<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"The people in the Twin Cities take it for granted," John Zavoral said. "They can go to a professional sports event any time they want to. For us, it's a big deal to see the Timberwolves, the Twins or the Vikings." Zavoral and his son Tom, 22, are from East Grand Forks, Minn. That's a 4?-hour drive to Minneapolis. They were in prime seats a few rows behind the Wolves bench. "Roger Bogestad, a grain farmer from Karlstad, has had four tickets right here since the building opened," Zavoral said. "We're able to get tickets from him four or five times a year." It was now time to ask Zavoral the key question: Would you trade Kevin Garnett to Chicago, if the Bulls were willing to include Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas in such a deal? "I want us to get some players around him," John said. "I was hoping [Allen] Iverson was coming here." Tom Zavoral has been hooked on the Wolves since he was 11 and Garnett arrived as a Wolves rookie. Would the younger Zavoral trade his hero, if the Wolves could get those talented young players from Chicago? "I don't think we have to do that yet," he said. "I don't think we're close to giving KG the players to win a championship, but I would keep trying." He paused, then said: "He's my all-time favorite athlete. As a fan, I would follow him anywhere. If KG went to Chicago, I would want the Bulls to win a title." Across the court, Scott Swenson and his daughter C.J. were watching the early shooters. They come from Mason City, Iowa. C.J. is a varsity player as a sophomore at Mason City High. "We're huge Garnett fans," Scott said. "I say keep him." His daughter nodded in agreement. Would she join Dad on these occasional three-hour drives north on Interstate Hwy. 35, if Garnett no longer was with the Wolves? "I still would go to the games, but it wouldn't be as exciting without KG," she said. There was another group of Iowans nearby. Their interest was twofold: fans of the Wolves, and fans of Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls guard from Sioux City and then Kansas. Matt DeRocher was wearing a Timberwolves hat that carried a worn Terrell Brandon autograph and a fresh Ricky Davis autograph. DeRocher, in his 20s, said: "I bought my family seven tickets for this game as everyone's Christmas present. My brother there, Corey, played one-on-one against Hinrich a few years back." How did Corey do? "Kirk destroyed me," he said. Matt was asked about a Garnett-to-Chicago trade. "I'm too much of a KG fan to say, 'Trade him,' " he said. "And I'm happy we didn't trade Randy Foye. I didn't want a trade with Philly, if it meant giving up Foye. He's going to be a stud." Kevin Reichert (Duluth) had brought his father Robert (Owatonna) to the game. Kevin is the hardcore Wolves fan. KG for Gordon and Thomas? "Not unless we get a No. 1 pick in the deal," he said. Kevin said he sees more potential in these Wolves than most fans. "They have a few of the right players to go with KG now," he said. "I like Randy Foye. He's a start." For all his excellence, Garnett has received more admiration than adulation from Minnesota's sporting public. He never has been embraced as fully in his 12 seasons here as was Kirby Puckett during his 12 seasons with the Twins. "KG never had the clutch basket that meant everything to Minnesota fans ... not like Kirby had the clutch hit," John Zavoral said. "I was there the night [Game 6 in 1991 World Series] when Kirby made the catch, then hit the home run. "KG's never done something like that. It's not to say it wouldn't happen, if he got a chance in the finals. I'd like to see that happen for him. "For me, too. I'm a basketball guy."</div> Source
