some of you may feel depressed now that the World Series is over and lost. so do i. but don't begrudge the Giants for your pain. don't forget the amazing season that came before this disappointing moment.

thank you, San Francisco Giants, for an incredible season. thank you for the sunny afternoons well spent at Pac Bell Park. thank you for the frigid evenings. thank you for all the beer and hot dogs. thank you for the ever narrowing race for the Wild Card. thank you for a great Division series win, showing up everyone who said you were good but just not good enough. thank you for Game 5 of the League Championship where you won, i practically lost my voice with excitement, and for a brief moment everyone in the stands was my new best friend. thank you for hope and seven games of World Series action that almost came to fruition. thank you for Barry Bonds and his amazing bat. thank you for Benito Santiago who loves the game so much he didn't even want a day off between World Series Games 5 and 6. thank you for the ever cool Rich Aurilia who hit so well and fielded so well. thank you for Kenny Lofton's tendency to make the hit when it was really needed. thank you for J.T. Snow, his glove, his swing, and his chewing gum. (thanks also for his presence of mind to scoop up Dusty Baker's son.) thank you for Tom Goodwin who showed up for some particularly good play at a particularly vulnerable moment. thank you for Shawon Dunston who, despite the crazy spelling of his name, is still a great ball player. thank you for Jeff Kent, despite his ego. thank you for David Bell and every last one of his great plays. thank you for most of the pitching staff ... or some of them ... or all of them some of the time. thank you for Gene Clines whose remarks on well hit balls always made me grin. ("go ball! go!") thank you immensely for Dusty Baker and his soulful management of a soulful team. (you had so better bring him back next year!) and thank you for helping me discover love for a sport of dignity and tradition. it truly was unbelievably fun to watch you.

can't wait until April.