So the Timberwolves' season got going last night and, as usual, I was unprepared for the surreal, multi-sensory assault that is live professional basketball. There were "dancers" in "sexy" Halloween costumes. There were sudden, terrifying bursts of ear-splitting pyro. There was a digitally simulated American flag waving in the pixelated breeze. There was an almost vaudevillian little sketch which ended with a putative Kings fan being chased around the floor by a by a hairy fat guy in skimpy drag (I was pulling for a pie in the face). So, lets see, we've got crass, powerfully un-arousing hyper-sexuality; spectacular simulated violence, plus enforced patriotism; and the always hilarious implied homophobia. Ah, sports.

Finally, the lucky spectator was treated the purple-clad, sparingly talented Sacramento Kings and their coach, the handsome Reggie Theus: former player, major beefcake and Saturday morning sitcom star (those exist). There was also a reasonably entertaining basketball game, which the Wolves won, 98-96. Despite the nice final result, the game had its ups and downs. Here are some of them.

If you’re like me, this fall’s been a little rough. The last two weeks of the Twins’ season affected me more deeply than anything so ultimately unimportant ever should. Oh, but don’t worry, there’s also the election season, which is just as emotionally wrenching but, because it actually matters, so very much less fun. I don’t care what party you belong to, the site of adult humans engaging in such extraordinarily undignified moral contortions is cosmically depressing. These minor and major daily rituals of desperate hope and heartbreak combined with the lingering specter of the spectacularly crass NFL (again, this is just if you’re like me) and…I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m ready for the NBA.

Tampa took down the Chi Sox in short order, wrapping up their ALDS series in yesterday's 6-2 win. Perhaps you, like me, were somewhat disappointed at the outcome, subscribing to the axiom that "may the team who beat us perform well and play onward," therefore making our boys look better. Alas, Tampa looks plucky. But they're not alone, and I suspect that their series with Boston will be a fine throwdown. In the N.L., I took the Cubs a few months back, so I suppose I'll now lean toward Joe Torre and the Dodgers. For my money: It's the Red Sox over L.A. in the Series, doing it in 6 games.

Before I present my selections for the 2008 MLB Awards, may I again thank you readers for all your Commentary in this baseball season. This will be my final baseball entry of the year. Again, I warmly appreciate all your collective opinion and participation -- whether said feedback came in the form of either concurring or dissenting Commentary.

"Buy the ticket, take the ride."
- Hunter S. Thompson

For those of you that haven’t seen the Orlando Cabrera vs. (former Twin) Grant Balfour at-bat in yesterday’s Tampa 6-4 victory, please click here. To preface, it made me again realize just how much I loathe the Sox, how much those pangs for the heat of postseason ball still linger, and how classy the Twins are.

It’s good to be reminded that we are rostered with good cats and not a bunch of lunatics. As per my Mid-Season Player Rater from July, here’s my impressions on the entire body of work, sentiment, stats, and all:

Last night was a good ballgame, well-played. That’s actually my favorite type of game: pitcher’s duel, cleanly fielded with no errors, and only one long ball. The blast, sadly, just didn’t come from our dugout.

Tuesday night’s 1-0 Central Division tiebreaker to Chicago loss was the Twins’ 52nd one-run ballgame of the 2008 season. It proved just the second time the club was shutout since July 21st. Their record in one-run games? 26-26. So flip a coin. And speaking of currency, it won’t surprise me in the slightest if there is some serious backlash about the way in which MLB suits determine where games like last night’s are played. A coin flip? After 6 months of toil? It’s just so sophomoric. Let the club with the better record host the deal. Who can argue with that?