under Fleck is 33-14 when Tanner Morgan starts at quarterback, and just 16-20 when anyone else starts. With that as a backdrop to news that starter Athan Kaliakmanis has entered the transfer portal, where do Fleck's Gophers go from here? Plus Rand gets into the Wild's win under new coach John Hynes and the Wolves' thrilling victory over Oklahoma City.

13:00: Vikings film review and poetry both revolve around the quarterback play, Kevin O'Connell's deficiencies and Brian Flores' strong work with the defense.

36:00: Will O'Connell bench Dobbs when the Vikings return from their bye? Rand thinks that would be a mistake.

An atrocious performance by Joshua Dobbs, Kevin O'Connell; Randy Johnson on Gophers football Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: In a hideous 12-10 Vikings loss to the Bears, the flaws of both quarterback Joshua Dobbs and head coach Kevin O'Connell were on display. Dobbs can be flustered into mistakes, which led to four interceptions and other turnover-worthy plays. O'Connell did him no favors with the game plan and did the Vikings no favors -- again -- with his questionable in-game management.

13:00: Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand to talk about the Gophers football program, which is doing some soul-searching even as it prepares for a bowl game. Four consecutive losses and a 5-7 record has already led the Gophers to seek changes in the transfer portal.

32:00: How quickly opinions of coaches can change.

Special Delivery: Inside the Wild's decision to fire head coach Dean Evason Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins host Michael Rand to break down Monday's big news that the Wild fired coach Dean Evason and replaced him with former Nashville head coach John Hynes.

Early-season struggles turned into a seven-game losing streak, quickly escalating a hot seat for Evason after successful recent regular seasons. Will the Wild's top players start to produce after the coaching change? And will the magnifying glass intensify on General Manager Bill Guerin if things don't improve.

Patrick Reusse on the struggles of prominent turkeys: Gophers football and the Wild Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long holiday weekend of sports, which included the continued demise of two teams that figured prominently in Reusse's Turkey of the Year column on Thanksgiving.

The Wild, who took home the grand prize this year for 20 years of mediocrity, have lost seven consecutive games. Changes have to be coming soon, but it's hard to see a path forward given the narrow constraints around the team.

The Gophers, meanwhile, grabbed the very last of 82 bowl slots, even after losing four consecutive games to end the year -- the last a 28-14 setback against rival Wisconsin on Saturday.

Plus Reusse and Rand get into Twins free agency, Gophers volleyball and Gophers men's basketball.

Can the Gophers at least beat the Badgers? + Remembering Randy Moss 25 years ago on Thanksgiving Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

On Thanksgiving against Dallas 25 years ago -- yes, it's been that long -- Randy Moss unleashed a performance for the ages. He had just three catches, but all of them were for 50-plus yards and all were touchdowns. Where were you when it happened?

9:00: The Gophers football team has had a disappointing season and the program faces a lot of headwinds in the future. But the Gophers still have a chance to do something they haven't done in more than 60 years: beat Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska in the same season. Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson helps break down the opportunity against the Badgers.

28:00: A rundown of Thursday's games.

Debating Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wolves' ceiling + So much can change in a month of sports Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: A recent posting by occasional podcast guest Jon Marthaler about the status of Minnesota pro sports teams got host Michael Rand thinking about how much can change in just a month of sports.

6:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune writer and editor Jeff Day for a discussion of the Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns. They carry a 10-3 record into a big game Wednesday against the 76ers. Just how good can these Wolves be? How good do Towns and the Wolves need to be in order to keep this roster together long-term? And is Towns unfairly criticized at every opportunity?

35:00: An injury of note and a win for the Gophers.

Joe Mauer, Hall of Famer? + Wolves best in West and tapping the brakes on 'Dobbsmania' Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand offers a brief examination of Joe Mauer's Hall of Fame candidacy now that the former Twins great is officially on the ballot. Was his run of excellence long enough and unique enough to get him in sooner rather than later, or will his late career and lack of postseason heroics weigh him down?

5:00: The Wolves are rolling, and maybe it has something to do with their comfort?

10:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand to review the film from the Vikings' 21-20 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. The running game emerged, but the turnover problem returned. And did Denver figure out the best way to defend Joshua Dobbs? Plus Vikings poetry and the guys you want to hate if you are a Vikings fan.

34:00: The helmet-to-helmet hit that wasn't called Sunday earned a Broncos defensive player a long suspension.

Patrick Reusse wonders how the Vikings lost -- and sets the stage for Turkey of the Year Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included an end to the Vikings' five-game losing streak thanks to a 21-20 loss at Denver. The Vikings outplayed the Broncos in almost every way, leaving Reusse wondering -- aside from turnovers, of course -- how the heck this one wasn't a win.

Reusse and Rand also got into the Wolves' narrow win over the Pelicans, Tom Thibodeau coming back to town Monday night, the Gophers football team just trying to keep it close and the big crowd Sunday at the Barn for Gophers vs. UConn.

And in a roundabout way, you'll get a preview of Turkey of the Year as well.

Dissecting a Gophers basketball meltdown; Wild (and Kaprizov) try to find their game in Sweden Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched the closing minutes, appalled like many other viewers, of the Gophers men's basketball team's 70-68 loss to Missouri on Thursday. Poor execution, costly mental mistakes and questionable coaching decisions were all part of the swirl that saw Minnesota cough up a 20-point second-half lead.

9:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joined Rand from Sweden, where the Wild are preparing to play a pair of games this weekend. It's an opportunity to show off their heritage for several players, but it's also an important time for the struggling Wild to turn their season around.

31:00: An English Premier League team received an unusual penalty, while a Vikings future opponent suffered a key injury.

Twins TV news -- and how it affects their spending + Draymond suspended, no Wolves panic Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Wolves carried a lot of national love into the second game of a back-to-back against Phoenix on Wednesday. And a blowout loss to the Suns, 133-115, is not cause for alarm. This is what happens even to good teams that are tired from the fallout after an emotional win over the Warriors that cost Draymond Green a five-game suspension.

8:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand for the latest on Diamond Sports bankruptcy proceedings and how they impact the Twins, Wolves and Wild. Plus Miller's thoughts on payroll and how the Twins will have less margin for error in 2024 with their decisions, in part because they figure to have less local TV revenue.

30:00: A good showing by the Gophers women's basketball team and an opportunity for the men.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

StribSports Daily Delivery

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected