Michael Rand started RandBall with hopes that he could keep lies from conquering the minds of the weak. So far, he's only succeeded in using the word "redacted" a lot. He welcomes suggestions, news tips, links of pure genius, and pictures of pets in Halloween costumes here, though he already knows he will regret that last part.

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TFD: 900 pounds of Butterfingers dropped off in Boston, in case Gisele Bundchen didn't humiliate Wes Welker enough

Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional football Updated: February 7, 2012 - 5:24 PM
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Per a press release (photo courtesy of Pawngo, which describes itself as an "online pawn shop"):

While Giants fans celebrated their victory at the Parade in New York City – Boston locals got a 900 pound sweet surprise courtesy of Pawngo in the center of Copley Square in the heart of Boston. 900 pounds, or 8,000 bars of Nestle Butterfingers were piled high with a sign entitled, “Thank you Wes Welker” - making everyone in the area stop to take pictures, grab a bar, and have a laugh.

It's unknown whether Gisele Bundchen was buried at the bottom of that pile of candy bars.

Web site stirs up Troy Aikman + Erin Andrews love connection talk

Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional football Updated: February 7, 2012 - 2:25 PM
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Per Thedaily.com:

Move over, Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady — Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews could be football’s hottest new couple. The Dallas Cowboys hall of famer-turned-Fox Sports commentator was locked in a long flirting session with the sexy blond ESPN reporter at GQ’s pre-Super Bowl bash at The Stutz in Indianapolis on Friday night. Aikman and Andrews were all smiles during an intimate conversation at the Lacoste and Patron-sponsored blowout, where a party insider confirmed, “The body language suggested there’s an attraction there.” Aikman divorced wife Rhonda last year after a decade of marriage.

The body language suggested there's an attraction there? Well, that's a little bit of a flimsy premise. But not flimsy enough for a headline!

Mid-day talker: Who is the best ex-Minnesota athlete not in the Hall of Fame

Posted by: Michael Rand under Twins fans, Vikings Updated: February 7, 2012 - 12:27 PM
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We wrote for today's paper about Cris Carter and the conundrum facing the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters as they attempt to sift through various wide receivers eligible (or soon-to-be-eligible) for the HOF.

 

Our question now, though, is this: Who is the best former Minnesota athlete who is NOT in the top Hall of Fame in his sport?

Does Carter top your list? Maybe you prefer Jim Marshall. How about Mick Tingelhoff, as long as we're still talking about the Vikings.

Or maybe you prefer Jack Morris, the St. Paul native who only pitched one year with the Twins but made it a memorable one? A case could even be made for Tony Oliva, who had an incredible eight-year stretch from 1964-71.

Hockey? Basketball? Soccer? Are we missing anyone? Who do you like?

Tuesday (What should we expect out of Derrick Williams?) edition: Wha' Happened?

Posted by: Michael Rand under Wolves news Updated: February 7, 2012 - 9:54 AM
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Chip Scoggins had a nice column today about Derrick Williams and the "caged lion" tweet. The main short-term point with Williams is simple: If he can't play small forward -- and right now, coaches feel he can't -- then he's going to be stuck for playing time behind Kevin Love and other big men.

However, with Love serving a two-game suspension, this is -- pardon us -- Williams' chance to roar in back-to-back games against Sacramento and Memphis. It should give us a clearer picture of what the No. 2 overall pick can bring to the table when given major minutes, meaning there could be a considerable silver lining in Love's suspension (particularly if it serves the dual purpose of helping K-Love clean up his on-court act a bit).

The long-term question with Williams concerns not only his position but exactly what we might expect out of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. And that's where the picture gets a little cloudier. Not long before the 2011 draft, we compiled a list of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the past 15 years. We'll condense that to just show you the last 15 No. 2 picks prior to Williams.

2010: Evan Turner; 2009: Hasheem Thabeet; 2008: Michael Beasley; 2007: Kevin Durant; 2006: LaMarcus Aldridge; 2005: Marvin Williams; 2004: Emeka Okafor; 2003: Darko!; 2002: Jay Williams; 2001: Tyson Chandler; 2000: Stromile Swift; 1999: Steve Francis; 1998: Mike Bibby; 1997: Keith Van Horn; 1996: Marcus Camby

Let's remind you (and Williams) that this is an extremely mixed bag full of superstars, good players and role players. It's also a mix of guys who came out guns blazing (like Durant) and guys who needed at least a season to figure out the pro game (like Aldridge). There are three ROYs on that list (Beasley, Okafor and Francis), which doesn't seem like a ton in 15 years.

That said, we have a long way to go before the "caged lion" is just another No. 2 pick trying to find his way on the Wolves roster alongside Beasley and Darko. He has a chance to show us a lot these next two nights, and we'll be very curious to see what happens.

TFD: Patriots Super Bowl roster had 18 players who were two- or no-star high school recruits

Posted by: Michael Rand under NCAA: football, Professional football, Gophers Updated: February 6, 2012 - 5:29 PM
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Gophers football coach Jerry Kill is fond of saying he doesn't much care for the "star" system that supposedly determines the relative strength of recruiting classes. Well, here is some fodder in the pro-Kill column. Per Larry Brown Sports, of the 67 players in this year's Super Bowl who were in high school when Rivals.com started rating players, 26 of them received either two or zero stars. And 18 of those players are on the Patriots:

Pats no stars (7): CB Kyle Arrington (Hofstra), LB Dane Fletcher (Montana State), S James Ihedigbo (Massachusetts), OG/C Nick McDonald (Grand Valley State), CB Antwaun Molden (Toledo/Eastern Kentucky), OG Donald Thomas (Connecticut), RB Danny Woodhead (Chadron State).

Pats two stars (11): LS Danny Aiken (Virginia), S Patrick Chung (Oregon), WR/CB Julian Edelman (Kent State), K Stephen Gostkowski (Memphis), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Indiana/Ole Miss), LB Gary Guyton (Georgia Tech), DT Kyle Love (Mississippi State), CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers), DB Sterling Moore (SMU), OT Sebastian Vollmer (Houston), C/OG Ryan Wendell (Fresno State).

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