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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004, and a new slogan is taking over the state.
The Timberwolves advanced to the round after defeating the Denver Nuggets in seven games. The series began with Minnesota fans tattooing Naz Reid‘s name on themselves after Game 2 and ended with Anthony Edwards creating another memorable trend after Game 7.
During a postgame interview on Sunday, TNT’s Charles Barkley told Edwards he hadn’t been to Minnesota in 20 years. Before he could ask for restaurant recommendations, Edwards told him: “Bring ya ass.”
Since then, Minnesota has embraced the slogan. Ahead of Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, the Target Center debuted the “Bring Ya A**” 5-pound beef ribs created by Levy Restaurants.
Bring Ya A** Ribs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/C9pFcTqTNh
— Levy (@LevyRestaurants) May 24, 2024
On Tuesday, the Timberwolves home arena, the Target Center, wrote the phrase on its JumboTron before Game 1.
We’ll see you tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7x7SiwqUkt
— Target Center (@TargetCenterMN) May 21, 2024
On Monday, comedian Jon Savitt, who grew up in Minnesota, revealed that he bought the domain bringyaass.com. The link now redirects visitors to the state’s tourism website, exploreminnesota.com.
A section on the homepage that includes the slogan also links to a local travel guide.
Minnesota is ready for you, basketball fans! 🏀 Let’s go, @Timberwolves! 🐺 pic.twitter.com/AXz4RR1tdW
— Explore Minnesota (@exploreminn) May 20, 2024
On Wednesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a proclamation that established May 22 as “Wolves Back Day,” for the first day of the Western Conference Finals. The first letter of each section after “WHEREAS” spells out “Bring Ya Ass.”
Bring it on Dallas. #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/1DoTgdGL5C
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) May 22, 2024
Mueller Memorial, a funeral home and cremation service in St. Paul, added their own twist to the viral slogan on Wednesday.
— Mueller Memorial (@MuellerMemorial) May 22, 2024
Summer at the Fair, which begins this week, and the Minnesota Orchestra also chimed in, both sending invitations out to Barkley.
Let’s go, @timberwolves! 🏀
Charles Barkley, we hear you’re looking for some good Minnesota eats – what’s better than enjoying 40+ food vendors at Kickoff to Summer at the Fair this week, May 23-26!
After all, @theantedwards_ said it best! #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/8XN106cdBL— Minnesota State Fair (@mnstatefair) May 20, 2024
The Timberwolves opened the Western Conference finals against the Mavericks on Wednesday, losing in Game 1 108-105. It is the second time the two franchises will face each other in the postseason — Dallas swept Minnesota in the best-of-five first round in 2002.