MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves' meteoric rise to the top this season is bringing out the fan in everyone.
However, one superfan has been missing from the stands.
"This team is as exciting as a team as anyone," John Sweeney said. "It's certainly got superstars."
Sweeney could blend in among the bandwagon fans.
His nickname is what makes him stand out — "Jiggly Boy."
Sweeney is referring to a character he created during the 2004 season in a collaboration between Brave New Workshop comedy theater and the team.
Jiggly Boy's first appearance was in a match-up against the Dallas Mavericks. With the eyes of the Dance Cam and the country on him, Sweeney performed a shirtless dance routine. He was then led out by two security guards who Sweeney later revealed were actors.
"The next thing you know, it kind of blew up," Sweeney said.
His routine was featured on national news outlets, gaining notoriety that grew in later years. In 2015, Sweeney revived Jiggly Boy for Kevin Garnett's return to the team, catching his attention from the stands.
"All of a sudden, we saw his smile and all the smiles around us," Sweeney said.
That encouraged Sweeney to turn his moves into money for a good cause.
"We had already created a great relationship with Smile Network International, which does cleft palate surgeries for kids in the third world," Sweeney, the former owner of Brave New Workshop, said.
Launching a website JigglyBoy.com, Sweeney linked visitors to Smile Network International's donation page. The site is still active today.
"We've been raising money now for, I guess, eight years," Sweeney said.
When asked if Jiggly Boy would return for the Western Conference Finals, Sweeney, who is now a professional public speaker, wasn't sure.
"Who knows?"
He noted the age of some players on the team is getting close to the age of the bit. Anthony Edwards, born in 2001, would have been a toddler when Jiggly Boy first caught the world's attention.
"I hope the younger players on the current team could get jiggly with it."
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