I was kind of bothered by something all day. Someone brought a sign to Citi Field on Monday. I thought it was negative.
It bothers me because I have spent a lot of time and effort trying to convince the Mets to bring back Banner Day. You can imagine that given how the last few years have gone that the Mets might be hesitant to open their doors to a parade of jerky signs with Madoff puns or injury jokes or whatever.
All year I have been saying that I didn’t think that would happen. This has been a feel good year. Guys like Murph or Turner or Gee – those have been feel good stories. Why would someone bring a negative sign?
At one point there was popular sentiment behind a Don’t Trade Reyes campaign. That campaign got some nice buzz in the press. Mets fans came together in support of a beloved player.
Then the sign appeared last night. It was published on at least two notable websites, and I am told it appeared on television.
That doesn’t help anything. It doesn’t help the Mets, and it sure as heck doesn’t help Banner Day get any closer.
What bothers me more is that the sign wasn’t just a sign about being a frustrated Mets fan. This sign included a plug for a website that sells Mets themed merchandise. Is there any other way to interpret that than an attempt at self-promotion?
This same fan was involved in one other incident this year that is all on my suspect list for being a promoter not a leader.
It’s hard enough being a Mets fan. Don’t encourage this behavior. Don’t Trade Reyes was a good movement. Don’t spoil it in the name of dollars. Use your energy as a community leader.
If you have an influential blog, use your influence for good. There was no story here other than another cheap Mets joke and it wasn’t even a clever one.
Here’s a poorly photoshopped version of the original photo that made the rounds.
I thought the sign was actually kind of funny.
Come on….have a sense of humor…that was funny!
Sign was filled with ironic humor…asked a real valid question…but did reek of a publicity stunt. Gotta make a buck in this economy I guess.
I agree. The Don’t Trade Reyes stuff was great, now everything is a money making scheme
I think you’re way off with this one. If you go back through the video yearbooks I’m pretty sure I remember someone bringing a Mets Hospital Ward or Injury Ward banner to banner day back in the day. This seems no different. I don’t really even find it negative. Just seems like a fan reaction to our frustrating and ever growing injury situation. Personally I have a bigger problem with idiots who wear paper bags over their heads at games. I hate that stuff.
the stupid paper bags are worse. As are the vuvuzela’s or these hooligan people.
I was at the banner day after they traded David Cone and someone walked through with a giant milk carton with a missing ad on it saying Missing Since August 1993: David Cone… With his picture on it. Was pretty funny. I think the power of signs and social media and blogs, this one especially, have proven that we as fans can get through to ownership. The sign wasn’t tasteless and maybe after seeing it, the organization will realize that maybe it’s time to switch up the training staff and others involved in handling injuries.
The guy says he loves the Mets out of 1 side of his mouth & out of the other side of his mouth is selling new shirts that say the team makes you want to drink. This is a team that has outperformed most people’s exceptions and has remained incredibly resilient in the face of adversity (financial, trade rumors, actual trades, injuries).
This team makes me want to root for them, while enjoying a beer.
I’m of the opinion he knew exactly what he was doing when he got kicked out of Citi with his first sign. He started tweeting about it to multiple media outlets just a few minutes after it happened. Seemed like a publicity stunt to me.
Since then, he has literally bombarded media outlets with tweets about anything (BIG NEWS! A guy is bringing a Reyes sign mentioning 7 Line to Nationals Park!) & everything. You might say he’s doing grassroots/social media marketing but it is relentless & over the top.
My favorite tweet of his was when he claimed that Mets Weekly opening line (used about 5 years now as I recall) “By fans, for fans” from him (who’s been selling shirts for about a year). He also wondered why the official Mets account (you know, the team he antagonizes) doesn’t follow him. Can you say full of yourself?
When people on Twitter (myself included), or Shannon, or Metsblog commentors question his tactics & motives, all we’ve gotten in return is “haters gonna hate”. That’s all he has to say for himself, which leads me to believe we have him accurately identified.
So I the point is that when you look at the bigger picture of everything that has transpired (and I realize many of you many not be aware of everything), it starts to appear a lot less like a feel good/he speaks for us kinda story.
…and if you are naive enough to think t-shirts are going to cause the front office or ownership to make/not make a move, then my argument or Shannon’s argument will be lost on you.
Yet they featured him at his shirt factory on Mets Weekly a few weeks ago…maybe the Mets want the publicity too?
exactly what did the sign say ?
then i can judge for my self.
i do not see anything wrong with signs at the ball park, as long as they are not racist or profane. im a hard core orange and blue mets fan to the end. if some one brings a banner to the park that says something “anti mets”, so be it. this will not effect a future mets banner day.they were always set up between games of a double header and the “mind on our money and money on our mind mets” will not even think of a two for the price of one day.
a banner day contest after the game may work.
any obscene or profane banners would not be let on the field.
I guess I’m jaded cause I really don’t believe this team (or any team for that matter) gives two sh*ts about me as a fan so I could care less if they get their feelings hurt. And if this fairly innocuous sign causes them to be embarrassed, then good. They should be embarrassed. This organization is on a HOF worthy run of ineptitude that isn’t going to just wash away because Terry and Sandy are here now.
Also things like Banner Day are dead to this front office and they’re not coming back. If you want cool community Mets events you have to organize them yourself and SELF-PROMOTE THE SH*T OUT OF THEM. Maybe then the Mets MIGHT consider getting back on board if they feel they are missing out on a sponsorship opportunity a.k.a $$$$.
Well said, Randy.
so true randy,so true.
it’s all about the $$$$
next year is the 50th anniversary of the mets. if they do not go all out and i mean waay out to celebrate such a land mark, i will be hurt….and not surprised.
shame on them for no big shabang to celebrate the 1986 team. if they had a reason for not doing so i will understand.