Keanen's Blog My personal blog.

Garnett wins a championship!

It took a few years and a jersey change but Kevin Garnett aka "Da Kid" and later "The Big Ticket" is a champion. I've had Twolves tickets for eight seasons and always have enjoyed watching him play. In the early years with KG and Steph, my Dad and I would stay up late and pace in the basement in the forth quarter hoping for a win he has always played hard and I never saw him take plays off. I was sad to see him go but happy for him to move on last year.

Even though he's no longer a Wolf, I was still pumped to see him pull it off!!

Second day at Hendrick Motorsports

Today we got to go on a full tour of the campus. It included the engine shop and the body shop. They would not allow pictures in either of these areas though It's amazing that they manufacture all of the parts for their engines with exception of the block which is supplied by Chevy and then further modified. The machines that make the parts from a block of steal really pretty awesome! I learned a lot about the sponsorships and other goofy facts. For example, the in car camera equipment weighs 70 pounds!!

Notice the picture of Jeff Gordon's Vegas car (missing the front end)

A night at the Hendrick’s Facility

I spent the night in the 'shop' for Casey Mears and Earnhardt Jr. in Charlotte, NC.  What a treat!  I'm a casual Nascar fan, I watch the races on Sunday when I can.  I definitely have a better appreciation for Nascar now.  We started out looking at the new shiny car bodies and then learned that both drivers cars were back in the shop last night.  I have plenty of pictures of those two cars.  Checkout the damage on some of the pictures in the gallery.  Dale was hugging the wall a couple of times from the look of it

I hope to get more access tomorrow to see Jeff Gordon's shop and also Jimmie Johnson's.  I'll continue to take pictures!

Another “not surprised” about a Packer fan thing…

Man Creates One-of-a-Kind Packers Party House
An Atlanta businessman has created a one-of-a-kind Packers party house right across from Lambeau Field. Michael Holton says he is simply fulfilling a dream. "Some people have beach houses, some people have mountain houses, I have a Packer house," said Michael Holton, Packer fan.
And what a house it is. Last year, Michael and his wife bought this home along Lombardi Avenue, directly across from the stadium. They hired a builder, who gutted the house, and transformed it into the ultimate pre-game house with a spectacular view of the stadium. The garage roof became a party deck. The patio has a "G" etched in the concrete. Inside, all the amenities. "Designed by men, for men," said Holton. "It is specifically to enjoy game day and the days leading up to game day."
Born and raised a Packer fan in Milwaukee, Michael and his family will travel to Green Bay on the weekends the Packers play at home and open up their home to friends and relatives. He plans to use his vacation house about as much as most other people use theirs. "I'm not doing this as an investment, as any kind of commercial benefit or financial benefit," said Holton. "This is truly a spot that we've picked to enjoy the Packer atmosphere." Michael hopes his dream home doesn't start a trend though, in which other homes in the neighborhood are sold and turned into party houses. "If somebody want to sell out to somebody as moronic as I am, that's fine, but I just like the neighbors, like the people here," said Holton. "I welcome all of them to come over and have a beer with me on Packer day and get to know each other a little bit." Safe to say a new era in tailgating along Lombardi Avenue kicks off Sunday. "It's the hallowed grounds and to be so close is pretty special," said Holton.

Matt Birk

I went to a lunch for a vendor at work and they had Matt Birk there. He was a great guy to listen to. He handled questions very well and was funny. He went to Harvard you know J

It was fun while it lasted…

I've had this poster up in my cube for a few years. I've crossed off players as they've departed from the Wolves. Although brief, I never thought that I'd see the day where Hudson was the lone player left on the team.  Many people stopped by my cube last week as the rumors of the trade got stronger simply looking for the black X on his face.  I couldn't do it until it was official and even then I had Brian do the honors.

I do believe that we are avoiding the inevitable, he was going to get traded at some point.  I strongly believe that he wasn't going to opt out of his contract.  Would you walk away from $25,000,000??  Those zero's are very nice looking   All of the contracts that we having incoming have one year remaining.  As long as we keep the young guys I'm OK with it.  I don't think that our team needs to go out and get some above average free agents.  I'd like for us to grow like the Bulls have in recent years.  Once on the verge then you go out and get the big stud to get you over the top.  McHale, please don't screw this one up!

Like Brian and Justin, I will continue my season tickets with the Wolves and watch a young pool of talent but certainly hope to see some Boston games on the tube I'm actually considering the NBA league pass this year.

Go Boston! You'll have a lot of fun watching "The Big Ticket" for years to come!

Garnett is gone – Message From Glen Taylor

It was going to happen at some point.  I guess it's better to happen now than wait two years for his contract to run out.

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Dear Keanen,
I write to you today with some momentous news. Earlier today, we decided to fundamentally change the direction of our team and trade Kevin Garnett. We acquired Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two first-round draft picks from Boston. We're excited about the new players that we have acquired and the potential that the new draft picks represent.
As with any great change, I am filled with mixed emotions. Sadness in seeing our franchise player depart but also great excitement in what the future holds. Our team is definitely young, but also extremely talented. Our core group of Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants, 2007 NBA Draft picks Corey Brewer and Chris Richard and the newly acquired players plus two future first-round picks have me energized about our long-term future.
Yes, I'll miss Kevin Garnett. For 12 years Kevin has been the face of our franchise. We have all watched him grow and mature from "The Kid" into "The Big Ticket" right before our very eyes. I appreciate everything he has done for this franchise; the blood, the sweat and the tears that he has shed on our behalf. I wish only the best for Kevin and his family.
However, this move was made in the best interest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and regaining our place among the best teams in the NBA. During the past three years, we have struggled unsuccessfully to assemble a team around Kevin that could bring us back to the playoffs. These years have been hard on all of us. During this time it has become increasingly apparent to me that given the complicated formulas needed to move and acquire players, we needed greater flexibility. To move our team forward, we will need the flexibility this trade provides.
This past spring, I sat down with the team's top executives and drafted a plan on how we wanted to rebuild our team. We evaluated our successes and failures over the years and looked to other franchises on how they built winning teams. The result of this reflection was the "Blueprint for the Future" that I shared with many of you. This plan outlined how we planned to rebuild our team. It was our acknowledgment that we had strayed from building a team that didn't just speak of character, but rather lived it. A team more focused on working as a team than seeking individual recognition.
We took that first step today. We know it won't be easy - nothing that is worthwhile ever is. We know that we are embarking on a journey that will be measured in years, not months. We understand that every team in professional sports is in a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. I wholly believe that it is our time to give birth to a new team that will return our Timberwolves franchise to the elite of the NBA.
I appreciate your continued support as we undergo this transformation and urge you to follow our progress. I am convinced that you will like what you see and believe that it will mean only better days ahead. Please feel free to contact any of my staff with additional questions.
Regards, Glen Taylor