>> IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1984 WHEN “PURPLE RAIN” FIRST CAME OUT IN THEATERS.

I WAS AN ASPIRING ACTOR AT THE TIME, PLYING MY TRADE ON THE COMMUNITY THEATER CIRCUIT, WHEN I NOTICED SOMETHING: PRETTY MUCH EVERY RESUME OF PRETTY MUCH EVERY ACTOR IN THE TWIN CITIES AT THAT TIME BOASTED A “PURPLE RAIN” CREDIT.

NOW A HIGH SCHOOL BUDDY OF MINE DID, IN FACT, PLAY IN THE TIME AND WAS, IN FACT, A NOTICEABLE PART OF THAT FILM.

BUT THAT’S AS CLOSE I GOT.

AND — ANYWAY - I DOUBT “GUY IN PARACHUTE PANTS STANDING IN THE WAY BACK AT FIRST AVENUE” WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY STAGE CAREER MUCH OF A BOOST.

I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS WHILE SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE LAST FEW DAYS SINCE TIM WALZ BECAME THE DEMOCRATS’ VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

SUDDENLY, MY FEEDS ARE FULL OF FOLKS WHO CLAIM TO BE — IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE, GREAT SID HARTMAN — CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF OUR GOVERNOR.

PEOPLE ARE POSTING SELFIES WITH WALZ ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

IN FRONT OF TRACTORS.

AT VIKINGS PRACTICES.

AND LOTS OF IMAGES OF WALZ SHMOOZING AND MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

I GET IT.

I’VE LIVED IN MINNESOTA ALMOST ALL MY LIFE, AND I KNOW OUR STATE’S INFERIORITY COMPLEX WELL.

BASKING IN REFLECTED GLORY IS AS TIME-HONORED A TRADITION HERE AS THE TWINS LOSING TO THE YANKEES IN THE PLAYOFFS.

AND THERE’S SOMETHING DISTINCTLY MINNESOTAN ABOUT OUR GOVERNOR POTENTIALLY JOINING HUBERT HUMPHREY AND WALTER MONDALE AT THE VERY APEX OF BEING THE NUMBER 2 GUY.

SO ENJOY, MINNESOTA.

AND REMEMBER: IN A COUPLE DAYS, THE OLYMPICS WILL BE OVER AND WE CAN ALL START