Good morning Mets fans,
I promise there will be Mets content in this post before we get to the end.
A friend of mine regularly sends me socio-political emails and then gets mad at me when I don’t reply. I have encouraged him to start a blog. After all, who the hell am I? I’m just a Mets fan who typed enough days in a row and I guess made a good point here and there. Now it seems I am fortunate enough to be considered one of the “main” Mets blogs by whoever decides that (I guess you do, and thanks for reading).
A few years back, there was a polarizing radio host who would say “Your influence counts, use it!” At the risk of losing some fans of the site here we go…
I find myself passionate about the TSA scans this morning. I’m reading stories of pat-downs and strip searches and fines. At one of the local transportation hubs this morning they were searching bags.
I’m a New Yorker. I was here 9/11. I knew people who died and I bet you did too. None of us want to ever have anything like that happen again.
I know the people implementing these new rules are trying to keep us all safe.
I just find myself wondering what the heck we’re doing as a country? Isn’t the slippery slope when you start to trade rights in the name of safety?
If you’d care to use the comments section that’s cool..let’s just try to avoid the words Democrat/Republican/Bush/Obama. If you’re interested in the subject you may enjoy this article.
To my friend…there. I just traded my “influence-capital” on something I felt passionate about. I bet I lost a few readers.
Now to the Mets, and how I tie this all together…
I’m really enjoying the comments thread on Have The Mets Bloggers Sold Out?
It does bring to mind the question of what happens when you get to know the people you write about. I think when you get to know someone you understand them better. You may not agree, but you understand.
When Dave Howard and I catch that game together I’m going to ask about the obstructed views. I will not at all be surprised if the answer is that 21st century fire codes forced some aspects of construction. I have some follow-up points (Promenade Infield has a better design than the wings for example). I feel I can have that discussion without being a rude anti-social jerk.
I fell the Mets have gotten to know ME better. I had some real discussions when I went to the meet and greet. I didn’t show up with a knife in my teeth looking to attack someone. I assume that vibe made it way to Mr. Howard’s office and someone has decided that our hang will be more positive than negative. I personally plan to send a draft of the post to Mr. Howard before I post it to make sure he thinks it is fair. That’s my choice and not a condition. It’s all about being civilized.
Part of the luck of having slightly more access is that this blog is better. You and I get more information, better information, and we get it faster than before.
There’s a dialogue where YOU can ask Terry Collins a question.
Flushing is reading sites like this. Your voice can be heard. (Which reminds me Dave, the details for the 15 game plans are either overdue or really hidden on the website.)
This comment interested me:
Angry, impatient, intolerant Mets fans reflect our broader society – me-first, instant gratification, inability to heathfully cope with change and/or disappointment. I find it pretty sickening, actually – anger, petulance, and playing dirty has become acceptable social norm rewarded en masse, and we see that all the time in a very loud, vocal, dysfunctional subset of Mets fans who can’t seem to cope with anything that doesn’t go their way.
I think many are of younger generations growing up without checks and balances and appropriate boundaries – i.e., when is enough, enough and what it means to be gracious in defeat and deal with it without threats and temper-tandrums. This is the ugly downside of what instant communication technology has created – instant reinforcement of our lower selves via support of similar others.
Well said. That’s why I’m With Terry. sitting here and hoping for losses so I can be proved “right” about Backman would be crazy behavior.
There was more to the comment…and I had more of a reply: Read here.
But none of that was why you came here. Today is about Terry Collins.
I’m bummed the Mets didn’t check my Outlook calendar. 11am is a bad time for me today, which is blog-frustrating because I won’t get to see the press conference, and thus my opinions will be heavily influenced by what I read on the internet.
Hopefully the Mets will not invite any hockey players, and hopefully Terry has a good answer ready for the “lost the clubhouse” story.
Remember Mets fans, your influence does count. If you are passionate about the Mets, I welcome guest posts. I can be reached at [email protected]
Hockey players – good one!
Chief, it is okay if you pontificate a bit, this is your blog. I personally do not know how I feel…I am wishy washy on it. I just can’t believe that we can’t find a better way, but hey, I do not fly, so I am not sure that I am a person who should “vote”…as for Collins, is the only difference between him and Backman the “experience”? I guess Wally’s ten years as a player and a championship, are irrelevant. Of the final four, this was the worst choice. Despite him being an Arizona grad, I would have much rather seen Chip Hale than Collins. Melvin over Collins. This was the horrible, not what you know but who you know choice…so much for the Met’s front office joining the 21st Century. Not that I am a total believer in all of these new fangled stats, your eyes should count for something, yet still. All I heard with the hiring of Alderson was how the team enter the new millennium…still waiting to see it. The new manager is NOT proof of it.
I like waht I’ve heard from Collins so far. you didn’t miss much at 11, and you know it’ll be repeated all over the place. he seems serious and responsible and focused on teaching and learning. Hopefully players will continue to grow under him.
I don’t worry so much about the politics/etc. Hopefully he’s learned, and this is a different bunch anyway.
The airport thing is ridiculous, and has been trending that way for a while. I don’t know what’s to be done about it. We’re not safer. That’s an illusion, and more and more people see through these schemes these days.
as for us “younger generationers” There’s a fine line between what the appropriate boundaries are, and what boundaries have been pushed as a result of a changing society that the ‘older generation’ hasn’t quite understood yet.