Who: Mike Max

Sid Hartman pleaded for Gopher cager Bryce Webster to stay on the team and claimed he had “a great future as an NBA player”.

He also sold hope to Vikings fans by suggesting they really have four first round picks coming in to the 2007 season and repeated his assessment of Brad Childress as a “great coach”.

Paul “Ducky” Allen loved up Randy Foye and Corey Brewer during some meaningless summer basketball league games.

He also bootlicked former Gopher coach Glen Mason by telling a Big Ten Network official, “I expect him to be your best analyst”.

Jeff Dubay continued his consistent defense of the Twins with many B.O.D. (benefit of the doubt) takes including:

-PredictingTorri Hunter would be a very good player over the next 3-5 years
-Questioning a check swing by Michael Cuddyer in the 9th inning vs. the Yankees
-Regarding Johan Santana he declared, “I think he’ll be lights out the rest of the way”
-Whined about Garza not getting a strikeout during a game vs. Detroit
-Responded to a caller frustrated about Morneau taking on a 3-0 count by suggesting, “He probably was ask to take it”
-Called Kent Hrbek “a renowned slugger”
-Sold hope by speculating the Twins would be “very good” in 2008 as the young pitchers mature

In a revealing moment, Mark Rosen complimented the Detroit Tigers calling them “a great team” after a sweep of the Twins and then reflexively said “that is not a reflection on the Twins”

Also, after Chad Hartman rhetorically ask him if Viking Jim Kleinsasser had lived up to his billing.  Mr. Rosen gave a patented non-response response, “He’s been there nine years”

On a note of surprising candor, Pioneer Press Vikings beat writer Sean Jensen cautioned P.A. and Dubay about the mobility of QB Tarvaris Jackson after they attempted to oversell his running ability.

Winner: 

While yucking it up with former Twin Roy Smalley, Mike Max observed “it just sounds different” when Justin Morneau hits a home run.  However, what tipped the scales in his favor was his one on one sit down interview with Timberwolves coach Randy Whitman.  Staged on the basketball court with folding chairs as if a penetrating interview were about to ensue, it was far from it.  Max offered up a bevy of cupcake questions and the rare credible query was avoided by the coach with no follow up by the early favorite for Homer of the Year (Max).

Bottom Line: We don’t know what was more insulting; Max’s soft questions or Coach Whitman’s inane answers.