Recent content from Jim Souhan
Souhan: Vikings should have gambled on Kaepernick as backup
Given Sam Bradford's injury history, Vikings GM Rick Spielman should have again behaved ambitiously and acquired the best quarterback available to him: Colin Kaepernick.
Souhan: Latest update on Sano doesn't provide much optimism
Miguel Sano entered the clubhouse Thursday with his leg wrapped, carrying a large, black walking boot. His status for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, sounded in doubt.
Souhan: Taking Grandma's advice, Augustus explodes for 24 points
When Seimone Augustus told her grandmother that she'd had set a career high in assists, Sarah Augustus replied, "Yeah, that's great — but shoot the ball."
Souhan: 'Slingin' Sam' opens up the Vikings passing game
If Sam Bradford remains healthy and plays this well, Teddy Bridgewater's comeback will result in him becoming a backup, or playing for another team.
Souhan: Peterson, Moss were great enough
Like so many of the best athletes to perform in Minnesota, neither can claim to be the greatest ever, yet both were uniquely great.
Souhan: Logical to assume Spielman has to produce a winner to keep his job
The Vikings have been patient with lack of playoff success over GM Rick Spielman's 12 years. But how long will that last?
Souhan: When Fleck abandons 'elite,' he's a man with title plans
The Gophers' amped-up football coach didn't use one of his favorite words at Tuesday's weekly news conference, and for once sounded more like a planner than a marketer.
Souhan: When it comes to the NFL, many of us are 'football hypocrites'
Millions of fans cringe at violent hits in the NFL, especially those aimed at or caused by heads, without losing interest in favorite teams.
Souhan: Championship expectations make Lynx more tense than loose
They won 80 percent of their games this season and remain loaded with talent and experience. With an aging roster, this could be their last best chance to win one more title.
Souhan: Twins' Corrigan a Hall of Fame scout who can't quit the game
Larry Corrigan, who has continued to work after a stroke, was inducted into the Fort Myers Miracle Professional Scouts Hall of Fame and named Midwest Scout of the Year at baseball's winter meetings.
Souhan: Twins say hello to September, and a playoff race
As August ends, this year's physically battered, emotionally buoyant Twins have a better record after 133 games than did the 1987 Twins, who won the World Series.
Souhan: Twins become the little team that should (make the playoffs)
There will be meaningful games in Target Field in September and perhaps October. It is time to celebrate the Twins and the nature of unpredictable baseball.
Souhan: A few hopeful signs for Vikings amid the really bad ones
What's disturbing about the Vikings' offensive problems is that they are identical to last season, when the team lost eight of its last 11 games. But at least quarterback Sam Bradford has earned the benefit of any doubt.
Souhan: Fan of Minnesota sports living in New Jersey feels pain of no titles
Stephen Strom from New Jersey has obsessed about Minnesota sports since the early 2000s.
Souhan: Mayweather needs to dominate McGregor for boxing's sake
Floyd MayÂweathÂer is a heavy favorite and needs to be both domÂiÂnant and flamÂboyÂant SatÂurÂday when he takes on UFC front man Conor McGregor.
Souhan: NFL's mistreatment of Kaepernick amplifies his message
The NFL isn't just wrong about Kaepernick. It's wrong about the way in which it is wrong. This is mismanagement at its worst by commissioner Roger Goodell.
Souhan: Pounds sneak up on injured Sano as Twins get back in race
Miguel Sano, playing heavier than his listed weight of 260 pounds, needs to show some dietary discipline.
Souhan: Keeping or signing hometown stars hasn't always worked for Twins, Wild
The risk in having home-state favorites end their careers here is wondering if the player wants to return home more because of comfort than ambition.
Souhan: Consistently awful Gibson needs to go after this season
Criticizing Kyle Gibson's performance may seem redundant, but he showed again Thursday why his failure is so important to the Twins.
Souhan: Buxton finally finds success by copying Molitor at the plate
With his new approach and newfound confidence, Byron Buxton is back on track to become a five-tool star for the Twins.
Souhan: Vikings' reasons for hope keep limping off
Injuries derailed the Vikings' 2016 campaign. It's early, but the injuries are quickly adding up as a reason for concern.
Souhan: Wild signings signal young stars have risen
If the next Wild team is to be anywhere near as successful as last year's during the regular season, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter will have to stop being promising and start being stars.
Souhan: New Twins bosses make the hard but rational choices
Derek Falvey and Thad Levine maintained perspective during a season that threatened to fool them as much as it did the public and players.
Souhan: Wolves shouldn't be tempted to add moody guard Irving
Irving is a proven winner who was at his best when he and James made the Cavaliers champions two years ago. His interest in the Wolves is a cause for celebration, but is it a call to action?
Souhan: Mysterious Bridgewater is the ultimate wild card for Vikings
Teddy Bridgewater has repeatedly executed a trick play with the Vikings: He's more likable than accessible, eliciting affection without offering many glimpses into his soul.
Souhan: Married to Whalen, State Open champ Greve making a name for himself
Ben Greve added to the family trophy case he shares with fellow former Gophers athlete Lindsay Whalen by winning his second Minnesota State Open.
Souhan: Twins should remember that trades are no sure thing
One hitting slump or a couple of bad pitching outings can make a trade a waste of time or a waste of a prospect.
Souhan: No reason to doubt Vikings can get to the playoffs
With decent luck and health, there is little reason to doubt that this team should win 10 or 11 games and return to the playoffs.
Souhan: Players might get old, but reminiscing about 1987 World Series doesn't
The Twins are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1987 World Series championship this weekend. Thursday night, the boys of that long summer convened.
Twins' 30th anniversary of the 1987 World Series championship schedule of events
We’re gonna Party like it’s 1987 A series of events honoring the 30th anniversary for the 1987 World Series-winning Twins: Friday, 4:30 p.m.: Tom Kelly…
Souhan: Colon looms large as stopgap starter for Twins
Bartolo Colon on Tuesday in his Twins debut didn't last long, and might not have staying power, but he was better than expected for four innings.
Souhan: X Games stir memories of Minnesota moments
The X Games concluded on Sunday, and this week the Twins will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1987 title. Here's Jim Souhan's ranking of the Top 10 Minnesota sports moments over those years.
Souhan: Conquering fear is part of being X Games athlete
X Games pros must respect danger before flying in rarest of air.
Souhan: Want the Gophers to keep up? Get over the arena name changes
You may not like it when Williams Arena is renamed "Sherwin'' Williams, or "The Dress Barn,'' but if the price is right and the funds help the basketball programs excel, what's in a name?
Souhan: Fans haven't responded to these Twins like they did in 2001
There's several reasons why the 2001 Twins became one of the most beloved teams in franchise history and the current edition hasn't quite captured their fan base's hearts in the same manner.
Souhan: Thibs the executive needs to help Thibs the coach turn Wolves into winners
Wolves' basketball boss Tom Thibodeau must prove he can assemble a contender's roster
Souhan: With nod to 'Noah,' Lynx improving from beyond the arc
In this instance, "Noah" doesn't refer to two-by-two march but a procession of threes by the Lynx.
Twins' Byron Buxton growing up fast (March 2, 2014)
From humble beginnings in rural Georgia, Byron Buxton has turned into the Twins' best hope for a bright future.
Souhan: Wisconsin's U.S. Open course did little to stir emotions
The problem is that Erin Hills is not interesting. It doesn't challenge players off the tee, and it doesn't look interesting either from the gallery or the couch.
For Fowler and Thomas, the wait for a major title continues
Both faded in pursuit of their first major crown.
Souhan: Powerful Koepka wins U.S. Open for first major championship
Brooks Koepka went the lowest of the low with a final-round 67 to finish 16 under par as the Erin Open became the seventh consecutive major to produce a first-time major winner.
Souhan: Pound for pound, perhaps the finest 63 in U.S. Open history
Justin Thomas' arms are the thickness of penne noodles, but he has the hip movement of an Olympic powerlifter. He overpowered Erin Hills on Saturday, breaking a U.S. Open record by recording a round of 9 under.
Amateur Cameron Champ outdriving everyone at U.S. Open
Texas A&M golfer hitting nearly 340 yards off tee.
Souhan: Mysterious venue could see obscure winner crowned champion
No one in the top 18 on the midway point leaderboard at Erin Hills has won a major championship.
World's top three golfers miss cut at U.S. Open
Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day, world ranking leaders, missed the cut and made history.
U.S. Open leaderboard takes on topsy-turvy look
Most of the world's best struggled, while lesser-known players went low.
Souhan: Know these terms as U.S. Open begins play in Wisconsin
Fescue: The tall, wispy grass that is the visual calling card of this U.S. Open is just one of the words you should add to your golf glossary as Erin Hills takes center stage.
Souhan: Still no 'next Tiger' emerging among golf's young guns
The longer Tiger Woods is away from golf the more you appreciate his dominance. No one has risen to take over as the sport's can't-miss star.
Souhan: First-round bust would be bad for Twins, but it can be overcome
From 1976 through 2011, the Twins chose 14 players with top-10 picks. Only two became impact players for them — Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer.
Twins' top-10 draft pick hits and misses (mostly misses)
From 1976 to 2011, the Twins had 14 top 10 overall selections in the Major League Baseball draft. Some panned out, but most didn't — at least, not in Minnesota.
Souhan: Erin Hills' path to U.S. Open lined with drama, even death
Erin Hills near Milwaukee is primed to host the U.S. Open this week. All while a key figure in the rise of the course is in jail for killing his wife and another figure destroyed his businesses and personal wealth.
Souhan: Carleton-bound sprinter starts foundation for Alzheimer's research
Zach Kulstad, a state-caliber runner at Prior Lake, is the proud founder of The Memento Foundation, which he set up to help those with dementia and Alzheimer's.
Souhan: PED offenders steal thunder from Albert Pujols' 600th HR
The Angels slugger's milestone Saturday night showed that steroids ruined home runs even for those who did not take them.
Souhan: LeBron James' recent incident proof that racism is alive and unwell
You can't turn on a television without observing how far race relations have to go in our country, or how far they have regressed.
Souhan: Even with this bullpen, Twins good enough to hang around
The 2017 Twins never should have been confused with true contenders. That doesn't mean they can't pretend for a while longer, especially with a favorable schedule ahead.
Souhan: Twins' Mauer does what he does best, reaching base seven times
Try this sentence on for size: Joe Mauer made his first out of the game in the bottom of the 15th inning, 6 hours, 23 minutes after the first pitch.
Souhan: Loons another viable Twin Cities sports option
Given reason to cheer, fans at TCF Bank Stadium became impressively loud, and impressively organized.
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Souhan: Showalter's Twins observations all might be on target
Buck Showalter heaped praise on the Twins organization as a whole - and he just might be right on all his observations
Souhan: Zimmer would help Vikings by ditching workaholic thing
What's most important for Mike Zimmer and the Vikings is for him to make it through the 2017 season with good health and a healthy attitude. The time to start is now.
Souhan: From prospect to pitcher, Berrios making the successful leap
Young Twins starter Jose Berrios has quality stuff and multiple pitches. And he has learned to dominate each level of the game once he becomes comfortable.
Souhan: Twins improved without solving many of their problems
Statisticians might say the rise to first place is illusory and temporary, and they're probably right. But the view from the clubhouse is different.
Souhan: Fowles' play in Lynx opener impresses all but her coach
One of the hallmarks of the Lynx during a decade of excellence has been a mind-set best described as optimistic realism. So coach Cheryl Reeve didn't spend her postgame news conference praising Fowles; instead she pushed the buttons of a player who will be crucial to her team this season.
Souhan: Wolves coach Thibodeau facing a long fix-it list
With the NBA draft lottery set for Tuesday night, Tom Thibodeau's tenure in Minnesota is not in trouble but his reputation is in need of bolstering.
Souhan: With Cook and Floyd, Vikings again calculate risk, reward
Despite spectacular exceptions, the Vikings have generally fared well when making these sorts of ventures.
Souhan: Minnesota rugby's 'first family' helping Hopkins girls soar
Olympian Katie Johnson has helped coach Hopkins to the national high school club championships.
Santana vs. Sale: The duel becomes a dud
The expected pitchers' duel between Ervin Santana and Chris Sale didn't quite materialize as both starters were just slightly off their games.
Souhan: Best use of Santana for Twins is to keep him
Unless another team offers a young ace, the Twins should be happy to keep Santana, and other teams are very unlikely to offer a young ace.
Souhan: Fewer pitchers could solve baseball's pace of play problem
Here's an idea: Legislate an 11-man pitching staff. You'll see fewer mid-inning interruptions, more rallies, more intriguing late-game pinch-hitting and an endgame that will be worth staying awake to see.
Souhan: Gibson's latest failure again highlights Berrios' importance
Jose Berrios will be the next young pitcher asked to rise to the top of the Twins' rotation, and Kyle Gibson's collapse heightens the pressure.
Souhan: Twins' vision of revival led by Sano, Buxton could be near
Tuesday's upper-deck home runs by Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton showed what those in the Twins organization have been waiting for since 2013.
Souhan: Peterson's Week 1 return is latest in Vikings' ongoing drama
The Vikings are the local champions of sports drama. And as Vikings history proves, "dramatic" is not synonymous with "successful."
Souhan: Wild GM's moves were logical yet fruitless
Chuck Fletcher has much for which to answer, but most of his recent mistakes or misjudgments stemmed from managing an inflexible roster.
Souhan: Wild, again, not good enough when it matters
Since owner Craig Leipold spent about $200 million on two premier players, his team is 2-5 in playoff series and has not advanced beyond the second round.
Souhan: Elimination game doesn't morph into a head game for Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk on Wednesday produced his first shutout since Dec. 20 and was the better goalie in part because of his controlled performance in a critical spot.
Souhan: The Wild can make it a series vs. Blues if it heeds this advice
We watch sports to be surprised. Here are 10 ways the Wild belatedly can make this a competitive series and stop whining about "puck luck."
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