I did not hide the fact in my initial reply that I have little respect for the Mets front office and that I was indeed using this incident as an another example as to why.

But the only reason I brought this incident up was because this is a Met forum, the article was about David Wright and his personal relationship with a returning Vet and his deep feelings about their plight and then Joe D. expanding it to point out the shameless manner in which returning vets are subjected to.

So yes, it reminded me of that night and what had transpired. It reminded me of the anger so many felt when the news about the cap wearing was reported. Jeff Wilpon’s reaction ruined what was otherwise a most beautiful tribute to those of 9/11. The concern was over what would happen if the Met players who wanted to wore those hats in tribute to the first responders – and after knowing how the players felt about it, it this should not have been a concern at all.

The behavior that evening was an example of the indifference – of the turning a blind eye to the plight of our returning vets and first responders when it comes to having to put business matters aside for the moment. That was I found the just of Joe D.’s reply about the experience of Mr. Riveria and how heartbreaking his story was – the blind eye That indifference rears it’s ugly head only too often when politics and business is concerned.

With Jeff (if we go by that report this this was his call) it was a conflict of one’s business interests put ahead of those of whom were being remembered on such a solemn occasion.

No matter which side of the fence we come from, that is a fact.

But I admitted my own biases so that would again be out in the open and everyone would know I was aware of my inner feelings. I am sure it is not apparent that I had questioned myself how that could be affecting my judgement by over-doing it with what happened that evening. And I knew because of the sensitivity of the subject that I was letting myself be open to sincere criticism. I concluded this did not take away the fact that it was a shameful display of priorities.

One can feel completely different about the Wilpons and point out all that they helped contribute for the better good. But that doesn’t mean making excuses for one’s behavior when a PERCEIVED CONFLICT with one’s business interests and convictions seemed more important than allowing the players to demonstrate how the felt about these brave and giving of themselves people.

And what were those perceived business conflicts they were afraid of? Getting on the bad side of MLB and Nike which was selling officially licensed special commerative hats at $36.99 each. They even told their players the team would be subject to a very heavy fine if they went ahead and wore those other caps (something MLB denies but who knows). As the author of one of articles I attached asked, what was going to happen? Does one really believe MLB or Nike would have called them out for their show of tribute and not have dealt with it as an exception to the rule? Obviously, Jeff was quite worried about that.

Bottom line Jessup is that I kept all my past comments regarding the Wilpons and Sandy to business matters only. I have stated more than once, for example, that Sandy might be a good guy personally but when it comes to business how he deals with players and fans is another thing entirely.

What I did was focus on that night in the perspective of the indifference these brave people find all the time. And that was it. I was honest in bringing up the fact that I did not like the Wilpons so to get that issue out of the way and just focus on the act itself and what it represented in lieu of the subject matter and the example of Mr. Riveria and the typical treatment they receive due to business and politics coming first. I am not making it any more than that.

I understand your feelings about this Jessep and respect them – I see where you are coming from. Just please understand where was coming from and the perspective I was making – the indifference so many who have the power to really do something when it also requires putting aside their own self-interests for those of others in more desperate need.

Does the hat-gate debacle that MLB was a major part of take away the work the Wilpon’s have done for the first responders and their families for 10 years?

I get the hat thing, I wish they wore them too – but it’s not like they’ve never worn them. It’s not like the Wilpon’s haven’t done more than most for the victims and their families.

And to try and use the hat thing as a way to label the Wilpon’s as you do is quite frankly ridiculous. It’s a perfect example of trying to take half the story and make it bigger than it is.

You don’t like the Wilpon’s. Most fans do not like the owners of their teams. But don’t sit there and try to make them out to be bad people because you won’t get many who really know them to agree with you

Am I trying to compare it to the horrible treatment that returning vets get today? Absolutely not and I think to infer that I am is not looking at the overall picture.

I am talking about character. One simple but symbolic gesture of respect in which one’s sense of priority was an over-reaction by MLB rather than allowing their players to make a personal show of appreciation for those who put their lives on the line for us.

Again, my point was to show the many forms of indifference our returning vets have to face – and as we have seen this applies to the heroes of 9/11 as well who have been denied benefits due to life threatening toxins. Indeed, the Met situation should in no way be compared to the points being raised by Joe D. but it should also be kept in mind that while it might seem as so minor to many one should also recall that heartbreaking story Joe D. told us about Riveria in which or so many even a simple gesture like allowing the Mets to wear those caps was indeed very important for them.

Don’t think for minute that what seem so inconsequential to most was just another in series of being treated that can make one in Riveria’s position feel “I forgot what it was like to feel real again”.

That is because nothing is too good enough for them as long as it doesn’t interfere with one’s business interests. It was for the Riveria’s that I felt compelled to say what I did about the behavior the Met organization displayed that night.

The attached is reflective of my feelings.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-mets/2011/9/11/2419092/new-york-mets-9-11-first-responders-hats-mlb-policy

Now, do you still think I have no clue to what I am talking about? Ask those like Mr. Riveria how they might have felt that night.

“Whether we wore the hat of that was not the issue. It was not what we had on our heads — it was what’s in our hearts.” – Terry Collins

3 months prior to the hat-gate stuff, the Wilpon’s helped fund The First Responder Alliance Mentoring Program, which will provide trained mentors for children whose parents died due to illness attributed to their time working at ground zero or Fresh Kills Landfill.

But hey, the Wilpon’s didn’t wanna cross MLB so they don’t care about First Responders right? Nevermind this was the THIRD program the Mets were major partners in with regards to Tuesday’s Children

This is the kind of stuff that drives me nuts. We latch on to such a small thing like wearing a hat and ignore everything else. It’s easier to look at hat gate and claim to know everything about the Wilpon’s. It’s a better talking point then, “oh wow they are doing more for the families than any of us are.”

But hey, they didn’t wear caps. So that’s the real story right

We can add as many little details as we want about the hat situation…your giving 100% blame to the owners when Joe Torre the EVP of MLB said “We just felt all the major leagues are honoring the same way with the American flag on the uniform and the cap. This is a unanimity thing.”

“They certainly understood and respected,” baseball’s decision, Torre said. “I certainly understood what they wanted to do in regards to wearing the hats. I used my history with the fact that we were in the World Series 10 years ago.”

So it’s the Wilpon’s fault 100% that MLB didn’t want them to do it? MLB didn’t have malicious intent, it was just a message they thought they were sending and they whiffed on it. It’s not like MLB or whomever said “screw those first responders!”

Have the Mets worn the hats in other instances? Yes. So you trying to connect veterans to wearing a baseball cap is totally out of bounds and is a stretch to try and bring the Wilpon’s into this.

I mean you’re really trying to tell me what? That the Wilpon’s do not honor veterans or the first responders or the 9/11 victims? If you’re really trying to say that – then you have no clue what you’re talking about.

Agreed with the Mets charitable activities, however, the point about 9/11 was that in the mind of the organization the caps presented a conflict and their decision was simply not to take a chance that wearing the caps would show up MLB.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/bud_isn_fine_FskZt4hgbiWvBVQwQr3G4M

On a related note, a poster on another board was talking a few weeks ago (I think after the NYDN article on DW and Felix came out) about how a friend of his who is a wounded vet was full of praise for the Mets and DW for their work with the wounded warriors program

With the conversation about how our returning vets are being ignored and the anger shared by all of us, it only seemed appropriate to mention the deplorable behavior of the front office on such solemn an occasion as the tenth anniversary of 9/11. It had nothing to do with sports as it was the slap in the face by the owners whose concern was with Nike instead of those and the families which serve our country, whether in the armed forces or as first responders at home.

There was no excuse for stooping so low ordering David to take off his cap honoring these people and reflective of the way they are treated by so many after their services are no longer required.

And yet I will never forgive the politicians who have the power to really help them and show they are not alone and forgotten and just give them lip service instead – unlike Joe, Metsie, David Wrightand so many others who give of their own time to help them deal with the horrors they went through. To you guys, no words of gratitude will ever be enough – and you put many of us to shame.

This brings up another reason why I have so little respect for the Mets front office. No guts should apply to them for being more concerned about getting on the wrong side of MLB and it’s contract with Nike that they ordered the players not to wear special hats to honor the first responders back in 2011 and went so far as to call the dugout to tell David to take his hat off.

It was this discussion about the shabby treatment given to vets that reminded me of the same type of treatment they got just in terms of comemorating them at Citi Field.

Scherzer walked three. He was taken out after retiring the first two batters in the third inning.

Mets starter Dillon Gee allowed one hit in four innings. He gave up one run.

Tigers minor leaguer Tyler Collins hit a solo home run to break a tie in the eighth. The 22-year-old outfielder, who hasn’t played above Class A, leads the team with 10 hits this spring.

Jordany Valdespin homered for the Mets.

In a sense I almost think we should re-institute the draft and make everyone serve…
Then no one will be JADED and all will see the reality of the world we live in meaning our Warriors will fit in when they return because everyone has been a warrior at some point and seen the same truth.

Have to agree somewhat with trs though and the insurance industry in this country. Money first, people’s health and well being second.

I would have hoped we’d come much farther than that. As a wife of a Viet Nam vet, almost no group of vets in our recent history were made to feel like dirt b/c they were involved in a war as those boys were. Most of them were drafted to boot.

These service men and women deserve all the support we can give – both while over there and on their return home.
On a small note, at least the boneheads in the gov. have exempted the VA in this latest sequestration budget mess and they will not be furloughed along with the rest of us.

Baseball though…the one constant that can be counted on to take us fans away from our own problems, at least for a few minutes. Glad you were able to talk to him and I sincerely hope he gets the help he deserves.