Happy 6th Birthday, AN!

by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 6, 2009 8:44 AM PST Comment 52 comments

Hey AN, it's been a wild ride for six years, huh? Who would've thought that this little typepad site called Athletics Nation: Baseball Country (oh yeah, that's what it was called because I didn't know how to use the typepad naming function) would become a company filled with 219 other blogs based on the AN model?

So I figured it might be fun to have a FanPost up to discuss the highlights (and if you'd like, the lowlights) of AN over the years. I'd say some I have two huge highlights for AN. The first my first interview with Billy Beane. I think Beane agreeing to the interview made me realize that this was something different and special enough that the team was taking notice. Plus Beane was just that character in Moneyball to me and it started one of my most enjoyable parts of my job. Every time I interview Beane it's a treat.

The second has been the friendships I've developed with so many people from AN. And seeing them over and over again at events like AN Day has been the biggest highlight of this experience. I truly love my friends I've developed from AN. This whole SB Nation experience wouldn't have been possible without you.

So here's a huge thank you for that. Happy birthday, AN!

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I'm gonna pretend to get drunk, woohoo!

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Nov 6, 2009 8:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm here for the strippers.

Congrats, ~~blez~~ TYLER BLESZINSKI.

The blog is all growed up now.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

6 years

That’s roughly 18 in blog years, right?

Day seized!

by JLaff on Nov 6, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey AN can vote now!

by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 6, 2009 9:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It can also smoke and buy porn

But, uh, I’d keep it away from mikev.

Day seized!

by JLaff on Nov 6, 2009 9:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

WTF

I NEVER GET ANY OF THE GOOD STUFF

:stomps away:

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh stop. You got Zigfan, mikey.

The rest of us are fighting for second. (Singular)

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, yeah that works.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Aww...you guys are best. I love you.

Thanks for the love and the hours of entertainment and laughter.

Bailey for ROY!

by ZigFan31 on Nov 6, 2009 4:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

pleasure

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 4:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, just entertainment and laughter.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 6, 2009 7:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

{sigh}

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 7:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That depends who you ask.

Bailey for ROY!

by ZigFan31 on Nov 6, 2009 7:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Speak for yourself.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mine:

The friendships, no doubt. Coming from a large family, I always kept a small circle of friends. Until AN.

The talent and the time: Exlusive interviews, detailed analysis, GOG’s, Community Prospect Lists.

The fun: Game threads, get-togethers, DLD’s, Nico’s never-ending wit.

The personalities: I won’t name names because I don’t want to leave anyone out, but you guys make me laugh.

Leopold Bloom. I lied. I named names.

Congrats, Tyler. And thanks for making me a part of the family.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 9:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Suck-up.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 9:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Only assholes reply to themselves.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What do we call the guy who replies to the guy who replies to himself?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pancho?

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 6, 2009 9:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You really are a suck up

But that’s OK, you think Rickey walks on water, so you’re cool with me ;-)

by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 6, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Rickey runs on water

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Nov 6, 2009 2:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rickey slides head first on water.

And the water doesn’t move.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But sometimes he is intentionally walked on water.

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Nov 6, 2009 9:58 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I swear to you,

I got on here to yell at Blez for not naming me in his write up.

Very odd.

Sock puppets have never been able to successfully attack castles. -Nevermoor

by Leopold Bloom on Nov 6, 2009 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I had a feeling.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 6, 2009 12:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

apparently.

out of my head, you!

Sock puppets have never been able to successfully attack castles. -Nevermoor

by Leopold Bloom on Nov 6, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

AN APESHIT

"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Nov 6, 2009 10:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

My highlight is every day when I look at the bookmark bar on the left side of my computer.

I click on the AN icon and prepare to open the gifts that await. I could extend the metaphor, but I’m sure you all get the point. Thanks, Tyler.

JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker

by JJ Martin on Nov 6, 2009 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think I jumped on board in year 2 of the blog, and ive appreciated having a place to come and talk about my favorite baseball team with other die-hard fans like myself. As SB Nation grew, other teams’ blogs became awesome places to discuss my other favorite teams (I’m definately enjoying the Sharks’s site…others are hit or miss). And although I think AN lost some of its “small market charm” along the way, so to speak…its still a fun place to come chat about the A’s, see what others are saying, and speculating about the future!

So, Happy Bday to AN. Its been a fun ride so far!

Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!

by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 6, 2009 1:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

WOO!

Happy B-day SB.

Good times.

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Nov 6, 2009 3:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Happy birthday AN

I’m not the biggest AN participator (been here for about a year or so) but I’ll (state the obvious when I) say Athletics Nation is absolutely, 100 percently an awesome website! It definitely made me a bigger baseball fan and truly understand what A’s baseball is about.

-The dude responsible for this mess

by idunno723 on Nov 6, 2009 3:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

There's too much white space and when I type.....

oh.

wrong thread.

Thank you Blezzy for making this site. Truly, it has been a source of joy and fun over the years. Without it I would not have met people like Nico (not directly blaming you) and all the other characters that comprise our little community. It’s nice to have this place to come to sate my thirst for everything A’s. ANd think of all the ways this site has touched other’s lives, such as the Wilhite fundraiser? Here’s to many more! (Not Mandy Moore) and can you do something about Leopold Blooms avatar? What is that?

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Nov 6, 2009 5:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think I can honestly say that I hate you.

Don’t ever change.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 6, 2009 7:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, that's Calvin taking his sled up the mountain!

That’s classic.

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Nov 6, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, it looked like a ski jumper or somebody impaled on a long stick to me

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Nov 8, 2009 8:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In my ideal world, people would choose avatar pictures

that are actually sized to look good in the tiny little square provided.

But for the 85% of AN members who insist on using something which becomes unrecognizable when reduced, you can click on the avatar or username to go to their userpage and see a larger version.

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Nov 8, 2009 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Or, like iglew, cleverly hide rude messages in font small enough to be invisible on the reduced version.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 9, 2009 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, what do you have against Mandy Moore?

by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 7, 2009 12:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You didn't just ask that here, with this group of goons, did you?

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 7, 2009 1:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Some part of my body, hopefully.

(Is that what you were looking for, Mike?)

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Nov 8, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 8, 2009 5:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure this site is great for fans in the Bay Area...

…but it’s been a particular blessing to NRAFs!

In addition to all the things mentioned above, AN has been a chance for me to reconnect with a bunch of old friends from back in California with whom I’d lost touch (including Nico).

Thanks, Tyler! Thanks ANers!

Now we just need to hope once again to have a ball team to root for that’s as good as the blog.

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Nov 6, 2009 7:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I love this place.....

Oh – and I wanted to say this too!

by Berry Jo on Nov 6, 2009 10:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Omigosh, you lowercased yourself!

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Nov 7, 2009 4:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

YOU CAN DO THAT?!?!

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Nov 7, 2009 8:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I did.......and I know you know why!!

There is no shouting in baseball!! Haha

by Berry Jo on Nov 7, 2009 7:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY AN

The best thing about AN is the people. I don’t always like the things that they post, but the wonderful and passionate A’s fans who spend time here are great. It has been fun to meet/know many of you in"real life", too.
Thanks, Blez for all your hard work and to the excellent group of front page writers…oh, excuse me, managers and editors, kudos for your clever insights, and 67’s wonderful memories and pictures.
Wonder what AN will look like at 10?

by LongTimeFan on Nov 8, 2009 6:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday AN!

Sorry for the lateness, Blez. Congratulations!

I never considered taking him out. I had a commitment to his heart. - Johnny King

by lynnzgal on Nov 9, 2009 7:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Always showing up late to the party....

Happy Birthday AN!!!

And thanks Blez for setting up such a wonderful community! :)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Nov 13, 2009 9:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Showing up late to this, but.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AN!

His name's Clayton, not Danny.

by walkoff baltimore chop on Nov 13, 2009 11:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Showing off late too, but...

Happy birthday, Athlete’s Nation and yay Blizz for whatever he does and yay basegirl for seeking a new hairstyle (I assume you’re looking)!!!!! :-)))

Cindi

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 15, 2009 8:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs