Meet Chris.
Chris’s parents immigrated to the states from Vietnam. When his dad came to this country, baseball was the one sport that he listened to every day in the car. Baseball became a way for Chris and his dad to bond, as the only time he got to spend with his father was throwing around the ball. Baseball also helped his family better understand and discover America – a new experience for the family.
Tell me about your story.
My dad had a lot of “royalties” once he moved to New Jersey compared to back home in the motherland (Vietnam). He was always talking about the underdog. At his job, he said everyone loved the Yankees and cheered for them; people cheered for the Mets too, but not as much. He wasn’t a hardcore baseball fan but the sport gave him interest, especially strategically using players and substituting.
When I was growing up, my dad would always turn on the radio and if the Mets were on TV, he’d let me watch some Mets games – we weren’t “rich” in terms of living situations but rich enough to be able to have enough of those small things. We would end up just watching them and we both learned what it was like to have our hearts broken by a sport because the Mets are the Mets.
So in a sense this is a blessing and a curse that my dad and I rooted for the underdog.
He could have easily chosen the Yankees but he picked the harder route, which oddly seemed like how he handled most of his obstacles in life.
I often hear now how baseball is a dying sport. It pains me to hear this because this was the very sport that is the reason I bonded closely with my dad growing up. Asian parents have the hardest time saying “I love you” and this was the closest thing I got to it.
When I graduated college in 2015, I said I would travel with the Mets to all 30 baseball stadiums. The crazy part about that decision? That was the Mets’ magic year. I went to 11/30 parks that year. It was my first time at Citi Field. It was also my first time with a PACKED crowd after that Cespedes trade vs the Nats. My soul was pumped. I even traveled with them to Philly in 2016 when they clinched the WC.
This was great because I went with my parents. They didn’t know what it was like to see other parts of the U.S. like Philly, Boston, DC, etc. which made the experience even better. We were all being cultured and seeing the Mets lose at the same time!
The best part was that year (2015) my dad got me tickets to go to the playoff game (Cubs vs Mets) on my birthday, which is October 14. He said he couldn’t go but I was able to go with a few friends. (He’s getting old so he wanted to watch from home plus it was like -10 out and I know it’s not good for him or my mom to go). Daniel Murphy and Matt Harvey destroyed the Cubs and I remember my dad saying LETS GO METS!! It was like he was there.
In all, I’m grateful for the Mets. As bad as they can be, they remind me to always root for the underdogs. They also remind me of my family when I am not with them.
From your comment, “It was the only time I got to spend with him throwing a ball,” I am going to assume it’s safe to say that your day worked a lot, to bring the American Dream to his family. Is that correct? And is it correct in saying that baseball was the thing that you two bonded over?
Yes, it’s safe to say that. We have other stuff like football/other sports as well as old TV shows but baseball was definitely the main topic I would say.
How did baseball fit in to your dad trying to discover America? What difference did it make in your upbringing, having baseball in it, compared to if you didn’t have baseball in it?
If I didn’t grow up with baseball, I would not appreciate the smaller things, like the small moments – like my parents taking me to the park just to practice or those three to four hours where we would just sit in the kitchen or living room to watch casual baseball. Essentially since I am in my 20s now, I realized my parents immigrating and growing up here in NJ/America, they too are human if that makes sense (I would see them as superheroes like they can feel or do no wrong and never worry).
Baseball, in terms of listening to it on the radio or watching highlights of the Mets/Yankees on TV, made them feel like they discovered a new world. Plus this was a small way for them to learn English and really learn the culture. Of course there were other things but I recall the baseball part of it.
You compared the Mets being the underdog to how your dad/family handled obstacles in life. Can you tell me more about that?
I would say my family has grown up on the poorer side. So always seeing everyone be flashy and all high-end was not something my parents wanted. They always taught us to be humble and work hard and help any “little man” on the way. Appreciate the small gestures and so on. Plus they had to learn an entire language by themselves and so on. It’s crazy. So as we got more and they learned more about themselves and this country, they really start showing us that grateful spirit.
So how does this relate to the Mets? No one ever really talked about the Mets. Probably because they are never good but rooting for them was like rooting for the “little man.” That whole theme about being the underdog always resonated with us and I know my dad would always say as bad as the Mets are at least we have…so and so. So David Wright, as bad as the Mets were, we had him. Or now as bad as the Mets are we have deGrom and so on. Looking on the bright side I guess is the way to put it.
That is so awesome that your dad got you tickets to the 2015 playoffs, even if he himself couldn’t go (it was cold!!). How do you two continue to bond now over the Mets? Are they still bringing you together?
They are but I think now baseball is more of a me thing in terms of following the Mets and wanting to travel with them. My dad is more focused on his retirement and my mom as he should be! But every here and then we talk about baseball and how the Mets stink but it’s the small moments like that I appreciate.
How do you think your relationship with your dad would be different without the Mets?
I think without baseball it would be different and the Mets being the main center. There would be no kitchen talk. There would be no listening to the radio and hearing Howie and Keith/Gary/the crew going IT’S OUTTA HERE or PUT IT IN THE BOOKS. It was those small moments that made me appreciate how life was so simple and scary at the same time for my parents back then.
Are you grateful to root for the underdog? It’s not always easy!
Always. Asdrubal Cabrera was one of my favorite Mets when everyone loved Thor, Conforto, and the big name guys!
Do you have a story you want to share about how the Mets helped you through a difficult time? We want to hear it – DM us on Twitter.
