The Ride

They say the best rides at the amusement park are the ones that twist you and fling you in all directions. The 2010 edition of the Texas Rangers were worth the long line and the ticket price. After sitting down and pulling the safety bar over your chest, you were taken on a trip that rivaled anything at Six Flags Over Texas. And although this ride came to an abrupt end, I want to be that guy that runs out the exit and gets back in line.

Think about this. For the first time in franchise history, going back to 1961, this ball club was on the field in November. And they still had a chance to win it all. Granted, it didn't work out like everyone had planned, but who cares? Truth be told, not me. Yes, it would have been nice to upgrade the trophy case with a shiny bunch of flags made of gold, but there are still two new ones in there. Including one that says, "American League Champions".

I hate it that the team's bats let us down. I hate it that our pitching didn't produce as advertised. But any criticism of this team must be tempered. And only those with an IQ slightly higher than the average Yankee fan would rip this team. Those who know baseball know this team was good. In one postseason, they sent the teams with the best records in the American League to the golf course. In beating the Yankees, they shut down a team with a payroll that was four times the amount of theirs, and one that had more rings and history than any other team. In taking out Tampa Bay, they took down a team that acted as though the Rangers didn't belong in the same, ugly stadium that they played in, even though they have fans that would rather be playing canasta than watching baseball.

The Cowboys now have a challenger to their superiority in the DFW Metroplex. There's a new sheriff in town. And with that, there can be fun again. I love my Cowboys. But the NFL as a whole has become bloated, as free agency takes its toll and the days of a player playing for the same team for even three or four years is now the exception to the rule. In Major League Baseball, there is still Michael Young, Derek Jeter, and Albert Pujols. Players who are committed to their clubs and will always be there. Yes, there are still trades. But unlike football, baseball players connect with their fans. And this Rangers team has definitely connected with its fans. From Nellie, to Ian, to Elvis, this group is loved. And I don't see much changing. The Greenberg/Ryan group's players will not become a Steinbrenner-fueled group of mercenaries. They will build on what they started here and will put together a team that will be designed for long term success. If they win the World Series, you won't see a fire sale like you did in Miami, after the Marlins won it all in '97.

The best thing about this year is that, for the first time, this team has the opportunity to re-sign a top tier player, in Cliff Lee. Now there will be plenty of gold chain wearing, spray tanned, marinara smelling Yankee fans who will shout you down if you bring up that subject and tell you they will most assuredly get him. But let me give you a tip. Do what I did in January of 2006, when I was sitting in the middle of the USC section at the Rose Bowl. Just keep your mouth shut until that "touchdown". And when it happens, stick a finger in their face and laugh. Laugh until you pee your pants. Just be careful how close to their face you put that finger. After all, the signs at the zoo telling you not to stick you hand into the monkey cage are there for a reason.

So no regrets, Ranger fans, because there are none. This was a magical year. This was a year that the demons of the past were exorcised. This year was that cleansing breath you take after after you've built your son's tree house, or watched your daughter's first recital. It's the feeling that you watched or accomplished something special. And it's a feeling that you want all the time. But while we have to deal with the off-season now, take comfort in knowing that pitchers and catchers report in just 104 days. And then we get to pull down the bar and ride this thing all over again. I'll save you a spot in line...