And so, the least dramatic story we can remember has come to a conclusion. Will Mark McGwire make the Hall of Fame? Of course not. And it wasn’t even close. Big Mac appeared on 128 ballots — a paltry 23.5 percent, not even one third of the 75 percent needed for election. He gained three more votes that Tommy John, a very nice pitcher and an even better surgery. Cal Ripken was left off of eight ballots, which is just plain silly. Tony Gwynn was left off of 13. They are the only two who made it. Goose Gossage (71.2 percent) wins the Cooperstown Price is Right award for the closest percentage without going over. All in all, exactly what people thought would happen. If you think McGwire is being treated shabbily, we’re willing to listen to your argument. But it better be good. Because you’re wrong.

Back in our younger days, our group of friends might have been known to attend high school sporting events, pick out an opposing player with a funny or unusual name, and spend the entire game heckling that player unmercifully. This wasn’t exactly groundbreaking or highbrow comedy, but we were 16, and this was North Dakota. We only bring this up because we’ve pretty much outgrown that phase of our lives. A name is a name. A person can’t help what they are called. That said, we shudder to think what might have happened if, 13 or 14 years ago, this Oklahoma State wrestling roster had traveled from the future and fallen into the wrong hands. Ace Adamson. Chaz Cointment. Newly McSpadden. Seriously, we might have spontaneously combusted. So, in the name of juvenile fun: What are some of the most unusual names you have come across in sports? And, be honest: Have you at one point in your life heckled a person to tears?

Which is really just a fancy, semi-pretend word for boxing.

They fight with bare fists in South Africa, and they very much seem to enjoy it.

Target Center is the venue. Jan. 12 is the date. 7 p.m. is the time. Matt Vanda vs. Tony Bonsante. If you like boxing, this is as big as we’ve seen in Minnesota for a while.

And, finally, a question: Where do you consider Ultimate Fighting to be on the overall sports spectrum? It was somewhat of a novelty (and perhaps a dangerous one at that) a decade ago, but these days it’s hugely popular with fans and starting to get covered by the mainstream press on a pretty regular basis. Should it be taken as seriously as boxing? Do you still find it to be more like WWE? Is it somewhere in between? Do you even know what we’re talking about? Discuss. 

OK, that’s probably not true. But don’t rule it out. Let’s just say the announcement Tuesday that the Star Tribune has been sold is putting a few people on edge around here. As for RandBall, we’re reserving judgment. Change can be good. We’re hoping it is in this case. With change, however, comes a renewed discussion of the future of newspapers. It’s no secret that circulation figures nationwide are on the decline. The Interwebs, podcasts and other forms of “new media” are carving into the print base. But here’s a question: How much do you still value the printed paper? I still like a good hard copy of the paper every day, and I can’t imagine that ever changing. But what about you? And what will a “newspaper” look like in 10 years? 30 years? 100 years? You know, aside from the holograms.

Was last night — with the Wolves blowing a huge lead, getting outscored 34-7 in the fourth quarter, while also staring straight at the failure to get Allen Iverson — Kevin Garnett’s breaking point? We tend to think it was. It’s just not happening here, and he knows it. KG should be dealt before the trading deadline. Discuss.