
The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Thursday January 8, 2015
Erik Ritland kills fish and has better luck with cats, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the Minnesota Timberwolves, Willie and Marty Stuart keep country music alive, and the loss of a Minnesota hockey legend.

Because I’m allergic to cats and dogs I never had a close affinity to animals growing up. Sure, I had some fish, but I killed them all pretty quickly. The thing I remember most about them was the weird biblical names I blessed them with – Habakkuk (which my dad called “Hab A Cookie”), Nebachunezzaer (who I didn’t know at the time was an evil non-Jewish king), and the like.
Now after a cat literally just walked in my door (Johanna) and an ex-girlfriend left her cat with me I can’t imagine not having them. Especially as a single guy. Coming home and seeing them and interacting with them, as cheesy as it sounds, actually lifts my spirits.
That being said, does anybody in the Twin Cities area want a cat? Marie, the cat my ex left, really flairs up my allergies. She’s super cute and has the most adorable walk. Also known as Murial (shout out to Haley). Email potkettleblack3@yahoo.com for more details.
Ain’t no futility like Timberwolves futility
YOUR Minnesota Timberwolves have lost their last 12 games. Unsurprisingly they’ve already done so several times in their existence. Their record for consecutive games lost is 18. Despite their lackluster play they’ve kept in plenty of games so I predict they won’t get there.
It’s too bad that their only three seasoned players, Pekovic, Rubio, and Martin, all went down with injuries early in the season. With them and all the fresh young talent the team looked like they’d at least be fun to watch. Oh well. Such is life.
Getting closer
We’re almost there! Today we released #5 and #4 on our top fifteen albums of 2014 list, Willie Nelson’s Band of Brothers and Marty Stuart’s Saturday Night/Sunday Morning. When it comes to keeping classic country alive there are few who do it better than Nelson and Stuart.
Be sure to stop back and check out our top 3 tomorrow!
Another legend gone
When Wild forward Zach Parise sat out against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday to spend time with his ailing father J.P., who entered hospice care not long ago due to lung cancer, we knew sad news was coming. He died yesterday at the too young age of 73.
J.P. is a legend in the Minnesota North Stars pantheon, serving the team throughout the late ‘60s and early ‘70s before coming back to retire in ’78. His warm personality made an impression on as many as his skill. And his work ethic, which he obviously passed on to his son.
May J.P. rest in peace and his family find solace and peace in what I’m sure is a difficult time.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.