Clear Lake, Full Sun, Can’t Golf
Todd Swank's Diary Entry for May 11, 2025
On Saturday, I rolled back into Clear Lake to catch up with a couple of my high school buddies — Krazy Kory Madson and Jammin’ Jason Davis. We stood by the lake, soaked in the sun, and swapped stories, updates, and a few unsolicited observations about the current size of my midsection. We even got into some of the medical curveballs life’s been throwing lately — because that’s what happens when your friendships survive the awkward years, the wild years, and whatever this stage is supposed to be.
For some reason, the guys thought it’d be fun to reconnect over golf — which is bold, considering it’s a sport I’ve officially accepted I’ll never be even remotely average at. Thankfully, they picked Oak Hills, my favorite course mostly because the holes are short and so is the humiliation. I used to think I’d improve with age, but in my case, golf skill peaked around the time Nintendo was still making cartridges. Still, we had an absolute blast playing 18 holes, talking about everything from the present to the past — and occasionally, I even hit a fairway.
While we were out on the course, I happened to stumble across this tree and plaque honoring Matt Amos — an old friend I’d often run into when I came back to Oak Hills. I didn’t know this memorial had been placed here, and seeing it stopped me in my tracks. Life moves fast, and it doesn’t always give you a heads-up when it’s about to change. But it was comforting to stand there, in the sunshine, remembering a good guy in a place he loved. We don’t always get to say goodbye, but sometimes we get a quiet reminder to be grateful for the time we had.
After golf, we grabbed lunch at The Other Place — my favorite hometown spot — and were surprised to be served by Olivia, Matt Amos’s daughter. She’s kind, quick with a smile, and it was genuinely nice seeing her. I went with my usual: the grinder. A hot, cheesy masterpiece packed with seasoned meat and melted nostalgia. Some meals just taste like home.
Another highlight this week was checking out the new ScreenX setup at Marcus Southbridge Crossing Cinema in Shakopee. ScreenX is a 270-degree panoramic viewing experience that extends select scenes onto the side walls of the auditorium, creating an immersive environment that surrounds you with visuals beyond the traditional screen. We saw Thunderbolts, which was... fine. But when the ScreenX kicked in, it was like the movie suddenly remembered it had a budget. The side walls lit up with action, pulling me into the scenes in a way that standard screens just can't. It wasn’t used throughout the entire film, but when it was, it added a cool layer to the experience. I’m curious to see how this technology evolves, especially with films that aren't another Marvel superhero rehash.
Extending the week’s theme of reconnecting, I grabbed lunch Thursday with a couple of Oracle comrades I hadn’t seen in months — Will Easton and George Petruck. In just 45 minutes, we caught up on old times, solved at least three global crises, and welcomed our new Pope from Chicago. Not bad for one plate of brisket and some overdue laughs.
Thursday night, we hit Game 2 of the Wolves vs. Warriors playoff series — and after the flaming disaster that was Game 1, expectations were… cautiously grim. Steph Curry was out with a hamstring strain, but Golden State still somehow managed to look terrifying in Game 1. Inside the arena, though, the vibe was electric — whiteout shirts everywhere, fans locked in, and the kind of playoff energy that makes you forget how much you paid for parking. There’s just something about being in a packed arena that turns even casual fans into die-hard screamers with popcorn in their laps and hope in their hearts.
It was Luke’s turn to join me for the game, and he came ready. He loves the Wolves almost as much as I do — which is saying something, considering how many years of heartbreak we’ve both powered through. We showed up geared up and ready to scream our lungs out for the home team, and the free playoff shirts waiting on our seats didn’t hurt either. Nothing bonds a father and son quite like yelling at millionaire athletes in matching shirts, hoping this is finally the year it all comes together.
We were thrilled to join the chorus of boos every time Jimmy Butler touched the ball. Once a fan favorite during his brief stint with the Timberwolves, Butler's departure left a sour taste. After requesting a trade in 2018, he reportedly lashed out at teammates and the front office during a practice session, leading to his eventual trade to the Philadelphia 76ers . His exit set the franchise back a few years, and his pattern of forcing trades has continued throughout his career. So, when he stepped onto the court at Target Center, the boos were not just expected—they were cathartic.
Draymond Green hasn’t exactly been beloved in Minnesota since he put Rudy Gobert in a headlock back in November 2023 — a move that earned him a five-game suspension and permanent villain status in Target Center. The crowd was relatively chill toward him at first, but once he nailed Naz Reid with a flying elbow and picked up yet another technical, the gloves came off. “Draymond sucks” echoed through the arena every time he touched the ball. Meanwhile, across the court, I spotted a guy watching pregame warmups through a pair of Apple Vision Pros like he was waiting for a virtual Draymond redemption arc. Spoiler alert: not happening.
Unfortunately, the one Golden State guy we all tend to actually like was in street clothes. Steph Curry injured his hamstring in the second quarter of Game 1, which meant no jaw-dropping threes or logo heat checks in Game 2. And yeah, that sucks — because as much as we want the Wolves to win, it’s way more satisfying when you take down the best at full strength. Steph’s arguably the greatest shooter the game’s ever seen, and the series just feels a little dimmer without him lighting it up. Hopefully he gets a shot to come back before it’s all said and done.
I found this both fascinating and borderline insane — Crunch climbing what had to be at least a 30-foot tower of ladders just to hype up the crowd. The man (or whatever's inside that suit) risked life and fluffy tail to get us loud, and it worked. But seriously, how is this allowed? I was equally entertained and one shaky rung away from filing an incident report in my head.
Anthony Edwards came out looking like a man on a mission in Game 2 — which makes sense, considering he basically ghosted the first half of Game 1. He dropped 20 points, snagged 9 rebounds, and even limped off at one point just to give the Warriors a little hope before jogging back in like, “Relax, I’m fine.” The Wolves built a 25–7 lead early and never looked back. They won 117 - 93 to tie the series at 1 game each. Edwards may not have lit up the stat sheet, but he set the tone — and reminded everyone whose team this really is.
Today, the kids and I took Miss Sheri and Grandma Linda out for a well-earned Mother's Day brunch — because if anyone deserves a royal treatment (and a break from pretending we’re low-maintenance), it’s these two incredible women. Their strength, kindness, and ability to put up with us day after day is nothing short of heroic. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there — we literally wouldn’t be here without you.
@toddswank Just two Vikings fans posing in front of a 1,000-year-old cathedral in Bath, England… Then it collapsed behind us like a movie scene—thanks to Kling AI. No actual buildings were harmed. No people either. Just pixels. #KlingAI #AIvideo #BathAbbey #VikingsFans #GenerativeAI #FakeHistory #AIhumor #TravelGoneWrong ♬ Building collapsed by blast - CanonCable
@toddswank Let’s go Wolves! #timberwolves #warriors #nba #playoffs ♬ original sound - Todd Swank
@toddswank We were at Stonehenge. The clouds parted. The Hand of God reached down and placed the final stone. Nobody else seemed to notice. So I captured it… with a little help from RunwayML. I’m not saying this is how it happened. But I’m also not not saying it. #Stonehenge #RunwayML #AIvideo #spiritinthesky #HandOfGod ♬ Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
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