As you may be aware, I store a lot of useless hockey trivia in my head. That sort of thing doesn't leave a lot of room for, well, anything else. So I'm pretty bad at remembering things like people's names, dates, or really anything else other than what the CBC's pregame montage music was before game six of the Leafs/Sharks series in 1994.
So it's no real surprise that I forgot somebody's anniversary yesterday: mine.
Two years and a day ago, Down Goes Brown launched. February of 2008 was a wonderful time to be a Leafs fan; John Ferguson had just been fired, Cliff Fletcher was the interim general manager, and fans couldn't wait for the massive rebuild that was about to take place as soon as the minor matter of all those NTCs could be worked out. The era of trading away first round picks was long gone, a return to the playoff was right around the corner, and it seemed like a great time to launch a blog.
The very first post was a short recap of a win over the Habs. It also featured a line about Kyle Wellwood being fat, which I decided would be pretty funny as long as I didn't beat the joke into the ground.
Two years and 369 posts later, the site's grown beyond anything I'd ever expected. In the site's first six months, I was thrilled to get 1,000 visits in a week. These days, I sometimes get that many in an hour.
The one and only reason for that growth is you, the DGB readers who make a point of stopping by, subscribing, and occasionally linking back from forums, blogs facebook, and twitter. Interacting with fellow hockey fans is easily the most enjoyable part of all of this. Thanks to everyone who helps spread the word.
If you're relatively new, here's a recap of DGB's first year. And here's the recent list that covers the most popular posts of year two.
Thanks again for your continued support. Back tomorrow with a new post, in which I say a heartfelt goodbye to a recently traded Maple Leaf.
(Oh, and just in case you were wondering: "I Will Not Go Quietly", by Don Henley ft. Axl Rose.)
Abnormal Psychology and Leafs Fandom
1 hour ago
Congrats on the success, DGB! Fabulous blog, great writing, and funny articles = big-time success!
ReplyDeleteKeep it going! You have a reader in me!
Congrats! Keep it up man...you're one of the funniest people I electronically know.
ReplyDeleteYou make me want to become a Leafs fan sometimes just so I can participate & finally get all of your jokes.
ReplyDeleteBeau travail.
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the fun hockey content!
ReplyDeleteCongrats DGB! Love the blog and look forward to each and every post you make.
ReplyDeleteDownie, thanks for sticking around for a solid two years. The day my company checks how many times this page is "refreshed" is the day I'm fired.
ReplyDeleteGo to the Leafs game in Kanata in March so the 18,000 Leaf fans attending can all buy you a beer.
Happy 2nd!
ReplyDeleteCongrats DGB, one of the funnier blogs around. Your blog has grown faster than Kyle Wellwoods neckfat, and that's an accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteHappy freaking birthday!! I guess... lol keep it up, bud.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching 2.
ReplyDeleteThis blog gets me through the work day with its hockey hilarity.
Other generic comment congratulating your success.
I love the blog, seriously.
Happy Birthday DGB! And cheers to your continued success.
ReplyDelete"In the site's first six months, I was thrilled to get 1,000 visits in a week. These days, I sometimes get that many in an hour."
ReplyDeleteSorry, my F5 key sometimes sticks.
Congrats to the best and funniest Leaf blog ever on the face of the earth, bar none. More times than not I find myself nodding in agreement with your succinct evaluation of the facts, and your Wellwood fat jokes. Occasionally I punch my monitor in frustration, but generally you're pretty good at seeing things the way they are.
Hugs and kisses,
Love,
A Senators fan
Congratulations, man. You deserve all your success. People like you being so damn funny helps keep us on our toes over at the Pensblog and pushes us to keep being better.
ReplyDeleteI also want to say that you, with an assist from the guys at PPP, have changed my opinion of the Leafs from a group that annoyed me and I liked to laugh at to one I can't help but root for. Sometimes.
ReplyDeleteDon't tell anyone.
Also, I'm a Raider fan, so I know what it's like to sit helplessly by and watch a once pround franchise dismantled and driven into the ground by an inept front office.
Congrats DGB! I hate blogs,and I wouldn't even call myself a hockey fan... but yours has me hooked! It is the funny..ya hooked me with the funny! LOL wtg! from:Libour
ReplyDeleteCheers, DGB.
ReplyDeleteCoooongraaaaats!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a great blog! Please, post more often, I really need to laugh more, especially now, as all Leaf fans look toward the playoffs and know that we will be watching other teams, again!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2nd, DGB. It says something a bit unsettling when a Canucks fan has to read a Leafs blog because it's so damn good. I just hope your team stays crappy so there's some justice in this world.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I love blogiversaries (if not that word). Agreed with what metricjulie said (well, more specifically, I *have* become a quasi-Leafs-fan so I can get the jokes).
ReplyDeleteCongrats DGB, keep up the great work
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, from a Kanatian to a Barrhavenite. When I "accidentally" trip Chris Neil at Costco (it'll happen eventually, trust), I'll think of you.
ReplyDelete- E
best leaf blog ever - thanks for your hard work, i am sure everyone wants more posts
ReplyDeleteGreat blog!
ReplyDeleteNow, can someone explain to me how to include a photo in a comment?
"Two years and 369 posts later, the site's grown beyond anything I'd ever expected."
ReplyDelete...except Kyle Wellwood.
Congrats DGB
ReplyDeleteIt's a great blog, I kept checking back to see if you'd have anything fun to say about Gigs getting back-to-back shutouts in his first games as a Leaf, that sure makes a trade look good
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThe success you've had is well-earned and well-deserved. Keep up the great work!
GB
Happy Blogthtday, DGB! I'd send you some bacon and Leafs gear, but I don't have either right now. I raise a toast to you, good sir!
ReplyDelete2 For Roughing! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteCongrats and all that! You do great work, and represent Leafs fandom well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching 2. I hope there'll be many more to come.
ReplyDeleteI had to comment. DGB, I'd love for your thoughts on MY heartfelt goodbye to Jason Blake (link in my name, obviously).
ReplyDeleteIt's been good reading DGB for a while. It's become so big that I actually would comment more if I didn't think it'd be so difficult to follow a conversation with this many people.
Oh my god old man dgb HATES IT when ex-leafs run their mouths after being traded! This next post is gonna be awesome! You reading, Vesa?
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing that thing you do, and oh so well!
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to continue for another two years. By then, there actually may be a first-round pick to mention...
Congrats...with the way things have been going it's not always to easy to laugh as a Leaf fan, but I can always count on a good post here at DGB. Keep it up. Go Leafs.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! This is definitely the funniest blog around. Every post is hilarious, and even though I'm a Sens fan, I usually laugh hardest at your pokes at the Sens. You are the only redeeming quality about the TML (FML?) organization.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Reading DGB inspired me to start my own blog. I'm sure it's inspired many others, too but there's only one DownGoesBrown.
ReplyDelete