In the taxi from the airport to the downtown hotel, the State of 10,000 lakes earns its reputation. Water, water everywhere, lakes, ponds, rivers and Garrison Keillor's voice on the radio envelopes you like an old Lay-Z-Boy recliner. Time to chill out literally and figuratively and watch some baseball in early May, Twins-style.

As I approached the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for the first time, some six year-old boy in the throngs told his mom it looked like a flying saucer "ready to blast off". I agreed. This is one of the few states bold enough to name a sports arena after a venerable politician and strange enough to elect a governer whose chief credential was "wrestler" in the WWF.

One doesn't enter the Metrodome, one descends into it like a giant cavern. And it echoes loudly when the fans get stirred up. Though the arena has not outlived its usefulness, petitions get passed out here to build a new stadium for a sport that hasn't had much to brag about since the 1991 Twins went all the way. Now though, the Twins must be taken seriously. They remind the veteran fan of, say, the 1990 World Champion Reds, astroturf, economically challenged, strong pitching and role players who field the diamond as well as any team in baseball today. The Yankees laid the wood on the ball, hitting it hard numerous times but the Twins seemed to be standing wherever they smacked it. Tom Kelley and his coaches do a heckuva job positioning the defense.

Brad Radke leads the pitching staff. He was lethal against Andy Pettitte who pitched well. Pitching duels can get a little tedious so I walked the hallway that circles The Metrodome. Little did I know, I had entered the Minnesota Sports Hall-of-Fame. A variety of sports have representation. George Mikan's Lakers started here but football is most conspicuous. Bronko Nagurski, Hall-of-Fame fullback, was born in Minnesota. So was Bud Wilkinson, the legendary Oklahoma football coach. But baseball plaques checker the walls also. Chief Bender, the great pitcher, was born in Brainerd, Minnesota 1883. Connie Mack, the winningest baseball manager of all time, said of him, "Bender is the man I would pick to pitch the one game I had to win."

Back in centerfield, giant banners pay tribute to Tony Olilva, Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett. They hang from the rafters, sort of sanctifying the step-sport of Minnesota.

The eats are average but interesting. I stopped by a barbecue shack in front of the stadium before the game but they were sold out temporarily of barbecue pork sandwiches? Like they didn't know 25,000 people would show up? Kettle Corn, bags of popcorn about the size of a third grader, can be bought for those on a budget. And yes, one concession stand sells food to calorie counters. How about a veggie sandwich or meatless garden burger? More ballparks should offer this kind of fare. Because The Metrodome is clean and air-conditioned, one feels like eating.

The quality of the baseball continued to be excellent through games two and three. Paul collected his two thousandth hit on the third night and the fans graciously applauded him. Hard to believe he's been at it for thirteen years. Then, for some mysterious reason, rowdies started tossing coins and other debris at non-controversial Chuck Knoblauch in left field. Nobody could explain it. Joe Torre pulled him off the diamond momentarily and Tom Kelley walked him back to left field, an excellent gesture by the Twins manager. Minneapolis is a lot more civilized than uncivilized. A few hooligans can't change that. Like the water, theaters and art are omnipresent.

Between innings, a mini, robotic blimp flys above the seats, advertising the Powerball Lottery. Fans, big and small, have to laugh at it in this festive atmosphere. It is like the Little Blimp That Could, proud, determined and oblivious to the odds. The Twins don't play the power ball related to the homerun. They play the winning ball related to good, young arms and defense that will break a hitter's heart. In a weak American League Central Division, if they acquire a powerhitter at the All-Star break, like the caliber of Greg Vaughn, to go along with slugging Mientkiewicz at first base and scrappy Matt Lawton, keep an eye out for them in the postseason.