For better or worse the Mets 2010 roster is pretty much set. I remain cautiously optimistic and am looking forward to the season. I so much want CitiField to be abuzz with enthusiasm this year. In that respect, the 8th inning sing-a-long can go a long way towards energizing the crowd on a hot summer’s night, and spur the Mets on to late inning comebacks.
So here goes.
I’m a big fan of the 8th inning sing-a -long. But we need a new one that will rock CitiField and become a Mets tradition.
In 2006 we stood and laughed while the Curly Shuffle played on the big screen. Very funny stuff. The following year, 2007, Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond was the song of choice. I have very fond memories of that song. All summer, my 13 year old son and I were bonding over Mets baseball. We would watch the big screen as the great Mets 2006 season was being retold. The smiling, the dancing and the winning was making a night at Shea Stadium a special event and the place to be. The best part was the nightly showing of Paul Lo Duca tagging out two LA Dodgers players in succession as the song’s words “we fill it up with only two” played.
Sweet Caroline could and would be only a one year wonder at Shea. Too bad. It’s been an 8th inning Red Sox Fenway Park tradition since 2002. And copying their tradition was a no no. While much of the 45,000+ Mets fans each night loved singing the song, those in the know, knew it couldn’t continue. At least Mets management correctly reacted to fan pressure by pulling the song prior to the start of the 2008 season.
Before the 2008 season, a contest was held to choose the next song. I’m a Believer sung by The Monkeys, and coincidentally composed by Neil Diamond, was the winner. It didn’t have the same cachet.
It was all downhill in 2009 for both the 8th inning sing-a-long and the Mets play on the field. Mets management chose Meet the Mets. This choice lacked originality and creativity. It generated no excitement and clearly was no help in motivating fans to root for an 8th inning comeback victory.
There are fans who are not in favor of even having an 8th inning sing-a-long. They just want to watch baseball. Please, there are at least three hours of baseball to watch. The 8th inning, with the right song, is a time for fans to come together and rock CitiField.
I’d like you to listen to my number one choice for the 2010 8th inning sing-a-long, Forever Young by Rod Stewart. Picture this song accompanied by video from 47 years of Mets history; from Stengel, to Seaver, to Gooden, to Piazza. Fans will be roused out of their seats. The last line of Forever Young is “I’m right behind you win or lose”. We certainly are when it comes to our Mets.
Please chime in with your own choice and a link to it so we can listen. I’m know MMO readers will have strong opinions on this matter. Maybe we can generate some excitement and present our top choice to the Mets marketing/promotion people.
Just remember to include the link to your song. I’m sure there will be plenty of obnoxious comments. As you know, I’m willing to take my share of abuse.
