Category: mets

As expected the Mets have some “guidelines” for Banner Day.  Surely this is quite reasonable as nobody wants to see a “Refinance Your Home for 3.7% Here’s How!” banner nor is it the time to express hostility toward the owners.

So let’s take a look at some of the “guidelines.”

• Registration begins at 10:00 a.m.  Space is limited.

• Banners must celebrate the Mets 50^th Anniversary, expressing fans’ favorite memories or moments in franchise history

• Banners must be at least 22” by 28” in size

• Commercially produced banners are permitted, but banners may not contain commercial messages, web sites or Twitter handles

• The Mets reserve the right to deny access to the field to any banner or person that is deemed inappropriate

I have absolutely no problem with this rule.  Again put SOMEONE SMART out there not a robotron without a brain who is going to create a scene.

Also, we all know the mainstream media is going to write a story about the guy who is outraged that he couldn’t bring in his “WILPONS SUCK” banner.  We all know the rules going in, so (a) don’t bring the banner and (b) don’t write about that guy in your newspaper.

As for Banner Day – I really really really really need you guys to back me up on this and get the place reasonably filled.  This is a celebration.  This really is the victory parade for fighting for the soul of the franchise from how they dress to what our traditions are.

Don’t let ownership and management be able to say “nobody cared” and take this away from us again.  Even if you don’t care please make a half-ass banner and walk around.

I worry about this being a one-off.  The way we prevent that is to make it a good positive day for all involved including management.  Come out in full force and have a good time.  Encourage them to do it again.  I’m not sure I have it in me to fight with Jeff Wilpon’s kids for another 25 years.  I’m looking forward to the Mets winning the 2012 World Series while dressed nicely so I can pack up my blog and stop doing this.  I’d hate to have to stretch it out until June 2013 on a Banner Day quest.

The complete Banner Day press release with all the rules (I mean guildelines) is after the jump.

Continue reading “Mets Banner Day Rules and my comments”

Originally published in July 2008, the following chronicles my Mom’s last Mets game.

From time to time we here at the Mets Police have given the Mets grief on some of the things they do – it’s what we are here for after all. Today however I must tip my cap and publicly thank the Mets, Mr. Met, and especially Pedro Martinez for something that was very personal.

Saturday was my mom’s 71st birthday. A few thing about my mom. She is a small Irish woman who came here over 50 years ago but still has her accent. Back in the 60’s she worked for a company that had a box at Shea and she attended a number of games (she likes to tell people how she sat next to Joan Payson). But she stopped going (and stopped working) after I was born. So she has not been to Shea since 1966. Now to give you an idea how much of a fan she is, during the 10th inning of Game 6, she had her rosary out and was kneeling in front of the TV set saying Hail Mary’s as fast as she could.

My sister, through some people she knows, was able to get a field box at Shea for Saturday’s game. She also was able to contact someone she knows who works for the Mets and let him know that our mom would be there on her birthday.

So, we go to the game – my parents, my sister, and I. Our mom is tickled pink to be at Shea. At the gate they are handing out teddy bears as a promotion to all kids. Of course my mom wants one, and as soon as they hear that it’s her 71st, no problem, they give her one. That was very nice.

Skip ahead to the fourth inning. One of the staff comes over and lets my mom know that during the 4th, Mr. Met is coming over to give her a present. Middle of the 4th and here comes Mr. Met to present her with the 1-800-FLOWERS birthday cake bouquet. Mr. Met sat down behind her and she is giddy – starts talking to him and laughing. Then at the end of the inning they put her and my dad on Diamond Vision with Mr. Met. Priceless!

So we thought that was the highlight of the day. After the game, we took some pictures, then went up to check out the Diamond Club. While up there she (as only an older Irish woman does) starts chatting with the security guys – asking about Pedro, her favorite Met, and where he might be. Security actually tells us that because of the Billy Joel concert set up, the players are coming out from Gate D today. So Mom now wants to go down to see if she can spot Pedro. All 0f a sudden this 71 yr old woman is acting like a 16 yr old.

We get to Gate D and looking around, set ourselves up at the end of the crowd that has gathered. Wouldn’t you know one of the security guys mom had talked to is now right near us. He points out Pedro’s driver to us and tells mom and I to go over to him and tell him it’s her birthday. We go over, I talk to the guy (Angel) and ask if he thought Pedro would take a picture with my mom for her birthday. Next thing I know he gets a cop to escort us over to Pedro’s car.

When Pedro comes out, Angel tells him about my mom – he immediately comes over and give her a huge hug and kiss. Security cordon off an area around Pedro, his cars, and us. Then they start talking – seriously their conversation went on for a good 5 minutes – he was the nicest guy to her. When she told him he was her favorite player, he said “Really? Me? Not David Wright?” She said something else to him that had him laughing. Really, a very very nice guy. I thanked him and he said it was a pleasure to meet us then hugged my mom again.

Walking back to the car people kept coming up to her wishing her a Happy Birthday and congratulating her on meeting Pedro.

So a hundred thousand thank yous to the Mets, Mr. Met, and especially Pedro Martinez for making my mom’s birthday an amazingly memorable occassion.

These 2 pictures say it all:

Postscript – My Mom passed away a year later, but her memory and love of the Mets will live on. Happy Mother’s Day Mom.

Here’s our first look at the Bammer Day rules, via the Daily News

There are a few “rules,” too, the source said. Among them: Banners should celebrate the Mets’ 50th anniversary by highlighting fans’ favorite moments. They cannot have vulgar or abusive language or have commercial messages. Leave your website or Twitter handle off the banner; in other words, use your memories and wit.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-mets-great-dwight-gooden-a-judge-rusty-staub-radio-voice-howie-rose-banner-day-citi-field-27th-article-1.1077237#ixzz1ukczsdmd

I anticipate I’ll get an email from the Mets later today with more details so I’ll comment more then.

The News reports the judges will be Rusty, Gooden, Howie and three others.

Two New York Mets championship legends, Mookie Wilson and Ron Swoboda, will be greeting fans and signing autographs at the Citibank branch at 90 Park Avenue (between 39th and 40th streets in Manhattan) on Tuesday, May 15th from 12:00-1:30 pm (ET).

via Mets legends Wilson and Swoboda to greet fans at Manhattan Citibank on May 15th – New York Baseball History | Examiner.com.