The Bonding Begins

[Lipoli390]

Before he was spotted at New York Fashion Week over the weekend, we hear that the former Yankees star and his business partner Marc Lore brought their new Minnesota Timberwolves squad to Miami to warm up, literally, before the season starts next month. Sources told Page Six that A-Rod, 46, hosted 50-plus team members and staffers at his 11,000-square-foot Coral Gables, Fla., home for a warm get-together. A source told us that, "every player attended," and entertainment included a DJ and a magician. The Miami home is also known for housing Rodriguez's impressive art collection -- as well as "window walls [that] can retract to open the living spaces to the sprawling yard," including a swimming pool, a freestanding bar pavilion, and an in-ground trampoline, Architectural Digest reported. 2 days ago - via Ian Mohr @ New York Post. Alex Rodriguez, Minnesota Timberwolves

Said a spy of the trip, "Alex and Marc had the team in Miami for the week practicing and scrimmaging. Players included D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns." The new owners, "wanted to set the tone for the upcoming season. They attended practice daily, and hosted multiple dinners." 2 days ago - via Ian Mohr @ New York Post


Most of the Vikings fans on this board will remember Pecos River. Enough said...it didn't work out so well. But there is value in bonding as a team and events like the one hosted by A-Rod can help. I would think that a gathering like that at the cool pad of one of the new owners - a hall-of-fame baseball great -- would create some excitement among the players. So I do think it matters. But I'm more interested in the tone that Chris Finch, Elston Turner, Patrick Beverley and Taurean Prince will set in the locker room and on the court. I'll be looking for consistent effort, intensity and competitive fire on both ends of the court. I'll be expecting KAT to better harness his tremendous talent and competitive fire with more maturity. I'm interested in seeing Edwards and McDaniels pick up where they left off late last season and take it up another notch. I want to see DLO stay healthy and show some consistent intensity on the court. And maybe Okogie will suddenly display a reliable corner three. But in any event, I'm glad they all got together at A-Rod's in Florida this past week.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The #1 key to this season is good luck with the injury gods. The #2 key is whether DLO, KAT, and Ant respect, listen to, and learn from Turner and PBev. That's pretty much it - good health and defense. The offense will take care of itself.

[Lipoli390]

The #1 key to this season is good luck with the injury gods. The #2 key is whether DLO, KAT, and Ant respect, listen to, and learn from Turner and PBev. That's pretty much it - good health and defense. The offense will take care of itself.

Yep. That pretty sell sums it up.