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.
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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 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 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 2004 playoff runs, 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 of that series, getting a nod of approval a few days later from Jimmy's Stetson was the highlight of Minnesota's lone NBA spring.
Sadly, we don't get to see Jimmy around here in the spring anymore, but it's great to see that he's still going strong at playoff time — still carrying the business card that reads "architecture, basketball and fashion."
More details can be found at jamesfgoldstein.com, where Jimmy does an excellent job of putting aside any reluctance toward fame.
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Their 28-point lead got trimmed to two late, but they held on in a Western Conference finals rematch that missed an injured Luka Doncic after halftime.
