Sometime yesterday, the fancy stats odometer for BRB (not Sitemeter, which tends to lag a bit behind) rolled over the 3,000,000 visit mark. I can hardly comprehend that there have been 3,000,000 unique visits to this corner of the internet (only 1,349,218 of which I estimate to have been me refreshing the page to falsely inflate the hit count). It's a staggering number, and I am beyond humbled by it.
As noted in the post commemorating the first million visitors to BRB, Scott and I started this site back on January 22, 2007. If you have a minute, go ahead and take a look at some of the early posts via the "Archives" tab at the top of the page. We were lucky if we got a handful of comments when we posted. To think that a typical post now on BRB gets anywhere from a couple dozen to several hundred comments continues to amaze me, because I remember how often the early days of this site consisted of Scott and I talking to each other. We were really excited when we'd get to interact with an actual live reader (like Shake, BFD, or one of the handful--and I truly mean handful; you could count them on one hand--of community members we had back then).
What BRB has become has dwarfed any expectation Scott or I had when we agreed to start SB Nation's blog about your Houston Texans. The reason BRB has grown into what it is today is simple: It's the people who make this place what it is. While I'm sure to fail in properly expressing my gratitude for everyone who has had a hand in the development of our community, please jump with me as I attempt to say thank you.
1. Any expression of gratitude has to start with everyone who's reading this. I've said it countless times before, but only because it's the irrefutable truth: BRB wouldn't be anything without everyone who reads and comments. The community is what makes it all go, and I have to sincerely thank everyone who's ever passed through this corner of the internet, even if it was only a fleeting visit.
To those of you who keep coming back and make this place a part of your daily routine, thank you times three million. When I hear people talk or read about how much they enjoy the site, know that it's because of the community you all have formed. You make this place the exceptional venue for Texans discussion that it is with your comments, FanPosts, and FanShots. You're why people come back.
2. Well, that's not entirely true. It's you, and it's the guys that take the time out of their busy lives to write the stuff that appears on the front page here. Throughout the time BRB has existed, we've been fortunate to count a plethora of talented writers on "staff," as it were, and I can honestly say that I think the group we've got now is the best we've ever had. Absent the occasional corporate sponsored series of posts, the guys don't get paid to post here; they do it because they love the Texans and they love to write. If you ever come across any of these clowns in real life, buy 'em a beer. They deserve it.
BFD, MDC, Rivers, TDC, UprootedTexan, Vega, and TGC: Each of you is unbelievably talented and a huge asset to this site. Collectively, I do not think there are many (any?) sites that can boast a group as consistently excellent as you all are. To steal a phrase from William Joel, I know it ain't me they are coming to read, to forget about life for a while. You guys keep people coming back, and I cannot thank you enough for the work you do.
3. Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the good people at SB Nation for giving us the platform. The technological resources and general assistance they provide are second to none, and they're a huge reason we're able to do what we do here.
Again, thanks to each and every person who's reading this. Here's to the next million.