It is that time folks. Yes ... time for another Rant Fest.  Four games of Falcons football left (unless -- by some Vishnu-willed miracle -- this team makes the playoffs), then it'll be a long 8 months without meaningful Sundays.  Use this space to (literally) rant your face off (see below).

What is a rant?

Etymology: obsolete Dutch ranten, randen

Date: 1601

intransitive verb

1 : to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner

2 : to scold vehemently

So come one, come all ... rant to your heart is content. Feel free to describe in detail whatever it is that irks you these days, and while I'm sure we all have our opinions re: health care reform, Taco Bell's cheesy gordita (sp?) crunch, and Smitty's eyebrows of fury, let's keep it strictly Falcons here, mmkay?

The idea behind this thread is to provide a forum where one can opine about whatever it is you feel like opining about. But remember, since this thread is specifically for ranting (even irrational ranting), don't hate on what other people have to say ... if you agree, feel free to note that, but keep the criticism of what people post to a minimum, if possible.

Please do rec this, such that we may keep the other threads free from ranting in the coming weeks. Thanks y'all and get to ranting!

Kanye says "I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish ... but the Falcons are the most rant-worthy team in NFL history!"

KDC made an excellent point in a different thread in response to a comment re: overreaction on this site.  It got me thinking: MAYBE everyone really deserves a place to vent.  I am not saying you can only vent here, but I think it might be a good idea to have a place where one can vent absent sarcastic responses, accusations of haterdome, and retributive malevolence.

We'll here you go.  I declare this (I'm not even sure I have this authority - thus feel free to delete this thread if it is out of line Fearless Leader) Vent Fest '09.  I doubt our collective frustration will be any higher than it is now in the near future (i.e., we're finally realizing this is not a SB team and - more than likely - not a playoff team, depending on how certain people recover).  Accuse Matty Ice of illicit drug use, call for Burner's resignation, question if Smitty's eye brows are simply throwing off the team's mojo ... your comments need not be rationale or based on facts.  In other words, opine to your heart's content!

I only ask that you recommend this, thereby allocating a space where irrational rants can be had until Matty and company turn this ship around next week.  THANK YOU and GOOD DAY!

There has been no shortage of negativity on this site in recent days, much of it completely justified. But I thought now might be a good time to think back about why and how we all became Braves fans in the first place. Granted, there have been posts like this before, and I'd hardly want to come off like I'm being original ... but here's my attempt at "seeing the silver lining," or lack thereof (if you will).

It was only 3 hours and 22 minutes of baseball that forever solidified my status as a Braves fan. It was October 14, 1992. I was in second grade, and while I tried to stay awake during Mrs. Spikler's lesson on place values ... I knew nothing of the evening to come. My father picked me up early from school (he told the secretary I had a dentist appointment), and as we deviated from our normal route home, I realized something was afoot.

"Son, we're going to game 7," he said. I was EXCITED. Granted, I wasn't a huge Braves fan at the time (I was more interested in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), but I knew the playoffs were significant. At the very least, I figured it might get me out of doing my homework.

We arrived a couple of hours before first pitch. It wasn't my first baseball game, but I can still remember the smell of hot dogs, light beer, roasted peanuts, and cheep perfume (the southern belles were out en masse). The first 8 innings were rather depressing. By the middle of the ninth, the Bravos were down 2-0 and a long off-season was in sight. "It's over, we should get out of here to beat the traffic," my father said. "No dad," I replied, "they still have a chance." He looked at me like I was a naive, 7 year old kid (which I was), but he complied.

Leading off in the bottom of the ninth, TP hit a double off Drabek. Justice reached first after Jose Lind booted a routine grounder. Sid Bream walked, and all of a sudden, the go-ahead run was on first. "See, I told you dad," I said. He again looked at me like I was a naive, 7 year old kid, but I didn't care. I knew something great was going to happen (or so I like to think).

Ronny Gant hits a deep fly ball, a worthwhile sacrifice, and we're suddenly down by only one run. Berryhill walks and Brian Hunter pops out, down 2-1 w/ 2 outs and the bases load. Then, Francisco Cabrera (a seldomly-used bench player) strides to the plate. I'm not sure this actually happened, but I like to think I said a silent prayer at that point. I remember the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd. Cabrera singled to left, Justice rounded third, Justice scored, Bream around third, the Barry Bonds throw and .... BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!

The rest, folks, is history. I remember hanging out of my dad's 1986 Honda civic, slapping high fives with the drunken masses who were being DDed home that night (or so I hope). The city of Atlanta was alive that night, and for one shining moment, the Bravos were NL Champions.

I assume most or all of you had similar experiences. That turning, instrumental moment or series of moments that forever converted you to Braves fandom. Yes, they aren't the easiest bunch to support, but they're our bunch. GA's hate for baseball, FYF's inability to take a pitch, Gonzo's ridiculous windup, Bobby's tendency to fall asleep while Blaine Boyer ruins yet another game ... they're our team.

I did not write this post to discourage anyone from ranting and raving about our inadequacies. Rather, I hope we can all reflect, if for only a moment ... on why we chose THIS team in the first place. Write your personal experiences, criticize me for being a sentimental nerd, suggest a delicious beer I should try ... it's up to YOU. But please, DO be gentle.