You know that guy at the comedy club who gets embarrassed when he's singled out by the stand-up comic?

On Thursday night, state Sen. Dan Sparks was that guy. The comedian was Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Kicking off a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce dinner, Pawlenty joked about Tiger Woods' marital troubles and Vice President Joe Biden's talkative ways. Then he gestured toward Sparks and joked he might have had too much to drink.

Reached Friday, the Austin DFLer said Pawlenty's jab caught him off guard.

Was he a little tipsy, or worse?

"No, no, not at all," Sparks said.

He wasn't offended, either.

Sparks just figured Pawlenty singled him out because he sat so close.

"The governor was trying to offer a little humor," Sparks said. "I think we're going to need a little of that as we head into the legislative session."


Sen. Dan Sparks