So I just got back from the bookstore where I thumbed through a copy of this week's Sports Illustrated Baseball Preview issue. I would've bought the magazine anyway, because the Baseball Preview is an annual must-read for me. Even though my favorite part of the individual team previews - the "Scout's Notes" - is missing this year, which was disappointing. (Bring those back next year, SI!)
But this year, I was particularly interested because of the "MySI" sidebar which features polls for the favorite blog or fan site for each team. So I turned to the Tigers preview on pages 92 and 93, and that's when I saw this:
Image via Mack Avenue Tigers
I looked at the page a few times. I looked at it close-up, and once again while holding it at arm's length. I tried it with glasses on, then glasses off. I also thought maybe one of those lenticular/hologram images that change when you look from a different angle might be in use. But the words on the page stayed the same.
(And the lady standing near me wondered why I was holding Sports Illustrated horizontally as if it were... a different type of magazine. But c'mon, Daisuke Matsuzaka's on the cover, not Beyonce Knowles.)
Look, I already knew what I was going to see. Billfer, Lee, and Kurt already wrote about their good fortune (and quite humbly, I might add). So it's not like I dropped my cinnamon vanilla latte to the floor, ran outside, got in the back seat of my car, locked myself in, curled up in the fetal position and cried until my mother came to get me because she wondered why I wasn't home yet. No, that's silly. I don't even drink flavored coffee.
But seriously, I would like to congratulate those guys for getting some much deserved spotlight. The Detroit Tigers blogosphere has increased sizably over the past year, and gets more attention by the day, and those three blogs are a big reason for that. Their knowledge, talent, and generosity contribute greatly to what's become a really fun community.
As for me, well, I'll wipe away the tears, briefly put a hot towel over my eyes and try hard to get Bless You Boys to a place where it could be mentioned on future lists. It's been an interesting three weeks, trying to settle in and get a feel for this SB Nation thing. But I hope you're enjoying what you've read so far, and with the season about to begin, I'm excited about doing all I can to get you excited about this site and generate some fun discussion.
Okay, I should really get to that season preview. Especially when I have people taunting me about it now.
** Please know that I meant the title of this post as a joke. Good-natured humor. Hee hee. Ha ha. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. I just couldn't resist the play on words.
(Plus, it's something of a tribute to the TV show Friday Night Lights, which my friend Clint works on. Wednesday nights on NBC! Give it a try! It's a fantastic show!)