I hate that the conversation is over

I want to change the conversation

I want to change the narrative

I want to end the jokes

I want to make the smug eat their own faces

I want the small market moniker and excuse to die

I want the truth to sound different:

Hopeful

Exciting

Shatter the belief that we can’t

That we are merely misfits

That we are cute

Or precious

Or interesting

Or novel

Fuck that

We are the Oakland mother fucking A’s

Proud, strong, completely capable

Unapologetic

Bold

And ready for what’s next

As soon as right now stops stinging.

I don’t want to hate this sport

I saw that last night in a tweet from AN

And I love this site

It started right when I was starting my journey with my dad

See:

Baseballgirl is my local spirit animal

She was the one who introduced me to AN

Met her outside a Starbucks in Culver City in 2005

Fellow A's fans wearing their gear

In enemy territory.

I love this site

I love the As

And I love this game

Even if it feels exclusionary

Elitist

And unfair at the moment

The idea that WE can't play with THEM

Pisses me off.

I want to scream it's not true,

But the score from the game

Ahem

The games over nearly 20 years

Say otherwise.

But I do love this game

I love playing catch with my dad, daughter and son

I love watching my kids crush whiffle balls

And running themselves into pickles

I love hearing my son embrace history

Exploding with joy over his first Dodger Dog,

Fenway Frank and

getting a pie slammed in his face by the man,

the myth and the legend

who once strode to the plate beneath George Michaels lament.

Baseball goes beyond the diamond for me

Far beyond

It's camping

Road trips

Long talks

Music

Laughter

Great food

Beer

So much more than one game

In the scope of 162

So while I’m paralyzed by the pain of "again" that happened just last night

I’m beyond bullish for the future

No matter what it brings.