<\/p>\n
One of my all-time favorite jokes to tell at parties goes like this:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A man walks into a bar with a dog. The man tells the bartender \u201cI have the world\u2019s only talking dog\u2014try him\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n So, the bartender\u2014about to kick the wise guy out\u2014turns to the dog and asks \u201chow\u2019s the stock market?\u201d. The dog says \u201cruff, ruff!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cImpressive\u201d, says the bartender, \u201cbut here\u2019s a tougher one: who\u2019s the greatest home run hitter of all-time?\u201d The dog: \u201cRoof, roof!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The bartender immediately throws man & dog out onto the street. The dog turns to the man and says: \u201cI guess I should have said Hank Aaron\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n I don\u2019t get invited back to a ton of parties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Anyway, that\u2019s just one example of how Man\u2019s Best Friend & baseball (definitely no trouble differentiating those two in 2025 Twins Territory) can intertwine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Last Tuesday, I attended another Bark at the Park with two of my sisters. Considering the Twins got shellacked (12-3) by the Chicago White Sox, it was refreshing to do something with canines other than gnashing them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The doggie tale of the tape\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n First we have Maui\u2014a golden retriever with monkey-&-cymbals between the ears but boundless enthusiasm. The Willi Castro of dogs. I\u2019ve taken Maui on 12+ miles of walking in a single day and never does she lag a step.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Next up is Miss Mia the golden doodle, the youngest of the bunch. Essentially a human being in shag carpet. Devoted chaser of rabbits\u2014yet spooked by a rustling branch. Requires near-constant attention\/affection at the ballpark. I\u2019ve never seen Mia do one mean thing to human or animal. The Joe Mauer (circa 2004-2006) of dogs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n