Erik Ritland
Minnesota editor, journalist, and musician presents...
RIP Rambling On -
Long Live Rambling On!
Rambling On began in 2012 as a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Known for its irreverent, humorous, in-depth coverage, it was always on the cutting edge of the blog and podcast worlds.
In Summer 2021, founder and god-king Erik Ritland decided to close shop on Rambling On.
"It wasn't a bad run - truly. Publishing thousands of articles and hundreds of podcasts over nearly a decade is definitely something to be proud of," he said. "Hell, we were doing podcasts in 2012 long before every person in the world was. But ultimately, as much as I love this format and what I built here, there just wasn't enough time and money to keep it going."
Erik would especially like to thank longtime contributors Peter Ripka, Mike Coenen, and Jeff Hartfiel for all their hard work and dedication.
Be sure to follow Erik's current projects, which include his music, writing and editing for popular website Music in Minnesota, web design for the Tennessee Register, and his brand new soon-to-debut music website and podcast, The Cosmic American.
Rambling On went through many formats covering music, sports, culture, and more. Check out our complete history and archive for more information. Below is our blog archive from 2012-2016. View the history page for content released from 2016-2020.
Erik's final message to all the fans, friends, and family of Rambling On?
"It wasn't a bad run. Love you all. See you in the clubs."
In Summer 2021, founder and god-king Erik Ritland decided to close shop on Rambling On.
"It wasn't a bad run - truly. Publishing thousands of articles and hundreds of podcasts over nearly a decade is definitely something to be proud of," he said. "Hell, we were doing podcasts in 2012 long before every person in the world was. But ultimately, as much as I love this format and what I built here, there just wasn't enough time and money to keep it going."
Erik would especially like to thank longtime contributors Peter Ripka, Mike Coenen, and Jeff Hartfiel for all their hard work and dedication.
Be sure to follow Erik's current projects, which include his music, writing and editing for popular website Music in Minnesota, web design for the Tennessee Register, and his brand new soon-to-debut music website and podcast, The Cosmic American.
Rambling On went through many formats covering music, sports, culture, and more. Check out our complete history and archive for more information. Below is our blog archive from 2012-2016. View the history page for content released from 2016-2020.
Erik's final message to all the fans, friends, and family of Rambling On?
"It wasn't a bad run. Love you all. See you in the clubs."
Archive: Series Five
Minnesota Sports Ramble 2018-2019 Archive!
10/4/19
The Minnesota Sports Ramble featured weekly blogs during the 2018-2019 Vikings, Wild, and Wolves seasons.
The entirety of our 2018-2019 Wolves, Wild, and Vikings coverage can be found here.
More of the Same: The Wild Season Ends
4/3/19
Disappointments, silver lining, speculation about if the Wild didn't have injuries, thoughts on Boudreau, what the Wild should focus on in the off-season, Stanley Cup predictions, and more in our Wild post-mortem.
This also marks our SIXTIETH Minnesota Sports Ramble blog!
Twins Opening Day Spectacular!
3/28/19
In our special Opening Day article, Minnesota Sports Ramble god-king Erik Ritland and Twins/Wild analyst Peter Ripka talk Spring Training, the lineup, pitching, and predictions.
This begins our weekly content for the Twins season, which will appear every Thursday!
It's Over: Timberwolves 2018-2019 Post-Mortem
3/25/19
With the season all but over, our Wolves expert Beartrap McManus gives a thorough post-mortem on the team. Highs, lows, disappointments, unexpected highlights, trade deadline non-moves, Towns, Wiggins, the coaching search, hopeful off-season moves, and more.
The Iowa Wild and the "Bad" NHL Points System: Special Wild and Hockey Content
3/12/19
Our weekly Wild and Timberwolves blogs continue, but we've also recently released some special content. Wild analysts Peter Ripka and Jeffrey Hartfiel have written a couple cool pieces.
Jeff recently took a trip to see the Iowa Wild, the Wild's farm team. The game was sloppy and the weather was far from ideal, but Jeff takes a deep dive into the top Wild prospects in his article.
Peter went a little more broad, tackling the controversial issue of the NHL points system. Using a lot of facts and statistics, he proves that those against the current system don't have a leg to stand on.
Introducing Twins Coverage from the Minnesota Sports Ramble
2/13/19
Spring Training is finally here, and you know what that means: Minnesota Sports Ramble Twins content!
Our Spring Training blog was released this week. Regular articles will begin on Opening Day.
Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland Makes History
2/4/19
The Super Bowl was supposed to be high scoring. It was supposed to begin the "new wave" of the NFL, one with massive amounts of offense and irrelevant defense.
While every other commentator in America was predicting scores like 38-35, only Rambling On founder Erik Ritland correctly predicted what would happen:
"My hot take: it'll be a low scoring game. The Patriots defense is good enough to keep down the Rams, and the Rams defense is good enough to keep the Patriots in check."
This just in: that's exactly what happened.
Check out the rest of his prediction and Big Game prognostication from other Rambling On staff.
Our 40th Minnesota Sports Ramble Commemorates Timberwolves Infamy
1/12/19
They never said that we'd reach 40 Minnesota Sports Ramble articles, but we did it! You doubted us, but now we're here.
Fittingly, MSR #40 covers a huge Minnesota sports story that is sure to live on in Timberwolves lore: the firing of Tom Thibodeau.
We've Reached over 1,000 Twitter Followers! Thank you!
12/3/18
After starting out with only a handful of followers before our re-launch in September, we're proud to announce that in three short months we've gained 1,000 followers. The best part is that they are almost all genuine Minnesota sports fans! We regularly get more likes and comments on our posts than many local radio stations and newspapers. Thank you so much for your support.
We look forward to releasing more worthwhile content for the next 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 followers.
We're Thankful for You
11/18/18
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We're so grateful for your support! Each of our blogs (almost 30 in two months) continually bring in hundreds of views apiece, our Twitter community continues to grow, and the unique personalities of our writers are resonating with fans of the Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves. Thank you for your loyalty. We look forward to
Series Five of Rambling On Already a Huge Success
10/1/18
We're happy to announce that series five of Rambling On has already exceeded expectations! Our blogs have received thousands of views, our Twitter community is growing precipitously, and our writers are quickly becoming fan favorites. There's definitely more to come, so please stay tuned, and thanks a lot for your support!
Introducing Series Five of Rambling On
9/4/18
After a year of planning, series five of Rambling On is finally here!
Although there has always been an emphasis on it since our launch in 2012, we are excited to announce that series five will focus solely on Minnesota sports.
Our new content includes...
* Emphasis on the four major Minnesota sports teams
Beginning this month, we'll be featuring a lot more content on the Vikings, Wild, Wolves, and Twins. This will spread across all platforms, including exclusive content and commentary on Facebook and Twitter
* Growth of the Rambling On Twitter community
Join the conversation about Minnesota sports by following our Twitter page here. Daily posts include commentary on the latest Minnesota sports stories and content on the four major local sports teams.
* More Local Sports Blogs
We've hired more writers and are excited to roll out more sports content. Beginning the week of 9/30, we'll be releasing new Sports Ramble blogs every Tuesday (Vikings), Thursday (Wild), and Friday (Timberwolves). Check out our latest content here. Content will change based on which teams are in-season, and we'll always have coverage of the biggest breaking news.
10/4/19
The Minnesota Sports Ramble featured weekly blogs during the 2018-2019 Vikings, Wild, and Wolves seasons.
The entirety of our 2018-2019 Wolves, Wild, and Vikings coverage can be found here.
More of the Same: The Wild Season Ends
4/3/19
Disappointments, silver lining, speculation about if the Wild didn't have injuries, thoughts on Boudreau, what the Wild should focus on in the off-season, Stanley Cup predictions, and more in our Wild post-mortem.
This also marks our SIXTIETH Minnesota Sports Ramble blog!
Twins Opening Day Spectacular!
3/28/19
In our special Opening Day article, Minnesota Sports Ramble god-king Erik Ritland and Twins/Wild analyst Peter Ripka talk Spring Training, the lineup, pitching, and predictions.
This begins our weekly content for the Twins season, which will appear every Thursday!
It's Over: Timberwolves 2018-2019 Post-Mortem
3/25/19
With the season all but over, our Wolves expert Beartrap McManus gives a thorough post-mortem on the team. Highs, lows, disappointments, unexpected highlights, trade deadline non-moves, Towns, Wiggins, the coaching search, hopeful off-season moves, and more.
The Iowa Wild and the "Bad" NHL Points System: Special Wild and Hockey Content
3/12/19
Our weekly Wild and Timberwolves blogs continue, but we've also recently released some special content. Wild analysts Peter Ripka and Jeffrey Hartfiel have written a couple cool pieces.
Jeff recently took a trip to see the Iowa Wild, the Wild's farm team. The game was sloppy and the weather was far from ideal, but Jeff takes a deep dive into the top Wild prospects in his article.
Peter went a little more broad, tackling the controversial issue of the NHL points system. Using a lot of facts and statistics, he proves that those against the current system don't have a leg to stand on.
Introducing Twins Coverage from the Minnesota Sports Ramble
2/13/19
Spring Training is finally here, and you know what that means: Minnesota Sports Ramble Twins content!
Our Spring Training blog was released this week. Regular articles will begin on Opening Day.
Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland Makes History
2/4/19
The Super Bowl was supposed to be high scoring. It was supposed to begin the "new wave" of the NFL, one with massive amounts of offense and irrelevant defense.
While every other commentator in America was predicting scores like 38-35, only Rambling On founder Erik Ritland correctly predicted what would happen:
"My hot take: it'll be a low scoring game. The Patriots defense is good enough to keep down the Rams, and the Rams defense is good enough to keep the Patriots in check."
This just in: that's exactly what happened.
Check out the rest of his prediction and Big Game prognostication from other Rambling On staff.
Our 40th Minnesota Sports Ramble Commemorates Timberwolves Infamy
1/12/19
They never said that we'd reach 40 Minnesota Sports Ramble articles, but we did it! You doubted us, but now we're here.
Fittingly, MSR #40 covers a huge Minnesota sports story that is sure to live on in Timberwolves lore: the firing of Tom Thibodeau.
We've Reached over 1,000 Twitter Followers! Thank you!
12/3/18
After starting out with only a handful of followers before our re-launch in September, we're proud to announce that in three short months we've gained 1,000 followers. The best part is that they are almost all genuine Minnesota sports fans! We regularly get more likes and comments on our posts than many local radio stations and newspapers. Thank you so much for your support.
We look forward to releasing more worthwhile content for the next 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 followers.
We're Thankful for You
11/18/18
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We're so grateful for your support! Each of our blogs (almost 30 in two months) continually bring in hundreds of views apiece, our Twitter community continues to grow, and the unique personalities of our writers are resonating with fans of the Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves. Thank you for your loyalty. We look forward to
Series Five of Rambling On Already a Huge Success
10/1/18
We're happy to announce that series five of Rambling On has already exceeded expectations! Our blogs have received thousands of views, our Twitter community is growing precipitously, and our writers are quickly becoming fan favorites. There's definitely more to come, so please stay tuned, and thanks a lot for your support!
Introducing Series Five of Rambling On
9/4/18
After a year of planning, series five of Rambling On is finally here!
Although there has always been an emphasis on it since our launch in 2012, we are excited to announce that series five will focus solely on Minnesota sports.
Our new content includes...
* Emphasis on the four major Minnesota sports teams
Beginning this month, we'll be featuring a lot more content on the Vikings, Wild, Wolves, and Twins. This will spread across all platforms, including exclusive content and commentary on Facebook and Twitter
* Growth of the Rambling On Twitter community
Join the conversation about Minnesota sports by following our Twitter page here. Daily posts include commentary on the latest Minnesota sports stories and content on the four major local sports teams.
* More Local Sports Blogs
We've hired more writers and are excited to roll out more sports content. Beginning the week of 9/30, we'll be releasing new Sports Ramble blogs every Tuesday (Vikings), Thursday (Wild), and Friday (Timberwolves). Check out our latest content here. Content will change based on which teams are in-season, and we'll always have coverage of the biggest breaking news.
Archive: Series Four
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In this segment from an upcoming full Sports Ramble Podcast, hosts Erik Ritland and Mike Coenen contentiously discuss the New England Patriots legacy. Don't miss it!
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Our second teaser for our new Sports Ramble podcast which will be released on Monday! Featuring Erik's epic Prince meltdown, is it worth being Tom Brady, and a recap of the Patriots legacy discussion.
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The Complete Pop-Up Hiatus Sports Ramble Podcast!
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HIATUS SPORTS RAMBLE HAS ALL THE THINGS.
Complete Super Bowl 52 commentary, Erik melts down about Prince and the halftime show, Patriots dynasty vs. cheaters discussion, Vikings 2017 recap, some controversial talk on Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings quarterback discussion, and more. Find complete info HERE. Thanks for listening! |
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Rambling On Radio Show #2: Heroes, Superheroes, NFL and Twins, Top 5 Most Iconic Rock Albums of 1967
9/22/17 Is the concept of a 'hero' still relevant, or is it simply used to manipulate people? How did a philosopher change the cultural concept of what a 'hero' is? Is Batman more the hero of our times? Has Superman become passe? What are the most iconic rock n' roll albums of 1967? Are the Velvet Underground overrated? All this and so much more, including a look at week 2 of the 2017 NFL season and the Minnesota Twins improbable 2017 campaign on this edition of the Rambling On Radio Hour! Click the link for more detailed information. |
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The Rambling On Radio Show #1: Fall Hipsters, Boxing's Decline, Vikings/NFL Talk, Top 5 Iconic Rock Songs of 1967
9/8/17 Is Fall the best season, or have suburbanites obsessed with pumpkin spice everything ruined it? Why are people losing interest in boxing and baseball? How will the Vikings do in 2017? Who will win the Super Bowl? What are the most iconic rock songs of 1967? Our hosts Erik Ritland and Mike Coenen discuss these and other topics on the inaugural episode of the Rambling On Radio Show. For more details, click the link above. |
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The Best of Rambling On Series Four
See below for full details, or pick your pleasure: The Ragbag Ramble (entertainment with a brain), The Sports Ramble, The Music Ramble.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste. On the other hand, it hurts to think too hard (and nothing good comes out of doing that, anyway). The Ragbag Ramble walks this line well, discussing thoughtful ideas from history, literature, philosophy, and everyday life in an approachable way.
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Ragbag Ramble Podcast
The occupation of Shakespeare's dad. Daniel Boone's ridiculous nickname. Why you shouldn't just "rock the vote." Scientific evidence for life after death. Breaking down bad commercials. Everything from the silly to the sacred is featured on the Ragbag Ramble Podcast.
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Ragbag Ramble Blog
Fun Facts
Useful trivia about topics like the Seattle Supersonics, Johnny Appleseed, supernovas, and three different kinds of crickets. Quote/Picture/Video What do snooker, rumors, paradise, infidelity, and Drake have in common? Well, nothing, but they are among the topics for this popular series. Three Quotes Nothing from Marilyn Monroe, we promise. Except for that one time we make fun of her I guess. |
At Rambling On, we share the pain of the everyday Minnesota sports fan. Neither unrealistically positive or unnecessarily negative, our sports coverage speaks to and is geared toward normal fans. Major stories about the Twins, Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves can be found in addition to the most noteworthy national stories.
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Sports Ramble Podcast
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Sports Ramble Blog
The 2017 Golden State Warriors: No Congratulations are in Order
Old Hat(e): Why I Don't Hate the Patriots Anymore Visit the Sports Ramble page for more, including extensive NFL coverage, Twins previews and articles, our famous NFL predictions, and a whole lot more. |
Seriously fun commentary on rock n' roll, Americana, Indie Rock, and more.
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Music Ramble Podcast
Is music today too perfect? What happens when your favorite band changes, and what are some of the best and worst changes bands have undergone? How did the music world react to 9/11? What is the ideal Halloween playlist? Find the answers to all these questions and more on the Music Ramble podcast.
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Music Ramble Blog
An Odyssey of Americana, Roots, and Rock n' Roll: Celebrating 20 Years of the Urban Hillbilly Quatet
Not the End: Minnesota Music Legend Mark Mallman Japandroids: A Lesson in Terrible Indie Rock Lyrics The Ghosts that Haunt Us: An Honest Assessment of the Contemporary Music Scene The Rambling On Top Albums of 2016 |
