Keen insights into LaMelo Ball; Are the Packers in trouble? Are the Lynx fixed?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two outcomes Thursday that caught him by surprise. First was the Packers getting trounced 35-14 by the Falcons at home. Atlanta had 242 yards rushing to just 17 for Green Bay, exposing multiple weaknesses for the Vikings' rival. Plus the Lynx routed the Fever in their final regular-season game, getting their mojo back just in time for the playoffs. 7:00: James Plowright, a Charlotte Hornets podcaster from England, provides great insights into LaMelo Ball. 29:00: Some broadcast news for the Wolves.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with some good news for the Twins, bad news for the Vikings and pretty good news for the Gophers. 7:00: Sarah McLellan on the Wild and all the big training camp storylines. 29:00: The Lynx opponent is set.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a trade idea floated by a longtime football writer by which the Giants, who might be without Jaxson Dart for the rest of the season, would make a deal for J.J. McCarthy. Plus a contract extension for Wild GM Bill Guerin. 7:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Cassidy Hettesheimer joins Rand to break down a wild Tuesday night. Olivia Miles sat out with a calf injury. The rest of the starters were benched after a poor first half of a blowout loss to Indiana. And the Lynx still clinched the No. 1 seed when Golden State lost later. 28:00: A Taj Bradley appreciation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Kyler Murray clearing concussion protocol and how that will impact the Vikings. Plus Rand wonders if we have been paying enough attention to the Wolves' roster at center. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for five key takeaways from the Vikings' win Sunday. 26:00: An altogether different look at the game via Vikings poetry. 41:00: The Lynx could use a win Tuesday.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Included in the rundown: How the Vikings moved to 2-0 with a stout defensive effort against the Bears, a Gophers football win with bigger games ahead, a scoring record for Olivia Miles and some optimism for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with mounting injuries for the Vikings. Their starting QB, a key running back and now right tackle Brian O'Neill are all banged up. Plus some thoughts on Quinn Hughes and Dylan Larkin, who have nowhere to hide now that NHL training camps have started. 7:00: Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd joins the show and offers great insights into the team's roster-building plan as well as how the LaMelo Ball trade came together. 36:00: The Lynx return to action for a critical stretch.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Wednesday perhaps being the final game in Twins-Yankees history played under MLB's unfair economic system. Will a new CBA mean different results for the Twins, who are 49-130 against the Yankees in the last 25 seasons? Plus trying to answer a big question about when to expect Kyler Murray to return from his concussion. 7:00: St. Thomas head football coach Glenn Caruso joins Rand for a thoughtful discussion on the big picture of coaching. 34:00: An intriguing Dylan Larkin development.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the utter disappointment of the last six weeks for the Twins. Once 56-55 and armed with reinforcements after the trade deadline, Minnesota is now 70-81. Do they need to trade Joe Ryan in the offseason? Rand says yes. 6:00: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jay Paterno, son of Joe Paterno, joins Rand for a discussion of where college sports are headed. Paterno has been on the Penn State board of trustees for almost a decade. 30:00: Bill Guerin addressed Quinn Hughes negotiations as training camp is set to begin.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the resurgence of the Kansas City Chiefs, a Quinn Hughes milestone and the continued slide of the Twins. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins for five big Vikings takeaways from Sunday's win. 26:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry is back. 38:00: Wouldn't it be great to own an NBA franchise?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand take you on a football journey. It was a tale of two halves of the weekend and a tale of two halves for the Vikings. Ultimately, a win over the Packers was a balm that helped sooth everything after a bad Gophers loss on Saturday.