When it comes to inspirational quotes about winning and losing, we can turn to the likes of Vince Lombardi or Charlie Sheen for guidance. Still, we always seem to come back to the questionably educated, quadraphonic-loving logic of one Nuke Laloosh from "Bull Durham." It was Nuke who said, in the film: "I love winning, man. I love winning. It's like … better than losing."

So true, Nuke. So true.

Those who follow Twin Cities sports -- particularly what might be considered the four highest-profile winter teams (Wild, Wolves, Gophers men's hoops and Gophers men's hockey) -- haven't been feeling very good lately. The Wild hasn't won since Feb. 2. The Gophers men's hockey team, thanks to a bye weekend and a sweep at Denver, hasn't won since Jan. 28. The men's hoops team is winless since Feb. 5. And the Wolves entered last night without a win in the previous week -- a span of time known simply as a "Rambis" in previous years, when losing was more frequent and games were less frequent.

In all, those teams had combined to pile up 13 consecutive losses. So we do not care that last night's Timberwolves opponent came in with an even more impressive and depressing streak of its own -- 15 consecutive losses and only three wins on the entire season. We do not care if the Wolves sputtered for the first half. All we know is that -- to borrow a bit from Judd and Phunn's show on AM-1500 -- the wheel of defeat has stopped thanks to that 102-90 victory over Charlotte.

It does the Twin Cities' collective mood no good to carry the weight of a baker's dozen losses. We are already prone to massive mood swings and playoff depression. We carry other psychological scars stitched together by years of battles. So be thankful the Timberwolves could at least defeat a 3-26 team. If not, everyone might've just called in sick of sports.