October 18, 200322 yr Tonight will mark the 6 year anniversary of the Florida Marlins first trip to the World Series. It was on this night six years ago, that they took to the field of Joe Robbie Stadium against the Cleveland Indians, who were looking for their first Series win in almost 50 years. One week and one day later, the Marlins were crowned World Champs when Edgar Renteria singled up the middle to score Craig Counsell. Since that night, fire sales have taken place, the team was bought twice, attendance dwindled to only a few thousand a night and they were this close | | to being contracted. We as Marlins fan have had to deal with alot, even our loyalty have been question. But no matter what has been done to this team, we stuck behind them. Some of us always wondered after that if we were ever going to get to see this team in the World Series again...heck some of us wondered if we would see baseball down here at all! It was us, the true fans, that screamed the loudest when they won their first World Series, it was us who screamed the loudest when the sold off all of our players through the years....even during the last several years with players like Matt Mantei and Ryan Dempster. We were the ones screaming the loudest when Bud Selig took our All Star game and we screamed the loudest when our team was sold to a man that had litereally killed off the Montreal Expos. To say the least, our faith was tested but never faltered. And then began the 2003 Baseball season. Cliff Floyd was gone, Preston Wilson and Charles Johnson were shipped to Colorado for someone named Juan Pierre and we signed Ivan Rodriguez to a $10 million dollar deal when no one else wanted him. Why? Most thought he didn't have it anymore and because he was always injured. To top it all off, we were now going to play "small ball". All speed with just a bit of power. Sure improvements were made like a better marketing strategy and best of all...plenty of hotdogs for the season. It all sounded great, but the season started off with the same old story. Burnett started the year on the DL with injuries and our opening day starter, Josh Beckett, was constantly being bothered with finger blisters the last few seasons. We lost that day and had a horrible month of April and then on May 11th, major changes started happening. Well I won't bore you with the story because if you are a true fan then you know the story, but it saved our season. Today we begin our second trip to the World Series against the New York Yankees. Two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum and both very much hated by just about everyone in America. Marlins weren't liked in the NLDS, NLCS and they wont' be liked here, but thats okay for the guys..they seem to like it like that. And it will be up to us, the die hard fans, to once again rise to the occasion and cheer and boo the loudest and defend our team from any outsider New Yorkers wanting to pick a fight. Today is as much, the die hards, as it is everyone that has jumped about the bandwagon. We believe in this team and after all is said and done, the world will believe too!! GO MARLINS!!! :marlins
October 18, 200322 yr Nice post...It was just the right length. I went to that World Series game 1 6 years ago from today. I remember Livan started the game and Alou hit a 3 run HR. I sat a couple of rows behind of that "Marlins Fanatic" (The guy who paints his face and puts on a costume full of Marlins paraphernalia)
October 18, 200322 yr I don't know about you guys, but I really liked Livan. I also miss Alex. "I LOVE YOU MIAMI!!" LMAO
October 18, 200322 yr Author I miss Alex Fernandez as well. Its just a shame what happend to him before the series started, but if it wasn't for him who knows where we might have been. As for Livan I can say that I miss him sometimes. I miss the "I love you, Miami" bit and everything, but since leaving here he's been real iffy. Happy for him and his situation right now though.
October 18, 200322 yr I don't know about you guys, but I really liked Livan. I also miss Alex. "I LOVE YOU MIAMI!!" LMAO We almost aquired him around the time of the trading deadline (Same with former Marlin Felix Heredia who I think we should aquire in the off-season as a situational lefty) Hernandez really does love Miami and it's food....I honestly think he would take a slight salary cut to play here again.
October 18, 200322 yr Real Marlin fan here that is depressed. I've been to so many games this season and last season and the season before last and yet I only get to watch 1 of the WS games at the pro. I owe it all to the bandwagoners, thanx alot. Real Marlins fans can understand where I am coming from LETS GO FISH!
October 18, 200322 yr Author what does he meen took our allstar game?? Well Bud Selig decided that the All Star game shouldn't take place in a Football Stadium(even though its BS and All Star games have been held at Veterans Stadium and several other Duel purpose stadiums) and took it away and gave it to Atlanta. Real ***hole!!! Oh and I don't usually write them, but I wanted to do something special for everyone today!
October 18, 200322 yr Author so r we ever gona have one soon?? As soon as we get a "baseball only" stadium.
October 18, 200322 yr Not to rock the boat, but for the loyal fans other then this board. Who were the other people filling the stands in the playoffs. Not like they were by the team all year.... Other then my 2 cents-- Congrats to the loyal fans on Admin's board, wish I could have made the trip with you. :w00t
October 19, 200322 yr Great tribute, very fitting I am a Marlins fan who is 2700 miles away from all of you but have loved the team since their inception. I miss Livan and miss Counsell (but see him a lot here in AZ), and since you guys have my boy Penny, I miss him too...but am glad he's doing well in Florida. I had the pleasure of meeting many Marlins when they'd come to Coors Field in 98 and 99...and met a few once I moved out here and starting attending games at Bank One Ballpark. One of the sweetest former Marlins I ever met was Brian Meadows and I got to see him out here in Tucson last summer when his AAA team, the Nashville Sounds, came to play the Tucson Sidewinders (DBacks' AAA). Brian is sweet...I've met him a few times, and each time, not only was he as friendly as could be, but he also remembered me...great guy. I've befriended former Marlin Matt Mantei since he's been out here. He still digs his fans back in Miami by the way I won't be surprised if he tries to catch a WS game since his old buds are in it...I know for a fact he keeps in touch with AJ Burnett and also with former Marlin Ryan Dempster. I met Ryan through Mantei...Ryan is cool too I hope we can replace Mystique and Aura with Trophy and Ring (Thank you, Mark Grace LOL)...just the way the DBacks did it in 2001
October 19, 200322 yr Author Thats what we are hoping for! Game 1 was awesome and with Pettitte and Redman on the mound tonight, it can only get better.
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