Can I Really Root For KG?

By Adam Ruggiero
Love of Sports Correspondent

Minnesotans are renowned for their hospitality and obliging disposition, hence the term “Minnesota Nice.”

Recently, Minnesota sports fans, like myself, have lived up to this moniker by applauding our native sons’ success with other teams. However, I now find myself wondering whether I can cheer on the greatest hometown athlete to grace the Twin Cities since Kirby Puckett as he closes in on his first championship.

For someone else.

Kevin Garnett – “KG” to those of us who’ve known him since he stepped onto the NBA hard court right out of high school. He’s #5 to his newly acquired Boston fans, but he was always #21 to us.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter. I’m just tired of seeing other teams enjoy the fruits of our labor.

For example, it was a little rough watching Mike Modano skate around with Lord Stanley’s Cup as a member of the Dallas Stars (after owner Norm Green hijacked Modano and the North Stars to Texas!).

In 2006, I raised a pint with my Nordic brethren when former Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders led the Pistons to an NBA-best record, 64-18, en route to the Eastern Conference championship series. And let’s not forget the rounds that were on me for the two Super Bowls won by coaches of the Minnesota pedigree: former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick for Baltimore and former Vikes D-coordinator Tony Dungy with the Colts.

No one cheered louder than me when Randy Moss, once the Vikings surprise first-round draft pick, redeemed himself as one of the all-time greats by setting the single-season record for touchdown receptions with 23 as a Patriot.

And when David Ortiz, who got his major league start as the designated hitter for the Twins, helped the 2004 Red Sox surge to their first World Series title in 86 years, I waved my Homer Hanky in solidarity (said Hanky also waved the following year when Ortiz finished runner-up for AL MVP). Heck, I even jumped for joy when Doug Mientkiewecz – ex-beloved first baseman for our Twinkies – caught the final out of that Series.

You know what? I don’t think I can do it anymore.

Garnett was different. He was supposed to be off limits. In this era of free agency in sports, when contracts are fickle and dollar amounts are unheard of, KG stuck with one team through thick and thin. Mostly thin.

He was Minnesota.

Oh God, I think I’m going to cry.

In the end, I know I’ll be happy for KG if his Celtics can cash in this year. No one player deserves it more. I’m just sick of other towns cherry picking our favorite athletes and parlaying it into titles.

That goes double for you, Boston – Moss, Ortiz, Garnett. What’s next, Marion Gaborik and Joe Mauer?

Your Patriots are a dynasty, your Red Sox are the new empire and the Celtics have won more NBA championships than anyone.

It’s no fun, and it’s not fair.

It’s our turn ….

OK, maybe I’m just a little bitter.