Dear God:

Why did you create the universe?

Why is there evil in the world?

Why do nice guys always finish last?

And why – why did the Houston Astros fall to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7? Was it something I did?

I was planning on writing a column about the Astros advancing to the World Series, how good it felt for a Houstonian and Astros fan to see them there, and how the seemingly impossible feat of reaching the World Series became an actuality. Now that things have slightly changed, I feel obligated to write about how much life is a direct kick to the face.

When Craig Biggio hit a home run to lead off the first inning of Game 7, I thought the Astros would finally have a chance. But when their 2-0 lead vanished, and the Cardinals caught up and entered the ninth inning winning 5-2, the feeling of defeat finally sank in.

My hopes turned into fears; my fears turned into anger. I fell to the dark side. I punched my couch. I threw my homework across the room. I would be lying if I said I didn’t cry like a little girl. Needless to say, I didn’t take the loss well. But what fan could take well the defeat of a team that’s never been to the World Series?

And as I predicted, the media coverage of the Astros’ loss resembled the coverage of their against-all-odds climb to being one game away from the World Series – hardly any at all. The entire country is rooting for the Red Sox. But why?

For the media, it’s mostly because of the drama. I admit, a team that has been through so much adversity is newsworthy. It’s only natural to root for the underdog.

I’m guilty. You can be sure I’m cheering for whatever team is opposing the Yankees in that year’s World Series. The only good things tied to the Yankees are Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Roger Clemens and pinstripes.

If you’re rooting for the Red Sox, here are a couple of things to ask yourself. Are you rooting for them because everyone is rooting for them? Is it because they are expected to lose and that it somehow makes them likeable? Yes, I did just go there.

Whatever the reason, you like them because they’re the underdog. But of the final four teams this postseason – Yankees, Red Sox, Astros and Cardinals – the Astros are the only club that has never appeared in the World Series.

Ever. I don’t know of anything that screams “underdog” more.

I now realize why the Astros

didn’t reach the World Series. They were interfering with your plans, Lord. If the Astros played the Red Sox, the Astros would surely win.

And since your son, Johnny Damon, plays centerfield for the Red Sox, you had invested interest in Boston. I understand. But you owe Houston fans a pennant next season.

Amen.