I'll start this out by saying that Braun has not brought about the end of my Brewer fandom.

I'm disappointed in steroid users in baseball. This is the equivalent of me saying I'm disappointed in football players who get cheap shots in on interception returns, basketball players who throw punches (how fitting...looking at you Cincinatti), and hockey players who slash. This isn't a post about how terrible it is that PEDs, HGH, and overall self-righteousness has overtaken a sport. This is a post about what it means to be vilified. This is a post, written in anger and alcohol, about what it means when you are accused of being the "lowest of the low" in your sport.

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As the Brewers magic number continues to improve, I wanted to contribute a bit to the site I frequent almost every single day (and sometimes hour). I'm primarily one of the non-commenting ghosts, but for the next few days, each Brewer win becoming more significant, I wanted to write a short post about how each "magic number" coincides with my Brewers fandom. Ideally the crew will keep me writing every day. You're all free to discuss/argue/completely ignore these posts, as it's simply my reflection on the number in my short time being a Brewers fan (started listening/watching consistently in 2005. That being said, here's my first post of ideally eight reflections on the past, present, and future of the Brewers.

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I'm one who posts very seldom on here, at least in the daily threads, but usually stop by to read at least once per day. That being said, this is more or less just a function of the time I have available. Normally I used to contribute to every game thread, but a job has been in the way for several months now, and I only have the post-game spoils to enjoy. I wanted to drop by and share a story. 

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Hey Folks,

I don't post here often, but check in on a daily basis. In the past I've really only posted 'season recap' type essays once the Packers are looking forward to the next year. This is going to be a bit different. 

An inside joke amongst friends is a made up word we've deemed 'sulnightafulbendin'. A basic definition of which is "self-loathing with a glimmer of hope based on a single event". I fear what I'm about to write fits this all too clearly. I'm caught up with emotion, and just feel like writing something SOMEWHERE. Continue at your own risk.

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This isn't going to be a long post, but I felt it pertinent to comment on a couple things from last night regarding the officiating. 

My main gripe with the NBA is and might always be the refs. There have been many articles recently, one by Hollinger in particular, calling out the officials for the way games are ruled and fouls are given. The Bucks were at the forefront of the Donaghy case going back to the 2001 playoffs, and most any basketball fan can watch an NBA game with a superstar involved and see that fouls are called just a BIT differently depending on what players are on the court. It's an unfortunate side effect to mass marketing and self promotion in the NBA, and I hope it eventually changes for the better.

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Just speculation of course, but news today that Sproles is not going to be tendered by the Chargers. I know its very out of character for Thompson to pursue someone like Sproles, but he would be a great back to have on the roster for the right amount of money. My guess is he'll be pursuing starting back salary, but I doubt there is another free agent back out there that would fill as many holes- Good in pass protection and receiving, fantastic returner, and a pretty quiet guy in the locker room. If some weird trade goes through where we trade Grant, I can definitely see us trying to sign him. It's fun to live in imaginationland, but what do you think? Good option or sheer fantasy?

I'd like to take a few moments reflecting on what it's like to be a lifelong, die hard, no holds barred Viking fan. For your entire life, you've lived and died with every Vikings win and loss. You've had to deal with incompetent coaches, diva players, and heartbreaking losses. Your teams most memorable moments of the modern era are Super Bowl losses, not wins. You are stuck rooting for a team that has almost been unable to build a new and desperately needed stadium. Worst of all, you're stuck in a division with two of the most historically significant football clubs of all time, and even though you have had 18 divisional championships (in the top 5 all time), you have never won the big game. 

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It's taken me a couple days to process the game we all saw on Sunday. One last blocking meltdown and we watched the season get high stepped into the end zone, a dark half year before we get to watch the Green and Gold play again. It's going to be a long summer, especially if the Brewers don't sign pitching.

My first reaction after the game was actually joy. I hadn't expected much from the Packers in the playoffs, and while I was rooting for them all the way, and cheering as they came back from 21 down, I still couldn't shake the feeling that it was all for naught. The pass offenses the NFC has in the playoffs this year could absolutely shred our defense, especially with Jarrett Bush on the field. I was more or less hoping for a good game to watch, and already looking forward to signing some help in the offseason.

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I apologize for the late post, both to the blog and the time, but I have a very simple thing to say, in principle.

This upcoming weekend is the Packers bye week, something I just assume everyone will know, but I would like to reflect on this past week for a moment.

I loved Brett Favre as a Packer. He led us to 2 Super Bowls and 3 MVP awards. We all cheered when he gave us hope in the early 90's, almost getting to the big game. We snarled when those terrible Cowboys always seemed to have our number in the postseason. We hated playing at Texas Stadium, we hated watching those games, we hated watching Reggie White on the sidelines, desperate to change the outcome of games we knew were beyond our reach. We hated watching our coordinators getting injured on legitimate plays, too old to jump out of the way.

And we loved when we finally made it to the big game. We won the Super Bowl. Favre won 3 MVP's and got us to 2 Super Bowls. We gave veterans like Eugene Robinson, Reggie White, and even players like Leroy Butler, Frank Winters, Dorsey Levens, and Santana Dotson a chance to shine.

And they did. It was fantastic to get them a Super Bowl. We were lucky.

More after 'The Jump"

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