StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the strong play and good vibes from Anthony Edwards lately, and notices a pattern: He seems happiest when he's the unquestioned star of the show. The next step in his maturation process -- a journey that has seen him make key strides already this season -- is finding that same energy and joy when Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert return from their injuries. 7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review from Saturday's dramatic win over the Colts. Lost in the zaniness of the comeback is this fact: the Vikings changed a lot of their defensive schemes in just one week. 21:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry, with a slight edit when it comes to the referees. 34:00: Gophers football recruiting.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse take a look back at an amazing weekend in Minnesota sports. First and foremost, obviously, was the Vikings' NFL-record comeback from a 33-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Colts 39-36 in overtime Saturday. Trying to make sense of that game -- or this team -- is nearly impossible. But it did cement the Vikings' identity: a flawed team with a flare for drama. Reusse and Rand also talked about the Twins' signing of Joey Gallo, the Wolves' 150-point record-setting game against the Bulls and the Wild's winning streak.

Host Michael Rand still can't believe what he just saw -- parts of which he admits he did not see -- after the Vikings rallied from a 33-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Colts 39-36 in overtime to clinch the NFC North title in the 1000th game in franchise history. The twists and turns ... postgame audio from Kirk Cousins and Kevin O'Connell ... and plenty of listener commentary are all part of this bonus episode -- as is an interview with local journalist Aaron Rupar, a huge Vikings fan who made his triumphant return to Twitter late Friday after a suspension.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand uses the occasion of the Vikings' 1000th game on Saturday to recount his youth spent watching the Vikings and some of his favorite moments watching the purple over the years. 9:00: Longtime Vikings fan Ted Young joins Rand on the eve of what he hopes is a personal milestone. Young has seen the Vikings beat every team in the NFL in person -- except the Colts, their opponent during Saturday's 1000th game. It also happens to be a chance to clinch the NFC North. Young, who lives in Milwaukee, recalls his journey as a Vikings fan. 28:00: The Twins lost out on Carlos Rodon, but maybe the Wolves will get Patrick Beverley?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has a few questions in the aftermath of the Twins losing out in their bid to sign Carlos Correa. It's a strange duality: Rand thinks the Twins are probably lucky they didn't wind up with Correa based on the cost compared to his ability, but he's also unclear what the Plan B is now that the dust has settled. And he's truly puzzled by Sonny Gray's continued inclusion in trade rumblings. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a further dissection of the team's defense. Goessling will help try to explain some key points form defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's session with reporters Wednesday and discern what exactly is fixable this late in the year. 27:00: The Wild seems to be settling into a style and getting healthy, while the Wolves are just the opposite.

Introduction: The big news we had been waiting for arrived Tuesday night, with Carlos Correa making his free agency decision. The shortstop, who played one season for the Twins at $35.1 million, ended up agreeing to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants -- a deal that will weaken the Twins in the short-term but might be the best thing for them in the long run, host Michael Rand says. 7:00: Rand and La Velle E. Neal III talked about the Twins, Vikings and Wolves. Fans of "A Christmas Carol" might either be delighted or horrified by how Rand decided to edit their Correa conversation, but please say regardless for insights into what the Twins might do next and how to fix the leaky Vikings defense. 32:00: Appreciating Mike Leach.

Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand looks at the dismal Timberwolves perimeter defense after another loss to Portland. These are the times when the Wolves miss Patrick Beverley, whether they want to admit it or not. 4:00: The Twins signed a new catcher, Christian Vazquez, to shore up what became an overlooked weakness last season. 8:00: The Vikings are at a crossroads on defense, with coach Kevin O'Connell offering a tepid endorsement of coordinator Ed Donatell. Andrew Krammer will help Rand break that down. 32:00: A new Gophers volleyball coach.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports, which included a rare loss by the Vikings. Rand notes that they were set up to fail from the start by resting some players with minor injuries, while Reusse takes the pass rush to task. It added up to a lot of fan anger for a team that is still 10-3 and very much in control of its season. Plus thoughts on P.J. Fleck, the Gophers men's basketball team and Carlos Correa.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand revisits the trade that brought Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves ahead of his Friday return to face his old team in Utah. Would the Wolves still make the trade if they knew things would look so clunky so far this year? Would the Wolves have made the trade if someone other than Tim Connelly had been running the team? And would the trade make more sense if you knew another big move was yet to come? 11:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look ahead to Sunday's matchup against the Lions. With a win, the Vikings would clinch the NFC North title. That allows us to look ahead to discern which teams Minnesota might want to face -- and avoid -- once the playoffs come around. 33:00: The Baker Mayfield game was better than the Josh Freeman game.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a spin through a very busy day in sports, touching on a lot of big subjects. Among them: P.J. Fleck's contract extension, which includes a $1 million annual raise; Carlos Correa's place in the market now that several players have signed; Rudy Gobert's big game and how it impacts the Wolves; the Wild losing a two-goal lead in a loss to Calgary. 12:00: Jeff Day joins Rand for a thorough discussion of the Gophers volleyball team, which faces Ohio State on Thursday in the NCAA Sweet 16. 29:00: The Vikings are being hit by illness at a bad time.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the state of leadership on Minnesota sports teams, noting that the void with the Timberwolves stands out just as much as the strong leadership the Wild and Vikings seem to have. The Twins, meanwhile, continue to pursue Carlos Correa -- with leadership being a big piece of his value as well. 7:00: Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins and photojournalist Aaron Lavinsky join Rand for an extended conversation about their excellent story on the Red Lake football program that ran in Sunday's paper. What goes into a story like that? Scoggins and Lavinsky offer numerous insights. 32:00: The Twins moved up eight spots in the very first MLB draft lottery.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes a few developments that could impact the Twins' attempt to retain shortstop Carlos Correa in free agency. First, Trea Turner agreed to a massive 11-year, $300 million deal with the Phillies. Plus the Yankees said they aren't going to rush Aaron Judge and the Cubs reportedly met with Correa. What does it all mean for the Twins, who have money to spend? 6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review from Sunday's victory. Why was the Vikings' red zone defense so good after being bad much of the year? And should there be a bigger offensive role for Jalen Reagor? 21:00: Your favorite poetry segment is back, with the proper syllables and perspective on the Vikings.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Vikings are now an unbelievable 9-0 in one-score games, displaying not just a flare for drama but a knack again for winning in the critical moments of a game. Their latest high-wire act came Sunday with a 27-22 win over the Jets that required two late defensive stands. The Wild and Gophers women's basketball teams also won in dramatic fashion, while the Timberwolves came unglued in a loss to the Thunder. For the Wolves, it's starting to look like real trouble is settling in.

Introduction: If we look at pure wins and losses, the Wolves and Wild both have identical 11-11 records. Both of them also have transcendent young players (Anthony Edwards and Kirill Kaprizov) who played major roles in encouraging wins this week. Can either or both of these teams generate the type of consistency needed to live up to lofty preseason expectations. 9:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand on a number of subjects, including the ongoing extra point woes of Greg Joseph and the unclear strengths of the team even at 9-2. Rand later takes note of the Patriots not moving the ball nearly as well against the Bills as they did last week vs. Minnesota. 31:00: The U.S. getting through group play in the World Cup seems even more impressive now.

Introduction: It was just one game, but Anthony Edwards looked like a different player without Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor during Wednesday's 109-101 victory over Memphis. We'll need to see a larger sample size before we overreact, but host Michael Rand has a couple of theories about why we saw a different Ant without KAT. 9:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand for an early look at Ben Johnson's team. They've struggled on offense so far, but there are signs of better times ahead. 30:00: Vikings corner Patrick Peterson took another shot at Kyler Murray; Will Aaron Rodgers finish the season?; A 12-team college football playoff could only help the Gophers.

Introduction: It's been proven through various studies that humans are wired to avoid pain more than they are wired to seek pleasure. That might explain some of the drama of sports, and particularly why it feels so draining while watching a team you are rooting for that is trying to protect a lead as opposed to one that is chasing a deficit. The U.S. men's soccer team gave us another lesson on Tuesday, as the Americans held on for a 1-0 win over Iran in a match that aged all of us more than 90 minutes (plus stoppage time). 8:00: With Karl-Anthony Towns out for several weeks with a calf strain, the Timberwolves are facing a critical (and fascinating) stretch of their season. Rand talked with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine about the implications of a KAT-free lineup and the various issues with the team that cropped up well before his injury. 30:00: St. Thomas is experiencing early D-I success, accelerating their football timeline and arrival on the local sports scene as a major player.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the disaster that was the Wolves game on Monday, when the team gave up 77 first-half points in another lopsided loss and then lost Karl-Anthony Towns to a non-contact injury in the second half. The hope is that the injury is just a calf strain. The bigger issue is an inconsistency of effort that has led to a 10-11 record. 8:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins for a film review, looking at an offensive line that has bounced back against New England. Also this question: Should the Vikings be blitzing more? ... And the Vikings poetry segment explores the question of which team's record is more surprising: The 9-2 Vikings or 4-8 Packers. 34:00: A demotion for Wild rookie Marco Rossi.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports. The Gophers football team beat Wisconsin for the second straight season and third time in five years Saturday, prompting a moment of honesty and sensitivity from head coach P.J. Fleck. Did reasonable people really want him fired after the loss to Iowa the previous week? No. The Vikings can clinch the NFC North next week after another series of games went their way. The Wolves are 20 games into their season and no closer to answers than they were at the start. And Gophers volleyball has avoided the dreaded "distractions."

Introduction: On a football-dominant Thanksgiving edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand is joined by Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling. The Vikings were demolished 40-3 on Sunday, and now face Bill Belichick's Patriots on short rest Thursday. Will their injuries -- and mounting inconsistencies -- be too much to overcome? Later on, Gophers beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show to review the frustrating 13-10 loss to Iowa and to set up what's left to play for Saturday vs. Wisconsin.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at perhaps the biggest coaching challenge of Kevin O'Connell's young career. Not only is his team coming off a 40-3 loss to Dallas, but he now must face Bill Belichick -- his former coach -- on a short week. How the Vikings perform Thursday will tell us a lot about the rest of the season. 8:00: WCCO radio's Henry Lake joins Rand for a look at the Wolves, the Vikings and the path that led Lake to WCCO. It's an entertaining conversation you won't want to miss. 30:00: A busy night heading into the holiday.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the Timberwolves and Vikings and finds a common thread: Teams that shouldn't have to apologize for winning ugly -- but also teams that still have something to prove. The Wolves have won four in a row but heard some boos in the midst of their 105-101 comeback win Monday. The Vikings need to get their season back on track after Sunday's blowout loss. 10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to talk about the evolving identity of the Wild, and how it is taking time to acclimate to a new style. 27:00: Twins President Dave St. Peter joins Rand to talk about the team's rebrand, on-field projections for 2023 and the TV situation.

It wasn't an overly cheerful edition of the podcast as Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand to primarily talk about the Vikings' 40-3 drubbing at the hands of Dallas and the Gophers' 13-10 loss to Iowa -- two defeats that were frustrating for much different reasons. The Vikings have major concerns, even at 8-2, after they had no answer for the Cowboys' pass rush nor get off the field on defense. With injuries mounting, Minnesota will need to prove that was just a one-game blip. The Gophers, meanwhile, will never have an easier path to a Big Ten title. But it eluded them once again, as P.J. Fleck's conservative approach kept him winless still in his career against Iowa. Plus thoughts on the Twins' new look -- and new left side of the infield.

Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Vikings heading into Sunday's big game against Dallas. Minnesota is a betting underdog despite its 8-1 record, so in a sense this is another prove-it game. The Vikings' lead in the NFC North grew again Thursday when Green Bay lost at home to Tennessee. 17:00: Local soccer guru Jon Marthaler joins Rand to preview the World Cup in Qatar, which begins this weekend. The U.S. squad, after missing the tournament entirely in 2018, has a reasonable chance to get out of group play. They will open Monday against Wales with plenty of questions but some optimism as well.

Introduction: Wolves guard Anthony Edwards played perhaps his most complete game of the season Wednesday in a 126-108 victory over Orlando. The challenge now for Edwards and the Wolves is stacking those good performances on top of each other -- something both the player and team have struggled to do. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand for a preview of Saturday's huge game against Iowa. Can the Gophers win a defensive battle and defeat the Hawkeyes for the first time since 2014? 24:00: Another key Wild injury and some national spotlight for Vikings voice Paul Allen.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand came away unimpressed after watching the Wild skate to a drowsy 2-1 loss at Nashville on Tuesday. Head coach Dean Evason said he liked the team's game and thought the Wild generated enough push to succeed, but from the outside looking in Minnesota just doesn't seem like a dangerous team right now. 6:00: Rand asked Wolves coach Chris Finch and guard D'Angelo Russell about lineup combinations and building chemistry. Their answers were pretty different, but both responses underscored things the Wolves are still searching for this season. Later, Rand was joined by Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine for an even deeper dive into the Wolves. 33:00: Something to watch for in tonight's Wolves game in Orlando.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Eagles' first loss of the season Monday to Washington, which was important to the Vikings for two reasons. First, of course, it pulls the Vikings and Eagles even at 8-1, creating a path to the No. 1 seed that's a little more clear. Second, Philadelphia committed four turnovers in the game after having just three all season coming in. If you're looking for a way the Vikings' season could come undone, start with turnover margin. 6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins for a film review looking at Justin Jefferson's excellence on contested catches Sunday and some offensive line improvement. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry. 31:00: The Gophers men's basketball team looked its age on Monday.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse as they try to figure out all that happened during Sunday's 33-30 overtime Vikings victory over Buffalo. The twists, the turns, the Justin Jefferson catch. The QB sneak that wasn't. The improbable fumble. The ending. The elements. The quality of the opponent. All of it, Reusse says, adds up to the greatest regular-season victory in the franchise's 62 years of existence, and it's hard to argue with that. Plus Rand and Reusse get into Gophers football, D'Angelo Russell, Gophers women's basketball and St. Thomas sports.

Introduction: In a football-heavy show, host Michael Rand begins with three interesting things he gleaned from the Vikings this week: The moment Kirk Cousins knew Justin Jefferson was special, how Kevin O'Connell views his running backs and the difference T.J. Hockenson sees already in playing for the Vikings instead of the Lions. 7:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins the show to set up Sunday's intrigue-filled game against the Bills. One of the biggest story lines is a revisiting of the Stefon Diggs trade and all that went into a tumultuous time in Minnesota. 30:00: Does Rand actually say something nice about Aaron Rodgers?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand likens the Timberwolves to a bunch of children who are having a hard time learning the lesson of not repeating mistakes. If we continue the analogy and assign coach Chris Finch the role of parent, he's not doing his job, either. Add it up and you have a 5-7 team that just lost another lopsided home game. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a preview of the offseason. With free agency starting Thursday, the Twins have a lot of big questions as they reckon with a 2022 season that started well but fell off the rails in a flurry of injuries and inconsistency. Will the Twins make a hard run at keeping Carlos Correa? Should they? If they don't, who else will they spend money on? And do the Phillies give them hope? 29:00: Standing in contrast to the Wolves are the Wild, who got out of their rut with a 4-1 win Wednesday.

Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wild's second consecutive shutout loss and notices that frustration seems to be mounting for both the Wild and Timberwolves this season. Plus Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the team's QB situation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has had it with the Timberwolves. After wasting more time watching their dismal performance in 120-107 loss to the Knicks, he wonders if it's not just the team but its individual components that are overrated. One thing is for sure: The effort right now isn't there, and they aren't worth watching until that changes. 6:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer for a film review of Sunday's 20-17 win over Washington. New tight end T.J. Hockenson made nine catches in his debut, while rookie corner Akayleb Evans made huge contributions filling in for the injured Cam Dantzler. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry. 32:00: The expected moment is here, as the Twins said goodbye to Miguel Sano.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at an uncommonly successful weekend in Minnesota sports. The Vikings and Gophers both overcame double-digit deficits to win, with the former improving to 7-1 and the latter repositioning itself in the Big Ten West mix. Gophers hockey and volleyball swept the weekend as well, and the Wolves won Saturday. Plus Reusse agrees with a listener: These Vikings have a certain quality that is reminiscent of the Bud Grant era.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into his conversation with Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling. A surprising 6-1 start led to a move this week to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, a move that will have a ripple effect into 2023 as well. The Vikings' good start will have even more impact on their future, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate things. 24:00: Rand has a bunch of rapid-fire thoughts on the Wild's home loss, how the Warriors' struggles could be a sign for the Wolves, Cheryl Reeve's contract extension and job title change and the World Series.

Introduction: All the key figures in the T.J. Hockenson trade spoke with the media on Wednesday, and you'll hear from all of them on this episode. First up: Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on what went into the deal; Hockenson and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on helping get Hockenson integrated into the offense; and QB Kirk Cousins on how he wants to help Hockenson be at his best. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a discussion of college football, where Chip's Tennessee Volunteers are having the kind of season Gophers fans dream about. Plus some expanded thoughts on D'Angelo Russell. 32:00: A World Series no-hitter.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Vikings' acquisition of tight end T.J. Hockenson on Tuesday. The move signaled GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will get aggressive in filling a need, which was evident for a 6-1 team after Irv Smith Jr. went on injured reserve. It's a net upgrade and should give Kirk Cousins one more viable target in an evolving passing game. 10:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show. The Gophers are more than a two-touchdown favorite at Nebraska, which feels like both an opportunity and a curse. Plus a look ahead to next year's more daunting Big Ten schedule. 22:00: The Timberwolves' starting lineup was again a net negative in a 116-107 loss to Phoenix, and head coach Chris Finch doesn't seem to have many answers right now. Their performance stood in stark contrast to the suddenly streaking Wild.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes stock of the first seven games of the Timberwolves' season and sees reasons for patience as well as the potential to need a different plan. If this doesn't look more cohesive after 20 games, the recommendation is this: move D'Angelo Russell to the bench and lean into the players you are committed to long-term. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings' most recent victory. They've been great in the red zone lately, and it's come in a variety of ways. Plus thoughts on the Vikings and if they should make any moves at the trade deadline. 28:00: The Wild returns home a much different team.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports. The Vikings won in familiar fashion, defeating Arizona 34-26 by again making the big plays in the biggest moments. They're now 6-1, and with every other team in the NFC North sitting at 3-5 or worse they are in magnificent early position. The Timberwolves are 4-3, a record suggestive of a decent start, but their play has been clunky at best. They lost again to the Spurs on Sunday, and Reusse has concerns about how this looks -- plus how it will look once the Wolves start playing better teams. Thoughts, too, on the Gophers, Wild and St. Thomas.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of a couple of small sample sizes -- the 0-3 Wild start vs. the 3-0-1 stretch produced since then, as well as the Lakers' 0-4 start heading into Target Center on Friday night -- and notes the danger of putting too much emphasis on such things. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at the 5-1 Vikings coming out of the bye week. Will the Vikings look to be more aggressive on defense -- with Patrick Peterson leading the way? How much more relaxed does Kirk Cousins seem this year? And how much of a threat will the Cardinals pose on Sunday? 31:00: The Twins hired a new athletic trainer Thursday, a piece of their offseason puzzle.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 134-122 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday and finds plenty of things to like. The ball movement was crisp, and their shooting percentage (65%) was reflective of a lot of open looks. And they limited the Spurs to six fast-break points. Still, there are things to clean up if this team wants to be great. 6:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show, and with help from Gophers defensive end Thomas Rush we try to get to the heart of this question: How can this team still have success after a 4-0 start has turned into a three-game losing streak. 27:00: Aaron Rodgers is griping about his teammates again.

Introduction: After a discouraging start to the season, the Wild seem to be back on track. They have five points in their last three games, the latest coming in a 3-1 win at Montreal on Tuesday. The Wild played the ideal road game in that contest and gained confidence that they can win a tight-checking game. 6:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a look at the uneven 2-2 start for the Wolves. How much of the early struggles -- chemistry, transition defense, defensive rebounding -- is easily fixable and how much is concerning in the long-term? Plus Rand gets into Karl-Anthony Towns' comments about Anthony Edwards needing to take care of his body better. 28:00: Mystery solved with Hugh McCutcheon.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Timberwolves after an embarrassing effort Monday in which they were booed off the Target Center court in a loss to San Antonio. The season is still early and the Wolves are 2-2, but they look lethargic and out of sorts in the early stages of the Rudy Gobert era. 7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for an examination of that team's 1-3-1 start. After allowing 20 goals in their first three games, the Wild has settled down somewhat. But defensive zone coverage and goaltending remain questions, while reshuffled forward lines suggest a work in progress. Is the secret to better defense a better offense? 20:00: The Vikings didn't play, but we can still celebrate the weekend with some Packers-based poetry.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Gophers football team lost for the third consecutive week, a stunning turn of events after a 4-0 start that stirred national title talk. Even though the Vikings didn't play Sunday, they still gained ground on the bumbling Packers -- another team that lost its third consecutive game. Combined with the Yankees getting bounced from the ALCS, it was an unofficial holiday for Minnesota sports fans. Plus thoughts on the Timberwolves and Gophers hockey.

Introduction: A massive exhale from St. Paul as the Wild rallied for their first win of the season, 4-3 over Vancouver on Thursday. Still, head coach Dean Evason saw plenty of things to clean up -- with hopes that getting that first victory could be the key to unlocking better play. 6:00: Wolves vs. Jazz on Friday has plenty of intrigue. 9:00: Star Tribune men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to help explain how the Gophers and head coach Ben Johnson landed the No. 13-ranked recruit in the country, a 7-1 shot blocker from California named Dennis Evans. 28:00: The blockbuster traded Thursday of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers is more evidence that teams see the NFC as wide open for the taking. Will the Vikings make a deadline move, too?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has some expanded thoughts on the first of 82 Timberwolves games, including the notion that he can see this becoming Rudy Gobert's team. Everyone in the starting lineup reached double figures in shots and points, but it will be interesting to see how the pecking order is sorted out as the year goes on. 13:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show for a look ahead to the Penn State game and some intrigue over who will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. Plus a preview of Gophers vs. North Dakota in men's hockey. 23:00: What is sustainable and what isn't for the 5-1 Vikings? 30:00: Can Jordan Greenway and an elevated Marco Rossi save the Wild?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into Timberwolves talk with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine. With a season of great expectations set to begin on Wednesday, they try to discern just how good this team can be. The biggest question, of course, is how Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert will mesh. Plus you'll hear from third-year Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels. 21:00: Chicken Fingers 69, a longtime friend of the show and co-host of the Sportive podcast, joins Rand for another edition of "never been more angry." They cover a lot of ground on the 0-3 Wild, much of which Chicken Fingers foreshadowed last week. The king has no pants, as they say. 31:00: Some juicy drama with NFL owners.

Introduction: The theme of the first part of the show was a mess of their own making. Host Michael Rand picked apart the 0-3 Wild, who have given up 20 goals in their first three games. From benching Marco Rossi to having a shaky plan in net, it already seems like offseason plans are going awry. Is it just puck luck, as coach Dean Evason hopes, or is it something worse? Plus Minnesota United lost in a shootout in its playoff opener, ending a season that went off the rails late. With a stronger finish, a competent playoff effort like the one delivered Monday would have been rewarded with a win. 8:00: The Vikings put an emphasis on creating turnovers, but the Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer makes a good point about the timing of those takeaways not being sustainable. Then again, we keep saying things about the 5-1 start aren't sustainable as they continue to happen. Plus more award-winning Vikings poetry. 34:00: The Gophers men's basketball team got its best recruit in almost 20 years.

On Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse's 77th birthday, he joins host Michael Rand for a look at some of the biggest stories in Minnesota sports. The Vikings are 5-1 after another "horseshoe" game Sunday in which they were badly outgained but still defeated the Dolphins 24-16. It made Reusse think back to the Bud Grant days. The Gophers football team had no such luck in losing its second straight game, while the Gophers volleyball team will have to learn to live without head coach Hugh McCutcheon after this season. The Wild gave up a touchdown in each of their first two games, but at least you can still be optimistic about Minnesota United and the Timberwolves.

Introduction: If you were hoping to see the Wild bring a tighter brand of hockey into the 2022-23 season, Thursday's opener was a disappointment. In losing 7-3 to the Rangers at Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota was outclassed in an up-and-down game. The lack of defensive acumen was a concern -- but perhaps more so was the play of veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Advanced numbers suggest the Wild could have won that game with adequate goaltending instead of suffering a blowout loss. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand to dissect a few aspects of the Vikings heading into Sunday's game at Miami. Among them: Why have the Vikings had such good health this season, are there ways they can improve their depth, and how sustainable is the improved play of Garrett Bradbury? 30:00: Carlos Correa tells a newspaper in Puerto Rico that he is opting out of his Twins contract -- not a surprise, but making the decision closer to official.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes you back to October 15, 2017. That was the date the 3-2 Vikings faced the 4-1 Packers and came away with a victory after an Anthony Barr hit knocked Aaron Rodgers out for most of the rest of the year. That play led to the Vikings' 13-3 season and a rule change protecting quarterbacks -- both of which perhaps led the Vikings to sign and eventually keep quarterback Kirk Cousins. 7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to preview the season, which starts Thursday against the Rangers. After their best regular season in history, followed by a disappointing first-round playoff exit, what will the Wild do this season to take a step forward? 26:00: A listener wants to know if the Timberwolves are NBA title material this year.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins for a three-pronged discussion. First, they get into the Gophers football team and a must-win game Saturday at Illinois. Then Scoggins shares some insights on his Football Across Minnesota feature before the two wrap up with skepticism about the Twins. 18:00: The end of the Jake Cave Era, why Minneapolis is a good host city, good news for Wolves fans and at least the Yankees aren't beating the Twins. 26:00: Punt Brett Favre to the moon.