StribSports Daily Delivery

Latest Episodes:

Tentative deal for Bally Sports; Sarah McLellan on the Wild; Five thoughts on the Wolves Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spent part of Thursday at Timberwolves media day, where he was struck by several things: President Tim Connelly saying they need to win a playoff series this year, head coach Chris Finch saying the team's best identity will be built around defense and toughness, Anthony Edwards praising coaches who get the most out of him and Karl-Anthony Towns seeming rather subdued.

Plus, the Wolves are definitely paying close attention to what happens with Diamond Sports, creditors and carriers. To that end, the New York Post reported Thursday that Diamond has reached a tentative one-year agreement with Comcast and DirecTV for carriage rights to show games on Bally channels. But NBA and NHL teams might have to take up to a 20% pay cut on their current deals.

11:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to talk about the season ahead. With regular-season games starting in less than two weeks, what are some of the biggest training camp story lines?

32:00: The Twins are locked into the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, while the Lions are showing they are for real.

Dangerous times for Gophers football; The ballpark experience; NBA blockbuster trade Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand had a different sort of Twins experience on Wednesday as he and his family attended a game. It was the first time his 3-year-old had been to a Twins game, and the first one his 6-year-old could remember. He watched how they and his 9-year-old interacted with the sights and sounds, gaining a different appreciation for the nine-inning process. It definitely helped that the Twins won -- and they got some good Royce Lewis injury news on the same day.

9:00: Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings are trying to turn the page after a tough week.

12:00: Can the Gophers football team do the same? Star Tribune beat writer Randy Johnson dissects where they are at after last week's blown lead at Northwestern, while Rand takes note of an interesting P.J. Fleck commentary on Name, Image and Likeness.

29:00: Damian Lillard to the ... Bucks?

Twins making a mistake?; Marcus Fuller on Gophers men's basketball; Forgotten Vikings history Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand answered a few questions/rants from listeners, starting with one about the Twins' likely starting pitching plans in the Wild Card series. Should the Twins be starting Pablo Lopez or Sonny Gray in Game 1? And what about Joe Ryan vs. Kenta Maeda in Game 3? Rand gets into the rationale.

10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about that team, which started practice this week in preparation for Year Three under Ben Johnson. It's a big season with a better roster, but improvement is a must.

30:00: Would Kirk Cousins really agree to be traded? And a listener scolds Rand for not including a great game from Vikings history on a recent episode.

Huge week for future of Bally Sports North; Why can't Vikings score touchdowns? Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the implications of the week ahead for Bally Sports and parent company Diamond Sports. Negotiations with Comcast could shape the future of regional sports, while another deadline for restructuring debt also looms. All of it will impact how you watch the Wild and Wolves this season.

9:00: Andrew Krammer helps Rand understand why the Vikings have struggled in the red zone this season and why they blitz so much.

27:00: The expression of poetry.

43:00: The Twins would play the Astros if the season ended today.

Patrick Reusse rips the stumbling Vikings and Gophers after inglorious weekend Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: It was not a great weekend for Minnesota football fans, but it was a fantastic Monday for content, as host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse quickly concluded while breaking down Saturday's Gophers loss and Sunday's Vikings loss.

They started with the Vikings, whose reality is calcifying around them after a 28-24 loss to the Chargers dropped them to 0-3. The Vikings are good enough to be in game, but they haven't been good enough to finish them. More mistakes doomed them, including goal-line blunders and communication breakdowns.

The Gophers, meanwhile, somehow lost a 31-10 lead to a terrible Northwestern team and fell 37-34 in overtime. This was certainly the worse of the two weekend losses. How bad? Time will tell.

And oh, by the way, the Twins clinched the AL Central. Maybe they can provide an October jolt to take our minds off football.

Revisiting 2022 Vikings; La Velle E. Neal on Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton and the playoffs Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand asked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins this week about the team's charmed existence in 2022 compared to their diminished fortune so far in 2023. Cousins' answer was illuminating, but it also sent Rand down a path of examining just how outrageous Minnesota's fortune was a year ago.

8:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a look at the Twins and trying to answer just how they went from a sub-.500 group at the break to the verge of a breezy AL Central title. Plus Neal weighs in on the impact of Royce Lewis while getting into the Vikings and his disastrous Bears.

32:00: The Vikings did have some offensive line depth, but they traded it away. And how did Byron Buxton look last night?

Desperation for Vikings, Loons; Randy Johnson on Gophers football; A beginning and an end Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: In a jam-packed show, host Michael Rand starts out looking at the Vikings and Minnesota United, both of whom appear to be in desperation mode. The Vikings have made two roster moves this week -- signing guard Dalton Risner and trading for running back Cam Akers -- in hopes of jump-starting their running game and reversing their 0-2 start. To Rand, it's the sign that the plan was not good at the start. The Loons, meanwhile, gave up three late goals in a 4-3 loss to Los Angeles to tumble out of playoff position.

13:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand to discuss the Gophers football team, which needs more offensive consistency than it has shown so far. An opportunity exists this weekend to gain a win and confidence against Northwestern, but not without improvement.

28:00: The Lynx season is over, but the Wild season is just starting. Welcome to late September.

Royce Lewis injury scare; Vikings on the brink; Huge playoff game for Lynx Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand gets into the Royce Lewis injury scare from Tuesday and the potential impact on the Twins as they move closer to clinching a playoff berth. Lewis has been their best player down the stretch of the season, and they clearly need to hope that his hamstring tightness doesn't linger into the postseason. Plus a strong start from Kenta Maeda puts him firmly into the mix to start a potential Game 3 in the playoffs.

Speaking of Game 3, Rand welcomes in Star Tribune writer Kent Youngblood in advance of the deciding game between the Lynx and Connecticut on Wednesday at Target Center. A season that started 0-6 and turned sour again late in the regular season has given way to a one-game opportunity.

And speaking of overcoming bad starts, can the Vikings dig out of this 0-2 hole? And what would happen if they fall to 0-3 Sunday?

Patrick Reusse remembers Henry Boucha and dumps cold water on any Vikings trades Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

On a jam-packed Tuesday show, host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse talk about their college football excursions over the weekend -- including Reusse's visit to Harvard to see the Crimson face St. Thomas. Reusse also gives his perspective on Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, who died at age 72.

The Vikings finally upgraded their offensive line it seems with a reported deal for guard Dalton Risner, but now that they are 0-2 will it matter? They are home underdogs to the Chargers on Sunday, but even a loss in that game won't be enough for them to think about unloading some of their core players like Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter, Reusse says.

Plus some bad injury news for the Twins and perhaps a new segment idea?

From down in North Carolina, perspectives on the Gophers football loss (and so much more) Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Host Michael Rand made a trip to North Carolina, where he and friends visited longtime podcast contributor Keith and they all took in Saturday's 31-13 Gophers loss to the Tar Heels. A stark difference in quarterback play underscored where the two programs are, and served as a reminder that P.J. Fleck's team still has a lot to prove this season.

Plus the whole crew shares perspectives on the highs and lows from the weekend, while a 7-year-old provides perhaps the best clarity on Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings' quarterback situation.

Program note: Rand and Patrick Reusse will do their regular show on Tuesday this week when they both return to Minneapolis after weekends of travel.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

StribSports Daily Delivery

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected