The Astros are the 2017 World Series Champions.
Just in case you forgot or something.
I have spent my entire life watching the Astros. Being born and raised in Houston, there's a pride there that no one could even attempt to explain -- so I'm not going too. I wore the red star logo proudly and rooted for the 'Lastros', no matter how bad their season went. Being raised in Houston, you have a love for Houston teams that runs so deep you're not even really sure how or when it started.
I can't pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with Houston, I just spent my whole life that way. No matter the sport, who was coaching, who was playing -- I would not ever give up on a Houston team.
With Hurricane Harvey hitting this year, I just remember feeling absolutely devastated. A city that I had spent my whole life loving was now filled with so much hurt. I remember writing an article about how paralyzing the blow was knowing my city was underwater and there was nothing I could do about it.
The city that I had known for being so strong and proud was just completely destroyed. Volunteers came rushing out of the woodworks and I remember thinking that I had never seen a city so proud to help their own. Civilians were out in boats and trucks rescuing anyone they could. First responders were working well-overtime doing everything they could to help their fellow Houstonian. Despite all the strength that was put on display, we were a city that was hurting.
I cried almost every day following Harvey. The images flickering across the screen of those who shared the same pride I did going back to their destroyed homes and lives was devastating. Despite all of this, the Astros stood out as a beacon of hope for the city of Houston.
Let's face it, any real Houston sports fan knows that we are very used to being let down and disappointed. We have spent years getting our hearts broken and years still praying. If there is one thing you have to say about my city - My city is resilient. We had faced heartache again and again, but this year it was the last thing we needed.
When the news was showing nothing but the flood levels, images of destroyed homes, firefighters and first responders who hadn't slept in so many hours it made your head spin - the Astros continued to win. It was and still is more than just baseball to the city of Houston.
Yes, it is our first ever franchise World Series Championship. Yes, that is so important and exciting.
That is not what made this season so special for us. When all of Houston was being torn apart, the Astros made sure that we had something we could turn to when we needed to feel pride in our city. Something we could turn too when everything else around us just seems to be falling apart. Every single win felt like another step toward recovering from Harvey. Every home run literally helped those affected by the hurricane.
When the hashtag "Houston Strong" started, there was such a pride that went behind it. Houston Strong was more than just a city or it's buildings. Houston Strong was about the people.
Houston Strong was about the culture that comes with Houston and those who have spent our entire lives loving what Houston represents. #HoustonStrong could not be better displayed on any other stage than the way the Astros put it on for us this postseason.
After Hurricane Harvey hit, the Astros put on a winning rest of the season that then not only lead to us winning the ALDS and ALCS but eventually leading to a World Series Championship.
The Astros knew that the city of Houston was watching and they did not disappoint.
As the former Astro and recent Hall-of Famer Craig Biggio said to Sports Illustrated, "You can’t go anywhere right here, in this area, or even in Texas and not see orange, not see Astros. I’ve been living here in Texas, Houston Texas, for 30 years. I can’t tell you how proud I am to be a Texan."
Come hell or the high waters of Harvey, the Astros have given us exactly what the city of Houston needed right now. So thank you Astros, for giving us something to hold on to, something to hope for, something to be proud of, and something to tell our children about someday. About the day Harvey tried to wipe us out and we came back swinging for the fences.
From all of Houston, God bless you.
