I am 43 years old. I grew up in Houston from age 6 (1967). My Father was an Astros season ticket holder from 1976-1986. I was in attendance at game 4 in the 1980 NLCS vs. the Phillies (the game with the f*'d up triple play). Lessons Learned: The 2004 Houston Astros were the most exciting Astros team I have ever seen. They provided me with more exciting moments than any Astros team I have ever witnessed. As a longtime Astro fan, I could smell the World Series this year. I never thought I would live to see the day the Astros would play in the World Series. This year has made me think that not only will I live to see the Astros play in the World Series...I will live to see the Astros win the World Series. This offseason, the Astros main priority must be to sign Carlos Beltran. Due to the design of Minute Maid Park, the Astros must have a Center Fielder that can roam the vast space in Center Field making the plays necessary to win games. Carlos Beltran can do that and also hit for power, hit for average, and steal bases. This makes him a must-have for the Stros. Drayton better start selling the farm to keep him....either that or sell the team to Tillman Fertitta. Astros fans....remember this if you remember anything as the weather gets cold and the Rockets crank it up: Anyone can jump on the bandwagon of a winner. Anyone can be a New York Yankees fan. Anyone can be a San Francisco 49ers fan, Anyone can be a Chicago Bulls fan. It takes a tough person to be a fan of a team that almost makes it. Ask any of your elders who were Brooklyn Dodger fans. If you are tough, and you are a fan of a team that "almost makes it", regardless of the sport, the victory when you win a championship is that much sweeter. We know this as Houston Rockets fans. And, I am here to tell you, God help me, the Houston Astros will win a World Series while I am still alive on planet Earth. I feel it in my soul, and I believe it in my heart. That is all, after a half bottle of Crown Royal and three Miller Lites during the course of game 7. Y'all sleep tight, ya hear. Tomorrow is another day, just like the one after that. Be happy you are alive. It beats the alternative. See you Saturday night at Cosmos Cafe. Peace....out.
amen I must say .....I'm glad I have a 14 month old son and an awesome wife that I look forward to seeing every hour of every day I remember how hard I use to take losses like this back in the 90s with the Stros, Rockets AND Oilers, yet ....i feel good right now to all you single guys, get married and have a kid ......they'll make you realize there are other things in life to be happy about and take the sting out of losses like these
At this point, I really wish Les Alexander was the Astros owner. That way, us Astro fans would not have to worry about resigning Beltran. But with Drayton, there is some doubt.
Beltran's clutchness rubbed off on the others. Losing him might be as devastating to an Astros fan as losing tonight. There is no hope of getting back without Beltran. He is the future. F Drayton.
When he first bought the Astros: Drabek/Swindell This year: Petitte/Clemens McLane's done his good deeds for this decade. He will feign to sign Beltran and then declare how poor he is. Unfortunately, Beltran is not from Houston so he'll have to sign somewhere else to win his World Series ala Randy Johnson.
It is strange ... Somehow I am amazingly calm and at peace right now. After game 1 and game 2 of the series I was pissed and wanted to throw **** everywhere. For some reason, this loss was easier to take.
I really believe that McLane will make every effort to sign Beltran. He has too much incentive beyond the bottom line to do so. Beltran is going to put fannies in seats next year where ever he signs. He made his legend in the playoffs this seasons. He was the difference along with Clemens and Lidge. Couple that with the new network that The Rox and Astros are trying to put together and how much draw power Beltran gives them and it becomes about more than the bottom line. It is about actually making money and not just holding the losses down. If Clemens and Beltran are gone next year, you can bet attendance drops back well below the 3 million mark and stays there. McLane will put up the bucks. It just comes down to Beltran wantng to stay here. Worst case is, we go back to where we were, bring in young guys and get two compensation picks for Beltran. Great Season Guys, Thanks!
i'm only 22 and i was only 4 when 86 broke the hearts of everyone in houston. This is the first heartbreak i've went through in something other than rockets basketball. through everything though, this one doesn't hurt as much as stockton's shot in 97? Just to be so close and to get your heart torn in the last seconds to the f***ing jazz was so heartbreaking. but yet this one still hurts and im getting to old to throw things around and yell profanities til i'm blue in the face. This is more a subtle "life moves on" hurt
(1) No thank you. I'm much happier with a local who lives in the area owning the Franchises. (2) Whether Beltran stays or leaves is entirely his decision. The Astros offer will be competitive. It may not equal Steinbrenner, but the difference will be small enough (especially when the tax difference is factored in) that that will not be the deciding point.
This is the first really hard loss I've ever had my team be a part of. I just stared at the ground for a few minutes, trying to remember the good parts of the season. I can't wait til next year, just hope the Astros don't tease me again.
I could never be a bandwagoner.... I may display anger at teams sometimes.. and yes I was dissapointed in the loss... but in the end.. if they play in Houston I will be rooting for them period..
Only in Texas are people so concerned with a "local" owning the team.... which is why Les isn't well liked I guess.. I don't care who owns the team as long as we win.
Thanks fellas. Crown Royal and Miller Lite sometimes brings about damn fine stream-of-consciousness writing. It also sometimes brings about a hangover...like this morning.
It is a good team and a great year. I liked the '86 Astros a little more though. I never connected that much to the killer bs. Now let's all be even more thankful for Hakeem Olajuwon. He was in my thoughts last night after the loss.
