An MMO Fan Shot by MarSanti
Technically, I think my mother gave birth on the actual Mets bandwagon. My father watched/check-the-box/listened to every Mets game from their birth in ’62 to the Spring Training before he died. I was happy when they won it all in ’86, but I was too young to really appreciate and enjoy it with my father. We spent countless hours over the next many many years watching and talking Mets.
Not all the memories were good, but not because of losing seasons. Unfortunately, I missed watching the subway series with my dad because I was “busy” enjoying my twenties; I’m working on letting go of the regret of not relishing every single pitch with him.
I take solace that I was at the game with him when they beat the Giants to advance to the NLCS. We screamed, hugged and cried; somehow we ended up chanting Yankees suck with several thousand other loyalists.
A few years later he died … a couple of days before his passing he was raving about a minor league speedy shortstop. By that point, I had grown cynical and thought he was “scouting” another Ryan Thompson. I would learn that my dad’s last scouting report was of Jose Reyes.
Our special Mets bond was the highlight of his eulogy, and I was honored to write and give it.
I have two boys of my own now. My first son’s due date was June 1, 2012. He wasn’t born that day, but Johan pitched our first no hitter; I couldn’t help but think the due date coincidence and my dad’s no-hitter superstitions helped Baxter make “the catch.”
My son was born a few days later, and I waited a day to give him his first Mets hat because I wanted to give him a day to think about it.
My second son didn’t have that luxury; there was a Mets hat in the “go-bag.” Now, my almost-three-year-old insists on wearing his Mets hat when he goes out, and he can sing the entire “Meets the Mets” song from memory. We’re working on learning all the words to the “Let’s Go Mets” rally song by Shelly Palmer. It’s interesting feeling both guilt and pride when he yells out Let’s Go Mets.
We’re winning now, and there’s a special feeling in the Mets fandom. Yes, I know it’s early and about small sample sizes, but my gut is telling me we are on the verge of something special. This isn’t the “maybe Carlos Baega will hit again” or “if everything breaks just right” feeling. This is different.
Earlier this week, my wife was at the supermarket with the boys. My oldest, of course, had his Mets hat on. An [obnoxious] Yankees fan came up to my family and chanted “Let’s Go Yank … (you know the rest)” … My oldest looked at him puzzled.
My wife then went on to tell him that we’re Mets fans. The Yankee fan replied, everyone is jumping on the Mets bandwagon now. My wife (who bleeds orange blue now) annoyed, gave her rebuttal and walked away.
As they were leaving the packed and busy store the Yankee fan happened to be checking out. My son yelled out to him “Let’s Go Mets” and pumped his fist. Everyone laughed, and the Yankee fan managed to crack a smile.
My eyes swelled up with pride when my wife told me the story, and that’s what led me to write this. The idea of a “Mets bandwagon” means a lot of things to me. It connects me my father, his and my childhood, his and my young adolescence and to being a father myself.
It connects my sons to my father. Being a Mets fan has made me the man I am today, and it will shape my boys. Yes, it may just be a game, but it has taught me so much about love, being positive and realistic, dedication, perseverance, empathy, loyalty, starting a conversation, making people laugh, research and so much more. So, yes we are on the bandwagon, but we never left. LGM!
* * * * * * * *
This Fan Shot was contributed by MMO reader MarSanti. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 25,000 Met fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to us at [email protected]. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor.
