How to annoy a Met fan 101

I take a lot of pride out of being a fan of the New York Mets, which also leads to me taking crap from pretty much everyone, but I digress. This week, Citi Field, home of the Mets, is hosting the Major League Baseball All Star Game and all of the festivities that come along with it.

                                       
            Hey, ESPN. That's the Mets logo, not the Dodgers, Giants or Yankees.


Tonight, ESPN is broadcasting the Home Run Derby and during the introductory highlight package, I suddenly see clips of the Yankees and the Dodgers and Giants mixed in with a couple Mets' moments. Normally, the host team and baseball are celebrated during this mid-season break. I understand that New York is not only home to the Mets and Yankees, and was the former home of the Dodgers and Giants before they both left for California in the late-1950s, but for once I expected the focus to be on Mets baseball. Obviously, they don't have the long winning tradition and championships that the Yankees have. They don't have the mystique that The Bums from Brooklyn had back in the days of Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax and Duke Snider. The Giants had Willie Mays and won seven World Series titles while playing at the Polo Grounds. Yet, this is supposed to be about the Mets, who certainly have enough history of their own to fill an opening montage.

Mike Piazza's post-9/11 homer. Mookie Wilson's ground ball that got through Bill Buckner's legs. Casey Stengel and the Not-so-Amazin' squad of 1962. Doctor K. Jesse Orosco's glove launch after striking out Marty Barrett to win the 1986 World Series. The Franchise, Tom Seaver. The Kid, Gary Carter. Cleon Jones settling under that final fly out in 1969 and sinking to one knee to crown the true Miracle Mets. Robin Ventura's Grand Slam Single. Johan Santana's long over due no-hitter. Darryl Strawberry going deep. Tug McGraw and Ya' Gotta Believe. Keith Hernandez's golden glove. Jose Jose Jose! Captain Wright doing it all, and the promise of a Happy Matt Harvey Day right now, and for years to come. Fine examples, I'd say. Clearly, there is plenty of history from the boys from Queens to fill up a highlight reel.

I will always celebrate New York and the rich baseball history it has, but tonight should have been solely about the Mets and their rich history. Maybe I'm too loyal and being a little selfish here, but the Mets deserve a little bit of the spotlight during this annual display of baseball greatness. With a slight bow to Darren over at The 7 Line here, I'll always stay true to my boys in orange and blue. It's just a shame that ESPN did not.