2DAY WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY MICHAEL RAND • MRAND@STARTRIBUNE.COM

04.11.13 RANDBALL'S WORLD WIDE WEB

Online: Michael Rand explores the soft underbelly of sports in his blog at startribune.com/randball

Nobody really knows what to expect next year from the Gophers men's basketball team under a new coach with a new system and some pieces conspicuously missing. Much of the national media thinks Richard Pitino was a good-to-great hire. On the other hand, BTN.com's Brent Yarina has Minnesota dead last in his Big Ten power rankings for the 2013-14 season. The big question: What are fair expectations?

why the Internet was invented It's pure nonsense. It's everything advertised. It is the Tumblr.com site, "Sports Balls replaced with Cats." You know you want to.

we believe him In an interview with Jim Rome on Showtime — video found at SI.com — Kobe Bryant said he would have "smacked" ex-Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice.

swan song? On his list of the 10 MLB players most likely to be traded by the July 31 deadline, ESPN.com's Jim Bowden lists Twins first baseman Justin Morneau at No. 5.