FORT WORTH -- For those of you who didn't attend the 2009 Rangers Mid-Winter Banquet at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, you missed a good time. A few thoughts:

* I posted some pictures and updates on twitter (and will post some more photos). So follow me at http://twitter.com/espn_durrett and get all of those updates.

* Josh Hamilton gave the invocation and presented the Rangers fan of the year (the fan was a 13-year-0ld named C.J., who caught two consecutive foul balls hit by Hamilton at a Rangers game last season) with one of his bats. C.J. was very polite as he chatted with Eric Nadel, constantly saying sir. When asked how things went with his interview during the game with Jim Knox, C.J. said it was "interesting." Good answer.

* Nice job, as usual, by Eric Nadel. I think the man is funny. He poked fun at everyone from Tom Hicks to Darren Oliver, who he said was so old he struck out Mantle, Maris and DiMaggio in the playoffs for the Rangers last decade.

* Elvis Andrus translated for Martin Perez and had some fun with it. Andrus' attitude is infectious. You could see that last year and it was there tonight. He also received the 2009 Rangers Rookie of the Year Award (I actually got to present that to him).

* Craig Gentry was the minor league defender of the year, Perez the pitcher of the year and Mitch Moreland the minor league player of the year. Moreland thanked Mike Micucci, who has coached Moreland for three years at various levels. "He's coached me for three years, so you'd think I learned something," Moreland said.

* Longtime Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist -- and now ESPNDallas.com columnist -- Jim Reeves was honored with a roast. A few folks, including Tom Grieve and Dale Hanson, told jokes at Revo's expense. He got a standing ovation and was clearly moved by the honor. I have to say, it sounded like some big retirement party. But the guy is still writing, people. You can read him once or twice a week right here on ESPNDallas.com. Don't worry: He'll still be writing about the Rangers. And that's good news.

* Rangers president Nolan Ryan told some funny stories, as usual. He presented a few awards and even took shots at Hanson, who had to leave early. Ryan joked that he hadn't seen Hanson at the ballpark, even when Ryan was playing.

* The best moment of the night came when the mother of the late Carson Leslie, a 13-year-0ld boy and friend of Michael Young's who died of cancer two weeks ago, talked about how much Young meant to Little. "Michael is the MVP and for me that means Most Valuable Pal," she said. It was a touching moment and Young handled it well. He thanked everyone from owner Tom Hicks to his teammates and said: "It's going to be a special year, I guarantee you."

Were you at the banquet? If so, share some of your thoughts in the comments section.