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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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Posts about Minnesota state tournaments
Wednesday (The Great Treadmill Race Controversy) edition: Wha' Happened?
Posted by: Michael Rand Updated: January 4, 2012 - 9:40 AM
We are not like that. Nor is Local Quipster, a noted Friend of RandBall. Let that be the backdrop, then, for something we would like to refer to as the Great Treadmill Race Controversy. We will attempt to lay out the facts and even admit culpability in one area. But in the end, we are pretty sure you will feel the same way we do.
So: We made an appointment last night to run at the Target Center LTF with Local Quipster. The game plan was to meet after work, run, and then watch the Sugar Bowl. LQ upped the ante by throwing down a six-mile treadmill race challenge.
Unfortunately, we were late getting out of work (our fault). We quickly shifted the plan to meet at the treadmills. We fully expected LQ to start first since he had to run home between the workout and the game.
Upon arrival, we found LQ was about 15 minutes into his run. No worries, we figured. These machines are not going anywhere. They are self-timed. We are not making anyone with a stopwatch or cups of water wait any longer if we start at a different time. So we hop on the treadmill, calculate LQ's pace and immediately set a slightly faster pace. We were pushing it -- for us, anyway -- but even within this ridiculous competition we wanted to win.
Around the time LQ hit 4.5 miles, we were around 3 miles. He looks over and says something like, "You better start moving or you're never going to catch me." We replied, "What do you mean, we're already ahead of you." He replied to the effect of, "All I know is that I'm at 4.5 miles and you're at 3. First one to 6 wins."
Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's crazy. In fact, a good 80 percent of us was pretty sure LQ was just trying to mess with our head. But still, for the final 1.5 miles, he could talk about nothing except his impending victory, how it wasn't his fault we showed up later than expected, etc. Our counter was basic logic: That the person who finished six miles in the fastest time should be the winner and that such a ground rule -- while never made explicit -- was at least implicit and any waiver would have needed to be agreed upon before competition began.
Still, LQ finished -- in 51 minutes, 51 seconds -- hopped off the treadmill, declared victory, even asked a nearby woman on an elliptical which one of us appeared to be done while the other was still running, then left. We finished a little while later -- in 50 minutes, 32 seconds -- also smugly assured of victory. Neither one of us has permanently acquiesced since, although LQ did slip up later last night in saying "when you beat me," before quickly demanding that the remarks be stricken from the record.
What we ask of you, dear reader, is not to solve this race dilemma. We're pretty sure it is not a question that needs solving. Rather, we ask:
1) Are you still so ridiculously competitive that you would do something like this, and if so would you be so kind as to provide an example in the comments?
2) Is there something wrong with us?
TFD: The state hockey tournament "all-hockey hair team" video
Posted by: Michael Rand Updated: March 15, 2011 - 5:24 PMExactly four people have sent us this link. And now you get to watch it as well. Awesome.
Clearance Clarence: Holiday songs, the Prep Bowl and a personal state hockey story
Posted by: Michael Rand Updated: November 30, 2010 - 12:36 PM
Commenter Clarence Swamptown will delight you with his borderline inappropriate takes on just about anything in life. He's been doing this for almost exactly a year now, and we have to think almost everyone agrees his weekly segment has been a great addition to this blog. As always, his thoughts on sports and life in general do not necessarily reflect those of RandBall or the Star Tribune. Clarence?
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Below is my list of Christmas songs by "Country and Western" artists that I hope you find enjoyable.
5) Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Carrie Underwood (I added this to the list, because she has a beautifully sweet voice that lends itself to Christmas time. Also, one of the links for this song had the thumbnail of a cute little puppy in a Santa hat. But the video started with stupid cats, so I had to find a new one.)
4) I'll Be Home for Christmas - Bryan White (I know I made a big deal about traditional C&W, and I know Bryan White does not fit that mold (nor does Carrie Underwood). However, his music was a big part of my high school days and his version of this song runs through my head every holiday season.)*
3) Mary, Did you Know? - Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd (The video linked here is cheesy, but it was the best sound quality I could find in my brief search... look, you know how to search the youtubes or the ipods, too. Do it yourself if you want better.)
2) Unto you this Night - Garth Brooks (The single greatest non-traditional Christmas song ever to be listed on Randball. THAT'S A FACT! I'm only a fan of Garth's voice in a hand full of songs, this one is on top.)**
1A) O Holy Night - John Berry (Not only does this song define Christmas, John Berry defines this song.)
1) O Holy Night - Martina McBride (Martina McBride's voice is just too amazing and powerful not to put her in the top spot. Although I personally appreciate John Berry's version more, mainly because his is one of the rare male performances of it, from the female category Martina cannot be topped.)
Notes not otherwise indicated above-
* I could not find a video for this song, I think it is because Mr. White's old label has retained the rights to his good stuff and won't let them out.
** I couldn't find any electronic version of any of Garth Brooks' stuff. My guess is he has it all locked down and when he retires, again***, might release them on iTunes to try and become bigger than the Beatles, but not Jesus, no one is stupid enough to proclaim that.
*** Seriously, the dude has retired more than Favre and Jordan combined. And each time he comes back he makes another billion dollars with nothing original.
_____________________
MN soldiers in Afghanistan play hockey in support of state tourney
Posted by: Michael Rand Updated: March 18, 2010 - 3:01 PMSome Minnesota soldiers based in Afghanistan brought the spirit of the boys' hockey state tournament to Bagram Airfield, organizing and playing a hockey tournament on March 7 in honor of the hallowed event. The game consisted of members of the Duluth-based 148th Fighter Wing and St. Paul-based 372nd Engineering Brigade, an Army Reserve unit. Here is a snippet of a story posted on the 148th's web site. Click this link for a few more details and for pictures:
The tournament was held on a concrete basketball court, with nets made of lumber and bed sheets. The round-robin style tournament consisted of three teams with each team playing two games of two 15-minute periods. 148th Civil Engineer, Master Sgt. Doug Ion acted as the tournament referee. The 148th fielded two teams named the "Bulls" and the "Dogs", while the 372nd had one team called the "Wolves". Tournament highlights include a hat trick by 148th player Chief Master Sgt. Mark Rukavina in Game 1, and a shut out in the second period of Game 3 by 372nd goal tender Specialist Malachi Kennedy. The "Dogs" ultimately won the tournament, but the memories of the camaraderie are what the players will remember most.
Lt. Col. Kurt Wagner from the 372nd Engineering Brigade said that "being able to bring a piece of Minnesota to Bagram by playing hockey in conjunction with the State Tournament had done wonders for troop morale. We need to do this more often!"
148th Civil Engineer and tournament planner, Staff Sgt. James Foster thought "it was great to be able to celebrate the State High School Hockey Tournament while we were here. It is such a big event back home that even though we missed it due to deployment, we could still feel a part of it."
Stu's Hunt Down: Khalid El-Amin
Posted by: Michael Rand Updated: December 17, 2009 - 1:10 PM
As commissioned by commenter SuperRookie, here is Stu's Hunt Down of Khalid El-Amin. Stu?
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Name: Khalid El-amin
Claim to Fame,
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: remembered fondly by fans of UConn for helping them to the 1999 NCAA men’s championship (two warnings: video auto-starts and Jake Voskuhl’s haircut JUST DOESN’T STOP). Remembered fondly by me for helping me win my work bracket that year. Remembered fondly by fans of decency, goodness and light by beating Duke in the finals. El-amin’s NBA career wasn’t nearly as spectacular, playing in just 50 games for the Chicago Bulls. Since then, he’s played in such exotic locales as
Where They Are Now: living the professional basketball dream abroad while still calling
Glorious Randomness 1: while both delicious and horrible for you, chicken Kiev has no meaningful ties to the city of the same name.
Glorious Randomness 2: North has to have the best random list of famous alums in the state. A sampling: Sid, Floyd B. Olson, Tom Barnard, the Andrews Sisters, Terry Lewis, and Morris Day (and Jerome!). On that note: The Time’s Jungle Love.
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