October 7, 2025 • 33 mins
#92Noon! Lavelle
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Final hour Nordo win for Pa. PA returning tomorrow, so
he'll he'll be back in the mix tomorrow, and then
I believe off Thursday, Friday and Monday's bye week for
all of us. We're just trying to get healthy out
of the break so we can figure out, starting on Monday,
how we are going to solve Saquon and those birds
(00:22):
and those eagles at US Bank Stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Thankfully, finally a freaking noon game. Thank you for that.
But that's next week.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
This week it's Lavelli Neil the third start Tribune Startribune
dot Com at Lavell Neil, via.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
X columnist for the Strip. He is in studio.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Now, Lavell, you told me during the break you joined
a bowling league. Now, I was in a bowling league
about fifteen years ago, and I'm just not good at it.
I'm sure, just with anything else, if you play enough,
you could improve. I got Shokapy Bowl down by me,
love that place. I'm not so bad that I require
(01:01):
bumpers when I play. But you've actually joined a competitive
bowling league.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, how's it going. It's good, it's going, okay, Okay,
it's been an adjustment. Like I was telling you off
off air. I said yes, yes to this and did
not realize this for thirty two weeks, just thirty two
week league, which is much funer than I thought.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So you basically you went from covering the baseball team
to finding a different lifestyle, which is now the bowling alley.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
It's like sixty percent of the year now every Monday,
I'm in a bowling league and already told them miss
about ten or twelve times because there's going to be
an event I'm gonna have to cover you. I won't
be able to make it. So we've got alternate bowlers,
and you can also pre bowl. You can show up
the day before and get your work in. It could
it could be plugged into the score the next day.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So now are you going in and pre bowling or
I mean, is this becoming a two day a week
affair for you?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I did it week one because I had to. Did
I have to cover or was I leaving town? I
can't remember. I had had the pre bowl week one,
and then I was out of town two mondays ago
because I was coming back from my birthday trip to Vegas.
How was that, by the way, excellent, nice, excellent, lots
(02:14):
of laughter, lots of storytelling, good meals, beverage consumption.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
That's the best dispensary appearance. Happy belated birthday, by the way,
than I think. I think I got you on both
ends of the spectrum. I hit you with an early
birthday and now I'm hitting you with a belated right
right right. But that's that's terrific, man. So your your bo.
Do you own a ball?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I have two? You have two. The funny part, here's
the ball im using is that's a commitment. Man. The
bottom using now is like twenty years old and it's
just always been a good fit for me. Yeah. When
Ron Gardenherer was managing the Twins, they used to bowl
Funny on Monday nights at Gator Lanes at Fort Myers
during spring training. So I liked the ball. So I
(02:56):
would show up with a group of other people and
we bowl in the same lanes of stuff and I
was there. I was there tonight bullied Guardy through three hundred.
So oh wow, Guardy's pretty good. Wait. They used to
play him her back, and Rick Anderson and Joe Vava
would bowl in the U in the West Side Lanes
and West Saint Paul, which has now been torn down.
(03:17):
So anyway, there's one. I used to put my equipment
on the equipment truck every year taking down the spring training.
So I have lug edge, bowling ball, golf clubs, whatever, cigars, cigars,
no cigars come with me. Oh okay, that makes sense.
One year, the bolling ball didn't come back from Florida,
and I've spent like eight years looking for it. Yes, wow,
(03:41):
who stole it? We don't know, and we're going through
all kinds of closets and uh storage areas looking for
this bawling ball. Said it's distinct distinctive bag. It's baby
blue or orange fingerholes, so I can't miss it, you know.
So then it's twenty twenty, twenty twenty three, I get
(04:04):
a text message from the Twins equipment guy. Is this
your bowling ball? I said, yes, the ball was missing
for like eight nine years and I just got it
back and you had already purchased tw different ones. Now
you have too. So I was using both balls and
I really feel the old ball feels really comfortable with
(04:26):
my hand. You're back to the baby blue, so I'm
using it. Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So the league's going, well, do you use a risk guard. Nah, don't,
because I'm picturing like when I was a kid growing up,
there was a place in Mancato and I don't even
know if it's a bowling alley anymore, but it was
Sunset Bowl and then I think it became Dutler's. But
I remember growing up like raising money for like summer camps.
(04:49):
You roll in on a bowling league night with like
some candy bars or something.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
The air is blue.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I mean the cigarettes and cigars and the bowling alley.
I mean I has outside of you know, like your
favorite cigar shop. Is there a place where smoking was
more popular in any environment ever than like a mid
nineties bowling alley. I know, the big Lebowski type deals.
But that's what I'm picturing with you right now, Lavelle.
(05:15):
I'm picturing you with the Maduro. I'm picturing you with
your baby blue ball and your wrist guard and you
got your bowling shirt on with Lavell broidered embroidered and
just smashing it and throwing a two fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
We're still working on bowling shirts. We're trying because we're
we're technically we're we're representing Boulevard Villain Tavern in West
Saint Paul.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Well Boulevard's great, by the way, their food is awesome.
It's massive portions too, god so much so we're trying
to get the owner to take you some shirts, to
make you some shirts.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
So we're working on that. So it's a good time.
It's a good group of people. The other team members
are nice people, all shaped, sizes and skill levels. Yeah,
so it's a it's a good vibe. You know, started
six thirty, done by nine, so it works out. You know.
We had we had the we had the end of
the Dodgers Phillies game on one TV that that transitioned
(06:15):
into the Cubs Brewers bit. Yeah, and we also had
the Monday Football game on another TV. So as much
as I'd like to just sit in front of TV's
riveted to the action, at least I could keep up
with it somewhat, boy, because I was trying to figure
what the hell happened to Castellanos and how he got
thrown out and I didn't know because I didn't not
(06:38):
see the wheel play live, so I was trying to
rack my brain try for kick. Why is he not
on base anymore? What the hell happened? He was on second?
He was a time run. What'll happened? You know? And
then I found out there was a butnt play. I
don't know why that got in bunt toward first base?
Why don't button toward third? I don't know, you know,
Dodgers that will play on so h milki was that
(06:59):
were to cover third?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So it worked out, It worked out, And these games
have been good, man.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean, it's I kind of I framed it up
with Pa last.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Week as he was he was still in London and
just kind of wonky schedule. We're just trying to connect
and in the land where there's no air conditioning and
awful Wi Fi, and we're kind of talking about as
these playoffs lift off. Man, it's like my favorite team,
Steals steals kind of the spirit a bit because these
games are unbelievable and what the Brewers are doing right now,
(07:29):
like following kind of their potential run. And I know
it's it's early on win the home games, right and
they're doing that, and you know, Phillies are probably in trouble,
we'll see, but all the same, you know, these these
games have been terrific, and it's just you're kind of
stuck in the mire of a managerial search. You're stuck
in the mire of I wonder if they're just gonna
(07:49):
keep going and just trade Joe Ryan now, or they're
gonna trade Buxton or whatever like the hot Stove League
of the mass Exodus. Maybe continually could be going the
other way here. Really it could be going the other
way here.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well. See, that's I'm glad. That's why have you with
I mean, I mean, Bucks was on he was quoted saying,
this would be my third rebuilding plan. I don't want
to tread water anymore, you know. So that tells me
that if they start cutting some more and I'm wondering
if I'm wondering more if Joe Ryan's gonna get debt
or not, will Buxton say, you know what, I'm ready
to wave mi military classing. Wow. You know. So when
(08:26):
I was looking at those ranking I think I ranked
the h the jobs in terms of in terms of
the most desirable jobs out there. I had the twins
like fifth or six in that list. You know, because
my colleague Bobby Nigiel pointed out that once you have
a fire cell, you usually don't turn around and start
spending money in the next off season, you know, So
(08:48):
they may keep it at this level and they meet
cut some more So if you're a manager, you know,
if you're Bob Melbourne want to get back in the
big chair. You're looking at the Twins situation going, I
don't know if they're if they're going after it right now?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And that's going to affect the type of people to get.
I'm saying it's a good chance sixty percent chance that
the next manager maybe a first time manager. Yeah, it
feels like that, right, Yeah, and I want to get
to that unless it's Derek Shelton coming back. I'm just
hit with some tough news.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Butler's Bowl, the Bowling Alley and main Cato level, it's
gone really yeah, Dakota and Mankato says it's high rise
apartments now, too many underage tickets. Well I understand that. Yeah, Well,
I'm just gonna to be honest.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Jam was that the jam new over there? The bowling Alley?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, no, it's different, different spots, but college, college town there.
They're sadly just now that I'm forty, I don't like
to see it. But nineteen year old Nordo found his
way to a beer once.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Nineteen year Oldleaveville had a fake ID, but.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
They had Yeah, I had one, Thomas Hernandez, I had
I had one in college, Thomas Hernandez and uh I
made them as stake of trying to use it at
the place I founded.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
It was an employee at that particular establishment did. Yeah,
there's embarrassing. It was a growth moment for Baby Nordo
at the Buffalo wild Wings down in man Cato when
it was still downtown. The managerial search, it does feel
like it's going to be a new face. I am
curious or a first time manager, I should say. But
(10:24):
Lavelle the like in the NFL, I tell you, like
Kevin Stefanski, two time Coach of the Year for the
Cleveland Browns, the Browns History two twenty twenty, they won
that playoff game while he was on the shelf. Alex
van Pelt led them and Baker passed the Steelers right
and then I think it was either was it twenty
(10:45):
twenty three or twenty twenty four? Wow, he was He
was coach of the Year again. He looks like he's
aged fifteen years in the last five.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Working for the Browns. Why not?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And it makes sense? But to that end, like Stefanski
was going to be a first time head coach, worked with
the Vikings for years, worked his way up, well respected
throughout the league, well respected in house. Probably would have
preferred to actually keep Stefanski, but you got the opportunity
and he went.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It wasn't.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I can't take the Browns job because historically that place
is just an absolute dumpster fire.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
I'm the shores of Lake Erie.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I'm going to take this because this is maybe my
one chance to coach a team, and now potentially there
will be a break. I mean, this thing's got to
come to an end at some point if they can't
solve the quarterback position in Cleveland. But is it viewed
the same way in Major League Baseball where regardless of circumstances,
(11:42):
regardless of how bad an organization is, regardless of an
ownership group that maybe has a reputation.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Awackon Deshaun Watson. Yeah, what a terrible idea that was.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Yeah, I mean, and the Haslams have just done nothing,
and now the GM and what they're doing with Shadur
and it's not good for for stefanskip, But in baseball,
is it is it the same way where you know,
I'm I'm a young cat that want to I want
to find my way to be a manager. I don't
care that the farm system covers are bare. I don't
(12:13):
care that the ownership group actually is almost just being
open and honest about the fact that they're going to
continue to pare down, that they're not actually going to
to invest significant dollars into this. I just need to
be with a big club and have that spot on
the bench.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Is it the same in baseball? Yeah, I mean there's
only three of those jobs, you know, in the world,
so there are some people who will take that job,
you know, regards to this situation, I'm just saying that
managers would experience, and managers who want to win, you know,
probably looking elsewhere than than then than the old Minnesota Twins.
So you know, I mean, this is the one that
(12:50):
Washington Nationals bit may be more attractive than the Twins.
At least I got C. J. Abrams and that that
outfielder at still the outfielder who went to the All
Star Game hit was in the home run derby.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So I mean, this is a worse option than the athletics,
isn't it. I mean, just in general right now?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, but if you're even.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Even the White Sox if Ishbia is going to become
full as Reinsdorf kind of hands over the keys to
the castle there. Ishbia, if he's inclined to invest some
money and turn that thing around. And in Chicago maybe
in short order, is no longer the joke of the
Central Division. The Twins worst situation in baseball.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Potentially they guy working their scout in the player development
because they keep the Chicago they keep developing. These guys
are to be in like first base DH types, you know,
and I need to find a different type of athlete there.
Although Andrew vaugh has like been revived being dealt from
the White Sox to to the Brewers that I don't know.
If you saw yesterday some guy in the stand had
a Andrew Vaugh White Sox jersey before he homered in
(13:52):
the stands. It was pretty neat.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I wish my favorite team was was part of the playoffs,
but but is it?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So? You know, did Giants? The Giants probably up there
in terms of best jobs out there. Bust A Posey
wants to win. Trying to put together winning organization the
Rangers would be a good job. But looks like Schuemacher
is probably destined for that gig. So I've thought highly
a skip Schumacher. I did a good job with Tomorrowin's
with limited resources, and he left there because the organization
(14:24):
was heading in a different direction. He didn't like it.
So he's been working in the Rangers organization for the
last year or two. So Boachie moved on and so
now Schuemacher private is in there. Angels may be a
decent gig, although they've got thisclivity for like calling up
kids like two months after drafting him and throwing them
(14:45):
into the fire. I don't know where they coming from
with this angle, So why waite approach? Yeah, and there's
a room Albert Pooholtz wanting to get into the big
chair there really. Yeah, that's got me surprised. And there
was a there was a reporter lyon that they were
looking at Tory Hunter too.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Well, let me let me ask you about that, because
locally here that's that's what I've been seeing the most
of in terms of questions. So, hey, Nord's you're gonna
have Lavelle on today, you got to ask him about
Tory Hunter. Right. I actually just received from Chris to
the text message, and I appreciate all the text.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Uh six four six eighty six.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I'm in the apathetic group when it comes to Twins baseball.
But you know how he starts the text Toby Garden
High are going to be promoted to coach and I'm
just curious.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
I had him on the list.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Well, and that's so we we I feel like we gravitate.
I've heard Justin moore No's name thrown out there as well.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I can't see Christa allowing him to be a manager.
He's got five kids, five kids he is. She will
not allow him to leave her with five children. He's
still he's still living down in southern Minnesota. Right, he's
a Medna. Oh he he came up here. He has
a farm in Medina. They grow food that they eat.
They've last time I checked that twenty seven Scottish Highland cattle.
He's living off the land. Yes, he is living off
(15:56):
the lamp ah. That's kind of sweet. Actually, his his
pond becomes a hockey rink during the winter time.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
No, you say good for him, man, Yeah, love love
Justin Moorene. But but I think we so we instantly gravitate.
My point is we instantly gravitate towards some of those
known locally affiliated slash connected names.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Is that is that the obvious route? Is it too obvious?
Is that?
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Is there potential with any of that you and you've
already kind of answered on more No, but just is
is that the route we're we're focused on here?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Or are there are there.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Potentially guys out elsewhere that could be become part of
this conversation.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, it's the chance you could find someone who doesn't
have a connection with the Twins one way or another,
like a former player or former coach. You know. I
just think that like someone like James Rowson who has
been wanting to be a manager. You know, he's worked
here as a hitting coach, and this could be an
opportunity for him to step in unless the Yankees get
knocked out of the postseason and Aaron Boom gets fired
(16:54):
and Rosson has a shot there. I'm not sure, you know,
Derek Shelton was a bench coach here going to Pittsburgh,
which is the worst situation than the Twins. If you
remember during COVID, the Twins did not lay off any
of your employees. Pittsburgh froze the pension plan payments, you know,
and other than the Paul Skins have had a hard
time developing players, and when they have developed, when they
(17:15):
traded them, trading for Chris Archer and giving up to
now Austin medals. I just can't believe that deal. You know,
I'm glad you brought up and Skeens is.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Skeens is terrific and it was kind of fun over
the course of the season watching uh his you know,
his e ra is sub tu but he's winless, like
he was going through that stretch where I think, did
he not get his first win until like sometime in
June or something crazy like that.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
The Twins beat him here the night that Nelly performed
after the game.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Well, yeah, I was kidding you when you said when
you put Nelly on the Marquee fan base and the
team is going to show up forty people, I think
we found it. Pittsburgh is a worse situation than the
Minnesota Twins potentially, But but to that end, I mean,
it's you know, and I don't know who's out there
in terms of veteran names, this one just pops me.
But it's like the Dusty Bakers of the world, probably
(18:07):
not rolling into Minneapolis saying, I got an idea with
what this team has together to make some hay, it
is going to be a relatively unknown inexperience, potentially locally
affiliated to at least get us excited, get us a
Twitter if you will, as a local fan base, and
potentially that means paring back before you're moving forward exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
That's I think that's what they're looking for right now.
Like I said, once you have a fire sale, you're
probably going to at least stay at pat On Pyrol,
So you're not going to be looking to fund a team,
although I hope they bring in a couple of relievers
that that bullpen a second half of the season was
just a playpen, so they got to find a couple
of guys that could at least try to get someone
out after the sixth inning. So yeah, So I was
(18:53):
just just just trying to manage expectations Twins fans out there.
I wouldn't expect like some home run higher or some
big splashing move here their expectations someone maybe with a
local connection and someone who's new to the gig.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Yeah, And so in the end, Twins fans, if you
were already kind of apathetic and you're like, well, what
do I what's the point. What's there to be excited about?
There's nothing to be excited about it this particular time. Uh,
let me let me ask you one more thing and
then we'll pause, and I do want you. Well, let's
let's hop over to football for a moment. On the
around the corner the part time the minority owners bit
(19:28):
like what is that?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Like? Is that is that a real thing? Is that
a fake thing? A limited partner bit? Yeah? Yeah, miss
still well, I haven't asked about it in a while,
especially when the whole do they exist? Have we had
like proof of life?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Have these owners been on film with like today's newspaper
proving that they exist?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I believe that did exist. Okay, what I was a
total a few weeks ago is that one of the
limited partnership groups is still adding people, and those people
needed to be vetted out by the league office. So
that's why you haven't heard any movement on it. I
don't know if they're ready to do that tomorrow, next week,
or next month. Someone speculated to me that the owners
there's either owners meetings or some sort of league meeting
(20:09):
in November where we may know by then, So it's
taken a little bit longer than we were led to
believe it the outset. But I guess one of these
groups has kind of been a still informing as we speak.
Oh sure, Okay, So I don't know what how much
of an impact they're going to have. I don't know
how much are they going to say, No, here's fifty
million dollars for payroll, let's go. You know, I don't
(20:30):
know if they're going to do that. I just I
just need to become it's become highly anticipated. Yeah, sure
it has been because I think some fans are thinking
of them as saviors. Honest. Just remember the Polo family
still is going to control the majority of this team.
You know, they're just coming and helping pay down debt. Well,
I don't think approach a five hundred million of player payers.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I don't think you need to remind most Twins fans
that the pole ads are still in control, because I
still remember, I mean that release that they hit. They
hit fans with like what two three weeks after the
fire sale.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Yeah, just let you guys know where. Oh and by
the way, these.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
These obscure minority partnerships that we're not really going to
explain into detail. We're not identifying anybody, but here's a
thing that it may help.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
You know, help us out down the road.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
So you don't have to remind Twins fans about the
fact that the pole leads are still in control. Let's
let's pause and switch gears to the football team, maybe
the NFC North at Large. Lavell's Bears. They didn't lose
over the weekend. I didn't play. It was on the buy,
so off the buy state in the North State of
the Purple Lavelli, Neil the third in studio with me Nordo.
It's nine to noon with a cash giveaway opportunity.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
The cash thing the fan or two men and a
junk truck want to give you a shot to win
bonus box of the national cash contest at the kfan
dot com. The keyword is bank. Keyword bank kfan dot
com keyword bank. More level with Nordo.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
A couple segments to go from one shorty here with
with Lavell.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Before we pause, Leavell.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I could have sworn that I heard your voice speaking
with head coach Kevin O connell yesterday during the press conference.
We confirmed during the break that was indeed, you what
do you think into the bye week through five, just
kind of a wonky bunch and on healthy bunch, trying
to get healthy. There's a quarterback conversation in the mix
just where you at.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
With the Vikes. Ma, Man, it's just that they need
to get healthy and and and start moving this thing
forward again. It's been crazy how all these offensive line
injuries have transpired, and you got backup backup guards being
employed as centers and things like that. And Kelsey sounds
a little he sounds he doesn't sound as as energized
(22:35):
as he usually sounds. He says a little like he's
been worn down by I think exhausted. Maybe I don't know.
I was the injuries, all the questions about JJ and
speculation that it's not as he's not as hurts as
much as they claim he is. Frustration over that. So
I went out there. I just kind of want to
listen in and and and kind of get a feeling
for what the vibe is going, uh going into the
(22:57):
bye week, you know, and he named off a few
people gonna they're looking forward to have a return to practice,
and JJ's one of them.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
So that's a good sign. Yeah, wasn't one of them
though with his neck. No worried about that's concerning. That's concerning.
Need some clarity. I need some clarity on if that's
going to be a super long term thing.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Now. Hope he's okay, but no, they've got they've got
to get healthy. I don't think I think JJS returned
should kind of be tied partially to the offensive lines. Help.
I don't know if I want to put him but
back there if they still got a couple of guys
out and it's a high go spring and that's at
least a month, and sometimes it's a month and a half,
(23:37):
you know, some those those things take time and different
people hill differently.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
So yeah, I think your guy, your guy Gasoline kind
of hit on some of that too, just the the
combination of the health of the O line. And then
do you feel comfortable with McCarthy's mobility.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Right, And McCarthy's not McCarthy without his mobility. That's part
of what he is as a player, So you have to, uh,
you have to respect that in terms of how you
approach his comeback from this from this injury.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
I'm still leaning towards Wentz against Philly like it just
still kind of feels like that's that's where we'll be.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Give him his revenge game. Yeah, how about that? Absolutely
give his revenge game. Let it, let it, let it happen.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
I wonder if I wonder if he's played the Eagles
since he had to think just he's been everywhere.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yeah, I was, I was, I was thinking about, you know,
maybe firing JJ out against the Chargers after the week
after the Eagles game. Okay, you know, the the Omari
and Hampton less Chargers. Now he got placed on ir Man.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
They're going the wrong way in a hurry, dude. Yeah,
I mean it's just Herbert and just kind of the
start they have. They're starting to figure out Quentin Johnston.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
They love their O line. But I mean, now Rashaan
Rashaan Slater's down. I think he's been down. And now
Joe Waltz hurt, Mackay Becton's hurt. Now Gee, Harris torn
Achilles and Amarion Hampton the rookie that they like. And
I think that's part of Harbaugh's plan, the ability to
smash with that thing. He's running back. Now, I need
a running back for my fancy team. Well we can
(25:01):
we can absolutely look while you uh, while you tell
me briefly Bears out of the by they're two and two,
and uh, just kind of your thoughts on the North
and your favorite team in Shytown.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
They're trying to get healthy as well. They've got a
number of injuries. Kyler Gordon has not played all year
and he's one of the better slot corners in the
league and he's still out. But he's schedule to return.
They think he's gonna be ready for for coming out
of the by here, which is Monday night, at the
scene of the crime. It's at the place where everything
went haywari last year Washington against the Commanders. The Bears
(25:31):
returned to where Tyreek Stevens gonna act like a jackass
while the while the winning Hill Mary was converted. So
the Bears get to kind of reset the reset their
time clock here by going out there.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So but he's Massan Haskins, by the way, that is
according to this depth chart I'm reading our lads, which
is usually pretty reliable. Okay, Hassan Haskins appears to be
the only healthy running back.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
On the roster.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Wow wow, So pick them up, waiver wire. No one's
going to see it coming and I don't think you
have a lot of competition.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
So they're sort of getting one of the bearers to
go on their linebackers back. They may have Austin Booker back,
which would give him some some rotational depth on among
their edge rushing room.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Has Booker played yet or no, he's not played yet either.
That's when we had that camp.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Man.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
He did it last year and then he kind of
fizzled out.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
He had that.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
He had another awesome camp this year, and he hasn't
been He just hasn't been an ail.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, Bears has been clamoring for them to add to
edge rusher like no, we're waiting for Booker to get
health healthy, you know, so I want I want to
see it. I want to see it live in the color.
If he's actually made some problems, he's neat makes some progress.
He's had to bulk up a little bit. He was
being overpowered by larger, stronger people, so he's trying to
address that. I don't know if you all the way
(26:43):
everywhere he needs to be. So, yeah, so the Bears
are trying to get healthy. I mean, Jalen Johnson's suing
him out and definitely because he has surgery for his
grown man, which is which is concerning. So but it
looks like he'll get a couple more defensive backs, back
and edge rusher and a linebacker, so we'll see. The
Bears are giving up, believe in average of one hundred
(27:05):
and sixty eight yards on the ground of game. It's bad.
So they need to do anything they can.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Maybe Flores and Dennis Allen can just get together, have
some coffee and trade ideas and how each other's respective
run defenses can improve.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And Grady Jarrett's got a bad need too. He's been out.
He was not very effective the first couple of weeks
before he got injured.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So but the way we're doing it with hard Grave
and Allen, you guys are kind of taking an aging
flyer on Grady Jared too.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Yeah, yeah they are. Yeah, the Bears are for sure.
So but I always just Renett yesterday, I was like thinking,
at one hundred and sixty yards on the ground game,
that's just that's scary. I think they're last. That's that's
a weird thing for Dennis Allen's defenses too. I guess
the Raiders that gave up over two hundred yards on
the ground. I was saying, how much did the Vikings
run for against the Bears. They didn't for one hundred
(27:53):
and sixty. I don't think, and I just don't remember.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
I don't remember the Vikings having a ton of success
on the ground week one.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
I could be wrong either.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So, yeah, so the Bears are getting healthy in the end,
we're all still looking up at the kiddies.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Who I I had just been so confident in just
kind of the idea that they would struggle, that they
would have trials and tribulations. We see a Week one
when they when they lose to at Lambeau. But man,
they're I mean, it's just you still got the coach,
you still have Campbell, you still have Gibbs, you still
have golf, you still have the stability, you got a
healthy Hutchinson.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I mean you still have players. Man.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Man, there's there's still the class of the North that
has not changed.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
In most cases, good players make coaches look good except
in one one situation, and that's developing a quarterback. Quarterback
young quarterback needs a good square structure around him in
terms of coaching and support in order to thrive. Yeah,
but most of the time when you can try tout
am around Saint Brown on the offensive side, that Jamiir
(28:51):
Gribbs on the offensive side and Aiden Hutchinson on the
defensive side. You know you got some chips to play there, man, Yeah,
you do.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Thanks for hanging out with me, Man, Thanks for coming
in studio and I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Good luck bowling. Okay, let's get that average up.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I know they spot you a few pins now, but
you ought to be in that two fifty two seventy
five range.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I no time, Oh no, My career highs like two
thirty eight. Okay, so I would just like to get it.
Let's just once up at a time. Let's average one
eighty next week and one ninety a week after that,
and just keep continuous improvement. Yes exactly, O. I dig that.
Thank you for what you do.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Anything fresh with the strip that we should be looking
forward to, whether it was covering Wild and then yesterday
covering the Vikings, like anything fresh on the strip from you.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yea. I'm writing a bunch of wild this week. I'm
writing a column before their game against the Saint Louis.
I'm writing something I'm Bill Garan for Sunday and I'm
actually writing off the game Saturday for Monday's paper because
of deadline terrorism, it won't be able to make it
to paper till mondays. Okay, yeah, I'm wilding it up
this week.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
No, that's sweet man. Hockey season is upon us. Stay
of hockey is pumped. That's Lavelli Neil the third at
Lavell Neil via x Star tribute column and a weekly
favorite Nine to Noon for sure. Final segment Nine to
Noon is next.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Ella isn't well walking my job stepping over glass in
Minneapolis much like glass Rookie QB's break easy. If we
got to end up bentioning JJ McCarthy again because he
comes out and starts doing the same stuff that confidence
hit might be irreversible on a young QB. I think
we kind of just want to keep this guy protected
(30:37):
in his ego, protected for as long as possible. Two
point's going, especially against.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Evil talkbacks Free. iHeartRadio app nine to Noon. I appreciate it. Well,
when's the just.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Do we play McCarthy next year?
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I don't know if he's completely healthy, and we want
to see what this kid has ego be damned, he
was the plan a into this season, so at some point.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
He has to play. He can't learn, can't learn on
the bench.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
Yo, Norda, Steven Florida.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, last night, I'm having dinner with my.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
Brother and we're talking about the Vikings and he says,
man that JJ he's incredible, play be awesome. And I
said Jefferson and he goes, no, dude, the quarterback McCarthy
and I go, okay, we're seeing the same thing. He's
got the talent, like the kids, got the arm the intangibles,
the leadership qualities, the escapability, just everybody just give him
(31:29):
a little time, right. Peyton Manning wasn't good his first year.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Peyton Manning wasn't good.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I totally agree, I was. I was more interested. What
did you guys have for dinner last night? We need
to see We need to see JJ play. He does
have some of those intangibles. He's gonna make mistakes. We
have to see that on the field and see it
play out.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
So Nordo, it's Aaron Oatin Little Canada. I'm just perplexed
as to why Vikings fans are so quick to jump
the gun and be like, oh, JJ's not ready, He's
not the one, Sir Wins. It's like if not now,
then when I mean he's not gonna learn or get
better sitting on the bench. I think we just have
(32:10):
never really drafted.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
A young QB before, so people are really.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
Timid to just let him go, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Yeah, combined with expectations, combined with a fourteen win team
a year ago, and the belief that I mean threading
the needle here trying to quote unquote win now roster
built to quote unquote win now while raising a kid
on the fly, I mean would talk about difficult, and
that is the challenge that the coaching staff has undertaken.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So when he's completely healthy.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Thankfully we don't have to figure that out this particular
moment with the buye. But just again, reinvigorated, re embolden,
so excited to see JJ McCarthy back on the field
with that old line in front of him. Maybe a
healthy Aaron Jones in the mix. That wouldn't hurt Jordan Addison, you.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Know the names. Thank you so much for hanging out
with us.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
On a Tuesday, whether it was Lavelle Guestling for joining,
Appreciate Brett producing all the texts and talkbacks. Everybody have
an awesome Tuesday afternoon. I think it's Go for Football
Weekly next, and then the gram. At one, it's the
Fan See You Podcast Today's Paul Allen Show.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
We're listening back to previous show and interviews like going
to the iHeartRadio app or kfan dot com
Final hour Nordo win for Pa. PA returning tomorrow, so
he'll he'll be back in the mix tomorrow, and then
I believe off Thursday, Friday and Monday's bye week for
all of us. We're just trying to get healthy out
of the break so we can figure out, starting on Monday,
how we are going to solve Saquon and those birds
(00:22):
and those eagles at US Bank Stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Thankfully, finally a freaking noon game. Thank you for that.
But that's next week.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
This week it's Lavelli Neil the third start Tribune Startribune
dot Com at Lavell Neil, via.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
X columnist for the Strip. He is in studio.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Now, Lavell, you told me during the break you joined
a bowling league. Now, I was in a bowling league
about fifteen years ago, and I'm just not good at it.
I'm sure, just with anything else, if you play enough,
you could improve. I got Shokapy Bowl down by me,
love that place. I'm not so bad that I require
(01:01):
bumpers when I play. But you've actually joined a competitive
bowling league.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, how's it going. It's good, it's going, okay, Okay,
it's been an adjustment. Like I was telling you off
off air. I said yes, yes to this and did
not realize this for thirty two weeks, just thirty two
week league, which is much funer than I thought.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So you basically you went from covering the baseball team
to finding a different lifestyle, which is now the bowling alley.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
It's like sixty percent of the year now every Monday,
I'm in a bowling league and already told them miss
about ten or twelve times because there's going to be
an event I'm gonna have to cover you. I won't
be able to make it. So we've got alternate bowlers,
and you can also pre bowl. You can show up
the day before and get your work in. It could
it could be plugged into the score the next day.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So now are you going in and pre bowling or
I mean, is this becoming a two day a week
affair for you?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I did it week one because I had to. Did
I have to cover or was I leaving town? I
can't remember. I had had the pre bowl week one,
and then I was out of town two mondays ago
because I was coming back from my birthday trip to Vegas.
How was that, by the way, excellent, nice, excellent, lots
(02:14):
of laughter, lots of storytelling, good meals, beverage consumption.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
That's the best dispensary appearance. Happy belated birthday, by the way,
than I think. I think I got you on both
ends of the spectrum. I hit you with an early
birthday and now I'm hitting you with a belated right
right right. But that's that's terrific, man. So your your bo.
Do you own a ball?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I have two? You have two. The funny part, here's
the ball im using is that's a commitment. Man. The
bottom using now is like twenty years old and it's
just always been a good fit for me. Yeah. When
Ron Gardenherer was managing the Twins, they used to bowl
Funny on Monday nights at Gator Lanes at Fort Myers
during spring training. So I liked the ball. So I
(02:56):
would show up with a group of other people and
we bowl in the same lanes of stuff and I
was there. I was there tonight bullied Guardy through three hundred.
So oh wow, Guardy's pretty good. Wait. They used to
play him her back, and Rick Anderson and Joe Vava
would bowl in the U in the West Side Lanes
and West Saint Paul, which has now been torn down.
(03:17):
So anyway, there's one. I used to put my equipment
on the equipment truck every year taking down the spring training.
So I have lug edge, bowling ball, golf clubs, whatever, cigars, cigars,
no cigars come with me. Oh okay, that makes sense.
One year, the bolling ball didn't come back from Florida,
and I've spent like eight years looking for it. Yes, wow,
(03:41):
who stole it? We don't know, and we're going through
all kinds of closets and uh storage areas looking for
this bawling ball. Said it's distinct distinctive bag. It's baby
blue or orange fingerholes, so I can't miss it, you know.
So then it's twenty twenty, twenty twenty three, I get
(04:04):
a text message from the Twins equipment guy. Is this
your bowling ball? I said, yes, the ball was missing
for like eight nine years and I just got it
back and you had already purchased tw different ones. Now
you have too. So I was using both balls and
I really feel the old ball feels really comfortable with
(04:26):
my hand. You're back to the baby blue, so I'm
using it. Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So the league's going, well, do you use a risk guard. Nah, don't,
because I'm picturing like when I was a kid growing up,
there was a place in Mancato and I don't even
know if it's a bowling alley anymore, but it was
Sunset Bowl and then I think it became Dutler's. But
I remember growing up like raising money for like summer camps.
(04:49):
You roll in on a bowling league night with like
some candy bars or something.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
The air is blue.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I mean the cigarettes and cigars and the bowling alley.
I mean I has outside of you know, like your
favorite cigar shop. Is there a place where smoking was
more popular in any environment ever than like a mid
nineties bowling alley. I know, the big Lebowski type deals.
But that's what I'm picturing with you right now, Lavelle.
(05:15):
I'm picturing you with the Maduro. I'm picturing you with
your baby blue ball and your wrist guard and you
got your bowling shirt on with Lavell broidered embroidered and
just smashing it and throwing a two fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
We're still working on bowling shirts. We're trying because we're
we're technically we're we're representing Boulevard Villain Tavern in West
Saint Paul.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Well Boulevard's great, by the way, their food is awesome.
It's massive portions too, god so much so we're trying
to get the owner to take you some shirts, to
make you some shirts.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
So we're working on that. So it's a good time.
It's a good group of people. The other team members
are nice people, all shaped, sizes and skill levels. Yeah,
so it's a it's a good vibe. You know, started
six thirty, done by nine, so it works out. You know.
We had we had the we had the end of
the Dodgers Phillies game on one TV that that transitioned
(06:15):
into the Cubs Brewers bit. Yeah, and we also had
the Monday Football game on another TV. So as much
as I'd like to just sit in front of TV's
riveted to the action, at least I could keep up
with it somewhat, boy, because I was trying to figure
what the hell happened to Castellanos and how he got
thrown out and I didn't know because I didn't not
(06:38):
see the wheel play live, so I was trying to
rack my brain try for kick. Why is he not
on base anymore? What the hell happened? He was on second?
He was a time run. What'll happened? You know? And
then I found out there was a butnt play. I
don't know why that got in bunt toward first base?
Why don't button toward third? I don't know, you know,
Dodgers that will play on so h milki was that
(06:59):
were to cover third?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So it worked out, It worked out, And these games
have been good, man.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean, it's I kind of I framed it up
with Pa last.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Week as he was he was still in London and
just kind of wonky schedule. We're just trying to connect
and in the land where there's no air conditioning and
awful Wi Fi, and we're kind of talking about as
these playoffs lift off. Man, it's like my favorite team,
Steals steals kind of the spirit a bit because these
games are unbelievable and what the Brewers are doing right now,
(07:29):
like following kind of their potential run. And I know
it's it's early on win the home games, right and
they're doing that, and you know, Phillies are probably in trouble,
we'll see, but all the same, you know, these these
games have been terrific, and it's just you're kind of
stuck in the mire of a managerial search. You're stuck
in the mire of I wonder if they're just gonna
(07:49):
keep going and just trade Joe Ryan now, or they're
gonna trade Buxton or whatever like the hot Stove League
of the mass Exodus. Maybe continually could be going the
other way here. Really it could be going the other
way here.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well. See, that's I'm glad. That's why have you with
I mean, I mean, Bucks was on he was quoted saying,
this would be my third rebuilding plan. I don't want
to tread water anymore, you know. So that tells me
that if they start cutting some more and I'm wondering
if I'm wondering more if Joe Ryan's gonna get debt
or not, will Buxton say, you know what, I'm ready
to wave mi military classing. Wow. You know. So when
(08:26):
I was looking at those ranking I think I ranked
the h the jobs in terms of in terms of
the most desirable jobs out there. I had the twins
like fifth or six in that list. You know, because
my colleague Bobby Nigiel pointed out that once you have
a fire cell, you usually don't turn around and start
spending money in the next off season, you know, So
(08:48):
they may keep it at this level and they meet
cut some more So if you're a manager, you know,
if you're Bob Melbourne want to get back in the
big chair. You're looking at the Twins situation going, I
don't know if they're if they're going after it right now?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And that's going to affect the type of people to get.
I'm saying it's a good chance sixty percent chance that
the next manager maybe a first time manager. Yeah, it
feels like that, right, Yeah, and I want to get
to that unless it's Derek Shelton coming back. I'm just
hit with some tough news.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Butler's Bowl, the Bowling Alley and main Cato level, it's
gone really yeah, Dakota and Mankato says it's high rise
apartments now, too many underage tickets. Well I understand that. Yeah, Well,
I'm just gonna to be honest.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Jam was that the jam new over there? The bowling Alley?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, no, it's different, different spots, but college, college town there.
They're sadly just now that I'm forty, I don't like
to see it. But nineteen year old Nordo found his
way to a beer once.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Nineteen year Oldleaveville had a fake ID, but.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
They had Yeah, I had one, Thomas Hernandez, I had
I had one in college, Thomas Hernandez and uh I
made them as stake of trying to use it at
the place I founded.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
It was an employee at that particular establishment did. Yeah,
there's embarrassing. It was a growth moment for Baby Nordo
at the Buffalo wild Wings down in man Cato when
it was still downtown. The managerial search, it does feel
like it's going to be a new face. I am
curious or a first time manager, I should say. But
(10:24):
Lavelle the like in the NFL, I tell you, like
Kevin Stefanski, two time Coach of the Year for the
Cleveland Browns, the Browns History two twenty twenty, they won
that playoff game while he was on the shelf. Alex
van Pelt led them and Baker passed the Steelers right
and then I think it was either was it twenty
(10:45):
twenty three or twenty twenty four? Wow, he was He
was coach of the Year again. He looks like he's
aged fifteen years in the last five.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Working for the Browns. Why not?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And it makes sense? But to that end, like Stefanski
was going to be a first time head coach, worked with
the Vikings for years, worked his way up, well respected
throughout the league, well respected in house. Probably would have
preferred to actually keep Stefanski, but you got the opportunity
and he went.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It wasn't.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I can't take the Browns job because historically that place
is just an absolute dumpster fire.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
I'm the shores of Lake Erie.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I'm going to take this because this is maybe my
one chance to coach a team, and now potentially there
will be a break. I mean, this thing's got to
come to an end at some point if they can't
solve the quarterback position in Cleveland. But is it viewed
the same way in Major League Baseball where regardless of circumstances,
(11:42):
regardless of how bad an organization is, regardless of an
ownership group that maybe has a reputation.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Awackon Deshaun Watson. Yeah, what a terrible idea that was.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Yeah, I mean, and the Haslams have just done nothing,
and now the GM and what they're doing with Shadur
and it's not good for for stefanskip, But in baseball,
is it is it the same way where you know,
I'm I'm a young cat that want to I want
to find my way to be a manager. I don't
care that the farm system covers are bare. I don't
(12:13):
care that the ownership group actually is almost just being
open and honest about the fact that they're going to
continue to pare down, that they're not actually going to
to invest significant dollars into this. I just need to
be with a big club and have that spot on
the bench.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Is it the same in baseball? Yeah, I mean there's
only three of those jobs, you know, in the world,
so there are some people who will take that job,
you know, regards to this situation, I'm just saying that
managers would experience, and managers who want to win, you know,
probably looking elsewhere than than then than the old Minnesota Twins.
So you know, I mean, this is the one that
(12:50):
Washington Nationals bit may be more attractive than the Twins.
At least I got C. J. Abrams and that that
outfielder at still the outfielder who went to the All
Star Game hit was in the home run derby.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So I mean, this is a worse option than the athletics,
isn't it. I mean, just in general right now?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, but if you're even.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Even the White Sox if Ishbia is going to become
full as Reinsdorf kind of hands over the keys to
the castle there. Ishbia, if he's inclined to invest some
money and turn that thing around. And in Chicago maybe
in short order, is no longer the joke of the
Central Division. The Twins worst situation in baseball.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Potentially they guy working their scout in the player development
because they keep the Chicago they keep developing. These guys
are to be in like first base DH types, you know,
and I need to find a different type of athlete there.
Although Andrew vaugh has like been revived being dealt from
the White Sox to to the Brewers that I don't know.
If you saw yesterday some guy in the stand had
a Andrew Vaugh White Sox jersey before he homered in
(13:52):
the stands. It was pretty neat.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I wish my favorite team was was part of the playoffs,
but but is it?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So? You know, did Giants? The Giants probably up there
in terms of best jobs out there. Bust A Posey
wants to win. Trying to put together winning organization the
Rangers would be a good job. But looks like Schuemacher
is probably destined for that gig. So I've thought highly
a skip Schumacher. I did a good job with Tomorrowin's
with limited resources, and he left there because the organization
(14:24):
was heading in a different direction. He didn't like it.
So he's been working in the Rangers organization for the
last year or two. So Boachie moved on and so
now Schuemacher private is in there. Angels may be a
decent gig, although they've got thisclivity for like calling up
kids like two months after drafting him and throwing them
(14:45):
into the fire. I don't know where they coming from
with this angle, So why waite approach? Yeah, and there's
a room Albert Pooholtz wanting to get into the big
chair there really. Yeah, that's got me surprised. And there
was a there was a reporter lyon that they were
looking at Tory Hunter too.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Well, let me let me ask you about that, because
locally here that's that's what I've been seeing the most
of in terms of questions. So, hey, Nord's you're gonna
have Lavelle on today, you got to ask him about
Tory Hunter. Right. I actually just received from Chris to
the text message, and I appreciate all the text.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Uh six four six eighty six.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I'm in the apathetic group when it comes to Twins baseball.
But you know how he starts the text Toby Garden
High are going to be promoted to coach and I'm
just curious.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
I had him on the list.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Well, and that's so we we I feel like we gravitate.
I've heard Justin moore No's name thrown out there as well.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I can't see Christa allowing him to be a manager.
He's got five kids, five kids he is. She will
not allow him to leave her with five children. He's
still he's still living down in southern Minnesota. Right, he's
a Medna. Oh he he came up here. He has
a farm in Medina. They grow food that they eat.
They've last time I checked that twenty seven Scottish Highland cattle.
He's living off the land. Yes, he is living off
(15:56):
the lamp ah. That's kind of sweet. Actually, his his
pond becomes a hockey rink during the winter time.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
No, you say good for him, man, Yeah, love love
Justin Moorene. But but I think we so we instantly gravitate.
My point is we instantly gravitate towards some of those
known locally affiliated slash connected names.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Is that is that the obvious route? Is it too obvious?
Is that?
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Is there potential with any of that you and you've
already kind of answered on more No, but just is
is that the route we're we're focused on here?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Or are there are there.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Potentially guys out elsewhere that could be become part of
this conversation.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, it's the chance you could find someone who doesn't
have a connection with the Twins one way or another,
like a former player or former coach. You know. I
just think that like someone like James Rowson who has
been wanting to be a manager. You know, he's worked
here as a hitting coach, and this could be an
opportunity for him to step in unless the Yankees get
knocked out of the postseason and Aaron Boom gets fired
(16:54):
and Rosson has a shot there. I'm not sure, you know,
Derek Shelton was a bench coach here going to Pittsburgh,
which is the worst situation than the Twins. If you
remember during COVID, the Twins did not lay off any
of your employees. Pittsburgh froze the pension plan payments, you know,
and other than the Paul Skins have had a hard
time developing players, and when they have developed, when they
(17:15):
traded them, trading for Chris Archer and giving up to
now Austin medals. I just can't believe that deal. You know,
I'm glad you brought up and Skeens is.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Skeens is terrific and it was kind of fun over
the course of the season watching uh his you know,
his e ra is sub tu but he's winless, like
he was going through that stretch where I think, did
he not get his first win until like sometime in
June or something crazy like that.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
The Twins beat him here the night that Nelly performed
after the game.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Well, yeah, I was kidding you when you said when
you put Nelly on the Marquee fan base and the
team is going to show up forty people, I think
we found it. Pittsburgh is a worse situation than the
Minnesota Twins potentially, But but to that end, I mean,
it's you know, and I don't know who's out there
in terms of veteran names, this one just pops me.
But it's like the Dusty Bakers of the world, probably
(18:07):
not rolling into Minneapolis saying, I got an idea with
what this team has together to make some hay, it
is going to be a relatively unknown inexperience, potentially locally
affiliated to at least get us excited, get us a
Twitter if you will, as a local fan base, and
potentially that means paring back before you're moving forward exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
That's I think that's what they're looking for right now.
Like I said, once you have a fire sale, you're
probably going to at least stay at pat On Pyrol,
So you're not going to be looking to fund a team,
although I hope they bring in a couple of relievers
that that bullpen a second half of the season was
just a playpen, so they got to find a couple
of guys that could at least try to get someone
out after the sixth inning. So yeah, So I was
(18:53):
just just just trying to manage expectations Twins fans out there.
I wouldn't expect like some home run higher or some
big splashing move here their expectations someone maybe with a
local connection and someone who's new to the gig.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Yeah, And so in the end, Twins fans, if you
were already kind of apathetic and you're like, well, what
do I what's the point. What's there to be excited about?
There's nothing to be excited about it this particular time. Uh,
let me let me ask you one more thing and
then we'll pause, and I do want you. Well, let's
let's hop over to football for a moment. On the
around the corner the part time the minority owners bit
(19:28):
like what is that?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Like? Is that is that a real thing? Is that
a fake thing? A limited partner bit? Yeah? Yeah, miss
still well, I haven't asked about it in a while,
especially when the whole do they exist? Have we had
like proof of life?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Have these owners been on film with like today's newspaper
proving that they exist?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I believe that did exist. Okay, what I was a
total a few weeks ago is that one of the
limited partnership groups is still adding people, and those people
needed to be vetted out by the league office. So
that's why you haven't heard any movement on it. I
don't know if they're ready to do that tomorrow, next week,
or next month. Someone speculated to me that the owners
there's either owners meetings or some sort of league meeting
(20:09):
in November where we may know by then, So it's
taken a little bit longer than we were led to
believe it the outset. But I guess one of these
groups has kind of been a still informing as we speak.
Oh sure, Okay, So I don't know what how much
of an impact they're going to have. I don't know
how much are they going to say, No, here's fifty
million dollars for payroll, let's go. You know, I don't
(20:30):
know if they're going to do that. I just I
just need to become it's become highly anticipated. Yeah, sure
it has been because I think some fans are thinking
of them as saviors. Honest. Just remember the Polo family
still is going to control the majority of this team.
You know, they're just coming and helping pay down debt. Well,
I don't think approach a five hundred million of player payers.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I don't think you need to remind most Twins fans
that the pole ads are still in control, because I
still remember, I mean that release that they hit. They
hit fans with like what two three weeks after the
fire sale.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Yeah, just let you guys know where. Oh and by
the way, these.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
These obscure minority partnerships that we're not really going to
explain into detail. We're not identifying anybody, but here's a
thing that it may help.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
You know, help us out down the road.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
So you don't have to remind Twins fans about the
fact that the pole leads are still in control. Let's
let's pause and switch gears to the football team, maybe
the NFC North at Large. Lavell's Bears. They didn't lose
over the weekend. I didn't play. It was on the buy,
so off the buy state in the North State of
the Purple Lavelli, Neil the third in studio with me Nordo.
It's nine to noon with a cash giveaway opportunity.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
The cash thing the fan or two men and a
junk truck want to give you a shot to win
bonus box of the national cash contest at the kfan
dot com. The keyword is bank. Keyword bank kfan dot
com keyword bank. More level with Nordo.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
A couple segments to go from one shorty here with
with Lavell.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Before we pause, Leavell.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I could have sworn that I heard your voice speaking
with head coach Kevin O connell yesterday during the press conference.
We confirmed during the break that was indeed, you what
do you think into the bye week through five, just
kind of a wonky bunch and on healthy bunch, trying
to get healthy. There's a quarterback conversation in the mix
just where you at.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
With the Vikes. Ma, Man, it's just that they need
to get healthy and and and start moving this thing
forward again. It's been crazy how all these offensive line
injuries have transpired, and you got backup backup guards being
employed as centers and things like that. And Kelsey sounds
a little he sounds he doesn't sound as as energized
(22:35):
as he usually sounds. He says a little like he's
been worn down by I think exhausted. Maybe I don't know.
I was the injuries, all the questions about JJ and
speculation that it's not as he's not as hurts as
much as they claim he is. Frustration over that. So
I went out there. I just kind of want to
listen in and and and kind of get a feeling
for what the vibe is going, uh going into the
(22:57):
bye week, you know, and he named off a few
people gonna they're looking forward to have a return to practice,
and JJ's one of them.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
So that's a good sign. Yeah, wasn't one of them
though with his neck. No worried about that's concerning. That's concerning.
Need some clarity. I need some clarity on if that's
going to be a super long term thing.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Now. Hope he's okay, but no, they've got they've got
to get healthy. I don't think I think JJS returned
should kind of be tied partially to the offensive lines. Help.
I don't know if I want to put him but
back there if they still got a couple of guys
out and it's a high go spring and that's at
least a month, and sometimes it's a month and a half,
(23:37):
you know, some those those things take time and different
people hill differently.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
So yeah, I think your guy, your guy Gasoline kind
of hit on some of that too, just the the
combination of the health of the O line. And then
do you feel comfortable with McCarthy's mobility.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Right, And McCarthy's not McCarthy without his mobility. That's part
of what he is as a player, So you have to, uh,
you have to respect that in terms of how you
approach his comeback from this from this injury.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
I'm still leaning towards Wentz against Philly like it just
still kind of feels like that's that's where we'll be.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Give him his revenge game. Yeah, how about that? Absolutely
give his revenge game. Let it, let it, let it happen.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
I wonder if I wonder if he's played the Eagles
since he had to think just he's been everywhere.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Yeah, I was, I was, I was thinking about, you know,
maybe firing JJ out against the Chargers after the week
after the Eagles game. Okay, you know, the the Omari
and Hampton less Chargers. Now he got placed on ir Man.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
They're going the wrong way in a hurry, dude. Yeah,
I mean it's just Herbert and just kind of the
start they have. They're starting to figure out Quentin Johnston.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
They love their O line. But I mean, now Rashaan
Rashaan Slater's down. I think he's been down. And now
Joe Waltz hurt, Mackay Becton's hurt. Now Gee, Harris torn
Achilles and Amarion Hampton the rookie that they like. And
I think that's part of Harbaugh's plan, the ability to
smash with that thing. He's running back. Now, I need
a running back for my fancy team. Well we can
(25:01):
we can absolutely look while you uh, while you tell
me briefly Bears out of the by they're two and two,
and uh, just kind of your thoughts on the North
and your favorite team in Shytown.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
They're trying to get healthy as well. They've got a
number of injuries. Kyler Gordon has not played all year
and he's one of the better slot corners in the
league and he's still out. But he's schedule to return.
They think he's gonna be ready for for coming out
of the by here, which is Monday night, at the
scene of the crime. It's at the place where everything
went haywari last year Washington against the Commanders. The Bears
(25:31):
returned to where Tyreek Stevens gonna act like a jackass
while the while the winning Hill Mary was converted. So
the Bears get to kind of reset the reset their
time clock here by going out there.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So but he's Massan Haskins, by the way, that is
according to this depth chart I'm reading our lads, which
is usually pretty reliable. Okay, Hassan Haskins appears to be
the only healthy running back.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
On the roster.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Wow wow, So pick them up, waiver wire. No one's
going to see it coming and I don't think you
have a lot of competition.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
So they're sort of getting one of the bearers to
go on their linebackers back. They may have Austin Booker back,
which would give him some some rotational depth on among
their edge rushing room.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Has Booker played yet or no, he's not played yet either.
That's when we had that camp.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Man.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
He did it last year and then he kind of
fizzled out.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
He had that.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
He had another awesome camp this year, and he hasn't
been He just hasn't been an ail.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, Bears has been clamoring for them to add to
edge rusher like no, we're waiting for Booker to get
health healthy, you know, so I want I want to
see it. I want to see it live in the color.
If he's actually made some problems, he's neat makes some progress.
He's had to bulk up a little bit. He was
being overpowered by larger, stronger people, so he's trying to
address that. I don't know if you all the way
(26:43):
everywhere he needs to be. So, yeah, so the Bears
are trying to get healthy. I mean, Jalen Johnson's suing
him out and definitely because he has surgery for his
grown man, which is which is concerning. So but it
looks like he'll get a couple more defensive backs, back
and edge rusher and a linebacker, so we'll see. The
Bears are giving up, believe in average of one hundred
(27:05):
and sixty eight yards on the ground of game. It's bad.
So they need to do anything they can.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Maybe Flores and Dennis Allen can just get together, have
some coffee and trade ideas and how each other's respective
run defenses can improve.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And Grady Jarrett's got a bad need too. He's been out.
He was not very effective the first couple of weeks
before he got injured.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So but the way we're doing it with hard Grave
and Allen, you guys are kind of taking an aging
flyer on Grady Jared too.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Yeah, yeah they are. Yeah, the Bears are for sure.
So but I always just Renett yesterday, I was like thinking,
at one hundred and sixty yards on the ground game,
that's just that's scary. I think they're last. That's that's
a weird thing for Dennis Allen's defenses too. I guess
the Raiders that gave up over two hundred yards on
the ground. I was saying, how much did the Vikings
run for against the Bears. They didn't for one hundred
(27:53):
and sixty. I don't think, and I just don't remember.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
I don't remember the Vikings having a ton of success
on the ground week one.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
I could be wrong either.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So, yeah, so the Bears are getting healthy in the end,
we're all still looking up at the kiddies.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Who I I had just been so confident in just
kind of the idea that they would struggle, that they
would have trials and tribulations. We see a Week one
when they when they lose to at Lambeau. But man,
they're I mean, it's just you still got the coach,
you still have Campbell, you still have Gibbs, you still
have golf, you still have the stability, you got a
healthy Hutchinson.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I mean you still have players. Man.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Man, there's there's still the class of the North that
has not changed.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
In most cases, good players make coaches look good except
in one one situation, and that's developing a quarterback. Quarterback
young quarterback needs a good square structure around him in
terms of coaching and support in order to thrive. Yeah,
but most of the time when you can try tout
am around Saint Brown on the offensive side, that Jamiir
(28:51):
Gribbs on the offensive side and Aiden Hutchinson on the
defensive side. You know you got some chips to play there, man, Yeah,
you do.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Thanks for hanging out with me, Man, Thanks for coming
in studio and I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Good luck bowling. Okay, let's get that average up.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I know they spot you a few pins now, but
you ought to be in that two fifty two seventy
five range.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I no time, Oh no, My career highs like two
thirty eight. Okay, so I would just like to get it.
Let's just once up at a time. Let's average one
eighty next week and one ninety a week after that,
and just keep continuous improvement. Yes exactly, O. I dig that.
Thank you for what you do.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Anything fresh with the strip that we should be looking
forward to, whether it was covering Wild and then yesterday
covering the Vikings, like anything fresh on the strip from you.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yea. I'm writing a bunch of wild this week. I'm
writing a column before their game against the Saint Louis.
I'm writing something I'm Bill Garan for Sunday and I'm
actually writing off the game Saturday for Monday's paper because
of deadline terrorism, it won't be able to make it
to paper till mondays. Okay, yeah, I'm wilding it up
this week.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
No, that's sweet man. Hockey season is upon us. Stay
of hockey is pumped. That's Lavelli Neil the third at
Lavell Neil via x Star tribute column and a weekly
favorite Nine to Noon for sure. Final segment Nine to
Noon is next.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Ella isn't well walking my job stepping over glass in
Minneapolis much like glass Rookie QB's break easy. If we
got to end up bentioning JJ McCarthy again because he
comes out and starts doing the same stuff that confidence
hit might be irreversible on a young QB. I think
we kind of just want to keep this guy protected
(30:37):
in his ego, protected for as long as possible. Two
point's going, especially against.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Evil talkbacks Free. iHeartRadio app nine to Noon. I appreciate it. Well,
when's the just.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Do we play McCarthy next year?
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I don't know if he's completely healthy, and we want
to see what this kid has ego be damned, he
was the plan a into this season, so at some point.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
He has to play. He can't learn, can't learn on
the bench.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
Yo, Norda, Steven Florida.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, last night, I'm having dinner with my.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
Brother and we're talking about the Vikings and he says,
man that JJ he's incredible, play be awesome. And I
said Jefferson and he goes, no, dude, the quarterback McCarthy
and I go, okay, we're seeing the same thing. He's
got the talent, like the kids, got the arm the intangibles,
the leadership qualities, the escapability, just everybody just give him
(31:29):
a little time, right. Peyton Manning wasn't good his first year.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Peyton Manning wasn't good.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I totally agree, I was. I was more interested. What
did you guys have for dinner last night? We need
to see We need to see JJ play. He does
have some of those intangibles. He's gonna make mistakes. We
have to see that on the field and see it
play out.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
So Nordo, it's Aaron Oatin Little Canada. I'm just perplexed
as to why Vikings fans are so quick to jump
the gun and be like, oh, JJ's not ready, He's
not the one, Sir Wins. It's like if not now,
then when I mean he's not gonna learn or get
better sitting on the bench. I think we just have
(32:10):
never really drafted.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
A young QB before, so people are really.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
Timid to just let him go, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Yeah, combined with expectations, combined with a fourteen win team
a year ago, and the belief that I mean threading
the needle here trying to quote unquote win now roster
built to quote unquote win now while raising a kid
on the fly, I mean would talk about difficult, and
that is the challenge that the coaching staff has undertaken.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So when he's completely healthy.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Thankfully we don't have to figure that out this particular
moment with the buye. But just again, reinvigorated, re embolden,
so excited to see JJ McCarthy back on the field
with that old line in front of him. Maybe a
healthy Aaron Jones in the mix. That wouldn't hurt Jordan Addison, you.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Know the names. Thank you so much for hanging out
with us.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
On a Tuesday, whether it was Lavelle Guestling for joining,
Appreciate Brett producing all the texts and talkbacks. Everybody have
an awesome Tuesday afternoon. I think it's Go for Football
Weekly next, and then the gram. At one, it's the
Fan See You Podcast Today's Paul Allen Show.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
We're listening back to previous show and interviews like going
to the iHeartRadio app or kfan dot com
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