Justin Jefferson & Anthony Edwards Recreate Iconic Randy Moss & Kevin Garnett Photo

“All people in Minnesota is aware of the photograph,” Jefferson says, grinning. “Two superstars within the state of Minnesota; they have been on the highest of the league in basketball and soccer.”

He is proper, after all, aside from one factor: Folks far past the Minnesota borders know the picture.

Jon Krawczynski, now an esteemed senior author for the Athletic, was a 21-year-old Minnesota sports activities buff and aspiring journalist when the Sport cowl was launched in March 2000.

“One of many issues that made that picture so particular was that Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss weren’t simply native heroes to all of the sports activities followers in Minnesota and surrounding area, however they have been vastly fashionable across the nation,” Krawczynski recalled. “And so for an space of the nation that usually will get ignored – , we get diminished on a regular basis as a result of it is chilly right here; individuals in different components of the nation suppose we’re just a few frozen outpost and there is nothing cool right here – that was one of many first time since Prince that, ‘Hey, Minnesota is cool.’ “

Krawczynski referred to as Garnett and Moss state symbols, the latter coming off his third NFL season and third straight with greater than 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns. Garnett, the elder of the 2 by a 12 months, already had 5 Timberwolves seasons beneath his belt and two of averaging a double-double per outing.

For the primary time in without end, Krawczynski famous, Minnesota was on the forefront.

“I feel it gave lots of people round right here unbelievable delight,” he stated. “These guys have been their individuals, they usually have been turning into stars and lifting everybody up on their shoulders.”

The unique picture was taken by the late photographer Tim Mantoani, who so completely captured not solely youthful vitality but additionally the essence – the enjoyable – of profitable.

Nevertheless it was Garnett’s spontaneous suggestion that turned a relatively normal, editorial photoshoot on its head that day:

“It was the proper spin to take what would have been a cool photograph and make it into an iconic photograph,” Krawczynski stated. “As a result of what Ok.G. did [with that idea], it truly made these superhuman athletes – that run quicker, bounce greater, are taller, are extra athletic, are wealthier – like sports activities followers of one another.

“What number of Minnesota sports activities followers had their very own Moss jersey, had their very own Garnett jersey, and wore them to video games?” added Krawczynski, who in his personal assortment had a white 21 Wolves jersey and purple 84 Moss. “So now to see every considered one of them sporting the alternative jersey, that advised us they weren’t simply these wonderful athletes, they weren’t simply these celebrity personalities however, actually, they have been additionally sports activities followers – and that made them similar to us.”