IN THE MIDST OF A GROUP TEXT DISCUSSING HOW THE MINNESOTA TWINS WOULD FARE THIS SEASON, AND THE RESPECTIVE FEELINGS WE ALL EXPECTED TO HAVE.

ONE LONG-SUFFERING FAN SIMPLY REMARKED "“DISAPPOINTMENT.

THEN APATHY.

"” OH, SURE, OUR BOYS BEAT THE ROYALS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON OPENING DAY.

BUT THE SKEPTICISM, I THINK, CAN BE FORGIVEN.

WE HAVEN'’T PLAYED .500 BALL SINCE THE ASTERISK SEASON OF 2020, AND, EVEN WHEN WE'’RE GOOD, WE'’RE NOT THAT GOOD.

MINNIE AND PAUL HAVEN'’T WON A PLAYOFF *GAME * SINCE 2004.

WE'’VE TAKEN A PLAYOFF *SERIES * A GRAND TOTAL OF ONE TIME SINCE WE LAST WON THE WORLD SERIES IN 1991.

THE TWINS ARE THE OLDEST PROFESSIONAL FRANCHISE IN THE STATE, AND AS SUCH, STAND AS A PRETTY GOOD METAPHOR FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PRO SPORTS -- DIZZYING ASCENTS TOWARD THE HEIGHTS.

STOMACH-CHURNING PLUMMETS TO THE DEPTHS.

THE WILD ARE LOOKING GOOD NOW, BUT THEY HAVEN'’T MADE IT OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS SINCE 2015.

THE TIMBERWOLVES?

THEY CAN'’T EVEN WIN THE DRAFT LOTTERY.

EVEN THE ONCE-MIGHTY MINNESOTA LYNX HAVE SEEN THEIR DYNASTY DEVOLVE INTO MEDIOCRITY.

SO WHAT'’S A MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN TO DO?

ME?

I'’VE BEEN DIALED IN TO GOPHER WOMEN'’S ATHLETICS.

I'’VE BEEN IN THE STANDS TO WATCH AN IMPROVING SOCCER TEAM AND A TOP TEN VOLLEYBALL SQUAD THAT SEEMS TO BE TRANSITIONING BETWEEN COACHES NICELY.

WE HAD SEASON TICKETS FOR HOCKEY THIS YEAR.

AND WE WERE EVEN UP IN DULUTH A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO TO WATCH THE GOPHER WOMEN FALL TO WISCONSIN IN THE FROZEN FOUR.

IT WAS A HEARTBREAKER IN OVERTIME, BUT I'’M OKAY WITH THAT.

WHEN I WALK INTO THE TEAM'’S CAMPUS HOME AT RIDDER ARENA, I CAN SEE A DOZEN CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS.

ALL FROM THIS CENTURY.