Hey folks,

Thank goodness! The voice of reason!

Al, your post is exactly what we needed here. When you and Pat Witt were running the show here, this board used to be fun, respectful, and--most of all--THE place to go for info on the Cyclones and analysis of how the team is doing (yes, there is actually a baseball team called the Brooklyn Cyclones that we used to talk about here). I haven't read this board much, let alone posted here, in ages, mostly for two reasons:

1. All of this silly fighting and non-Cyclones-related stuff just depresses me. There are plenty of outlets all over the internet for people who want to talk (or fight) about the Aces (whoever they are) or whatever; this board should be about the Cyclones.

2. Pat Hickey is/was a horrible moderator and a big baby. All he cared about was people reading his stuff, whether Cyclones-related or not, and he got his panties in a twist whenever anyone disagreed with him about anything, even slightly. Very off-putting and very off-pissing.

Al, I know that you aren't around much anymore, but if you are interested in taking the reigns here, you have exactly the right temperment to be a great moderator and exactly the right view about what the board should be (all Cyclones, all the time) to make this work. C'mon, man, whaddaya say?

As to the Baracklyn debate, the issue as to whether and to what extent it is appropriate for sports and politics to mix (and whether it is even possible for them not to do so if that is a goal, etc.) is an interesting one, but both sides here have made their points ad nauseum (my favorite moment was when one of the strident parties accused the other of saying the same thing over and over again . . . pot, have you met kettle?), so unless you have something new to say on the subject, please take Al's advice and let it go now.

As to the actual team itself and the baseball that is being played again at Coney Island, it's so great to be back! The long off-season is finally over and a new team, playing well so far, makes one feel that anything is possible. It's great to see old friends again at the ballpark and it would be nice to connect again with old internet buddies on this board, were the talk to return to the Cyclones. As always, I have a few gripes about what's going on at Keyspan (where are the curly fries? where's the Guinness?), but for the most part, going to see the Cyclones play is, as Warner says, experiencing "a little bit of heaven right [t]here on Coney Island."

Hoping that the new season will bring fresh life to this board, but even if it doesn't, I'm just happy that Cyclones baseball is back.

See you at Keyspan,

Tain

--- In brooklyncyclones2@yahoogroups.com, alstatman <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all.
>
> I may not post here much or do the stats anymore, or for that matter go to the games anymore, but I still follow the league, just not as much in depth as I used to. It also seems I'm the sole owner of this thing now, for what it's worth, and I do read the board. Although it doesn't take much time, as it's basically dead. The team is off to it's usual good start, and is 4-1 after tonight, and they're hitting this year, too, but you'd never know it as none of the posts have had anything to do with the start of the season or the team.
>
> First - In case you didn't notice Roy, Pat Hickey hasn't been posting anything here. That's because he's gone. So he won't be banning anyone. And neither will I. It's just not worth it. And keep all your Aces stuff on your own board. No one here needed a whole history of your fights with Bruce. And, no, we don't need another post from you about it. I'm not saying I agree with Bruce either, but take it up with him privately if you have any issues.
>
> Second - I think the Baracklyn thing is played out now, but that's just my opinion. If you guys want to spend all eternity debating this, I won't stop you. Enjoy. At least there are some posts here. But it's obvious no one is going to change each other's mind. Although I'm skeptical of the report that 200 season ticket holders cancelled as a result. You know no one from the inner sanctum of the Cyclones or Mets would ever admit that to anybody, so I'd like to know the source of that report. The thing that saddens me the most about it was I heard that people were lining up outside the gate as early as 2:00 yesterday so they could get their bobbleheads. I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I wonder how many actually hung around to see the game before running home to sell them on Ebay. The bobblehead craze is one I've never understood. It's always been the game that drives me to the park. But, if that's your thing, who am I to stop you? I just wish the games would get more play.
>
> Third - to markthemayor14 - I don't know how to email you directly, so hopefully you'll read this here. Please take this group's address off of your mailing list so I don't have to keep deleting every stupid non cyclones related thing you send along that finds it's way into your inbox that you think is cute. Send it on to your friends if you want, but they don't belong here. I know I said up top that I won't be banning anyone, but if that keeps up, I may have to rethink it.
>
> Finally, last year, Jamestown had a guy named Ernie Banks on their team. This year, Hudson Valley has a 3B named Burt Reynolds. I can see naming a kid after the actor if they saw some of his films in the early 70's. But naming him Burt after watching Cannonball Run I and II? That's just sadistic. Although Burt the actor did deliver one of my favorite lines in Deliverance when he said, "Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself".
>
> OK. Time for me to go back into hibernation. If anyone cares, I'll be at Keyspan on July 18th, so if we remember each other, perhaps we can say hi.
>
> Take care
>