Jeff Munneke carries the title of vice president of fan experience for the Timberwolves. He maintains a sense of humor, which has to be a requirement for success in that task.
Munneke made me aware on Twitter of a photo of Memphis coach Dave Joerger in his team's elimination game of Portland last week. Our pal Jimmy Goldstein was sitting directly behind Joerger.
It wasn't much of a shot of Jimmy's lean mug, but the wide-brimmed Stetson, the T-shirt of fine material and the jacket of exotic suede or skin was the giveaway.
It has been 11 years since Munneke's Wolves were a focal point of the NBA glitterati, and no one is more glit-torious than Mr. Goldstein. Big game, deciding game, anywhere in the country, Jimmy's going to be there, hopefully next to a team's bench for maximum exposure.
Jimmy was the subject of an interview with fashion writer Derek Blasberg in Interview Magazine. One Jimmy quote was: "The playoffs are such an exciting time in my life. I've gotten recognition as being the No. 1 basketball fan. But I don't do it for the fame … my basketball fame evolved by accident."
Whatever the true motive, notoriety or an unobstructed view, Jimmy requires a front-row seat — no matter the tab. Munneke helped to arrange such locations for Goldstein during the Wolves' 2004 playoff run, starting with Game 7 vs. Sacramento and then visits by the Lakers.
That allows him to share with me the status of being Jimmy's No. 1 fans in the Twin Cities.
I interviewed Jimmy and wrote a Star Tribune column during the Sacramento series. Next to watching KG's Game 7, getting a nod of approval a few days later from Jimmy's Stetson was the highlight of Minnesota's lone NBA spring.
