Brothers and sisters: This is a very difficult day obviously. We all know how badly this hurts. But if I can remind all my friends at Halos Heaven that this is part of our job.

Sometimes (well, most of the time) it is hard -- very, very hard -- to be an Angels fan. We will always have 2002, thanks to the heaven's above, but for those of us that are true fans -- old-school ones like myself, or our younger brethren who came on board after '02 -- may I remind you that it is our duty to stay true.

On a personal level this one hurts more than most. I was there in '86 the last time we beat the Sox in the postseason and was ready to charge the field when Hendu hit that damned home run. And to have the freaking Red Sox dominate us in the postseason since then is ... depressing to say the least. Since the last time we beat the Red Sox in a postseason game, I have had a seven-year first marriage, 3 serious girlfriends in between, got married to my second wife and have lived in Britain for 5 years, and now have a 3-year-old son.

That, brothers and sisters, is perspective.

It is also perspective to realise that baseball is a game, and in any of these past fated 3 ball games we had a chance in every one of them.

It just wasn't our time this year.

We can pick apart each game, home-field advantage, managerial decisions, GM decisions, owner decisions, bad calls, east coast bias, etc. ad infinitum, as I hope we all do, and I trust you and I all will in weeks to come.

I look forward to the off-season now, in which we will strengthen what is already a great team and perhaps baseball's best, most long-suffering fan base. In that, I join you, fellow Angels brethren ...

In saying well done this year ... ! And next year, (with an Angel named A-Rod on our side wink-wink) we shall overcome.

And it is most imporant to not forget our duty as Angels fans. Those of us who have been fans since the 60s know all about how bad it hurts. And those who have jumped on board our heavenly ship since 2002 are equally welcome on board in the pain sweepstakes.

It takes love, commitment, fervour, patience, and most of all a sense of duty to be an Angels fan. Let us not forget our duty on this sad day and celebrate what has been a great 2007 season.

Enough scriptures then, Halos fans, on to 2008!
Amen