Spotlight will be brief, but history not forgotten

Last update: February 7, 2008 - 8:16 PM

Mark Madsen bought 30 tickets for tonight's game because he wanted everyone he knew who loves basketball to be inside Target Center when No. 21 returned wearing a No. 5 jersey.

"Kevin Garnett during his time here gave his blood, his sweat, his tears to this organization, to the city, to the state," Madsen said. "And pretty much everyone I know who's into basketball wants a chance to come and see Kevin return for the first time since the trade. You can't measure the impact that Kevin had on this organization and this community. Just look at the impact he's having in Boston now."

Madsen expected a "special evening" when his former teammate played at Target Center wearing a foreign uniform for the first time. Instead, he and his 30 friends will have only a few fleeting moments before the game to express themselves.

Madsen knows his friend wants to play so badly that he never watches a game in which he can't play from the bench. Instead, Garnett is expected to appear with his teammates briefly for pre-game introductions and Madsen predicts a memorable response from the crowd.

"There will be a huge outpouring," Madsen said. "Huge. I can guarantee that."

JERRY ZGODA