Recent content from Jim Souhan
Souhan: Vikings are winning - and bumbling - all at the same time
The Vikings have won five of six. They have also lost to the Falcons and Cowboys at home, and needed to work overtime — and make Dalvin Cook work far harder than is healthy — to beat a one-win team.
Souhan: Rookies aren't supposed to do what Vikings' Jefferson is doing
The first-round pick is on pace to break Randy Moss' team rookie records for catches and receiving yards.
Souhan: Reynoso's toe-tapping magic makes Loons must-see TV
Emanuel Reynoso's deft passing touch has transformed Minnesota United into a playoff force.
Souhan: College basketball bosses, stop playing games and delay season
This isn't working. Seven (seven!) healthy Gophers women's players? That's not a plan. A better plan: practice safely now, get back to playing games after this COVID spike.
Souhan: It was time to write off the season again — until it wasn't
Are the Vikings a good team digging out of a hole, or a bad team that's in too deep? What we know is they're a flawed team still in the playoff chase.
Souhan: NFL running backs like Cook live one carry at a time
The Vikings enter Sunday's game desperately needing to win, planning to feature Dalvin Cook heavily and hopeful that he can prove to be one of the rare exceptions to the rule of running back usage.
Souhan: Wolves trying to improve roster, appease Towns at same time
The Wolves know they need to keep Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota for the long term, or risk another long stretch of hopelessness.
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Souhan: College football proving it can't out-macho the virus
The surprise with the Gophers-Badgers cancellation is that the Gophers have made it through five games.
Souhan: Woeful attempt at a tackle is fitting place to hang Vikings' loss
If the Vikings miss the playoffs by one game, a defining moment will be reserve cornerback Chris Jones playing matador on a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Souhan: Credit for win streak goes to Vikings' three-man wrecking crew
Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks and safeties Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith have controlled the middle of the field as their young teammates find their way.
Souhan: Ng's hiring as Marlins GM flouts sexism, racism in sports
Kim Ng is eminently qualified to run a professional sports team, as are many other women and people of color.
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Souhan: Georgia guard Edwards is best fit, safest pick for Wolves
Anthony Edwards would be a better choice with the No. 1 overall pick than LaMelo Ball, who doesn't play defense.
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Souhan: Johnson closes out record-setting performance at Masters
The world's No. 1-ranked player won his second career major and his first green jacket.
Souhan: For DJ, it's easy does it heading into Masters Sunday
Dustin Johnson, the leader by four after three rounds of the Masters, plays golf in a strangely casual way. He takes little time before he swings, then launches line drives, making golf look effortless.
Souhan: Diverse, crowded leaderboard makes for exciting weekend at Augusta
Setting up another dramatic weekend at The Masters, the morning wave of players finishing the rain-delayed first round took advantage of wet greens, and the afternoon wave found them suddenly slippery, leading to a logjam at the top.
Souhan: Masters of a different hue opens with power hitters on pause
After days spent anticipating Bryson DeChambeau's aerial assault on Augusta National, a strange but strong group rose on the leaderboard.
Casey leads The Masters, enjoys the moment
Paul Casey doesn't care for golf in a pandemic but still appreciates his position atop the leaderboard during a delayed Round 1 of the Masters.
Souhan: At Masters, DeChambeau brings the thunder amid the silence
A tournament known for its roars might for the first time be defined by the startling sound of one man's driver.
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Souhan: Cook and Ibrahim give Minnesota a tough pair to tackle
The Vikings and Gophers stars share a success rate that ranks them with another standout with state ties, Adrian Peterson.
Souhan: There's still a path to the postseason for the Vikings
The 2-5 Vikings have not yet been evicted from the playoffs. Not mathematically, and not practically, no matter how many sleepless nights they have caused. Here's what needs to happen.
Souhan: Better than Peterson? Cook's big day brings comparisons
A week before Adrian Peterson returns to Minnesota with the Lions, Dalvin Cook showed he's a more complete back than Peterson ever was. But is he a better player?
Souhan: Gophers defense again shows it's not up to Big Ten standards
The most immediate cause of Friday night's Gophers loss at Maryland was a missed extra point in overtime; the true culprit was a defense that has allowed 94 points in two weeks.
Souhan: Fleck's challenge proving he can win with his defensive recruits
P.J. Fleck already has made good on many of his promises at Minnesota. But there is a difference between one exceptional season and winning every year
Souhan: Ranking NFL quarterbacks, from franchises to compromises
NFL teams can win Super Bowls without great quarterbacks, but it doesn't happen often. Given that history, the Vikings are in long-term trouble.
Souhan: One loss doesn't mean Gophers can't dominate this market
The Vikings are down. Most others are out. So even with Saturday night's loss, the Gophers still could become the preeminent sports team in the state of Minnesota.
Souhan: If Vikings rebuild, should Spielman and Zimmer be in charge?
Decisions made on Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Yannick Ngakoue aren't looking good. So it's fair to question if the current Vikings general manager and coach should be making decisions for the future.
Souhan: Did a playoff victory actually doom the Vikings' future?
Who deserves the blame for the Vikings' 1-5 record and seemingly dismal future? Here's a nomination for an unlikely candidate.
Souhan: Far from a cure, Cousins is what ails the Vikings
On Sunday vs. Atlanta, the Vikings produced the kind of performance that gets coaches fired and quarterbacks benched.
Souhan: Zimmer trusted his gut on fourth down vs. Seattle — justifiably
There has to be room in sports for human intuition, and for leaders who know their players. Mike Zimmer's late-game decision in the Vikings' loss to Seattle last Sunday sparked a week's worth of second-guessing.
Souhan: More NFL games on Tuesdays? Bring 'em on
The pandemic has induced sports chaos anyway, so the midweek experiment might as well continue even if coaches crave routine and regimentation.
Souhan: LeBron is the greatest ... for these strange, polarized times
Two players rose above all others in the Florida bubbles: Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm and James. Both led their teams to championships. Both could at some point be regarded as the best to ever play the game.
Souhan: Guerin has broken up Wild without much to show for it
GM Bill Guerin's moves so far have in common: He has rid the Wild of some of their best people and personalities without receiving much in return.
Souhan: Ending playoff failure era may best be a job for youngest Twins
Many fans may again demand that the Twins fix all of their problems with one, flashy free agent signing. But the answer to this team's problems could reside within the organization.
Souhan: Quick hook for starters leads to quick exit from playoffs
Do not let the oddities of this short, strange season distract you from the fact this was the most embarrassing loss of the Twins' record-breaking postseason losing streak.
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Souhan: Playoff pressure continues causing offense to disappear
In dropping yet another postseason game, the Twins showed once again that the stage lights are too bright for their wide eyes when the games matter most.
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Souhan: Karma is a pitch for Twins' and Houston's playoff fortunes
The Twins' starting rotation, as underwhelming as it might seem to many fans, might be the deepest they have had entering a postseason since 1991.
Souhan: To erase past playoff debacles, Twins must draw on mental toughness
Twins players acknowledged their division title and home playoff berth in muted fashion Sunday, intent on bringing about bigger and better celebrations in the days ahead.
Souhan: Badly timed injuries could continue Twins' playoff curse
Luis Arraez returned to the Twins lineup Saturday and gave it a spark, but other key players were still out.
Souhan: Collier plays like a superstar as Lynx almost pull off shocker
At one point in the fourth quarter, Napheesa Collier blocked three shots by Seattle superstar Breanna Stewart in quick succession.
Souhan: Prep football on way back, Kirk Cousins on way down
A lot of news to catch up on, including the very quick and sudden end to the Vikings season and the belated start of high school football.
Souhan: Ngakoue arrives just in time to save Vikings' season
If we were going to identify the most pivotal non-quarterback in Sunday's Vikings game at Indianapolis, it might be Yannick Ngakoue, the lone blue-chip defensive lineman.
Souhan: 'I didn't want to go home' more than just words from Sims
Odyssey Sims gave birth to her son in April and planned not to play this season. She changed her mind, and changed the Lynx's prospects for success.
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Souhan: Vikings, Packers take different approaches to star players
The Vikings on Saturday made a huge investment in star running back Dalvin Cook, while Green Bay sent Aaron Rodgers mixed messages this offseason.
Souhan: more Lamars and Deshauns, fewer Kirks and Toms will define this NFL season
Quarterback play has never been better in the NFL, for a number of good and heartening reasons.
Souhan: Lynx have right stuff to make a WNBA playoff run
One of the reasons the Lynx boast so many possible WNBA award candidates is their ability to hang around the top of the league without their departed stars and their currently injured star — center Sylvia Fowles.
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Souhan: Picture not always rosy when it comes to Twins' Rosario
Somehow, Eddie Rosario went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk and yet had a bad game because of other misadventures.
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Souhan: From Wolves to NBA playoff teams: 'You're welcome'
The Wolves' draft decisions have created something of a reverse curse in the NBA. Since Dallas won the NBA title in 2011, every NBA champion except once has featured a Wolves connection or benefited from a Wolves draft-day decision.
Souhan: Twins' ability to bounce back from adversity might be best trait
We might never see this team whole. But we might have already witnessed the most important bounce-back games of the season.
Souhan: Vikings managing array of on-field crises beyond virus
Without a normal offseason or training camp, and without preseason games, the Vikings will be trying to douse fires at a handful of key positions.
Souhan: Athletes threaten bosses' money as they sit out for justice
Black athletes have raised fists and boycotted anthems and broadcast their grief, but sadly they may never have mattered as much, in terms of social impact, as they did on Wednesday.
Souhan: Lynx, Twins lead the league in vulnerability
By admitting what they don't know and valuing input from employees at all levels, the Lynx's Cheryl Reeve and the Twins' Derek Falvey have built successful and progressive franchises in a complicated modern sports culture.
Souhan: Lynx keep winning with big contributions, not big names
Cheryl Reeve's work as Lynx general manager the past two years has allowed her to survive as a coach in the post-Maya Moore franchise mode.
Souhan: Moving Parise and keeping Dubnyk might help Wild
What Wild GM Bill Guerin does with Zach Parise and Devan Dubnyk this offseason will be telling, and perhaps pivotal for the team's future success.
Souhan: Voices of reason, not greed, led to right call by Big Ten's leaders
As college football goes on hiatus, it's not hard to separate the adults from the children. Most of the latter are highly paid college football coaches.
Souhan: New world champ from Minneapolis fights for title and for justice
As he returns to Minneapolis from Los Angeles with an interim World Boxing Association welterweight title, Jamal James is seeking "change as a society and a nation as a whole."
Souhan: Given chance to show unity with Dumba, players stumble
Matt Dumba stood alone in an arena and before the sports world, asking for equality and awareness, raising a fist to protest racism. His teammates and the NHL left him hanging.
Souhan: Minneapolis boxer James finally gets his shot at a title
Saturday night in Los Angeles, Jamal James will fight for the WBA interim welterweight title. For years, James' slogan has been: "Where's my belt?" Now, finally, it is an uppercut away.
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Souhan: Twins bullpen transformed from a liability to a strength
Last summer, when the Twins' bullpen was getting knocked around, the team started a flurry of moves that has paid off very well.
Souhan: Props to Bettman and the NHL for saving the season
Six months ago, the NHL seemed a long shot to become a model for COVID protocols. In an upset, the NHL is now winning the dangerous game of responsibly returning to action.
Souhan: In battle of No. 1 starters, true ace is not Twins' Berrios
Jose Berrios is a two-time All-Star, a maniacal worker, a career overachiever and the ace of a team coming off a 101-victory season. But he still has a lot to prove.
Souhan: Finau fails again by slipping into Sunday worst at 3M Open
He's a Ryder Cup player ranked 17th in the world, but when it comes time to win, he's more choker than closer.
Souhan: Tringale, with a 63 at the 3M Open, reminds us of realities
The world is loaded with excellent golfers, and it's a very close call who will win and why. Just ask Cameron Tringale.
Souhan: Wolff's confidence, crazy swing propel him to 3M Open success
Matthew Wolff, the defending 3M Open champion, is comfortable at TPC Twin Cities, and he's in contention again.
Souhan: Finau's polished swing has come a long way from the garage
Learning the game of golf in a garage produced Tony Finau's remarkably compact yet powerful swing. It was on point Thursday, leading him to a 6-under 65.
Secret to Mitch Garver's power? Crushing it with science
Mitch Garver blended science, baseball analytics and common sense to devise an approach that produced 31 home runs in only 311 at-bats last year.
Souhan: What I watched during the quarantine of 2020
Quarantine has created the opportunity and isolation for new diversions as live sports slowly return to our lives.
Souhan: Fall football forecast sees maybe the NFL playing
Will there be football this fall? Should there be football this fall? Is football at every level below the NFL going to be called off due to the pandemic?
Souhan: Twins are back at Target Field but nothing feels normal
The crack of the bat is supposed to be accompanied by cheers or gasps, not resolute silence. The final words spoken on the loudspeaker should not be "Attendance: Zero."
Souhan: Mahomes' megabucks deal a reminder American sports flush with cash
The measure of any large sports contract is not whether the owner can afford it, but whether it makes sense within the salary and payroll structure of that team and league.
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Souhan: Sports world finds its voice in difficult times
There are examples everywhere of people trying to effect change.
Souhan: 60-game version of Twins could be more dangerous
With ridiculous power and underrated pitching depth, the Twins were well-prepared to succeed over 162 games. As they begin workouts this weekend at Target Field, they may be even more formidable than they were a few months ago.
Souhan: A short, experimental baseball season? Bring it on
A universal designated hitter? Expanded rosters? Runners on second base to start extra innings? This MLB season could be loads more fun than the usual 162-game slog.
Souhan: Maya Moore more deserving than Cruz for ESPYs' Humanitarian award
Nelson Cruz was a deserving winner, but the Lynx star gave up her career to dedicate her life to criminal justice reform, and should have won the award.
Souhan: Pohlads weather storms to sit solidly in charge of Twins
Among many Twins fans, the name Pohlad is synonymous with cheapness. As the team prepares for a long-delayed Opening Day, this is a good time to ask whether the family deserves the reputation.
Souhan: Ex-Wolves coach Casey lauds strong words from white peers
It shouldn't need to be this way, but having Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr and others speak out has made a difference in the month since the killing of George Floyd.
