Recent content from Michael Rand
Playoffs? A look at the odds for Wild, Wolves and other local teams
The Wolves and Wild have both dramatically improved their postseason status in recent games. Other local teams are either living off of potential — or the lack thereof.
Report: Bally Sports North lost more than half its subscribers in 10 years
A Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal report, citing research from S&P Global Market Intelligence, shows a subscriber base that has gone from 2.9 million in 2013 to just 1.2 million now.
Rodgers maybe didn't tell us the whole story. Are you shocked?
Soon-to-be-former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said two weeks ago he loves direct communication, but one prominent Green Bay executive says Rodgers was unavailable for it.
Times change: Jackson latest example of quarterback volatility
Five years ago, Kirk Cousins was an anomaly — a high quality quarterback changing teams. But big moves among top QBs have become more and more common.
With 8 games left, what is Timberwolves' 'magic number' for postseason?
The Wolves are 37-37 and could easily finish anywhere from in the top 6 in the West to out of the postseason entirely.
Are Vikings fans really more negative than all other NFL fans?
Labels are never 100% accurate and methodology for answering such questions is often sketchy. But regular-season success followed by postseason disappointment adds up to a debate topic.
Will the Vikings hook a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft?
Mock drafts in each of the last two days have the Vikings taking Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker No. 23 overall. Here's why Hooker is a fascinating — and polarizing — potential pick.
Gophers hoping Plitzuweit is the 'anti-Frese' and sticks around
It was 21 years ago that the Gophers were left in the lurch by Brenda Frese (then Oldfield). Now they're on the other end with new coach Dawn Plitzuweit, who left a high-profile job after just one season.
Gophers men's hockey success an example of how local sports work
There are tiers of interest among various Minnesota sports teams, but the ebbs and flows are most noticeable among those that start out with smaller fan bases.
'C'mon, it will be good!' Mic'd up goalie Fleury was pleading to fight.
In case you thought you had seen it all during the Wild's eventful 8-5 victory over St. Louis, new audio and video on Thursday brought the near battle-of-the-goalies to a higher level.