MLB 2021

[Jason]

Dedicating this thread to celebrating the loss of the Dodgers and the World Series win of the Braves.

Rockies didn't make it and I was rooting for Atlanta the whole way. Woooo. Wish they could've won that game 5 so they could celebrate in Atlanta, but hey, it's the World Series and the title is going to a team who totally deserves it. What a great run.

[Man in Black]

I've had a great life as a sports fan... I've experienced the top... Being a child and seeing the 1981 Clemson Tiger football team twice at Death Valley then watching them go undefeated for a National Championship.

I've seen Dan Marino carve up the record books and reach the Super Bowl only to lose to a 49er team comprised of pro bowlers paid for by advertising that never counted towards the salary cap.

I've watched my Carolina Tarheels not only win multiple National Championships, but produce some of the best NBA talent ever... Including a hometown kid who was cut from his school's basketball team... then became the greatest athlete who ever lived.

My Dolphins are still the only inhabitants of Perfectville... 1972... the year I was born they became the only professional team to go undefeated (thanks Eli, Tyree and your helmet).

Yeah, I saw the Braves go worst to first in the 90s and saw a rookie Chipper Jones win a WS in 95. Yeah I've seen upsets, blowouts, Barry Sanders, Ronnie Lott, Elway's drive, Tim Duncan and the Admiral, even Freddie Freeman's MVP season. But...

This World Series win by the Atlanta Braves meant a great deal to me. Probably more than the 2 recent Clemson titles, and really... everything else.

I sat quietly with my son David and we turned and looked at eacher with a knowing look and smiled. I didn't jump up and fist pump, I didn't scream with joy, I didn't even let out a Nature Boy "Wooooooooooooo!"

I won't go into all my health or personal issues... I'll just say I needed this. And I won't go through all the minor league games, highschool games, trips to Turner Field, SunTrust/Truist Park... the autographs, the crazy coincidences with David meeting players... I'll simply leave it at the fact that... meeting and talking to several of the players standing in that field in Houston during the last out of the 2021 World Series... David and I felt like we were a part of it all. A small part... but a part.

I don't know how many sports moments I have left... but, I'm not sure this one can be topped.

(Thanks J for creating the thread) I have many pictures through this whole journey over the past 15 plus years... I'll try to post them here.

[Man in Black]

[Man in Black]

These 2 of Ozzie and David are some ofy favorites of him with players. This is at a single A game right after the Braves 1st got Ozzie. He was a teenager... Him and David goofed off like the couple of kids they were. Little did I know I was watching my son play around with a future Braves starter... not to mention an All-Star and potential future HOFer.

[Man in Black]

These games with my Mom started it all. First I'd stop by and visit with her and my Grandpa after work and catch the Braves games with them. It started as an excuse to spend time with them as my Grandpa was not in good health. But, soon I was arguing with the umps through the TV right along with them. And not long after I bought my Mom this Chipper jersey and took her to Turner Field.

[Man in Black]

I'll brag in myself a bit... I got a few iconic looking photos... Especially considering I was up in the stands with an older non pro Nikon camera.

[Jason]

Awesome photos! That was such an incredible run from that Braves team. The Dodgers tend to fizzle out around the time the postseason begins. They go way too hard during the regular season and are burnt out by the time winning really matters. It's a marathon, not a race. The Braves caught fire right at the perfect time. It was looking scary for them for the last 20 games or so. They were in danger of not even making the playoffs. But they went on a spectacular run. Eddie Rosario was the postseason MVP in my opinion. Certainly the MVP of the NLCS. It felt like every time he came up to bat, there were fireworks. The minute the playoffs started, I rooted for them the whole way.

[Man in Black]

You are right... I was sad when Acuna went down as he was the only hitter... well, hitting. But, looking back I'm not sure they go get Rosario and the guys they did if Acuna was healthy. In no way am I saying I am glad he got hurt, but fate sure had it all work out. Now if they keep Rosario and Acuna comes back... we're a better team in the long run.

Atlanta is poised for a long run. We win the WS with our best hitter and pitcher (Mike Soroka) hurt. Plus if they do the DH and we keep Soler... sheesh.

And thanks for the Braves support! I always try to pull for the Rockies as well. Side note... The Rockies lost the single A team near me that we always went to see the Braves play. Now it's a Houston farm team. That's what it originally started as.