This diary is not about statistical analysis or first colossal dogs; it's about catharsis and commiseration. I hope that it is also about the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

I want to talk about the early play-off exits of 2000-2003. Since 2000 I've spent my off-seasons obsessing over the why's and hypothesizing about the what if's. This off-season has been different and I believe that next year's will be even better -- our days of game 5 defeats are behind us and the strength of this year's team merits the end of our bitching about the fact that the big three never got us out of the first round of the play-offs -- but those first round exits continue to haunt me. In an attempt to get them out of my system, I'd like to enter a dialogue about the frustration and emotional pain of the 2000-2003 play-offs.

I hope that this poll will be a good way to start.

*The seeds for this diary were planted by the discussions generated by and Nick86 (http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/1/26/17337/4320) and Dynamic Hispanic (http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/2/6/19451/11496)