StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a frustrating night for the Twins and their fans. After taking a 4-2 lead in extra innings of a vital game against Cleveland, the Twins fell 5-4 and say their wild card lead trimmed to a half-game over Detroit. The seeds for the loss were planted before Wednesday. How long you want to go back probably determines who you think is to blame for the season. 14:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand on the Daily Delivery debate to hash out three subjects. Who is to blame if the Twins miss the playoffs? Regardless of money, would you rather have Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold right now? And which NFL rookie QB will throw the most touchdown passes this season? 34:00: Minnesota United lost at home; the Lynx are gearing up for the playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Lynx, who locked up the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs with a dramatic win on a long last-second three-pointer by Bridget Carleton on Tuesday at Connecticut. The Lynx are 30-9 and will have home-court advantage for two rounds of the playoffs, assuming they knock off No. 7 Phoenix in the first round. 7:00: The Twins grabbed a much-needed 4-1 win in Cleveland. They had to expend a lot of bullpen energy to get there, but with just 11 games left in the season and their wild card lead over Detroit sitting at just 1.5 games, they need to seize on any opportunity to get a victory. 12:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up Iowa week. Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium probably won't be as wild as last year's invalid fair catch game, but we should expect it to be close and low-scoring. 24:00: Chip Scoggins on Chip Lohmiller, former kicker and now a fire chief. 30:00: Tennessee is passing the increased cost of college sports onto its fans, which shouldn't surprise anyone.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday Night Football, where Kirk Cousins and the Falcons were gifted a chance that they took full advantage of in rallying to defeat the Eagles 22-21. Before Cousins' final TD drive, he had played a steady but unspectacular game that he was likely to lose. Now he's a hero and has erased some of the narrative that emerged after a rough first week in Atlanta. The whole game felt like the 2021 Vikings playing against themselves. 8:00: The Twins lost a Pablo Lopez start when Griffin Jax couldn't lock down a late lead. The Twins are fading fast, and they might be trying to stop the bleeding with a castoff that another playoff team didn't want. 12:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings' win over the 49ers and three hot takeaways. Rand thinks this Vikings offensive line is the best in a long time. 30:00: Vikings poetry is very positive this week. 44:00: The Lynx have plenty at stake in a huge game tonight.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for an overwhelmingly positive episode of the podcast. They start with the Vikings, who improved to 2-0 with a statement victory over the 49ers. By winning 23-17 in a game that wasn't even as close as the score would indicate, the Vikings are proving Reusse correct. He liked them as a playoff team before the season started, but he was in the minority with that opinion. They could contend for an NFC North title in what might end up being just an OK division. The Twins saved their weekend by rallying from a 2-0 hole to defeat the Reds 9-2. Brooks Lee had two big hits, keeping Minnesota's lead in the wild card race at 2.5 games. Now they head out on a seven-game road trip to Cleveland and Boston. A big Pablo Lopez start looms Monday. And the Lynx scored a convincing win over WNBA-leading New York. Minnesota is still in the running for the league's top seed and solidified their hold on the No. 2 spot. That plus Saturday wins by the Gophers football team and Minnesota United made for quite a weekend.

Daily Delivery host Michael Rand went live with his instant reaction to the Vikings' 23-17 victory over the 49ers on Sunday. Here is the playback of that session.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a bizarre story about Twins minor league catcher Derek Bender, a sixth-round draft choice this past summer, who was reportedly released from the organization for tipping pitches to help an opponent. While his motivation is not 100% clear, ESPN reported that Bender had told teammates he was was ready for the season to be over. 6:00: Star Tribune high school sports writer Cassidy Hettesheimer joins Rand to discuss her story on Elk River's unique offense that fools both defenses and camera operators. 14:00: The introduction of a fantasy football segment with Star Tribune sports editor Ryan Kostecka. 28:00: Another concussion for Tua Tagovailoa and a big weekend in Minnesota sports.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand details a night of mostly good news for the Twins, who won 6-4 over the Angels to take the series. Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee broke out of slumps with two-run doubles, the bullpen held up nicely and the Twins announced postgame that Byron Buxton will be activated from the injured list Friday. The concern remains with the starting pitching. Zebby Matthews didn't go past the fourth inning. Rookies are slated to make nine of the Twins' final 16 starts this year. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a new segment called The Daily Delivery Debate. This week's topics: What was the Twins' biggest pitching blunder this season? Should the Lynx want to face Caitlin Clark in the playoffs? And how do we rank the four NFC North teams after one week of the NFL season? 31:00: A zombie Pac-12 is emerging, while even more concern is out there about Kirk Cousins.

On a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who defeated the Angels 10-5 on Tuesday. They snapped a four-game losing streak, which had bookends of Pablo Lopez starts, and broke out of a slump at the plate. Their secret? The return of the Rally Sausage, that spiced meat talisman that brought the Twins out of their funk earlier this year. Its return leads to a question, though: Why did it ever leave? Plus Rand looks at the Lynx, who won for the 11th time in 12 games since the break. Can they hold onto the No. 2 seed? 11:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up Minnesota vs. Nevada on Saturday and to spin ahead to the Big Ten opener against Iowa a week from now. 20:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins goes into detail on his Football Across Minnesota feature. The fourth season debuted this week with a story of football revival at St. Paul Johnson and a life-saving effort at Minnesota-Duluth. 27:00: There is cause for alarm with Kirk Cousins. And is it too easy to kick a field goal in the NFL these days?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who came off a 2-5 road trip hoping they had solved some of their recent woes but fell flat once again in a 6-2 loss to the Angels at Target Field. Their wild card lead is down to three games over three different teams with 18 to play. They will put their faith in Pablo Lopez tonight and their hope in the near-term return of Carlos Correa, who says he is close to coming back. 7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a review of the film from the Vikings' 28-6 victory over the Giants. There were defensive stars all over the field, while Sam Darnold had an excellent debut. Rand has three hot takeaways for Krammer, including one big one about Darnold. 24:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry is back and better than ever. 41:00: Do we need to recalibrate the NFC North? What about the Jets and Aaron Rodgers?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They got into the Vikings, but first they had to tackle the Twins. After a 2-5 road trip, including a sweep at Kansas City, the Twins are reeling. Manager Rocco Baldelli said their approach in the series against the Royals was "unprofessional," but that's probably just code for what Reusse and Rand can plainly see: they aren't very good right now, with injuries and underperformance playing key roles. The Vikings, meanwhile, opened the season with an impressive 28-6 victory over the Giants. New York is probably one of the five worst teams in the NFL, but if the Vikings can maintain Sunday's formula -- offensive balance and defensive strength -- they might be as good as Reusse thinks and better than Rand thought they would be. Kirk Cousins had a clunker of a debut in Atlanta, by the way. They touched on the Lynx and Gophers near the end of the show.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Shaquille O'Neal's bizarre assertion this week that Rudy Gobert is the worst active player in the NBA. It might have generated the attention Shaq craves in our warped media world, but it also lost him a decent amount of credibility. Gobert's measured response was perfect. Plus Rand resists the urge to say Thursday's Twins win was the most important one of the season, but it was pretty significant. 14:00: Twins fan and Minneapolis man Tony Voda has traveled the country watching games and snagging baseballs. He's nabbed more than 2,000 of them over the years. But on a recent trip to a Dodgers game in Los Angeles, he learned an important lesson from a big one that got away. 31:00: Five things Rand wants to see Sunday from the Vikings opener.

Introduction: Twins infielder Royce Lewis has had a charmed existence when he's been on the field as an MLB player, but things have taken a turn lately. Since announcing that he doesn't "do that slump thing" in mid-June, Lewis is hitting just .228. And this week Lewis has been vocal about not liking even occasional action at second base, which is where he started in Wednesday's 9-4 loss to Tampa Bay. Combined with Byron Buxton getting ejected from a minor league rehab game, it hasn't been the most mature week for two of the Twins' best players. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers reporter Marcus Fuller joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Gophers volleyball team, which went through growing pains in Keegan Cook's first season as head coach but looks to be ready to resume a place of dominance this season. 29:00: Will the Vikings be able to run the ball this year?

Introduction: The Twins continue to falter, but their competition in the wild card race has been even worse. Boston has lost nine of its last 12. The Royals have lost seven in a row. Add it up and the Twins still have a 95% chance of reaching the postseason. If they do, they won't have an obvious choice for a Game 3 starter in a winner-take-all wild card series. Maybe rookie David Festa, who pitched well again in a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, is the best option? 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the Gophers football team's disappointing opener against North Carolina. Every Big Ten team (yes, the other 17) except the Gophers won their first game, but Minnesota looked flat on offense. Plus they look at the Vikings and big questions heading into the season. 37:00: The Vikings' depth chart clarified some things for Rand.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand on a jam-packed edition of the show after a holiday weekend. The weather was perfect all weekend for the state amateur baseball tournament, and Reusse took advantage with a trip to Jordan. Reusse and Rand also got into Minnesota Star Tribune colleague Mark Craig's excellent piece on former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer in which Zimmer spared nobody in recalling the ending in Minnesota. It didn't make Zimmer look very good, but it was compelling reading. Plus thoughts on the Twins, who course-corrected with two straight wins, and the Gophers volleyball team's upset of No. 1 Texas.

Introduction: Your bleary-eyed host Michael Rand returned home from the Gophers' 19-17 loss to North Carolina on Thursday night, grabbed a few hours of sleep, then tried to make sense of it at the start of today's show. The best way to describe it: There were very few figurative fireworks in a close but uninspiring game. And the literal fireworks at the end, mistakenly shot off when Minnesota missed a potential winning field goal in the final seconds, were a fitting end to it all. 9:00: Dana Wessel, a radio morning show personality on 93X as well as a movie expert (and friend of Rand), joined the podcast for a fun segment on the best kids sports movies of the 1990s. Which ones hold up the best and should be shown to the next generation? 40:00: It's a big weekend for Pablo Lopez and the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who lost again and are 1-5 on this homestand. Manager Rocco Baldelli attributed their recent slide to one of many streaks they've had this season. The Twins and their fans better hope he's right because any help for a sagging roster has been slow to come, if at all. The Lynx are going in the other direction, though, surging into second place in the WNBA and looking every bit like a title contender. 9:00: Rand welcomes in the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen for part of Thursday's football feast. Paulsen gives insights into his Dream Team of the top high school football players in the entire state of Minnesota and sets the stage for Thursday's first big slate of games. 22:00: Randy Johnson provides the second helping of football, getting listeners ready for Thursday's Gophers football opener against North Carolina.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the much-maligned top part of the Vikings' 2022 draft class now that Lewis Cine has been cut. There's no doubt that the Vikings missed on Cine, Andrew Booth and Brian Asamoah, among others. But it was interesting to look back at the consensus at the time of the draft. A lot of smart folks thought the Vikings had done well. 10:00: Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit joined Rand and Gophers writer Kent Youngblood at the State Fair to preview the upcoming season. You'll learn what Plitzuweit likes about this year's team and what stat she loves the most. 34:00: The Twins lost again, and the Royals pulled even with Cleveland. Have we been focused on the wrong AL Central foe?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday's storm-interrupted 10-6 loss to Atlanta, the Twins' sixth setback in their last eight games. Bailey Ober has been terrific almost all year, but he gave up nine early runs before the skies opened up. The pressure will be on rookie Simeon Woods Richardson on Tuesday to get the Twins, who are suddenly in third place in the AL Central, back on track. Rand also identified the four areas of the Vikings roster that he is most concerned about at the start of the season. Roster cutdowns are coming Tuesday, and Minnesota could use some depth in a few different areas. 14:00: Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek and Nicole Hensley, all standouts from PWHL Minnesota's championship team this season, joined Rand on the Minnesota Star Tribune stage at the State Fair. They talked about the highs and lows of the season, what it means to be a pro hockey player and what they can do for a Year 2 encore. 37:00: Rand is back at the fair for a couple more interviews Tuesday. Come say hi.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another late blown lead Sunday by the Twins. Are the wheels starting to fall off for a team with injury woes and shaky pitching depth, or was this just a bad week? The news for the Lynx was much happier this week, as they defeated Las Vegas twice and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever once. Minnesota is looking like a true WNBA title contender, a status solidified by its showing over the weekend. Plus Reusse and Rand get into some town ball, a Minnesota team that won a championship and the Minnesota State Fair.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a Vikings question that has been on his mind for months. There are numerous similarities between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, including their draft year (2018) and career trajectories. Mayfield had a bounceback season in 2023 and re-established himself as an NFL starter. Rand looks inside the numbers to see if Darnold is a candidate to do the same with the Vikings in 2024. 14:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller saw all the highs and lows of the Twins' recent 4-3 road trip. He joins the show to offer perspectives on the trio of rookie pitchers in the starting rotation as well as injury timelines for Minnesota's ailing stars. 38:00: It's a big weekend in Minnesota sports.

Introduction: In an offbeat edition of the podcast, host Michael Rand spends some time with the Fremont Avenue Wiffle Ball League, a collection of kids in south Minneapolis who have had a great summer playing on their backyard field. You'll hear their story and maybe spark some memories of your own. 15:00: Rand talks with third-year Timberwolves player Josh Minott, with a twist. Their entire conversation is based on prompts that Rand pulled from captions Minott put on his own social media posts. The hope is that it provides a window into Minott's worldview. 23:00: The Twins and Lynx keep defying odds, with two big wins Wednesday showing how they both define the notion of a true team.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two of the biggest Minnesota sports stories of the day. The Twins held leads of 3-1 and 5-3 but ultimately lost 7-5 to the Padres, the second time during a three-game losing skid that their bullpen has melted down late. The difference between the relief staffs for Minnesota and Cleveland is the most glaring gap in the AL Central race. Plus Rand lauds Brian Flores for speaking up about evolving as a coach and person. 13:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to break down Tuesday's trade for Myisha Hines-Allen to bolster their frontcourt. It's a huge week for the Lynx, who face Las Vegas twice and then Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever on the same night Maya Moore's jersey is retired. 33:00: Gophers bowl projections? In August?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments made by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa about his former head coach and current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Tagovailoa was critical of Flores coaching style, particularly in contrast to current coach Mike McDaniel, and said of Flores, "You have a terrible person telling you things that you don't want to hear or probably shouldn't be hearing, you're going to start believing that about yourself." Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about it on Monday, and Flores figures to be asked about it Tuesday. Rand also dissects the Twins' 5-3 loss to the Padres on Monday. Rookie Zebby Matthews got into trouble with two uncharacteristic walks, but it was a strike that hurt him the most. 12:00: Soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand to talk about the roster shakeup for Minnesota United. The Loons brought in several players during the recently completed transfer window. Combined with a schedule that has had United off for more than three weeks, it gives them an air of mystery when MLS play resumes Saturday. 32:00: Mike Gundy wants to focus on football, an increasingly difficult task.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand on Monday's edition for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Twins won three of four in Texas and trimmed Cleveland's division lead to two games. Even with a disappointing loss Sunday, three nice wins have the Twins in good shape on a tough road trip. They have also silenced a lot of critics of manager Rocco Baldelli. The Vikings won another preseason game. More importantly, they signed standout veteran corner Stephon Gilmore. If they have good health, the Vikings have the makings of a pretty good defense. And Reusse discusses his recent column on the Lynx and his approach to the State Fair.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two emails from listeners. Shane is blaming himself for J.J. McCarthy's injury because of a parallel his life to Teddy Bridgewater's injury eight years ago. And Bob thinks the Twins have missed some critical chances to close the gap on Cleveland even though they had a strong overall homestand and good win Thursday in Texas. 13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson gives us the latest on running back Darius Taylor's hamstring injury and goes game-by-game through the entire 12-game schedule with Rand. 36:00: The Lynx are back and didn't miss a beat; the Wolves are being treated (correctly) as one of the NBA's top teams.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand toward the end of the week instead of at the start. Rested up from a rustic trip into the Woods, Reusse has all sorts of thoughts on whether the banged-up Twins can sustain their momentum on a tough upcoming road trip. Reusse and Rand also get into the impact of J.J. McCarthy being out for the season and the consideration that it might just be one of "those" years for the Vikings. And the Lynx return to action Thursday after a monthlong Olympic break.

Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a quick rundown of the bad news that came Minnesota's way on Wednesday. First, then Vikings announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy's meniscus tear will require a season-ending surgery, an outcome that wasn't surprising but is still a buzzkill for this season. Goessling and Rand analyze the impact of that news. Plus receiver Jordan Addison left Wednesday's joint practice in Cleveland on a cart. Though coach Kevin O'Connell said that the injury is to Addison's ankle and doesn't appear serious, it was not the scene anyone needed after the McCarthy news.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the debut of Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews and just how much Minnesota is relying on young throwers drafted in the middle-to-late rounds by Derek Falvey. Is this the arrival of the much-anticipated Falvey pitching pipeline? And if so, how will Matthews, David Festa, Bailey Ober and Louie Varland fare down the stretch of a pennant race? Rand also makes two big points about J.J. McCarthy's injury and its impact on this year's Vikings. 14:00: Rand welcomes in Star Tribune reporter Jeff Day, who wrote the story of the week about a dispute over a house on Lake Minnetonka that has former Viking Chad Greenway as a key character. Plus Rand and Day talk about their favorite subject, the Timberwolves. 37:00: Another significant injury, this time with the Gophers football team.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday's double dose of concerning news. After a very encouraging Saturday preseason debut, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy was held out of Monday's practice with a sore knee. And in the midst of an 8-3 win over the Royals on Monday, Byron Buxton had to leave the game with a hip problem. Even without knowing the timetables for either injury, that's not the news anyone wanted. 13:00: "Higher" by Creed became an unofficial anthem of the Vikings during a winning streak last year. On today's show, Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti joins Rand to talk about that phenomenon and other aspects of the band as they prepare to play Treasure Island on Saturday. 26:00: The Jets are being the Jets.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who took the first two games of their showdown with Cleveland and had the Guardians on the ropes before dropping Saturday and Sunday's games. It wasn't a disaster, but it definitely was a missed opportunity for the Twins as they still sit 3.5 games back heading into another big series vs. Kansas City. Plus Rand puts a bow on the tremendous Paris Olympics. 10:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand to dissect Saturday's preseason opener against the Raiders. Sam Darnold looked efficient. Rookie J.J. McCarthy made some electric plays after an early interception. The defense has some holes in the secondary but more depth within the front seven. And Minnesota won a preseason game for the first time since 2019. 37:00: A new Aaron Rodgers book dredges up some old wounds.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings announcing how they will divide up playing time for their quarterbacks in Saturday's preseason opener. Sam Darnold will start, but rookie J.J. McCarthy will get a lot of time on the field as well. It will be the beginning of a journey, and perhaps the start of the McCarthy hype in earnest. 9:00: Rand talks to Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale Jr. during a newsy week. Starting pitcher Joe Ryan is injured, and the Twins will have to lean even more on their young pitchers in a critical series this weekend against division-leading Cleveland. Plus the ongoing absence of Carlos Correa and the hot streak from Matt Wallner. 31:00: Rand has memories of former Minnesota-Duluth hockey coach Mike Sertich, who died Thursday at age 77.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the increasingly perilous pitching depth for the Twins. Steady starter Joe Ryan had to leave Wednesday's game with a triceps injury and is almost certain to miss some time. Minnesota, which wasn't able to add any starting pitching help at the trade deadline, could be leaning more than ever on young arms at a crucial point in its season. 10:00: Rand is joined by Rick Sutton, the former head coach of the Mankato West football team. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who this week became the Democrat nominee for Vice President, was an assistant coach on the 1999 squad that won the Class 4A state title. Sutton recalls the history of that team and what Walz was like as a coach. 28:00: It's always a good time to be thinking about Naz Reid.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with an update in the AL Central, where the Twins' five-game winning streak ended in part because of a rough Pablo Lopez outing, the Guardians were rained out and now have two doubleheaders this week and the White Sox finally won after 21 consecutive losses. Also, a listener alerted Rand to a message sent by the Twins to season ticket holders about direct-to-consumer viewing options for 2025. 9:00: Star Tribune summer sports intern Cassidy Hettesheimer joins Rand to talk about her experience getting to know the Twin Cities and our sports scene. She's been doing a lot of Olympics coverage and catches us up to speed on what to watch for the rest of the way in Paris. 28:00: The Vikings have no problem listing a starting quarterback. It's the backup that they won't tell us about.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wants to be frustrated, still, that the Twins didn't improve their starting pitching at the trade deadline. But rookie David Festa is making it harder on him with each strong outing. Festa threw five shutout innings against the Cubs on Monday, helping the Twins to their fifth consecutive victory. If the Twins make the postseason, is there a chance Festa could be a factor? 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a look at the Gophers football team and the Vikings. How many games will each of them win this season? Will the Vikings learn to run more? Will the Gophers throw more? And how much do we want to see J.J. McCarthy during Saturday's only home preseason game? 34:00: A big day for Timberwolves players at the Olympics.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins extending the White Sox misery. After Minnesota swept Chicago at Target Field, the White Sox have now lost 20 consecutive games and have a season record of 27-87. With help from their inept AL Central foes, the Twins moved within 4.5 games of division-leading Cleveland with a showdown looming soon. Plus Reusse and Rand talked about the Olympics and a young Minnesotan rising up the ranks of the auto racing world, while Reusse got to tell some fun stories along the way.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Vikings and Gophers football teams. Both squads professed a desire for more offensive balance last season, with the Vikings looking to run more and the Gophers looking to pass more. But limited personnel and old habits led to more of the same for both Kevin O'Connell and P.J. Fleck. Is there hope for a different outcome in 2024? 11:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand to talk about Bally Sports North being back on Comcast, but at a higher pricing tier. Will sports fans stick with it after three months off the air? Plus an examination of the Twins' tepid trade deadline moves and a Carlos Correa update. 34:00: The Olympics have been great.

Introduction: After a couple of days off during which host Michael Rand rediscovered the brief joy of one good hole of golf, he is back with thoughts on Bally Sports North being back on Comcast. It's a sigh of relief for Minnesota sports fans, particularly those who have been missing the Twins and Lynx this summer, but the new pricing tier is $20 more per month if you want to watch now. Will fans pay it, or will the Twins, Comcast and Bally Sports North pay the price? 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to catch us up to speed on the first week of practice. The strengths of the Gophers appear to be on the offensive and defensive lines, but a tough schedule will challenge P.J. Fleck's team. 30:00: A defining year for Aaron Rodgers' legacy.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the conclusion of the 3M Open. Reusse was impressed by the leader board by the end of the golf tournament, even if the heat was a little much. The Olympics are off to a strong start and Minnesotans are right in the middle of it with Anthony Edwards helping the U.S. men's basketball team defeat Serbia and Suni Lee qualifying for the women's gymnastics all-around finals. The Twins keep winning two out of every three games, but their approach to the trade deadline might leave fans (as well as Rand) frustrated. And Reusse loves the old smoking section on airplanes much more than Vikings training camp.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand highlights some of the key things said by P.J. Fleck on Thursday at Big Ten football media day. Rand finds Fleck to be honest about how to find joy in the moment during a transformational time in college football, but he also thinks Fleck is trying to control the narrative if he wants us to think 2023 wasn't a disappointment. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a comprehensive update from a busy first week of training camp. The main story line is the emotion of the week, punctuated Friday with the funeral for cornerback Khyree Jackson. They also discuss the positional battles at camp, including the all-important one at quarterback. 39:00: The Twins are taking a different approach to the trade deadline.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the news that the Twins might soon be back on Comcast, at least according to a progress report given by an attorney for Diamond Sports. Rand's sense is that if Bally Sports North returns to Comcast, however, it will be on a higher pricing tier and that Twins fans will have to pay more than before. The bigger question remains: What will be the Twins' local TV solution in 2025 and beyond? Plus another Max Kepler walk-off, a key Vikings injury on the first day of camp and Jordan Addison's first comments since his arrest. 16:00: Mike Wierzbicki, a senior associate AD with the Gophers, talks to Rand about a special triumph for Minnesota. The Gophers were one of just two schools in the country to have players selected in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB drafts this year. 29:00: You might have missed it, but the Olympics started.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Twins and the trade deadline. With one week left to make deals, the Twins are targeting pitching. That's a common goal for a lot of teams, but it is particularly important for the Twins as they try to navigate the final two months of the season (and, they hope, the playoffs). 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand as they talk through why the Vikings aren't being tough enough (at least publicly) with wide receiver Jordan Addison. Plus Scoggins makes the case that this is a big year for Sam Darnold, while they also get into some Gophers football talk as well. 38:00: Christian Darrisaw's extension and the return of a popular Viking.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments from Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the eve of training camp. Addressing the media in the wake of the death of Khyree Jackson and Jordan Addison's arrest, both key Vikings decisionmakers exhibited empathy. But in the case of Addison, are they being tough enough? Rand doesn't think so. Speaking of accountability, Aaron Rodgers doesn't seem to want any. And the Twins finally got a win against a good team. 14:00: Soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand to talk about Minnesota United's streak-busting victory and key additions the Loons are in the process of making during this transfer window. 34:00: The Arena League played its championship game where? And Dean Evason gets a second chance.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The big story was Joe Mauer's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Reusse was on the scene in Cooperstown, N.Y., and offers his perspectives on the Mauer's big weekend and remarkable career with the Twins. Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Twins' disappointing two-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers, which continued a season-long trend of struggling against MLB's top teams. And thoughts on the British Open as well as the Vikings as they prepare for training camp.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Minnesota United's hopes of improving during this transfer window, a concerning injury to Dawson Garcia and an update from the Wolves in Summer League action. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale Jr. joins Rand for a look at the Twins at the All-Star break. With a 54-42 record, they are in good shape to compete for a playoff spot. Whether they can catch Cleveland or secure a Wild Card berth largely will depend on position player health and the return to form of Pablo Lopez. Will they add anything at the trade deadline? And is anything new on the TV front after updates from Commissioner Rob Manfred? 30:00: Speaking of the Twins on TV, a listener sounds off on the whole situation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two teams going in opposite directions. The Lynx won a matinee to enter the Olympic break 17-8, which includes a 3-2 mark without injured star Napheesa Collier. Meanwhile, Minnesota United remained winless in its last nine matches. Surrendering two late goals on set pieces to a subpar D.C. United squad in a 3-2 loss Wednesday might have been the worst of the nine. 9:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins the show fresh off a long stint in Las Vegas to talk about the impact of Minnesota's young players, Anthony Edwards' continued rise on Team USA and yet another trip to Chanhassen. 27:00: ESPN ranked the top 100 pro athletes since 2000. How many Minnesotans were on the list?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was not impressed with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's comments Tuesday about where things stand with the league's TV situation. By telling teams it is up to them to decide whether to either sign up to be distributed and produced by MLB or continue with the regional sports network model, MLB is admitting it doesn't yet have a viable product or solution. If the landscape really won't be sorted out until a new national contract is negotiated in 2028, that's a long time to wait. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand ahead of Joe Mauer's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y. Neal shares some Mauer stories and insights, while he and Rand also get into this year's Twins and Vikings receiver Jordan Addison. 36:00: It is a great day to be a Star Tribune subscriber.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Knicks owner James Dolan's scathing letter to the league's board of governors complaining about several aspects of a reported new 11-year, $76 billion media/TV deal. Dolan, representing the large-market Knicks, worries that the NBA is moving toward a national broadcast model that will render regional sports networks "unviable." What might that mean for Minnesota sports and the Wolves? 9:00: Star Tribune Gophers sports writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about two main subjects. First, Fuller sheds more light on Gophers AD Mark Coyle's comments to the Board of Regents last week about the future economic model within the athletic department. Fuller also gives an update on the Gophers men's basketball team's offseason, among other things. 38:00: Two listeners have keen observations.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which frankly didn't have a lot of great news for Minnesota sports fans. The Lynx lost to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday, showing they will struggle as long as Napheesa Collier is out. The game was a huge success from a business standpoint, with a sellout crowd and gate revenues topping $1 million helped greatly by a pro-Clark contingent. Vikings WR Jordan Addison was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in California, the second straight offseason he's had a significant incident with a vehicle. And the Twins lost their final game going into the All-Star break and are dealing with a handful of minor injuries to major players.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand begins with an appreciation segment on Willi Castro, the super utility man for the Twins who was named to the All-Star team Thursday as an injury replacement. He's played quite capably at five different positions and in all 93 games this year for the Twins, who quite honestly would not be where they are (53-40) without him. 6:00: Soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand for a look at Minnesota United, which has struggled with depth in losing six games in a row. With the MLS transfer window coming up next week and players returning from international competition, where do the Loons stand? Plus they speculate about candidates for the top U.S. men's soccer job and name some guys. 35:00: Wolves back?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the suddenly and remarkably consistent Twins, who have won two out of three games in six consecutive series, needing to win the third game of the series each time to achieve the feat, and have also homered in 28 straight games. That sort of run would be good news in the postseason, but this isn't: a listener points out that if the season ended today, it would be Twins at Yankees for three games in October. Plus Rand gets into comments from Gophers AD Mark Coyle about the future of college athletics. 12:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood has some good perspective on Napheesa Collier's injury and the Lynx's success (so far) without her. He also previews Sunday's big game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Target Center. 28:00: The NBA is playing with Monopoly money, and the U.S. men's soccer team officially needs a new manager.