Hmm… Finally figured out how to access my account again. Wasn’t a priority. just enjoyed to read. I am an original Yankees fan. Wonderful history and know so much of it growing up. So little as a kid Mantle was at the end of his career. Loved him. Mantle was my man. The team was always competitive, but never won. Astros frustration to a tee! When around 13 or so, 13 1/2 behind in the division and my uncle, a Phillies fan and they were in first, joked with me about look at your team. I said watch, they will come back. Sure enough God and the baseball God’s were on my side. They did and I saw my team play in there first world series, I think two years in a row with the manager that steibrenner hired and fired. Watching the picture of nettles on tv verticle to the ground make a catch was absolutely awesome at 3rd. Still love the team, but not the team of today or in the many recent years past. In fact way before I was born, Dad drove up in front of whitey Ford’s limo. Security came out of car. He said he only wanted an autograph for his son. (oldest son) Whitey stepped out and told the security guards to stand down and gave my dad the autograph. Dads like Dementia joe now and as a great man is way worse, but similar. Called home earlier and older brother said he was at home watching dad. Our wood shop has an original signed paul waner bat if I got the name right signed. Not sure who he is, a lot of baseball history at home. Most nice things my parents have are off the walls and boxed up. Dementia sucks. But God is good. On…So we move from the Netherlands to Houston. (I thought tumbleweeds and desert) 1980. Dad loving baseball took us to me and my brother to our first game at the Dome. (a rat hole now, needs to be torn down, worked at city hall contract during Katrina) That year sparked my interest in the players that wore those god awful uniforms! At least in the 70’s. Being a baseball fan, I started watching guys started to love. Never hated the team, just thought looked like clowns. Then as I progressed through college in Nac. Followed minors to see where we might go. I was lost forever to be an Astros fan. (didn’t matter much about the Yankees, they had destroyed themselves in my eyes under Steinbrener. You play the game, you don’t buy the game. Been on many boards as a top Astros poster a long time in the past. We all get older, but not that old. Watched trades of anderson for bagwell. what a steal! heard of bad trades in my time and before. Staub morgan that were disastors. But when the seasons and team are low, you follow the minors. Because there is always hope. And as I said, you can’t buy a team, and if it is with too much money making it uncompetitive, makes it kind of suck. This is my team and watch my old team, who I still love, just not any of the current teams in the last twenty years. Its a history love. I know how to hurt as a kid. On a side note. Dad took Mom to womacks restaurant, took us, my brother and I later, where when he took my mom, he said this is one of Nolan Ryans favorite restaurants. He was there and got his autograph. Was in NJ at the beach house when Enron opened, Flew to Houston stayed with a high school buddy. Because of a board. One girl said I have seasoning opening tickets, got to ski, offered to me. My friend I stayed with english originally had no idea, like watching rugby. LOL. Saw the first and third game at Enron. Kick em all you want, there is nothing dumber than a successful biusiness man expanding into crap they don’t know. Look across from galleria, never filled. Any whoo, long story short. I am an Astros fan and I am here to stay through thick and thin. I am also very damn proud of the pain and suffering i have gone through to get here. What the hell is a 7th inning game and a man on second shit?