Na,Na, Na, Na... Hey, Hey, Hey... Goodbye, Frank

I love Frank Thomas the same way I love Michael Jordan. I'll miss Frank Thomas the same way I miss high school-- loved the memories, wished certain things could have gone differently but thrilled with the ending.

No. 35 ironically made his home as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history on 35th Street. He was by far the best hitter I've ever seen in person.

He was the White Sox for 15 years, basically the entire time I can actually remember watching baseball.

KEY WORD=WAS

As hard as it will be to see him trying on a different jersey in a few days--after agreeing with the Oakland Athletics or (as I vomit) the Minnesota Twins--it was harder having watch the White Sox suffer to make up for his injuries over the past few seasons.

If you want further proof as to how great of a job Ken Williams has done since taking over as GM, consider that he basically made the White Sox a champion and a potential dominant force for years DESPITE Frank Thomas.

The White Sox are a healthy and blossoming franchise with a talented farm system, increased national attention and a bigger fan base. But that's because of players Williams has brought in recently and his manager as opposed to a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Arguing Thomas' Hall of Fame credentials isn't worth it. The man was a two-time MVP for a reason and should have won a third in 2000. For the early part of his career, his numbers compared favorably with none other than Ted Williams. Best of all, Thomas apparently laid off steroids, playing on pure talent and ability while losing the spotlight while others hit 60-73 homeruns by cheating.

Still don't believe me? I recommend this article by John Brattain of "The Hardball Times."
hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-truth-hurts/

Plain and simple, it was time for both sides to move on. Frank's 12 HR's were great last season but he didn't have a big hand in the magical championship run in 2005. A White Sox team without the "Big Hurt Frank Thomas" won a World Series.

Now that's just a sad, weird, mean thing to say.

For White Sox fans all around the country, the sight of Thomas sporting another jersey is going to sting. It'll look weird and hurt their eyes. They'll cry when Frank returns to get his championship ring and so will he, they'll cry when he hits No. 500 and so will he. But then they'll get over it and so will he...

.... Until he goes into the Hall wearing a White Sox hat and finds his mural on the outfield walls of of his old stomping grounds they called Comiskey. His head will grace the fences that his homers made look like little league boundaries and where his linedrive doubles came to a sudden stop.

It was also weird to see the ESPN.com headline "Konerko re-signs with Champs." Sox fans can live with that.