Musings on my World Series experience while licking my wounds from tonight's game.

In some ways, I blame those of us in the stands for the Tigers Game 1 loss. Verlander didn't have his best stuff and I think maybe we were too timid to will him on to greatness. You see, we're still learning how to be great baseball fans again after a long, long winter of losing.

Don't get me wrong. The crowd was ready to explode and go absolutely bonkers. We just never got the chance to until the 9th inning when Craig Monroe's homer sparked a possibly maybe possibly rally. Sure we didn't push any more runs across, but that's when I knew the crowd would be ready for game 2. Plus, Kenny wouldn't let us down.

However, in the World Series, you have to be proactive. The crowd has to set the tone the players feed off of, not the other way around. It's the little things: standing on every 2 strike count, willing Verlander to the K; waving those towels just to distract the opposing pitcher; never, ever yelling "down in front" at the rowdy kids in the front row. It's the playoffs. You have to be ready.

Tiger fans are learning. Look what happened in Game 2. It's just been a long time since we've had to do our part.

The good news is that the Tigers are building something for the long haul. This isn't the last time Verlander, Bonderman, and Zumaya will pitch in the postseason. Cameron Maybin and Curtis Granderson will anchor Tiger lineups for the next decade.

So the team is preparing its fan base. The Tiger Towels. Reviving historic traditions like the "Go Get 'Em Tigers" song and the "Eat 'Em Up Tigers, Eat 'Em Up!" chant. Giving even lefty specialist Jamie "Smoke on the" Walker a snappy nickname. Going to the games means something now.

These are the little things that will turn Tiger fans into Tiger Nation. You can consider the World Series our declaration of independence.