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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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Tuesday (Love contract: Minnesota history says he'll stay) edition: Wha' Happened?
Posted by: Michael Rand under Vikings, Wolves news Updated: January 24, 2012 - 9:50 AM
First off, to be clear: Do not mistake this for anything more than a brief history lesson. The real reporting on the Kevin Love deal is being done in the trenches by our guy Jerry Zgoda -- who has team sources telling him conflicting things but still has a belief that the Wolves will sign Kevin Love to a max five-year deal by tomorrow's deadline.
What we would like to note is that if you want Love to re-sign -- and surely you should -- there is some comfort to be found in the loosely connected fabric of Minnesota sports history.
That is to say: We keep our own. We're pretty terrible about attracting big-name free agents from outside the market (really, try compiling a list of free agents who signed with the Twins, Vikings, Wild or Wolves from other markets sometime. It's embarrassing). But yes, we keep our own.
When you look back at some of the biggest names in the past two decades-plus, the vast majority of them stayed. They also had something else in common: they were handsomely paid -- perhaps sometimes above market value, which perhaps is because we're so lousy at attracting big-time athletes to Minnesota. Those who have already been here feel the love ... they get the market ... they get the vibe ... and they choose to stay.
Kirby Puckett briefly flirted with the open market after the 1992 season before becoming (at the time) one of the highest-paid players in baseball with a 5-year, $30 million deal.
Kevin Garnett signed massive extensions here, one of which changed the rules. But stay he did -- for 12 years, which is an eternity these days.
Randy Moss re-signed in 2001 -- an eight-year contract with $18 million in guarantees and a potential $75 million in total worth.
Adrian Peterson recently did the same. So did Justin Morneau. Joe Mauer? Yeah, you might remember that somewhat significant 8-year, $184 million deal he inked.
Sure, a few players moved on: Stephon Marbury didn't want to play second-fiddle to Garnett. Torii Hunter took obscene money from the Angels. Johan Santana pushed his way out via a trade and massive deal with the Mets. Marian Gaborik also fled to New York.
But those first six names we mentioned: Puckett, Garnett, Moss, Peterson, Morneau and Mauer ... those are perhaps the six defining athletes of the past 25 years in this market. And they all cashed in here instead of elsewhere. That doesn't mean Love -- with a different set of priorities and sensibilities -- is in the same category or will do the same thing. But at the end of the day, it's hard to say no to an adoring fan base and the biggest pile of cash.
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