The Bee Chair Debates...

BCD’S METS: THE TEAM, THE TIME, THE HEART ATTACK

By Kristen

I’ve been a New York Mets fan since 1986, when Hall-of-Fame catcher Gary Carter took my cousin to the bathroom. They did something else that year, but a decade of Atlanta NL East titles has slowly, surely erased my recollection of it, not to mention my will to live.

Since then, there’s been lots of Good (Coney, Johnny Franco, Piazza, Ventura, Agbayani, the best defensive infield ever, Grand Slam Single) and plenty of Bad (Doc, Straw, Vince “Firecracker” Coleman, Armando “Why Did He DO That?” Benitez, the Class of ’02, coke problems [them, not me]).

Now, the Mets are back. The players are relatively young, darn good, and holy lord – they really, really like each other. They won their division decisively, and are up 2-0 in the NLDS against a rejuvenated Dodgers team (aka the 2003 Red Sox). Every analyst is predicting they will go to, and possibly win, the … I won’t jinx it.

So, why am I nervous? Why do I cover my eyes during a game where the Mets are up 4-1? Why do I catch my breath every time All-Star closer Billy Wagner jogs in from the bullpen? Why do I curse the heavens when Willie Randolph leaves a middle reliever in to bat for himself?

Maybe it’s the injuries to Pedro and El Duque.

Maybe it’s the Mets’ end-of-season swoon.

Hey, maybe it’s me.

No, it’s definitely me.

I’ve got to relax. I’ve got to take another, level-headed look at this team.

Individually, Reyes, Glavine, Wagner, Floyd, LoDuca, and (especially) the Carloses are all fairly-to-mostly awesome. John Maine was a nice surprise in Game 1, and Endy Chavez (besides being my favorite person named “Endy”) is a neat little rally-starter. Willie’s been almost Torre-esque so far. Jose Valentin even has the New York Mets Moustache of Victory, which is absolutely key in propelling them further in the playoffs (see: Hernandez, Keith). David Wright just had a plane named after him, ferchrissakes.

As for chemistry and intangibles, they have victory dances, secret handshakes, and I suspect, foosball tournaments where the games are called entirely in Spanish. They have lefties with power, righties with speed, and the most unoriginal, yet strangely endearing mascot in the majors. (“How about … we take a guy … and give him a baseball for a head?” “FANTASTIC idea, Jones! You’re hired!”) They have most of Puerto Rico on the field, half of Queens in the stands, and at least one reserve first baseman who will be AARP-eligible in 2008.

My dad likes these Mets. My office likes these Mets. My Yankee-faithful friends, who bleed pinstripes, even like these Mets.

I like these Mets. I LOVE these Mets. Just gimme a minute to get with the program.

On to Game 3.

posted by Kris at 3:32 PM | 0 comment(s)

BCD'S LETTERS TO OUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL SELVES PART 3

Dear 7th Grade Dustin,

Hey. What’s up? How you doing? Wait, never mind I know how you’re doing. Don’t worry it will get better soon. You will be able to look back and laugh at everything one day. Here are some things I have learned that I want to share with you. Things you maybe could have/should have done differently.

- You know that girl that you like so much? Make out with her cousin, that girl doesn’t like you but her cousin totally does and she’s cute. Get your head out of your ass.

- All the people giving you a hard time right now, they don’t fuckin matter. AT ALL. High School and all that is bullshit, enjoy the stuff you like (even though it’s going to change a lot, trust me) and don’t let them get you down because you will never see most of those bastards again.

- To spite what I said above, you’re a dork. Stop it! Look at the size of your glasses. How big do they need to be? And dress pants with sneakers? I know Seinfeld can pull it off, but he’s not cool either. You could be so much cooler if you just relax a little bit.

- Don’t worry so much about making the tennis team, everyone does. You’re in.

- When you take your first driving test some douche is going to pull out in the middle of your three point turn and you will fail because of it. Shoot that man before the test starts, no one will catch you.

- Go to the Prom you idiot. So what if it’s going to save you money to stay home. You end up sitting at a friends house thinking, “Wow. This sucks.” While everyone else is partying.

- Start doing stand-up very very soon. You will be so angry with yourself that you didn’t start until later.

- Start drinking by the end of High School. Just do it. Don’t ask me why!

- Dad is always right. I don’t know why but he is. Yes, it will infuriate you, but he keeps being right time after time. My theory is that it’s because he’s already made all the stupid mistakes you are about to make. Listen to him every so often. Trust me.

I think that’s it. And oh yeah, don’t pick up and air conditioner from the back, don’t drink Arbor Mist and when your parents go on vacation don’t drive the car. You will get into accident both times.

See ya soon.

Dustin

posted by Dustin D'Addato at 11:15 PM | 0 comment(s)