Surviving Minnesota’s Winter - One Timberwolves Game at a Time
Todd Swank's Diary Entry for February 17, 2025
Wednesday marked 31 years since Miss Sheri and I tied the knot—a milestone that reminds me just how lucky I am that she’s stuck around this long. She’s my best friend, my partner in crime, and the only person patient enough to put up with me for over three decades. So how did we celebrate this incredible achievement? A fancy dinner? A romantic getaway? Nope—we braved the Minnesota tundra and went to a Timberwolves game, because nothing says everlasting love like yelling at referees and watching Ant try to shoot his way out of a cold streak. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Milwaukee Bucks were in town, and when Minnesota plays a team from Wisconsin, it’s always an experience. Half the arena turns into a loud, beer-fueled road game, and their fans never miss a chance to remind us of every championship they've ever won—like we somehow forgot. This game had big implications for both teams, with the Wolves trying to solidify their playoff standing and the Bucks looking to prove they’re still contenders. So, naturally, the stage was set for either a statement win or another frustrating night in the frozen abyss.
Anthony Edwards was all smiles with the Bucks pregame, which I assume means one of two things—either he was recruiting for his offseason pickup squad, or he was giving them directions to the nearest airport so they could get out of town quicker after the beatdown he was planning to deliver. Turns out, only one of those things happened.
The Bucks came into this game without their two biggest stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, which is like a rock band showing up without their lead singer and guitarist. So naturally, I figured this was a perfect setup for the Wolves to grab an easy win. The crowd was ready, the energy was high, and all signs pointed to a feel-good night for the home team—because what could possibly go wrong?
The Timberwolves dance squad never misses a beat—unlike the team they’re hyping up. While the players were out there bricking shots, these performers were nailing every routine with the kind of precision and energy that made me wonder if they should be the ones closing out games. At least someone in Target Center knew how to execute under pressure.
The halftime performer was out here balancing on basketballs like it was just another day at the office, and honestly, it was the most consistent ball-handling we saw all night. It takes a lotta balls to do this kind of work—literally and figuratively—and given how the game was going, I half expected the Wolves to offer him a 10-day contract.
The highlight of the night wasn’t a dunk, a three-pointer, or even a questionable foul call—it was when Miss Sheri and I made it onto the big screen. For a brief moment, Target Center had no choice but to acknowledge our existence, and honestly, given how the Wolves were playing, we were probably the most exciting thing to happen all game.
Final score: Bucks 103, Timberwolves 101. A game that should’ve been a layup turned into a disaster, as the Wolves somehow lost to a Milwaukee team missing both Giannis and Dame—aka the two guys who usually do all the winning for them. Instead, we got torched by their backups, who played like they were auditioning for bigger contracts. We came in expecting a celebration, and we left wondering how, with all the advantages, the Wolves still found a way to make us question our life choices.
Saturday morning brought me to the casino for another round of high-stakes problem-solving with my buddy Orlando—because where better to debate sports, politics, business, and religion than in a room full of flashing lights and people making terrible financial decisions? No topic is off-limits, no opinion goes unchallenged, and if we ever actually solved anything, I’m sure we’d remember—assuming the slot machines didn’t wipe our memories along with our wallets.
Saturday night, it was our turn to host the monthly euchre showdown—seven other couples, cards flying, and just the right mix of competitive fire and creative profanity. The games were intense, the laughs were nonstop, and by the end of the night, some walked away with bragging rights while others were just happy they didn’t get set. Either way, a great time was had by all—unless you’re still replaying that one hand in your head at 2 a.m. wondering where it all went wrong.
@toddswank They Not Like Us! My favorite part of the Super Bowl! #serena #theynotlikeus ♬ KENDRICK LAMAR NOT LIKE US SERENA WILLIAMS DANCE - MemeScreens
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