ST. PAUL - The question now is whether this grand Minnesota Twins drama reached its stunning climax when the team won the division title. Or is there more to come?

By clinching the title, the Twins and their fans had the last laugh on Bud Selig, Carl Pohlad and all those who wanted to eliminate the team. As the late, great Jackie Gleason used to say: "How sweet it is!"

Now we get to see if the team not only saves the day but also gets the girl at the end of the movie.

Remember that the Twins spent the winter dodging the contraction bullet. They were saved only by a court order decreeing that they must honor their Metrodome lease in 2002.

As we head into the opening round of the playoffs, let's relive what led to the last and best laugh.

"Baseball didn't go into this blindly. ... They developed a lot of statistics that said Montreal and Minneapolis, or Minnesota, simply don't meet the test of being able to field a winning team because of economics."_Carl Pohlad.

"When we are posed the question, `Why should the Minnesota Twins not be contracted?' we are unable to find a plausible answer."_Jim Pohlad.

"I honestly believe we can get this done by the end of November."_Bud Selig.

Looking back, it's amazing the Twins were able to survive that type of attitude from their own ownership and from the commissioner of baseball. There wasn't a friendly voice to be heard. And for months Twins employees waited and hoped for the best, despite all odds.

"As a team it's sad. As a player, it's crushing me."_Doug Mientkiewicz.

"The only thing I can liken it to is `Groundhog Day.' Every day we come in looking for answers. And every day we leave with the same questions."_Dave St. Peter, Twins vice president of business affairs.

"You could call it a bit of a roller coaster."_Ron Gardenhire.

The team wasn't allowed to sell tickets or promote its product. Contraction seemed to be almost a self-fulfilling prophecy as the organization nearly died of inaction. Players didn't know whether to pack for spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., or to wait for some sort of a dispersal draft.

But there were heroes, too. There were those who refused to buckle. The key was when the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission filed suit to force the Twins to honor their 2002 lease. That changed everything.

"Baseball is as American as turkey and apple pie. Baseball crosses social barriers, creates community spirit, and is more than a private enterprise."_District Judge Harry Crump, ruling in favor of the commission.

"I'm in no mood to be bailing out on this organization."_general manager Terry Ryan, refusing to be interviewed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ryan's decision may have been the greatest act of faith in the whole ordeal. By declaring his intentions to stay, he helped hold the baseball operation intact. Twins fans owe him a great debt.

Of course, the Twins never should have been considered for contraction. If the owners were honest with themselves, they would have admitted that an organization such as the Arizona Diamondbacks was much more detrimental to baseball.

Here's a recent expansion club that has fallen more than $50 million into debt, despite a new ballpark and a World Series title. The most successful team on the field in 2002 has needed bailout loans to make its payroll.

Then there are the Texas Rangers, whose owner paid shortstop Alex Rodriguez $250 million, then complained about high salaries. It's ridiculous.

But from a fan's perspective, the Twins were at a disadvantage when it came to contraction because they were willing to be eliminated. Ownership clearly was all for it. And that's hard to ignore.

So how did that last laugh feel, pretty satisfying? Just remember that revenge is considered a bad thing. Most clergy frown upon it.

But I think even God would make an exception in this case.

Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the playoffs. And if there is an epilogue to this great drama, it will be when Selig has to hand the Twins a championship trophy.