In the midst of enjoying Bud’s recent posts triggering Nole nostalgia amongst many TN members, it made me think about how great this community is, and how unknowingly lucky I was the first time I came across the brilliance that is Tomahawk Nation.  

I remember it was the Monday post-Jacksonville St. I couldn’t come to grips with where the football team was identity-wise. Actually, in hindsight it was more likely my identity I was in search of.

There was a lot of speculation on the play of the offense, the ‘football hangover’ following the short week after Miami, and the frustration of many fans that wondered when this team would ever turn the corner. Too many “one play, one player” coach-isms, too many hissy fits on other sports boards, where game breakdown and review reeked of the same banality and blah that I heard from those leading the team.

Enough, I thought. I was upset too; and I guess more than anything else, just in need of a fresh start.

So I searched for a BYU game breakdown on the Googletron 4000 and low-and-behold the first hit was from a site called tomahawknation.com. Noticing that it was a member of SBN I immediately gave it some credibility, having already been a member of Bleedcubbieblue for three years. But I needed to see more.

Let me just say my first impression was mind-boggling. In-depth video and still frame play breakdowns, position by position tendencies and weaknesses, mathmecharts galore!?!?!?! How was I allowed to be privileged to information that I thought only coaching staffs and select media had a right to?

See for yourself, its pretty darn impressive: http://www.tomahawknation.com/2009/9/18/1035946/florida-state-seminoles-at-byu

And it just continued from there, with in-depth analysis of events related to the university programs, an ‘outsiders ‘perspective that didn’t hold back any information for the sake of the players and coaches, dedicated and knowledgeable members that not only drive innovative discussion but also redirect their frustrations into positive solutions, a little something for those who like to play with game lines on the side, and even freakin’ up-to-date weather reports for each game!

FSUncensored Bud & Co. has created a great community here, and I just thought I’d share with all the first time I stumbled along the awsometasticillishness of Tomahawk Nation.

So, was your first trip to TN as memorable?

I've been thinking for a week or so about parallels between our closer situation and the 1990 Reds. I don't remember how it played out, only that Myers got the majority of the saves.

I think we've got great options for late inning work, and I'd be happy with any of the 3 working the 9th regularly.

Obviously, Marmol proved to be the only one with a true 'out' pitch last year so I'd lean towards him but since Lou is running the show we've at least got someone who has dealt with shuffling closers successfully in the past.

Any thoughts on who it should be and whether we need to work on naming rights for our trio of fireballers?

Also...I don't know how to creat a text box, but here is text from ESPN Spring Training blog:

HOWRY TO CLOSE FOR CUBS? (9:14 a.m. ET)
 The Cubs enter spring training with a three-way competition for the closer's job, but manager Lou Piniella told WGN-TV in Chicago that Bobby Howry might have the edge based on the way he filled in for Ryan Dempster last season.

Howry has taken his "front-runner" status in stride.

"I have no inside information," Howry said, according to The Chicago Tribune. "Until you go through it and play it out in spring training, their thoughts and what they discuss behind closed doors and in their meetings is between them and isn't shared with us."

Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol are the other candidates competing with Howry for the closer's job.

I didn't see this posted anywhere else, so thought I'd pass along in case anyone hadn't heard yet. Bedard in Seattle for physical today. Please refrain from skewering me over yet another Roberts related diary. Just the messenger here.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-bedard207,0,7467653.story?track=rss