Michael Rand
Columnist / Reporter
RandBallMichael Rand is a North Dakota native, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and an enthusiastic consumer of tacos. He lives in Eagan with his wife, three children and one energetic pug.
Latest from Michael Rand
Sports
RandBall: NFL draft is three months from today. Here are five things for Minnesota fans to know.
What are the Vikings' top needs and where do they pick? Will a Gophers player be drafted in the first round? A first look at those questions and more for the NFL draft in Green Bay, the closest the event's ever been to Minnesota.
January 24, 2025
Sports
Podcast: A Vikings question at running back; Chip Scoggins joins the show
Host Michael Rand starts with a 4-0 loss for the Wild to Utah. After finally getting two key players back (Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon), the Wild fell flat on home ice Thursday. Plus Rand gets to a listener question about what the Vikings might do at running back in 2025, and Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show.
January 24, 2025
Vikings
RandBall: The NFL franchise tag is very odd when you think about it
What does putting the franchise tag on Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold mean? Even if you follow the NFL closely, explaining the concept reveals gaps in knowledge while challenging assumptions about the very odd contractual mechanism.
January 23, 2025
Sports
Podcast: Debating the Vikings and Twins; explaining the NFL franchise tag
Introduction: Daily Delivery host Michael Rand isn’t interested in style points. Did the Wolves win against a depleted Dallas squad? Yes. That’s all you need to know, even if it did take uncharacteristically huge games from Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels. Plus explaining Sam Darnold and the franchise tag option.
January 23, 2025
Vikings
RandBall: With extension for Kevin O’Connell, Vikings’ path forward is clear
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell should be aligned contractually with the two offensive players who will most determine this franchise’s future: J.J. McCarthy and Justin Jefferson.
January 22, 2025
Sports
Podcast: How Kevin O’Connell’s extension sets up the Vikings’ offseason
Host Michael Rand starts with a second consecutive impressive victory for the Gophers men’s basketball team, who won in Iowa for the first time in a decade. Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to break down Kevin O’Connell’s contract extension, and Chris Hine joins later to talk Timberwolves.
January 22, 2025
Sports
RandBall: A simple template when every Timberwolves loss feels the same
Minnesota’s loss to Memphis on Monday followed a familiar script, so we decided to create a formula of sorts to describe it.
January 21, 2025
Sports
Podcast: Patrick Reusse on the Wolves’ rut, Wild’s grit and Vikings offense
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another close but ultimately unsatisfying Timberwolves loss to Memphis. More questions about late-game personnel and offense turned a five-point lead into a two-point defeat. Will Minnesota even make the play-in? Reusse isn’t convinced they will.
January 21, 2025
Vikings
RandBall: With extension for Kevin O’Connell, Vikings’ path forward is clear
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell should be aligned contractually with the two offensive players who will most determine this franchise’s future: J.J. McCarthy and Justin Jefferson.
January 22, 2025
Sports
Podcast: How Kevin O’Connell’s extension sets up the Vikings’ offseason
Host Michael Rand starts with a second consecutive impressive victory for the Gophers men’s basketball team, who won in Iowa for the first time in a decade. Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to break down Kevin O’Connell’s contract extension, and Chris Hine joins later to talk Timberwolves.
January 22, 2025
Sports
RandBall: A simple template when every Timberwolves loss feels the same
Minnesota’s loss to Memphis on Monday followed a familiar script, so we decided to create a formula of sorts to describe it.
January 21, 2025
Sports
Podcast: Patrick Reusse on the Wolves’ rut, Wild’s grit and Vikings offense
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another close but ultimately unsatisfying Timberwolves loss to Memphis. More questions about late-game personnel and offense turned a five-point lead into a two-point defeat. Will Minnesota even make the play-in? Reusse isn’t convinced they will.
January 21, 2025