You may or may not read this, but I’m going to post it anyway. I know I haven’t been around very long here, but the only reason I started posting here after over a year of lurking was because it seemed like an oasis of sanity in the Sports blog/forum world. It’s enjoyable for me(and many others, I’m sure) mainly because of the philosophy and rules set out by you. And I think it was because of the leadership and direction that you began PtR with. With that in mind, I’m definitely sad to see you go, but you obviously have to do what is right for you.

Good luck to you with all of your future endeavors – I know for a fact that you will be missed. Not as much as Manu is missed, but who can compete with that? On a more serious note, it feels to me as if PtR is losing part of its soul. I hope life brings you as much happiness as possible, and that you have fun along the way.

- Tim C [aka rikiddo]

Damn, Matthew, I didn’t see this coming.

You created a great thing here. Your posts were as responsible for my signing up to this blog as Michael’s, and I can’t thank you enough for this. I feel like I owe you a lot, and hopefully someday I’ll be able to repay you somehow. At the very least, if I do make it to San Antonio next year, dinner’s definitely on me.

I apologize for any problems I might’ve caused, or any moments I made moderating this blog any harder for you. Hopefully leaving the site will give you the time you need for your other interests, and maybe in time you’ll start missing blogging about the Spurs and come back. But regardless, I wish you nothing but the best.

Thanks for everything, Matthew. Farewell.

daddy’s leaving us? :(

thank you for creating ptr. thank you for all the posts and commentary. thank you for putting up with us idiots.

the blogosphere is losing a unique voice.

good luck!

this is indeed a sad day in PtR history.

Thanks for creating this amazing blog. It’s truly the best I’ve ever been a part of. I wish you health and happiness in your life.

Matthew…you’ve created a great thing here, and even though I’ve only been a member of PTR since the summer, I am still sad to see you go. If there were somehow a way to ‘retire’ your number/screen name on PTR, I’m sure we’d all be in favor. Best of luck with all of your future endeavors. I hope they bring you as much happiness as PTR has brought to all of us.

Peace.                         -Edward

Definately didn’t see this coming. I’ve had a great time sharing the experience and very glad that I found a place where I could watch almost every Spurs game. Much luck in future Matthew.

-Cam

Although it saddens me to see you go, I’m sure we all know it will be in good hands.

Matthew, I’m very sorry to see you leave the site. I know that Wayne will be wonderful, but you were the overlord with great principles and heart. (Sorry if I crossed that line in my recent e-mail.)

It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope you enjoy great success in your future endeavors.

I also hope to see you return during the playoffs… I can’t imagine them without you.

PtR was the first SBN blog I read, and Powell’s advice helped me step up my blogging game to join the crew.

You’re the funniest guy here and will be missed. Good luck with whatever lies ahead!

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re leaving. I’m one of the newer “regulars” (maybe the newest), but I lurked here for a long time before that—and I’ve read just about the entire archive. I have enormous respect for you and gratitude for the community you founded. All the best, and I hope you’ll drop in just to hang out and enjoy the Spurs with us.

when I read “I’ll feel more affiliation to A&M sports than I ever will to Spurs basketball.” on Rands College Basketball Sucks Fanpost. I was going to reply “Blasphemy” to your comment but was at work at the time and got caught up with my job……..

you know…………..

the one that they pay me for. (haha)

Anyway, thanks for creating PTR. The great writing and insights provided by you and the other big dogs are/were sometimes enlightening, sometimes entertaining but ALWAYS thoughtful and refreshing. Good luck with your future endeavors and hope to see at least a Fanpost from sungo now and then.

I really hope you find your niche in whatever you plan to do.

Meanwhile, loving the spurs and manu is not something you retire from :P.
You will be missed.

And your writing kicked ass. Gonna miss it.

Sabre

A million “Thanks” for creating PTR. My love for the Spurs is what brought me to this here site and the awesomeness of this blog and its members is what made me stick around and come back for more.

It seems kind of strange telling someone you have never met in person that they will be missed , but if you will allow me to speak in a certain “Manu’s country” kind of way, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

Thanks again Matthew Powell.

This is disappointing. Powell’s and Stampler’s writing was some of the best sports material I’ve read and their thoughts were much better than so called “experts”. Good luck to you Matthew, you’ll be missed. Thanks for making a great site.

kudos.

Wow this is depressing. Not even one last playoff run?! I can’t thank you enough for creating this great blog. Best of luck brotha.

As one of the “newbies”, I appreciated the sanity and thought you brought to the sports blogging world. Thank you!

Good luck with your future endeavors and wishes for your success in life.

Nancy

For some reason, I think you like this song Matthew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjIwm7d_xs8

and yet, in lieu of sadness, I only feel obligation step up my game/presence once again. I may never be Matthew Powell, or his alter egos ATS and Stampler (or is it the onther way around? :) ), but I’ll try to do my part to make this a source of good times in this savage place we call “the internet”

Good luck, friend.

Like a lot of people on this blog, I lurked a long time before posting. Your writing and funny captions on pictures was the main thing that brought me back to the site. Good luck to you.

I echo the sentiments of tomasito. Godspeed Mr. Powell, you’ve been a tremendous blessing to all Spurs fans.

thankfully, i was able to drink a beer with you when i did. i am sad to see you go and hopefully, your path will cross with us PtR minions again somewhere down the line.

and let me be the umpteenth person to say tanks for creating the spot to talk spurs…and some other semi-interesting topics from time to time.

You site has always had a nice feel to it.

I can’t really expound on what everyone else has said, so I’ll let it at: thanks for all you did to make this a fun, clean, and unique Spurs Blog.

Stephen

But good luck in future endeavors Matthew. And, thanks for making me laugh on the occasions I did read what you wrote. You set the foundation for humor that was one of a kind.

check it the sig is back

Yeah man, you’re cool. You’ve got the sig that no one likes.

I like how this turned into a discussion about signatures.