The Essay That Didn’t Win

So the Indians held an essay contest, offering up a 12 pack of tickets to Indians game this season.

"Fans were asked to write a 500 word Essay on what winning Four Indians 12-packs would mean to them during the 2010 season, their economic hardship and ability to incorporate their passion as a Cleveland Indians fan and love for baseball in their responses."

I submitted an essay. And I didn’t win. And I’m really pissed about that.

I’m good at one thing, and that’s writing,. I put some serious effort into my essay, only to lose out to a bunch of shumcks. I don’t even know if I spelled that correctly. I don’t care.

So here’s my non-winning essay, it should bring a tear to your eye, cause it certainly did mine when I wrote it.

"My name is Ed Carroll, and despite our troubled economy, I am IN the Tribe.I am 26 years old and graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in communication in 2008, specializing in print journalism. Despite having excellent grades and practical work experience at the student newspaper, I have been unable to find a job in my field, working instead at a local catering company, in what is basically a part-time grunt position.However, I have not allowed my economic situation to keep me away from what I love and am passionate about: Cleveland Indians baseball. Although my job usually requires me to work nights and weekends during the summer, since the 2008 season I estimate I have made it to anywhere from 40-50 games, including suffering through a losing season in 2009. And my love for the Indians extends beyond the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. I’ve spent countless hours researching the team and its minor league affiliates. I’m the lead contributor to the Indians blog Deep Left Field and an active member of the two online Indians forums. I know the team and the game well.Although the Tribe has fallen on hard times, I still love to go out to the ballpark. While the trades of players such as Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee were upsetting to me, I’m excited for the future, and to watch young players such as Matt LaPorta, Lou Marson, Luis Valbuena, Justin Masterson and Andy Marte get a chance to develop, with guys like Carlos Santana, Josh Judy and Kelvin De La Cruz waiting in the pipeline. While I am smart enough to know the postseason is not a realistic goal with the current roster, I do legitimately believe that these young players, coupled with stalwarts such as Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook and Shin-Soo Choo, can provide excitement for Cleveland, and with luck, hope for the future of Cleveland Indians baseball, and in return, hope for the city of Cleveland.My hope is that I can be there as much as possible to watch this team grow into the championship-caliber club I feel it has the potential to become. Winning a Pepsi 12-pack of Indians tickets would not just make my summer, it would make my year. Progressive Field is an escape for me, an escape from the harsh realities of our times, both economic and otherwise, and the opportunity to have these tickets at no cost to me would allow me, for at least 12 times this summer, to immerse myself in the sport, and the team, that I so dearly love."

"In short, winning a Pepsi 12-pack represents hope for me. Hope that the Cleveland Indians can develop into a World Series winner. Hope that I will be able to find a job that utilizes my skills and abilities. And hope for my beloved hometown of Cleveland, that it too could be a winner."

Try and tell me that shouldn’t have won. I’m so pissed about this right now I can’t even comment about how the Indians are undefeated in spring training. Ugh.

(I heartily apologize to anyone who DID win. I’m just a sore loser.)