Second thoughts

Minnesota will dance to new beat

Kevin Garnett’s return to the Minnesota Timberwolves means an infusion of leadership for the young team, according to Coach Flip Saunders.
Kevin Garnett’s return to the Minnesota Timberwolves means an infusion of leadership for the young team, according to Coach Flip Saunders.

Despite the team's lack of on-court success, the Minnesota Timberwolves have enjoyed some significant highlights this season.

Rookie Zach LaVine won NBA's slam dunk contest, Andrew Wiggins figures to be the runaway rookie of the year winner, and Shabazz Muhammad enjoyed a terrific turnaround campaign after a disappointing rookie season.

Muhammad is out for the season after finger surgery, however, and the Wolves sit last in the Western Conference with a 12-42 record.

That leaves the return of Kevin Garnett as the lone thing for Wolves fans to cling to as they watch their team miss the postseason for the 11th consecutive season.

Wolves players?

They might have to watch out for the lives of their smartphones, at least according to Timberwolves President and Coach Flip Saunders.

"As one of our veteran guys told our young guys yesterday, 'Hey, listen, when KG walks in the locker room your phones better be tucked away, because if they're not, they're going to get thrown in the toilet on game night,' " Saunders told Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press.

"He changed their culture," Saunders said of Garnett's time with the Boston Celtics. "Doc [Rivers] told me that. They had veteran players and everything else, but when he went in the locker room the music was cut off and everything."

Belly laughs

Big Papi arrived at spring training with a weighty quip about new teammate Pablo Sandoval.

"My belly hasn't grown like Panda," David Ortiz said Tuesday, joking about his new teammate.

Ortiz, the final player on the 40-man roster to report, wore black-framed glasses and was dressed in a black T-shirt with black jeans. He gave hugs and handshakes to many of his teammates and front office personnel.

"It's like that every year. I think, everybody anticipates him showing up," Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz said. "When he does, it's usually with a new haircut and different shoes and different pants, but he always comes in looking like David Ortiz, and that's the best part about him.

"Everybody loves being around him and loves him being around in general. He's just a good guy to have in your clubhouse."

Fast relief

Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, on attempts to speed up baseball games: "Pitching changes are real show-stoppers. As far as I'm concerned, anything short of catapulting relievers to the mound should be on the table."

Sports quiz

Who holds the NFL record for the most pass completions for his rookie season?

Sports answer

Peyton Manning with 326 in 1998.

Sports on 02/25/2015

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