I almost hesitate to do this... but I think every once in a while I think it serves us to pick our heads up from the day to day games and offer praise to the community that's been made here...

Today, I attended the A's game and saw the team LOSE to the hated Kenny Rogers by a ridiculously lopsided score of 10-4. And yet I had a fabulous time. Do you know why?

Not just because I was playing hooky and taking an extra vacation day, and not just because I got to see the A's play at home again and not just because the weather was fantastic, and not just because our seats were very good and near the action... but because Blez, Nico and I met up with LongTimeFan and had a mini AN day showing at the Coliseum.

And as you know... anything to do with AN, especially Nico and Blez, is simply outstanding.

In fact, to tell you all the truth, I've let AN take over an increasing amount of my life. At what point do I let this hobby impact my work and personal life? I think we've crossed that line. (As Marge famously told Homer, "You didn't just cross that line, you threw up on it!")

When I first stumbled upon Athletics Nation, via a link from Daily Kos, my reaction was jaw-dropping. It was almost on the level of "Where have you been all my life?!" You mean somebody had the wherewithal to create a blog/community dedicated to the Oakland A's that offered real-time game threads, the opportunity to post opinions and commentary 24 by 7, had well over a thousand members, and featured interviews with players, the GM and coaches? If you think about it, it's rather remarkable.

In the 18 months or so I've been involved with this site, I've traded thousands of comments with thousands of die-hard fans, I've attended AN Day 2 (and have tickets to AN Day 3), my wife and I bought partial season tickets, we attended Spring Training, and even dared to attend Chez Nico I. Meanwhile, an off-the-cuff comic hobby that mocked Eric Byrnes turned into an A's obsession, as the ANtics, via AN, are seen in more than 40 countries every week and force me to find ways to make people giggle over the unintended innuendos and awkwardness of Joe Blanton or Jason Kendall. In fact, episode I made it to local TV, and hard copies made it into the hands of Eric Chavez, Barry Zito, and Billy Beane (whether they wanted them or not). It's a force I don't dare try and stop. I even learned last week that Stomper loves AN!

If you're an A's fan, the way I am, you can live and die by this team. We cringe when the "bad guys" score, when the "good guys" make outs, and when things don't go our way. But when things go well, we're jumping out of our seats to see Marco Scutaro hit a home run, or see Dan Johnson make that stretch to complete a double play. Now, with AN, we can do that as part of a bigger community, one that rises and falls with us, full of people who understand exactly what we're going through, even if we may differ in how we think the team is going to turn out, or ways to improve.

Did you know that due to AN, I hardly visit ESPN.com or watch SportsCenter at all any more? Why should I? Between the A's news, game threads, and Daily Link Dumps, there's precious little else that an unthinking sports monolith out of Bristol, Connecticut can offer.

I love Athletics Nation because...

• It supports the best fans of the best team playing in the best league of the best sport in the whole world.
• Everybody is different and offers their own unique spin and insight.
• Any questions I may have about the team and history can be answered here. The collective knowledge is outstanding.
• The professional approach by the front page writers. Combined with humor and wit, they're pretty darn good. Admit it.
• The promotion of AN Day, Chez Nico and other get-togethers. The A's are best enjoyed in groups!
• Outstanding interviews by Blez. Do you really think Billy Beane is going to get asked such hard questions by Jon Kruk and Harold Reynolds? And better yet, do you think they are bright enough to understand his answers?
• Pictures, pictures, pictures, poetry, and arts and crafts!
• Conflict! Yes, you heard me. Disagreement and discussion with the goals of bringing common understanding are good! It's fun to see people with solid viewpoints try and make their case, and you can choose to watch or participate. Your call.
• The community takes care of itself. For a site of this size, the small amount of the above (Conflict!) is really outstanding. People are usually civil, and those who aren't self-select and weed themselves out.
• Athletics Nation is thriving because of you. Blez has done a remarkable job keeping things moving, and utilizing his background as a reporter and as a fan to get it rolling, but you are what makes the community. I appreciate you. I appreciate Nico. I appreciate Blez. I appreciate Baseballgirl. And yet, we are just at the beginning. Think about where this site is going to be in 2 years... 5 years... Ten?

It would be great to learn just how you found out about AN, and what you like about it. Is it the T-shirts?