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Intro: Michael Rand breaks down the Wild's 5-2 loss to Vegas in Game 3 of their playoff series on Thursday night, which put Minnesota in a 2-1 hole and restored home ice advantage for the Golden Knights. How did a red-hot start and 2-0 lead Thursday give way to such an utter collapse? Can the Wild expect anything different in Game 4 -- and who will be in the lineup for that game? Forward Marcus Johansson was injured early in Game 3 and isn't likely going to be available for Game 4 on Saturday. Does that mean Zach Parise re-enters the lineup? Rookie Matt Boldy? Maybe even both of them? 12:00: Local author Greg Larson joins the show to talk about his new book, "Clubbie: A Minor League Baseball Memoir" and the experiences as a clubhouse attendant in the minor leagues that led to the material for the book. It's all about the clubhouse spread. 27:00: Where would the Twins be in the last week without Miguel Sano?

Star Tribune columnists La Velle E. Neal III and Jim Souhan join host Michael Rand for a special edition of the podcast and an exploration of where the blame lies in a season that has gone off the rails at the one-quarter mark for the Twins. After entering the year with clear World Series hopes, the Twins instead have fashioned a 14-27 record -- the worst mark in the American League. Is it manager Rocco Baldelli's fault? Have players underperformed? Did Thad Levine and Derek Falvey put together a flawed roster? Are injuries the culprit? The answer is yes to all of them, but we try to get to the heart of the biggest problems.

Intro: Michael Rand doesn't like gimmicks in sports ... and yet he loves the NBA play-in tournament, which started Tuesday. He lays out the reasons why: It gives more teams something to play for (including potentially the Wolves next season); it gives a greater reward to the truly elite teams in each conference; and it creates immediate postseason tension. 5:00: Columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk about his latest column on a group of local fans from Russia that have made rookie Kirill Kaprizov feel particularly welcomed and adored in Minnesota. He also helps set up Game 3 of the Wild vs. Vegas playoff series. Scoggins isn't as concerned as Rand is about the Wild's lack of goal scoring so far in these playoffs. 21:00: We check in with local Twitter personality ChikenFingerz69, a regular contributor to The Sportive podcast, for the latest installment of "Have you ever been more angry." This one finds him particularly chagrined about the direction NHL officiating has gone lately.

Intro: Host Michael Rand talks through what was ultimately a fair split of Games 1 and 2 of the Wild's playoff series against Vegas. Minnesota might be disappointed it couldn't take a commanding lead in the series following Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Game 2, but it could also feel fortunate to have taken Game 1. That said: Two goals in two games is starting to feel all-too-familiar compared to other series in which the Wild has struggled. Maybe a familiar face -- scratched forward Zach Parise, with 101 career playoff games -- should be back in the lineup for Game 3? 5:00: Was a manufactured controversy just what the Twins needed? At least for one game it was. Miguel Sano blasted three home runs, including the tying two-run shot in the eighth inning, after Rocco Baldelli and Tyler Duffey were ejected in an escalation of Tuesday's late home run by Yermin Mercedes off of Willians Astudillo. Jorge Polanco's walk-off hit in the ninth gave the Twins a 5-4 win. At 14-26, it's probably just a moment of isolated joy. But it was fun for a night at least. 7:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins for a breakdown of that team's season, which ended Sunday. Will the Wolves mature enough in the offseason to have more success next year? And what are the other summer priorities? 29:00: Not even the Lynx are immune to these slow starts.

Intro: Michael Rand goes on a journey from blown saves to Robert Palmer in an attempt to help you, the listener, figure out how to watch a 13-26 Twins team for the rest of the summer. In short: The trip the Twins are on went off the rails at a number of places already this year. Analysis of what went wrong is fair, but at this point they are just bad. The only hope if you want to watch is to recalibrate your expectations away from imagining some grand turnaround and instead just allowing yourself to be occasionally pleasantly surprised. 9:00: Wild center Nick Bonino joins the podcast in advance of his 100th career playoff game on Tuesday night. What has he learned about postseason hockey in his path from 1 to 100 games? Is there certain wisdom he can convey to less-experienced Wild teammates? And can the Wild solve Marc-Andre Fleury -- Bonino's former Cup-winning teammate in Pittsburgh -- any more than they did Sunday? 15:00: Wild writer Sarah McLellan helps set up Game 2 of Wild vs. Vegas with an examination of what the Wild wants to keep doing after Sunday's 1-0 overtime win and what it might change in Game 2. 28:00: Unfortunate news for Ben Johnson and the Gophers: one of their most intriguing transfers is out 6-9 months.

Intro: The Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan joins Michael Rand to break down the Wild's 1-0 overtime win over Vegas in Game 1 of their playoff series. Veteran goalie Cam Talbot was perfect in net, turning away 42 shots and helping the Wild calm its nerves early on. Joel Eriksson Ek provided the only offense necessary with a deflected shot from close range in overtime. Can the Wild carry that momentum into Game 2 and take a huge series lead in Vegas? 10:00: Patrick Reusse joins the show for a little more Wild talk, plus thoughts on the Twins continuing to invent ways to lose games. If Saturday's comeback win gave you thoughts that the team was going to start a streak in the right direction, Sunday's disappointing 7-6 loss will leave you thinking otherwise. Plus the Wolves finished their season Sunday with much more promise than how the started -- but Rand argues there is still a lot of work to be done before anyone can be happy with this roster. 30:00: Minnesota United scored a huge stoppage time goal to win over the weekend while the Lynx lost a tense opener. Could anything more possibly have happened?

Intro: The Wild's playoff opponent wasn't determined until the final day of the regular season, but now we know it's Vegas -- a team Minnesota went 5-3 against this season. Can the Wild win a playoff series for the first time since 2015? 5:00: The Wolves ran into a quality opponent and a familiar problem in a 114-103 loss to Denver: They lack size, and Karl-Anthony Towns lacks in-game maturity. 8:00: Going deep on the Twins with beat writer Megan Ryan, who was in Chicago for all three games of the sweep against the White Sox. She talked with GM Thad Levine, and it's still clear that the Twins are hoping to improve from within. How long can they wait? 28:00: Vikings trade Mike Hughes, a minor move that reinforces a major problem in a recent stretch of draft picks.

Intro: The fatal flaw in a Pro Football Focus piece about Kirk Cousins being an MVP candidate. 6:00: Two struggling teams, two different outcomes for Twins and United plus a new "Spin Rate" feature with Twins GM Thad Levine. 10:00: Lynx season preview with Kent Youngblood: Can Minnesota add another title to its impressive legacy after remaking its roster? 28:00: Former Vikings coach Jerry Burns, who died Wednesday at age 94, was more than just a rant.

Longtime Timberwolves executive Jeff Munneke joins the show to talk about his favorite memories of Kevin Garnett, whose induction ceremony into the Basketball Hall of Fame is coming this weekend. KG made it cool to be a Wolves fan, Munneke said, and he was one of the rare athletes people still rooted for after he was traded away. Garnett also shaved Munneke's head completely bald as part of a promotion back in the day. At the start of the show, host Michael Rand talks about the Twins' disappointing 9-3 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday -- another game that followed an all-too-familiar script this season. The Twins led 3-0 and it was 3-3 going into the sixth inning, but a combination of lackluster starting pitching, low offensive output and a shaky bullpen doomed the Twins again. Plus: The Wolves jumped all the way up to the sixth-worst record in the league. What does that mean for their future and the draft lottery?

Vikings rookie defensive back Cam Bynum joins the show to recount how he jumped into a lake a couple weeks ago after getting the good news that Minnesota drafted him in the fourth round. He also talks about his transition to safety in the NFL after playing cornerback for four seasons at Cal -- a switch that should be easier because he is constantly dreaming up and drawing up new defenses on the white board in his room. Star Tribune outdoors writer Bob Timmons also joins to talk about two different groups led by Minnesotans that are trying to set a record for fastest canoe trip down the length of the Mississippi River. It's a journey that takes more than two weeks and over 2,000 miles to complete. At the start of the show, Michael Rand cuts through the negativity and finds five things that listeners are excited about or looking forward to in Minnesota sports. Among them: the Wild in the playoffs; the start of the Lynx season; and Wolves rookie Anthony Edwards.

Columnist Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Twins were mercifully rained out Sunday, giving them two off days to prepare for a suddenly very important early series against the White Sox. At 12-20, the Twins can't afford to fall much further back, but the truly alarming thing is how few good options they have coming up from the minor leagues at this point. Reusse and Rand also marvel at the woeful Orlando Magic, blown out Sunday by the Wolves. And does the Wild have a long playoff run in it? At the start of the show, Rand breaks down a team struggling even more than the Twins: the 0-4 Loons, the only Major League Soccer team without a point this season. Which team do you have more faith in at this point in the season?

If you are a frustrated Twins fan after their 11-19 start, you came to the right place. Chip Scoggins joins the show as he recalls the column he wrote almost exactly five years ago after the Twins started 8-20. That year, he called Twins owner Jim Pohlad, who offered up the now-infamous quote about how the organization was experiencing "total system failure." That team went on to lose 103 games; this year's team figures to be much better than that, but with losses mounting -- and no relief in sight after another extra-innings loss Thursday -- there are some unfortunate parallels. Frustration at Target Field boiled over during three losses to Texas this week, including a fan who displayed a "Fire Rocco" sign behind home plate during Wednesday's loss. That fan joins the show to explain what prompted him to bring that sign, how he got it into the game and what his particular gripes are with Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. At the outset of the show: Host Michael Rand explains why this Aaron Rodgers story isn't going away anytime soon and advises Vikings fans to enjoy it while it lasts.

Timberwolves President Gersson Rosas joins the show for the first time. His vision for what the Wolves could be with D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns paired up is starting to take shape, but many questions about the future remain. The biggest immediate question: Will the Wolves keep their 2021 draft pick or have to give it up to Golden State as part of the Andrew Wiggins trade for Russell? Rosas revisits that deal, whether he would still make the swap now if he knew how this year would play out, and much more. At the outset, host Michael Rand talks through an 0-for-3 night in Minnesota sports. The most disappointing loss was another Twins setback, dropping them to 11-18. A sight to behold, particularly for TV viewers who saw it directly behind home plate: A "Fire Rocco" sign. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is becoming the symbol of all that is going wrong, much like Kirk Cousins in the early part of the 2020 Vikings season. And at the end: Happy birthday Willie Mays, a legend who turns 90 today.

Another night, another blown Twins lead. They're now 11-17, which includes an 0-6 record in extra innings after a 6-3 loss in 10 innings to Texas. Michael Rand runs down the chain of events that led to this loss and takes a bunch of your angry Twitter questions as well. In far more upbeat news, Wild forward Nick Bjugstad and Star Tribune beat writer Sarah McLellan join the show to talk about a Wild team that comes back from deficits instead of blows leads -- and is gearing up for what it hopes is a playoff run. Bjugstad also sings the praises of rookie Kirill Kaprizov and talks about what makes him so special.

The Wild and Twins are playing games that you can't look away from right now until the very end -- but for much different reasons. Both were illustrated by 6-5 wins on Tuesday, which Michael Rand talks about at the start of this episode. Plus: The Packers take a lot of the blame in the deteriorating relationship with QB Aaron Rodgers, but Rodgers is also at fault. Later in the episode, Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins to talk about whether the team's recent stretch of improved play is sustainable or merely a blip on the radar while the pressure is off. Hine and Rand discuss which players might be around next season and beyond to try to see the improvement through in a meaningful way. And: Tuesday is the first game for the St. Paul Saints as the Class AAA affiliate of the Twins.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand for a rundown of the weekend in sports, including a home run outburst from the Twins and a restoring of order with the Timberwolves and Wild. Also: Is Minnesota United panicking too much during an 0-3 start? At the start of the show, Rand explains why he thinks the Vikings drafting QB Kellen Mond is a really big deal. The upshot: For the first time since Kirk Cousins arrived, he has a backup behind him that fans -- and coaches -- will genuinely be interested in seeing play. That probably won't matter in 2021, but it will create a new dynamic.

Michael Rand and Andrew Krammer dive into a wild 24 hours. On a Thursday night filled with story lines in the NFL draft, the real story emerged hours earlier when it was reported that Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is disgruntled and doesn't want to return to Green Bay. Though nothing has happened yet -- and the Packers have said already they aren't trading him -- the fracture in the relationship raises the possibility of a breakup that would have a seismic impact on the future of the NFC North. With that story still percolating, the Vikings entered Thursday's first round with the No. 14 pick. The player some expected them to take -- Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw -- was available, but they traded down to No. 23 with the Jets and picked up two third-round picks in the process. When Darrisaw was still there nine spots later and the Vikings nabbed him, it seemed like a shrewd move from GM Rick Spielman. Adding to the drama of the night: Marshall, Minn. native and former North Dakota State QB Trey Lance went No. 3 to the 49ers; the Bears moved up to No. 11 to take another QB, Ohio State's Justin Fields; and Gophers WR Rashod Bateman landed near the end of the first round with Baltimore. And oh, by the way: The Wolves won their fourth consecutive game for the first time since 2018 and the Wild forced overtime after trailing St. Louis 3-0.

Ben Goessling joins Michael Rand for a full breakdown of his seven-round Vikings mock draft. What will they do with all 10 picks? What are their biggest needs -- both obvious and not-so-obvious? How surprised would Goessling be if they use their first two picks on something other than offensive or defensive linemen? Is this the year the Vikings break with their own habits and draft a real developmental quarterback in the middle rounds to serve at least as this year's backup? And do they dare draft an SEC kicker again? At the start of the show, Rand takes a few minutes to praise one player who has delivered time after time this season for the Twins: Byron Buxton. Even through this 8-15 start -- a record that improved Wednesday with a 10-2 victory in Cleveland -- Buxton has been everything fans have always wanted him to be. That brilliance was punctuated by a 5-for-5 game in Wednesday's win that had all the elements of vast skill set. And the Wild lost 4-3 to St. Louis after holding a 3-1 lead in the third period -- a setback that could be damaging to Minnesota's hopes to earn home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

Michael Rand wonders at the outset how Twins manager Rocco Baldelli can justify using Alexander Colome in a one-run game Tuesday, with predictably poor results. And he explains how the Wolves -- who are no longer the worst team in the NBA nor the worst team in sports history -- can change perceptions about their draft pick by winning, even if it means slightly decreasing their chances of keeping that pick in 2021. Blake Baratz, founder of the Institute For Athletes -- an agency that represents Vikings WR Adam Thielen and impending Gophers draft pick Rashod Bateman -- joins the show for an inside look at what happens in the time leading up to and during the draft for a high-level prospect like Bateman. There will be nervous moments starting Thursday, but it's just the start of a long journey for Bateman and countless others.

Longtime Star Tribune Vikings and NFL writer Mark Craig joins Michael Rand to give a sneak peek at his first-round mock draft. He has a whopping five quarterbacks going in the top eight, which should help the Vikings get a quality player at No. 14 -- if they stay at that spot, that is. Will they remain where they are and draft an offensive lineman? Will they look to trade down and recoup the second-round pick they dealt away last season? We're a couple days away from finding out. At the beginning of the podcast, Rand remains aghast at the Twins' bullpen and ongoing woes for the team overall. At 7-14, they are dealing with adversity unlike anything else during manager Rocco Baldelli's tenure. And he is not handling it well. Plus, the Wolves completed a season sweep of Utah -- which still has the best record in the NBA -- and won two in a row for the first time since the beginning of the season. Is this just a matchup thing, or are the Wolves finding their stride late in the year? And a bunch of your hot takes addressed with care and oven mitts.

Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look at the weekend in sports. If you thought the Twins were going to turn things around back at Target Field, two losses to Pittsburgh didn't give you much confidence. Reusse says its time to panic about a team that just doesn't look like it's very good and has a lot of holes on its roster. Plus Rand and Reusse praise the team the Wild has built this season and the seven-game winning streak that has Minnesota surging toward the playoffs. And are the Wolves ... actually building something? At the outset, Rand takes a look at the possibility that both the Wolves and Wild will have rookies of the year this season with Anthony Edwards and Kirill Kaprizov -- something one market hasn't had with its NBA and NHL teams in more than 40 seasons. And an 0-2 start for Minnesota United is a concern -- and a disappointment for Loons fans who finally got to see their team in person again during Saturday's home opener.

Michael Rand is joined by incoming Gophers men's basketball player Jamison Battle and Star Tribune men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller. Battle, a former DeLaSalle star -- just like new Gophers coach Ben Johnson -- is transferring from George Washington, where he averaged 17 points and five rebounds last season. Hear Battle's thoughts on getting more local talent to join the Gophers, college athletes making money off their image and likeness and his many interests outside of basketball. At the start of the show, Rand breaks down the injection of youth heading to the Twins roster with Alex Kirilloff and Nick Gordon on the way to join the team after a disappointing 6-11 start. And Rand runs down three intriguing draft trade ideas for the Vikings courtesy of ESPN's Bill Barnwell.

Michael Rand is joined by Twins beat writer Megan Ryan after what can only be described as a disaster of a road trip. The Twins had three games postponed because of COVID spreading through the team, and they lost all four games they did play -- including Wednesday's in spectacularly excruciating fashion on a pair of 10th-inning, two-out errors. The Twins have gone 1-9 in their last 10 games and sit in last place in the American League Central. So what is going on here? Why is a team that has won back-to-back division titles and had high hopes to contend for a World Series this season stuck in such a rut of poor performance? There isn't just one culprit, but Rand and Ryan offer up a number of things that have not gone the Twins' way. At the start of the show, Rand offers up an impressive Marcus Foligno stat after another Wild victory and tells you not to blame the Wolves' bench players after the team blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead in a loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. And what Minnesota teams would make the cut if North American sports tried (foolishly) to start Super Leagues?

Michael Rand takes note of the continued intersection of sports and social justice with reactions all around the world of sports -- particularly in Minnesota -- to Tuesday's guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. The key word mentioned by LeBron James, Karl-Anthony Towns and others: accountability, which carries particular weight with athletes. You'll hear Towns and the Wolves' Josh Okogie express that in their own words following Tuesday's win in Sacramento. Rand is also joined by Tru Pettigrew, the Timberwolves vice president of player programs, diversity and inclusion for a discussion of the heaviness of the moment -- and what players have been able to do in an attempt to foster positive change. Near the end of the show, Rand breaks down the Wolves' win on the court and a pair of shutout losses for the slumping Twins.

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Michael Rand for a breakdown of the Gophers football team in the midst of spring practice. As a result of planning, one-time transfers and extra eligibility because of COVID, the Gophers have an abundance of experienced players on their roster this season. While other Big Ten teams could have the same benefits, the Gophers should be primed for big things in 2021 after having the momentum from their 2019 season derailed a season ago. Scoggins and Rand also look at Chet Holmgren's decision to attend Gonzaga on the same day that his former Minnehaha Academy teammate Jalen Suggs announced he was leaving Gonzaga for the NBA -- and whether Suggs might wind up either with the Wolves or Warriors. At the outset, Rand marvels at Kirill Kaprizov but notes that in breaking the Wild rookie record for points in a season (37) on Monday, Kaprizov revealed as much about the team's history of low-impact young players as he did about his own excellence. Plus the Twins are set to return to action on Tuesday after a three-day COVID pause. And a Vikings wager for those who dare.

A busy weekend in local sports became considerably lighter, unfortunately, when the Twins went into a COVID pause after three players tested positive. Patrick Reusse and Michael Rand talk about that and the fact that before this pause -- which has postponed three games so far -- the Twins weren't playing all that well. A chief culprit in their woes: The decisionmaking of manager Rocco Baldelli, who did not have a great start to the season. Reusse and Rand also marvel at the Wolves' lack of a two-game winning streak since the start of the year and the Gophers women's volleyball team's loss to Pittsburgh in the NCAA Sweet 16. At the start of the show, Rand gives Zach Parise -- a player he thought the Wild should trade -- his due. And a hot take from a listener: Should the Wolves move because there are too many teams in town?

Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a long discussion of the impending sale of the team to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore and what that means for the long-term future of the franchise. Fans are worried that the non-local ownership group will want to move the franchise to a different city. While those concerns are valid, there are roadblocks to prevent that from happening -- most notably that the NBA seems interested in keeping a franchise in Minnesota and expanding to other markets like Seattle and Las Vegas instead of relocating. Hine and Rand also discuss the collective trauma of this season on the Wolves and evaluate some on-court developments as well. At the start of the show, Rand expresses his SHOCK that a Twins pitcher was allowed to throw seven full innings and notes that Thursday's 4-3 win felt important. And he takes a look at the WNBA Draft and the Lynx selecting Tennessee forward Rennia Davis No. 9 overall.

Star Tribune beat writer Jerry Zgoda and Minnesota United midfielder Wil Trapp join the show for a season preview as the Loons prepare for their opener Friday at Seattle. Expectations are high, both externally and internally, after MN United narrowly missed making the MLS Cup final last season. Will the addition of several veterans and the continued ascendance of Emanuel Reynoso propel the Loons to even greater heights, or will they struggle to live up to their own success? At the outset, Rand examines the suddenly ice-cold Twins, who have lost five straight games -- all at Target Field -- in frustrating fashion. At 5-7 on the season, the Twins seem like they are better than their record indicates. But it's also possible that their greatest strengths -- all-around depth and lack of a glaring weakness -- could also be a detriment in close games. Plus a Wild win, a look ahead and a look ahead to the WNBA Draft on Thursday night.

The Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan joins Michael Rand for a look at the Wild and how it didn't make any moves at the trade deadline. While that seems out of character for general manager Bill Guerin -- and might be disappointing to some fans given the Wild's playoff position -- it is reflective of an overall philosophy of patience and even better times to come. Plus: What does the Wild need to fine-tune in the final 16 games of the regular season? At the outset, Rand acknowledges what a relentless last five months it has been for the Timberwolves and contextualizes it with Tuesday's 127-97 loss to the Nets. And a bunch of listeners -- most of whom probably know who A-Rod is, unlike Anthony Edwards -- offer up some great questions that Rand answers.

The Twins, Wild and Timberwolves were all supposed to have home games Monday. Instead, those three teams led the late "SportsCenter" because they were postponed in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright. Michael Rand samples some of the nationwide reaction to Wright's death and is joined by Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III for a broader discussion of how local teams have responded in these defining moments. Later in the show, Rand is joined by new Gophers men's basketball assistant coach Dave Thorson, a longtime local high school coach at DeLaSalle who had Gophers head coach Ben Johnson on some of his earliest successful teams. How will Thorson's vast knowledge of basketball and the state of Minnesota help with in-state recruiting? And a movie about Sean Payton that you just can't believe.

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand at the outset of Monday's show to talk about the big news of the weekend: Glen Taylor is selling the Timberwolves to a group led by former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and billionaire Marc Lore. Aside from the stunning nature of the news, what does it mean for the future of the franchise? Plus Reusse and Rand lament the Twins' nagging issues -- and sagging late-inning bullpen -- that have turned an overall strong start into just a 5-4 record so far. Plus Jim Souhan joins Rand from the Masters after Hideki Matsuyama's historic victory and Rand gives a Wild trade deadline update.

Michael Rand dives right into the Twins' 10-2 home opener win over Seattle, a day that couldn't have gone much better and showed the Twins flexing all of their strengths. Among them: the continued hot start of Byron Buxton, which Bally Sports North's Roy Smalley helps explain. Later on, Randy Johnson joins the show from Pittsburgh to break down the NCAA men's hockey Frozen Four, which saw St. Cloud State upend Minnesota State (Mankato) and UMass knock off two-time defending champion Minnesota-Duluth in a pair of dramatic semifinals Thursday. Plus, Rand has a wish: for the Wild and Zach Parise to part ways before the trade deadline on Monday, even if such a thing seems unlikely. Rand also delves into a Wolves lineup issue and muses about Richard Pitino's confirmed $0 buyout.

Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Michael Rand after a 4-2 road trip sets up Thursday's home opener and a return of 10,000 fans to Target Field. What did we learn about the Twins in the first six games? It might be too early to draw conclusions, but it seems like their identity might go something like this: Above average at everything with no glaring weaknesses. That should lead to a lot of wins, especially if Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios are as good as they have looked early. At the top of the show, Rand talks about how important the Wild's 8-3 win over Colorado was both from a psychological standpoint and a practical one. By scoring four power play goals, Minnesota kept improving in that pivotal area after an awful start, giving more evidence to the idea that the Wild could be dangerous in the postseason. Plus the immaturity of the Timberwolves, a 78-game streak broken and a huge signing by Minnesota United.

Timberwolves podcaster Dane Moore joins Michael Rand for an examination of what we learned from D'Angelo Russell's first game back from knee surgery Monday, just the sixth game he's played with Karl-Anthony Towns since Russell was acquired 14 months ago. The Wolves have 21 games left this season. What can they hope to accomplish with the KAT/D-Lo pairing intact? How does Anthony Edwards fit into the new pecking order? How much will the Wolves miss Malik Beasley, who will miss at least four weeks with a hamstring injury? At the start of the show, Rand rants about MLB's extra inning rule implemented in 2020, where a runner starts on second base at the start of each inning. The Twins are 0-2 in extra inning games and 3-0 in nine-inning games this season. Plus, the transfer portal is taking away from the Gophers men's basketball team at a much higher rate than it is giving them players.

Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down Baylor's 86-70 win over Gonzaga in Monday night's NCAA title game. While Gonzaga came up short in its pursuit of a perfect season, freshman Jalen Suggs from Minnehaha Academy scored 22 points and has a bright future ahead of him. What is his next move? And can the Gophers under new head coach Ben Johnson recruit a player of that caliber in the future? At the outset, Michael Rand breaks down a newsy 24 hours. Vikings corner Jeff Gladney was arrested and accused of assaulting a woman in Texas. The Timberwolves and Wild both welcomed back fans into their arenas -- with the Wolves getting a win while also welcoming back D'Angelo Russell while the Wild lost again to Colorado. And the Twins seem to be firing on all cylinders in Detroit. Plus: Who won the Sam Darnold trade?

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand to talk through an amazing weekend of sports. The men's and women's basketball Final Fours have been nothing short of spectacular, led by the heroics of Minnesotan Jalen Suggs for Gonzaga in Saturday's semifinal win. Plus the Twins rebounded from a tough loss in the opener to look quite impressive Saturday and Sunday. And what's up with the Thibs-like 44 minutes for Karl-Anthony Towns in the second game of a back-to-back? Later in the show, Wolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson joins to talk about the return of fans at Target Center on Monday night. Though capacity will be limited -- as it will be Monday when fans are back at Xcel Energy Center for Wild vs. Colorado as well -- it is a significant marker on the road back to "normalcy."

Chip Scoggins joins Michael Rand from the NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio to talk about his big story on former Hopkins standout Paige Bueckers, whose stardom has only continued to ascend in college. She was named the national women's player of the year -- the first freshman to win that award -- and has embraced everything along the way. How does she do it? And why aren't women's players able to leave college after one season to turn pro like their men's basketball counterparts? At the outset, Rand breaks down what looked like a comfortable Twins opening day win that turned instead into a total ninth inning meltdown. New reliever Alexander Colome allowed three runs -- aided by his own mistake -- to let the Brewers tie, and Milwaukee won in extra innings. To make matters worse, Josh Donaldson was injured in the first inning. And what's up with the Bally Sports North score ticker? Everyone has an opinion.

Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist and longtime Twins beat writer La Velle E. Neal III for a look ahead to the Twins season that starts Thursday in Milwaukee. Who will lead the Twins in a lot of different categories? What should we be concerned about? Did you know La Velle could do a pretty good impression of fellow columnist Patrick Reusse? Also, Rand takes a look at a Wolves win fueled by their youngest players -- and in particular by the defense of Jaden McDaniels. And he reassesses the 2020 season and absolves Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer of some blame.

Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan for a look at the team's recent play. While Minnesota has still managed to secure wins lately, the Wild has been outshot -- often badly -- in seven consecutive games. Can the Wild regain the form that made this look like one of the NHL's top teams for a long stretch this season? Has Cam Talbot reclaimed his spot as the No. 1 goalie? And will the upcoming trade deadline bring any meaningful upgrades? Also: The NFL going to a 17-game schedule is an oddity in so many ways. And Rand gets to a bunch of listener hot takes.

Michael Rand is joined by Mike Dimond, longtime senior VP and general manager at Fox Sports North, to talk about the rebrand and transition to Bally Sports North coming to your TV screen on Wednesday. What will change about the viewing experience? What about games within the games -- including the potential for sports wagering if it becomes legal in Minnesota? Dimond also gives his thoughts on the ongoing carriage dispute with streaming services that has left many Minnesota fans unable to watch their favorite teams with their current providers. Randy Johnson also joins the show to recap a big weekend of college hockey and to set you up for a Frozen Four that features three Minnesota teams. Plus Rand gives his thoughts on the thrilling Baylor/UConn women's basketball game -- and the nonsense about COVID that Baylor coach Kim Mulkey brought up afterwards.

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand to talk about the men's college hockey scene -- and how St. Cloud, Minnesota State (Mankato) and Minnesota-Duluth are all represented in the NCAA Frozen Four while the Gophers were bounced. It's been quite a journey for several of the non-metro men's hockey programs to get to this point. Reusse also sounds the alarm on the Twins -- especially the offense -- after a lackluster last couple of weeks down in Florida -- and he and Rand get ready for Wolves vs. Thibs, Part II. Plus Rand's thoughts on the Vikings' recent defensive backfield signings, Randy Dobnak's new contract and the U.S. men's soccer team failing to qualify again for the Olympics.

Chris Hine joins Michael Rand to dissect what turned out to be a very quiet trade deadline for the Wolves on Thursday. They decided to stick with their roster despite having the worst record in the league (10-34). The rationale -- that they need some stability and to find out how some of their better players fit together after a season of injuries and disarray -- makes sense, but they still lack a power forward and weren't able to make any deals to fix their roster imbalance. At the outset, Rand talks through the Vikings' minor trade for offensive lineman Mason Cole -- a likely depth move that better not end up being more than that. Plus: Enjoy the Wild's season and get ready for a lot of couch time this weekend.

Phil Miller joins Michael Rand for a look at the Twins one week before the start of the regular season. What does Alex Kirilloff's demotion mean in the big picture, both in terms of his future and the Twins' outfield? Are Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda going to form one of the best 1-2 top-of-the-rotation duos in the majors? And should we be concerned about the bullpen or lack of offense during spring training? Plus, Rand has a new love: the NCAA transfer portal. It's college free agency, and it's fascinating to watch player movement -- particularly with the Gophers, who look to be major players in the transfer market already under new coach Ben Johnson. And Thursday is the NBA trade deadline. Will the Wolves make a move -- and if not, should we look back at the deal for D'Angelo Russell at last year's deadline a different way? The Cooler: An ode to the steadying play of Wild goalie Cam Talbot.

Ben Johnson was hired earlier this week. Chris Finch took over a month ago. As head coaches of the Gophers men's basketball program and the Timberwolves, respectively, they are being tasked with major turnarounds. Both coaches joined the podcast on Wednesday to provide insights into how they want fix struggling teams. For Johnson, it all starts with recruiting. That is his main known strength coming into the job, and the relationships he has already in Minnesota will help him. But he also talked strategy and how he wants his team to play. If you're frustrated that the Gophers take a lot of threes but don't make a lot of threes, Johnson promises to recruit more shooting to solve that problem. Finch took over in a unique situation: coming in midseason after being an assistant in Toronto. This is his first NBA head coaching job, though he ran several teams overseas. He's high on the future of Anthony Edwards, but Finch also acknowledges that until Edwards learns some things and makes adjustments the Wolves are likely to struggle.

Marcus Fuller and Chip Scoggins join Michael Rand for separate segments discussing the hire of Ben Johnson as Gophers men's basketball coach on Monday. Johnson, 40, is a former Gophers player and assistant coach known as a strong recruiter. But he has never been a head coach at any level of basketball. Can he succeed in leading his own program -- particularly one as large as Minnesota's, in a Power Five conference like the Big Ten? A lot of that will probably come down to both is ability to recruit and carve out an in-game identity. Neither of those are sure things, making this a risk-reward gamble of a hire by athletic director Mark Coyle, Scoggins said. Johnson has the traits to succeed and was responsible for bringing in several of the best players during the Richard Pitino era. And by hiring a Black head coach, the Gophers at least took a step forward in addressing a negative record of diversity within their department, Fuller said.

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand to break down the opening weekend of the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament -- and to provide an update on where the Gophers are in their search for a new men's basketball coach now that a few seasons are over for prospective coaches. Puck Drop editor Randy Johnson also joins for a men's college hockey bracket breakdown. The Gophers got a No. 1 seed and all five teams from Minnesota made the NCAA field of 16 -- the first time that has ever happened. Plus thoughts on United's Hassani Dotson dominating for U.S. Soccer, a big win for Gophers women's gymnastics and a big week for the Wild, Wolves and Vikings.

Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins Michael Rand to recap what the Vikings have done in free agency so far -- namely moving a lot of money around in an effort to bolster a defense that sagged in 2020. What else might they be able to do? Look for at least one contract extension for a veteran, Goessling said, to free up some more money to perhaps address the offensive line. And don't forget: Kirk Cousins' 2022 salary ($45 million) becomes fully guaranteed Friday afternoon. Later in the show, Star Tribune outdoors writer Bob Timmons joins to talk about Friday's special section on going deep into nature. Getting outside for an hour or two is great. But to get an even richer benefit, try a week or more completely unplugged. And remember when Rand said the Wolves should consider trading Anthony Edwards as part of a deal of John Collins? Yeah, forget all that after Ant dropped 42 on Phoenix on Thursday.

Former Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, who gave the Vikings six seasons of stable kicking from 2006-2011, joins the show with insights into why the last several seasons have been so volatile in the kicking game -- and what the Vikings can do to fix it. What happens when you don't have stable kicking and every game is a struggle? "The coach is tight," Longwell says. "The GM is tight. The players play tight." At the start of the show, host Michael Rand examines the latest Vikings free agent signing, cornerback Patrick Peterson, and notices a theme: GM Rick Spielman is loading up on defensive players and short-term fixes in 2021, perhaps as he and head coach Mike Zimmer recognize their jobs could be on the line. Plus: Jamal Mashburn Jr. enters the transfer portal, a sign of how next season could be a tough one for any coach who lands the Gophers' job.

Michael Rand is joined by Gophers women's basketball coach Lindsay Whalen for an examination of her program. In her third year as head coach, the Gophers went 8-13 -- a record that doesn't reflect the progress that was made under difficult circumstances, Whalen said. An avid local sports fan, Whalen also takes a spin through some of what she likes in Minnesota sports right now. Also: Did the Gophers men's hockey team lock up a No. 1 seed by beating Wisconsin for the Big Ten title -- briefly stealing the spotlight from another Wild win. Are the Vikings taking the right approach in free agency? And did Gophers AD Mark Coyle signal the continuation of a philosophical shift in the department with his comments Tuesday?

Michael Rand takes a look at five questions in the wake of Monday night's announcement that Richard Pitino has been fired as Gophers men's basketball coach. Rand is also joined by Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan for an overall look at the program and Pitino's tenure. How might this have turned out differently and what comes next? And he takes listener questions from frustrated fans who want to see the Gophers take the next step forward.