On Sunday, general manager Sandy Alderson walked by the media at Citi Field after the Mets completed a sweep of the Reds and said to reporters: “Here they come, the citizens of Panic City.” (Adam Rubin, ESPN NY)
Despite the high of sweeping the lowly Reds, Rubin thinks it may be premature for Sandy to start crowing. “Perhaps it is not time to gloat just yet about the Mets’ success since opening a trip to Toronto, Atlanta and Milwaukee with an 0-7 record.”
I don’t know about that, there’s nothing wrong with Sandy feeling chipper after watching Steven Matz capture the city with a major league debut that won’t soon be forgotten. I don’t have any problem with that and I thought it was funny.
But does the shoe fit? Are the Mets media and fans truly the citizens of Panic City? Of course they are.
But if we’re the citizens of Panic City, it’s only because of those who have presided over Panic City, namely the progenitors of our panic-stricken selves, the Wilpons.
On the heels of all our fears lies an ownership who feeds our instability by virtue of their many less than forthright actions and words, an apparent air of mistrust, and a severe lack of tact and altruistic intentions.
Their hubris and frequent incompetence stands as a testament – or better yet monument – set right in the town square of Panic City.
Over the last decade, no other fan base has been as brow-beaten and punched in the gut by its team’s ownership as Mets fans have. And because of that, we have a heightened sense of fear that envelops our hopes and thwarts our once proud Ya Gotta Believe nature. Our faith has been replaced with skepticism. So pardon our anger and frequent frustration.
The lack of trust between the fans and their out of touch owners creates a paranoia that makes it sometimes difficult to truly immerse one’s self in the magic of a moment. Too many untruths. Too many failures. Too many embarrassing moments. Too many letdowns. And far too many money grabs.
So while Mets fans are often viewed as being bipolar in their fandom, due mostly to an ownership incited chaos, don’t mistake that for anything less than a true love and devoutness for our team. The Mets and their fans are like star-crossed lovers. We are soulmates.
