Recent content from Jim Souhan
Souhan: Sid was a true original, and he was ours
In a profession that at least pretends to value objectivity and professional distance, Sid Hartman was a fan who owned valuable real estate in the region's biggest newspaper.
Souhan: Despite its words, NFL still lacks credibility on racism
This is why the NFL lacks credibility: Anyone can mouth a phrase or paint a slogan.
Souhan: Development of Morgan at QB is promising sign for Gophers' future
P.J. Fleck speaks of "culture" and speaks in slogans, but the true opportunity for building a better program lies at the quarterback position. He's off to a pretty good start.
Souhan: Trade benefits Vikings both obviously and cynically
The Vikings aren't in the business of paying players what they "deserve." They are in the business of winning games while staying under the salary cap, and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue's arrival could mean the end of meaningful long-term negotiations with running back Dalvin Cook.
Souhan: White men in power using their influence to combat racism
The power structure, for once, is paying it forward.
Souhan: By sitting out, Bateman making best choice for health, future
The only tangible value for athletes playing college football for free is to audition for the NFL, and Rashod Bateman already nailed his audition.
Souhan: Aesthetic Arraez has spark to lead off for Twins' Bomba Squad
Even in the launch-angle era, there remains value in a leadoff hitter who wears down pitchers and gets on base. Last year, Arraez had the best on-base percentage of any Twins regular, at .399.
Souhan: Edmonton Wild could be what's cool this summer
This might seem like a strange time for optimism about the Wild as the NHL season heads toward a restart. But there are reasins to feel good about the team.
Souhan: Restarting sports in virus-deep Florida was horrible mistake
Sports leagues should have ignored the welcome mat offered by the Sunshine State.
Souhan: A true patriot sees the American flag as more
It's time for Americans to choose: Do you care about citizens or symbols?
Souhan: U assistant Thibault-DuDonis leans on family of coaches
"Family" isn't a coaching cliché for Gophers women's basketball assistant Carly Thibault-DuDonis. Her father is in the WNBA and her husband is the head coach at Wisconsin-River Falls.
Souhan: Strong statement needed, and Vikings signing Kaepernick would do it
Signing Colin Kaepernick would signal the Vikings care about social justice, and that the NFL acknowledges its wrongful blackballing of a talented quarterback. It would also make football sense.
Souhan: Major League Baseball can't afford to take season off
If players and owners can't agree on salaries this year, it would be another blow to the game
Baseball was Hunter's safe haven, and he grew into a star
Torii Hunter listened to veteran teammates and slowly learned. He progressed from a talented youngster who couldn't identify the spin of offspeed pitches to a slugger who crushed them.
Souhan: Black athletes call out again for justice. Will we listen this time?
For many white Americans, exposure to what it is like to be black in the United States often comes through black athletes and entertainers. We should listen to them.
Souhan: Restarted NHL season could play right into Wild's hands
Had the NHL stuck to the traditional 16-team bracket, the Wild would have been out. Instead, it will get to play a best-of-five series against Vancouver. Minnesota's players could have the edge.
Souhan: Fans should enjoy any Wild playoff run even if sportstuff will be missing
Sportstuff won't return for Stanley Cup playoffs, but fans should try to enjoy the sport at least.
Souhan: With more controls, 'Wild West' feel gone from sports reporting
Sports coverage will never be as wild and personal as it was when an angry Wolves player walked into the media room and announced he was calling his own press conference.
Souhan: Ignoring blacks for top NFL jobs is racist and stupid
If you're not angry about discrimination, you should be angry about so many teams breaking the golden rule of sports. They're not doing all they can to win.
Souhan: Ban spitting. Dial down celebrations. Bring on robot umps.
When Major League Baseball games return post-pandemic, there are a handful of changes that should be made - for the better.
Souhan: Teerlinck had knack for motivating Vikings players he coached
John Teerlinck spent just three seasons with the Vikings, but columnist Jim Souhan considers him one of the great characters and coaches in a franchise history filled with high achievers and great characters.
Souhan: The role of a backup QB? Depends who you ask
NFL teams differ on what they want from the backup quarterback position: An heir apparent, a reclamation project, a multi-tasking gadget QB or a thrifty insurance policy.
Souhan: Spielman just made Vikings stronger with deft handling of draft
Yes, picking Gophers stars Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tyler Johnson would have made nice stories, but that's not what the team was after.
Souhan: NFL franchise needs that go beyond the draft
Some teams are out to select the best athlete available, but a lot of them have bigger problems that won't be fixed this week.
Souhan: Vikings have gotten into trouble drafting need over talent
Need is a terrible evaluator. For many NFL fans, that phrase has become a cliche, but it is the kind of phrase that becomes a cliche because it is so true.
Souhan: Logic means postponing games, but logic doesn't always guide IOC
Logic dictates that the Games be postponed until the summer of 2021. It would be criminally stupid to hold them this summer, during a worldwide pandemic.
Souhan: A virus knocks us all from our NCAA pools at the same time
The bracket is what makes March Madness a societal phenomenon. The bracket is the greatest driver of sports conversations in America. The bracket is what we will miss the most.
Souhan: When American sports leagues shut down, they got it right
Thursday, the sports world stopped cold. Except that this isn't really about sports. This is about American sports reflecting America's reality, instead of serving as diversion.
Souhan: Griffen is first domino to fall for Vikings in salary-cap crunch
The likely loss of Everson Griffen is the first piece removed. There are more players who will force the Vikings to make difficult decisions in the coming months
Souhan: For Twins fans, dealing Graterol what 'going for it' looks like
The risk: Brusdar Graterol will become a star and remind Twins fans forever of David Ortiz. The payoff: The 2020 Twins are a better team.
Souhan: Vikings' nepotism, cronyism just might work
Gary Kubiak, Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer were promoted from within, maintaining the cohesion of the coaching staff.
Souhan: Solutions, not search for scapegoat, need to be Wolves' focus
The Timberwolves are evolving in a painfully slow way. But screaming for the head of Ryan Saunders when he doesn't have the players to fit his system doesn't solve anything.
Souhan: Young Kobe was a work-in-progress under Willie Burton's watch
When Willie Burton played for the Philadelphia 76ers, he worked out regularly with Kobe Bryant, then a high school phenom at Lower Merion High in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Souhan: Twins pull off the improbable, improve a record-breaking lineup
A Twins team that set the MLB mark for homers in 2019 added more firepower in Josh Donaldson.
Souhan: Zimmer has something to prove with defense next season
For all of his regular-season accomplishments, coach Mike Zimmer will enter 2020 needing to prove that he can win with a new defense.
Souhan: In entertaining season, Vikings' narrative changes weekly
Every week has been a miniseries. They've featured sniping receivers, an apologizing quarterback, key injuries, a cornerback sideline tantrum, wrenching losses, redemptive victories -- and now a meaningful Border Battle.
Souhan: Vikings shroud Dalvin Cook's latest injury in mystery
Following their most lopsided victory of the season, the Vikings' smiles were paired with winces because of Cook's injury, the way expensive wine might pair with moldy cheese.
Souhan: Twins' options to fill out rotation are plentiful
Signing Madison Bumgarner might be the easiest path for the Twins, but it also figures to be the most expensive.
Souhan: Cousins continues mending his reputation by leading comeback
This was not your basic comeback: Kirk Cousins threw three second-half touchdown passes as the Vikings pulled off a rally that was unique in the history of the NFL.
Souhan: Tipped pass by Kendricks in final minute saves the day for Vikings
Eric Kendricks had spent Sunday night sifting through blockers and applying shoulders to one of football's best running backs. Now the Cowboys were isolating him on the biggest play of the game.
Souhan: Fleck and the Gophers take a huge leap in relationship
Minnesota's paranoia of coaches departing for The Big City or The Bigger Program dates to Lou Holtz, who suckered the state into believing he was committed to the U in the 1980s.
Souhan: C'mon, 'College GameDay': Gophers-Penn State is where you ought to be
This might be the biggest game ever to be played at TCF Bank Stadium and perhaps Minnesota's biggest game since Murray Warmath was coaching.
Souhan: You're seeing Cousins that Vikings hoped they were getting
Kirk Cousins on Sunday in Detroit was accurate, aggressive, mistake-free and sometimes spectacular. He was also clutch, which is a word he doesn't hear often.
Souhan: Cure for an uncommon 'cold?' A hot game for Diggs
Stefon Diggs had more receiving yards Sunday afternoon than in any other two games this season. "I have been waiting patiently, preparing," he said.
'Grown up.' Sano finally becoming the player he was expected to be
Twins executives, managers, coaches and teammates had tried to lead Miguel Sano. Then a new teammate came along and Sano found the ideal leader in Nelson Cruz -- and Sano was ready to follow him.
A much different Twins team gets ready to recapture postseason magic
These powerful newbies could break Minnesota's streak of 13 playoff losses.
Souhan: Cook's excellence has made him the face of the Vikings
Dalvin Cook is the Vikings' best player, athlete, stratagem and blemish-obscurer. "We're riding his coattails,'' receiver Adam Thielen said.
Souhan: Is Cousins regressing? Or did Vikings overestimate him from the beginning?
On Sunday, quarterback Kirk Cousins was in situations where he could prompt comparisons to Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. Instead, he evoked memories of Christian Ponder.
Souhan: Here's why Bill Guerin now has the easiest job in sports
If the Wild struggles struggles this season, fired Wild general manager Paul Fenton will be blamed, and rightly so. If the Wild surprises this year, the new general manager's leadership will be lauded.
North Score: Why don't we try writing down the 'unwritten rules'?
Are these unspoken agreements useful or would we be better off in general without them?
Souhan: After 31 years, Munneke keeps doing his best to sell underwhelming Wolves
As the vice president of fan experience, Jeff Munneke might have the toughest job in local sports, and he is one of the longest-tenured of Minnesota sports executives.
Souhan: Twins to look at need for even more protection from foul balls
Twins officials said that Target Field uses more netting than is required by Major League Baseball, and that they will reevaluate the need for more fan protection.
Souhan: Spielman on right path; he should keep toeing the line
The Vikings' offensive line still isn't perfect, but first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury is a step in the right direction
Souhan: This Final Four match-up as sexy as a bruised elbow
The programs have little in common other than defensive systems rooted in the game's patriarchy and coaches who would rather give up a toe than a layup.
Culver stays home to play at Texas Tech, but he's too good to stay for long
Under the coaching of Chris Beard at Texas Tech, Jarrett Culver has developed into a strong defender who can handle the ball, get his shot off against bigger opponents and attack the rim.
Souhan: Ugly Dome site of 2 beautiful Final Fours, 1 packed regional
In one of the one of the world's least likely venues for premium hoops events, each brought a procession of Who's Who and Who-Would-Become basketball names.
Blue blood dominance in all three title games played in Minneapolis
Here's a look at all three of the previous championship games played in Minneapolis.
Souhan: Tubby's flight to Memphis opened door for Texas Tech's resurgence
If the Gophers hadn't fired Tubby Smith, Texas Tech might today still be known mostly for residing in the middle of the middle of nowhere.
Clarke chasing a bigger goal with Gonzaga
Brandon Clarke will try to lead them past Texas Tech's smothering defense in the West Region final on Saturday.
Souhan: Pitino downplayed the past and may have secured his future
Gophers coach Richard Pitino refused to play the "Him vs. Louisville" game all week, even after the Gophers had dribbled out the clock in their NCAA first-round victory over the Cardinals.
Souhan: On this night, Gophers offer reminder of The Barn at its best
On Tuesday, the Gophers provided a reminder that a few decades ago a ticket to Williams Arena was as good as sports got in the Twin Cities.
Souhan: Hey, Twins: Make a statement and sign Harper, Kimbrel
Free agents Bryce Harper and Craig Kimbrel are there for the taking. So why not bring them to Minnesota?
Souhan: Plenty of blame to go around after Vikings' lethargic loss
Last time the New Orleans Saints visited they aided and abetted the Minneapolis Miracle. This time, they facilitated Minnesota mediocrity.
Souhan: Bears' trade for Mack throws another hurdle in front of Vikings
In the past few days, the Packers signed Aaron Rodgers, the Rams signed defensive end Aaron Donald and the Bears traded for Khalil Mack. The Vikings face them all this season.
Souhan: Twins must stay patient with Sano, Buxton
There is a sense of urgency around the Twins, the kind of urgency that could persuade a more jittery front office to rush Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano back to Target Field. But patience is required.
Souhan: It's almost time to write off Twins, but there is a sliver of hope
The team left spring training with justified optimism and has performed as if trying to revisit contraction.
Souhan: Twins need a starting catcher, not a stopgap
Everywhere you looked Tuesday other than the final score, there was evidence that the Twins need help. Behind the plate would be a good place to start.
Souhan: Best news about Buxton is that he's still hurting
Byron Buxton went on the disabled list after admitting that he can't push off on his broken toe. Why is this relatively good news?
Souhan: Despite flaws, these Twins have a rare ace in the hole
The Twins face a rare dilemma in a few weeks when Ervin Santana is back healthy: Go with a six-man rotation or eject a quality arm from the rotation.
Souhan: Plenty of questions surrounding Twins but don't panic - yet
Some answers to the burning questions surrounding the slumping 2018 Twins.
Souhan: Hughes pick shows again Spielman loves spectacular athletes
In some ways, Mike Hughes' journey to the Vikings sounds like the path taken by a selection who turned out to be one of the team's best wide receivers ever.
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Souhan: Wolves learn the hard way, you do not poke 'The Beard'
In Game 4, Harden became a human torch, erasing a Timberwolves lead and any shadow of a doubt as to who will win this playoff series.
