Matt Cullen came home this week, reeking of champagne. Glen Perkins came home from convalescence, smelling of liniment. Wild fans have to hope the former doesn't imitate the latter. Minnesotans should worry that he might.
Both are Minnesota natives who chose to re-sign with their home-state team to finish their careers. That motivation often sounds quainter the day players sign than on the day they depart.
Bringing 'em back home or keeping them has been a frequent tactic in modern Minnesota sports, and it has worked spectacularly well on occasion. The risk is that the player wanted to return home more because of comfort than ambition.
''At age 40, it's time to let the kids plant some roots and settle down at home because, as you go through a long career, the kids give up a lot in order to allow you to play,'' Cullen said. ''At a certain point here, it becomes more important to be fair to them, too.''
That sentiment makes him a responsible father, but the Wild isn't looking for a Lady Byng winner. The team is desperately if not always logically pushing to win a Cup. Cullen should help, if this isn't the year age turns him into a skating nostalgia act.
The Twins have historically valued homegrown players, and one of them delivered with stunning efficiency and pragmatism.
Jack Morris signed for one year, pitched the Twins to a title, then immediately left, mixing cheers and tears as effectively as an Irish wake.
In 1993, the Twins went to the ''We Like it Here'' card again. They allowed the shortstop from their two title teams, Greg Gagne, to leave, and signed St. Paul native and future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.