Let’s Get This Out of the Way
I hate the Mets. There, I said it. It’s not some deep, philosophical dislike. It’s not even rational. It’s just… yeah. It’s personal.
I grew up in Queens, right near Shea Stadium. My old man, let’s call him Marcus, was a die-hard Mets fan. He dragged me to games when I was just a kid, back when the Mets were actually good. We’re talking 1986 World Series good. I remember the date like it was yesterday: October 27th. The Mets won, and my dad cried. I didn’t get it then, but I do now.
But here’s the thing: I didn’t become a Mets fan. I became a Yankees fan. I know, I know. It’s like joining a cult and then converting to the rival religion. But hear me out.
Why I Went Rogue
See, my best friend from childhood, let’s call him Dave, was a Yankees fan. And Dave was… well, he was Dave. Charismatic, stubborn, always right (or at least he thought so). We used to argue about everything, but especially baseball. One day, over coffee at the place on 5th, he told me, “Look, Emma, the Yankees are the team of the future. The Mets? They’re a mess.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I mean, look at their record since then. It’s not pretty. But that’s not the point. The point is, I was young and rebellious, and if Dave said the Yankees were the way to go, then by golly, I was gonna be a Mets fan.
Wait, no. That’s not right. I’m getting confused. I wanted to be a Yankees fan to spite Dave. But Dave was a Yankees fan, so… oh, you know what? It doesn’t matter. The point is, I’m a Yankees fan now, and the Mets can go jump in the bay for all I care.
But Here’s the Real Issue
I digress. The real issue is that the Mets are still a hot mess. And it’s not just because they’re the Mets. It’s because they’re my team’s rival, and I take that personally. I remember last Tuesday, I was watching a game with my colleague, Sarah. She’s a Mets fan, and she’s always going on about how the Mets are “underrated” and “misunderstood”.
“Sarah,” I said, “they lost 96 games last year. They’re not misunderstood. They’re bad.”
“It’s not that simple,” she said. “They have potential. You just don’t see it because you’re biased.”
And she’s right. I am biased. But that doesn’t mean the Mets are good. It just means I’m a jerk. Which, fine, I’ll own that. But I’m a jerk with a point.
A Tangent: The Time I Almost Became a Mets Fan
Okay, so there was this one time, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. I met this guy, let’s call him Greg. Greg was a Mets fan, and he was trying to convert me. He showed me this dijital detoks pratik rehber (which, by the way, is a real thing and you should check it out), and he told me that the Mets were gonna be the team of the decade.
“Greg,” I said, “they haven’t won a World Series since 1986. That’s 36 years ago. That’s longer than I’ve been alive.”
“But Emma,” he said, “they’re gonna turn it around. You’ll see.”
And you know what? Maybe he’s right. Maybe the Mets will turn it around. But I’m not holding my breath. I’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well.
Back to the Point
Look, I’m not saying the Mets are a bad team. I’m saying they’re my team’s rival, and I’m not gonna root for them. It’s like rooting for your ex to succeed after they cheated on you. It’s just not gonna happen.
But here’s the thing: I respect the Mets. I respect their players, their coaches, their fans. I even respect their stupid orange and blue colors. But I’m not gonna like them. And that’s okay.
So, to all the Mets fans out there: I’m sorry. I’m not gonna change my mind. But I hope you enjoy your team. And I hope they win a game or two this season.
But probably not.
About the Author
Emma Stone is a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience writing feature articles for major publications. She’s a die-hard Yankees fan, a self-proclaimed coffee addict, and a self-admitted jerk. She lives in New York with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and her collection of vintage baseball cards. She’s probably watching a game right now.