On a chilly Tuesday night in late March of 1998, a dad took his three sons, aged 16, 14, and 4, to opening day at Shea Stadium. They watched as their Mets battled the visiting Phils through nine scoreless innings . . . then 10 . . . then 11 . . . then 12. Even though the dad had taught all three boys that you never leave a ballgame till it's over, the two older boys started talking about heading home as the game dragged into the 13th inning. They were both high school students, and had to be in class by 7:30 the next morning. The dad agreed that the boys had a point.
But the four-year-old reminded everyone about the family rule, and he steadfastly refused to budge from his seat. (True, he only had to be at pre-school the next day, where naps were not only allowed, but encouraged.) His older brothers and his dad wavered . . . and the youngest got his way, as he usually did. With the game well into its fifth hour, in the bottom of the 14th inning, the Mets finally pushed across a run -- and the four-year-old and the rest of his family went home happy with a 1-0 opening day victory.
As you probably guessed, that four-year-old was Robby (in photo above, with older brother Greg) -- and he's apparently forgotten that lesson about sticking with your team 'til it's over. He's already left the Mets for dead and moved on to pre-season football. And in his last post, he strongly suggested that I do the same.
Yeah, the Mets are 10 games behind the Braves, and it's the middle of August. I'm not gonna try to tell you that things are looking good. But that's why you root for teams, and stick with teams -- to be there when the amazing happens. You don't leave a game when your team is down 8-1 so you can beat the traffic; you stay so you can be there when they score 10 runs in the bottom of the eighth and come away with an 11-8 victory (Mets v. Braves, June 30, 2000). You don't stop following your team just because they're 14 games out in July; you stick with them so you can be part of the joy when they come back and win the division title in a one-game playoff in October (Yanks over Boston, 1978). Why give up before you have to? What's the rush?
Sure, it's a longshot. But in the past week, the Mets have shown some signs of life: Johan's complete-game shutout; Dickey's one-hitter. As Robby so recently reminded us, the Mets managed to blow a 7-game lead with 17 to play back in 2007. Maybe this year it's the Braves' and the Phillies' turn to choke.
So Robby, enjoy your pre-season football, but find another room to watch it in. And Yanks and Red Sox fans, have fun with your rivalry -- at the local bar. Because on my TV, I'm still watching the Mets.
- Hank
