Dare I hope?

When you live in Atlanta and follow sports, you learn very quickly to -- in the words of the Dread Pirate Roberts -- "get used to disappointment."

Atlanta is the home of the team that blew a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Someone later commented that Atlanta hadn't been burned that badly since Sherman in 1864.

So when the Atlanta Braves made it to the National League Championship Series, I didn't pay much attention . . . until they started winning.

The last time Atlanta was in the World Series was 1999 (the year my son was born). The last time Atlanta won the World Series was 1995, the year after we moved here. In the years since 1995, Atlanta has done a good job of winning their division, the National League East, but just couldn't seem to "seal the deal" and get to the championships. 

The last few seasons have ranged from good to mediocre and just plain bad. 

This year, bleacherreport.com said this about the Braves at the All-Star break (a game Atlanta was scheduled to host but that was pulled due to controversy about Georgia's voting laws, a controversy I will not get into here): " Relative to preseason expectations, the Atlanta Braves might by baseball's most disappointing team in 2021 because of their 44-45 record . . . A year after coming one win away from reaching the World Series, little has gone right."

But they did go on to say, "The wide-open nature of the National League East division of the National League East division means they are still only four games back in the standings even with a sub -.500 record, and that could be enough to chase another postseason appearance, especially with [first baseman] Freddie Freeman headed for free agency."

Despite that sub-.500 record, Atlanta staged a comeback, and last week, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to two.  The morning after that game, I picked up my phone, dreading to see the results, and when I saw "Braves win!" I said to myself, "Yes!"

Now our city has been seized with World Series fever, everyone who owns any sort of Braves paraphernalia has dusted it off and put it on, and I'm sure that you cannot buy, beg, borrow, or steal anything with the name "Atlanta Braves" on it!

So dare I hope?

Dare I hope that this will be the year that the Braves will repeat 1995 and win the World Series?

Dare I hope that at least one of our sports teams will give us a reason to celebrate, especially in this year two of COVID?

Last night, in Houston, the Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2. Game 2 is scheduled for tonight in Houston, and the Braves will come back for Game 3 on Friday. The slogan around there is, "Party like it's 1999!" and I'm guessing that Truist Park, the home field for the Braves, will blast the song so that it can be heard through the neighborhood at full volume. 

Dare I hope that the Braves will pull it off, despite the Astros having home field advantage?

Can Freddie Freeman and the guys do it?

I'm not much of a baseball fan, but when the Series comes around, I pay attention to who's playing, and I may or may not have a favorite team. 

This year, I'm rooting for the Braves.

If they win, I will treat myself to a large bowl of chocolate.

But, if my hopes are dashed, I will drown my sorrows . . .in a large bowl of chocolate.

So either way, I win. 

Just my .04, adjusted for inflation.