Let it be known that on June 1, 2008, we made the connection between how Minnesotans approach weather and how Minnesotans approach sports. Sunday was gorgeous. Like, turn your head and stare for an uncomfortable amount of time gorgeous. It was, at least in our mind, the first exceedingly nice weekend day after a spring filled with cool air, rain and devastating storms. The good folks of the Twin Cities were aching for a day like that. And they were ready. See, we attend Grand Old Day pretty much every year, even though it’s pretty much the same every year. You know what you’re getting: a huge crowd, music, some good people watching and perhaps some food you really didn’t need.

Minnesotans, much like Randal Graves, hate people but love gatherings. That is to say, there are a lot of introverts here who get very shy in, say, groups of three to six but are emboldened by the sheer volume of people that comes from a special event. They are further emboldened by beverages. And the heat makes them happy and thirsty. In all, we’d have to say yesterday’s Grand Old Day’s crowd was more aggressively happy and less clothed than any in recent memory. It was a release of months of pent-up energy and frustration — a determination after so many subpar days to squeeze every drop of life out of the best one of the year.

That, folks, also describes many a typical sports fan here. Minnesota hasn’t had a champion in one of the four major pro sports since 1991. We all know this. But it gets even more frustrating when one considers that all the Wild, Wolves, Twins and Vikings have all had legitimate chances since then to break through and yet overall the combined records in playoff games of all four in that span is 39-72. (6-15 for the Twins, 11-18 for the Wild, 17-30 for the Wolves and 5-9 for the Vikings). It makes us even more desperate for a champion, just like the harsh winters make us long for days like yesterday. And it makes us seize upon the players and circumstances that could, maybe, get us there — creating a fervor disproportionate to the actual situation.

We’re not saying this is good or bad. Neil Young thought it was better to burn out than to fade away (actually, James Joyce thought it first). There’s a visceral and necessary fun in getting caught up in the moment of a glorious Sunday or a blockbuster trade for a star defensive end. We’re just saying the good people of Minnesota love sports and weather — and, as a whole, they participate in them in the same way.

Random weekend leftovers: “Hot Beef Sundae” is 1) The name of Corey Koskie’s new Canadian punk-metal band. 2) An alternate spelling for Stu’s next fantasy football team. OR 3) Something you could buy at Grand Old Day? … Reason No. 546 why the Twin Cities needs better late night transportation options or at least citizens aware of taxicabs: scene — a drunk couple arguing after Friday’s Breeders show at First Avenue (yes, we’re old, and yes, they were awesome and yes, the RBBH has told about 10 people that she got to meet Kelley Deal). We didn’t get the whole gist of things, but we think one was supposed to be the designated driver and kind of maybe forgot. We did NOT miss hearing, however, the woman yelling loudly at the man, “Well why don’t you try driving us home, you [redacted] [redacted].” … We attended both Grand Old Day and a gathering put together by friends in Minneapolis that was in direct protest to Grand Old Day. Does that make us the Johnny Damon of Twin Cities fests?

We’re not completely wrong yet, but we’re getting there. Congrats to KG and the Celtics. … With the way the bullpen has been worked lately, we get the feeling Livan is throwing at least seven innings tonight, regardless of how many runs score. If you’re a Twins fan, you’d best be hoping that those 59 mph floaters are fooling the Yanks tonight.

The Hootie: If you’re reading, you are the Commenter Of the Week. A clerical oversight has prevented you from previously claiming the award. 300 words at your leisure, or by 3 p.m. today. Whichever is sooner.

Fasola-link! Leon Powe.

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