Minnesota Twins: America's Team?

As the Twins return to the Metrodome tonight for another critical series that could set the tone for the last two months of the season, I can't help but wonder whether or not we will start seeing increased national media coverage of OFT in the wake of the disaster that took place less than a mile from their home stadium, and how they'll fare if said national media anoints them with the "America's Team" status experienced by the 2001 New York Yankees, the 2005 New Orleans Saints, and already the 2007 VT Hokies. Obviously Wednesday's bridge collapse doesn't have anywhere near the far-reaching magnitude of September 11 or Hurricane Katrina, nor the dramatic societal implications as the VT massacre; it was, after all, a random architectural failure that neither discriminated between its victims nor is likely to become any great symbol or rallying cry for the masses. But it nevertheless may have the same galvanizing effect on the city in that the crisis brought out the best in those it involved, with images of commuters in suits and fans in Mauer jerseys working alongside uniformed rescue workers to search in muddy water and through great chunks of concrete for trapped cars with any signs of life likely to resonate in Minnesota's (if not the nation's) collective conscience for generations.

The remaining question is, then, do we want the attention? Should Twins games be featured on ESPN three times a week and lead each BBTN broadcast? Should we hear Joe Buck every Saturday from now through September (or October) telling us how patriotic these Minnesotans are for going out and doing the job they get paid (very handsomely) to do every day? Should we have to endear the dreaded celebrity influx, capped off with PR-rehabbing"Prairie Home Companion" movie alum Lindsay Lohan wearing the TC hat in her next drunken nightclub sighting? Most of all, do we really want our Twins consistently on the same national stage where they can seemingly do nothing but embarrass themselves? The though of this last one alone is enough to dread the notion of the whole country turning into Twins Territory, and to make me think that just maybe this time we would be better of shunning the bright camera lights of Bristol. If this tragedy is the thing that finally gives the team a sense of purpose and push them through the playoff race, then great. If it becomes just another burden and the final impetus to set their sights on next season instead of salvaging this one, I wouldn't blame them.. If either of these scenarios came about by way of being "America's Team", we would never know if it really should have been that way, or if the spotlight lent an invisible hand to make or break the season. I would be much more comfortable, and would feel that much more lucky, to be instead rooting for simply Minnesota's team.