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Rangers success has Tyler citizens optimistic

October 28th, 2010

Traditionally speaking, football is king in Texas, but this year is a little different.

Tyler is usually Cowboys’ country because it’s right down the road from Dallas, but this year more than ever, Tyler sports fans are excited about something else; the Texas Rangers.

Obviously, it’s mainly because the Cowboys’ season has ended before the Rangers, but for the first time in franchise history, the Rangers are in the World Series. Before the season started, they were the only team in Major League Baseball to have never won a playoff series, and now they’ve won two, knocking off the Tampa Bay Rays and the defending champion New York Yankees.

The excitement in Tyler is contagious.

Kings Academy Christian School requires its students to wear uniforms, but during the World Series, the kids are allowed to wear Rangers apparel.

It’s probably not the only school doing something like that in Tyler, and it certainly isn’t the only one with high hopes.

Despite being down in the World Series 1-0, East Texas Citizens are still optimistic, and it’s easy to see why. After all, the Rangers did beat the Yankees after losing the first game of the series at home.

Also in years past, the Rangers fans have gotten used to the team losing.

Before this year, it had been 11 years since Texas’ postseason appearance, and waiting for the usual skid after the All-Star break became an annual norm.

This team has several great stories surrounding it which give fans in Tyler more reason to celebrate.

Earlier in the year, the talk wasn’t so much about the postseason as much as the team’s financial status.

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan had five great years on the mound for the Rangers and a couple more as president of the club before becoming part owner to put an end to the bankruptcy crisis.

As a player, Ryan had seven no-hitters. As the team president, he changed the Rangers’ mentality, particularly the pitchers, and turned them into contenders. As an owner, he brought them to the World Series, and now, citizens of Tyler are watching in hopes of seeing him turn the Rangers into 2010 MLB champs.

A Weekend of Heartache for Texas Sports Fans

October 11th, 2010
Rangers Game Cowboys Stadium

Cowboys Stadium

Ok let’s just say it; this past weekend was a disaster for Texas Sports fans. I had the pleasure of attending the Ranger’s game on Sunday, and after watching them lose game four (and possibly the series); I had the displeasure of hearing the Cowboys gift wrap their game for Tennessee, while I was riding home to Tyler. And not only did our beloved Dallas franchises take it on the chin, but the Houston Texans managed to drop their game to the New York Giants. Oh I just love to lose competitions to that humble city! Even my Fantasy team lost this week! If I had to look high and low for a Texas victory this weekend, (and I did) I could always look to Texas Tech who defeated their opponent 45-38. Of course they were playing Baylor! So I guess that works out to a tie for most of us.

The whole day (Sunday) started out so perfectly that as I reflect back on it, it’s still hard to believe it all went so wrong! My friends and family and I drove up early Sunday morning. It was a beautiful autumn day, and as we strolled past that beautiful Cowboy’s stadium toward the Ball Park, surrounded by devotees of both teams, it was difficult not to be optimistic. Little did we foresee the long trip home that awaited us just three and a half hours later.

Of all the weekend’s losses the Ranger’s was the hardest to take. But Texas has one last chance to steal back the series tomorrow night. And Cliff Lee will get his chance to add his name to the list of the state’s sports heroes. I confess I’m not overly optimistic, but a win Tuesday could still redeem the weekend, because (as a friend pointed out) should we advance I have every intention telling anyone who’ll listen that “I was at that series!” I just won’t make a point of saying which game.

Rangers Field Outside

Rangers Ball Park

Ultimately the weekend wasn’t a total loss. I took my son to the first Rangers playoff series in over ten years. A Texas Towel now hangs on his bedroom wall, and for a few days he’s reverted from playing almost solely football back to baseball. All indications are that his attention will be back on the Cowboys and football by the end of the week, but for at least one more game, the Rangers are in the playoffs!