Great Stadium, Lousy Mood
Lolita Lopez and I anchored our newscast last night from outside Citi Field, where the New York Mets were playing their first-ever regular season game in the new stadium. Being a lifelong baseball fan, it was a real treat to be on the field for batting practice and the rest of the pre-game hoopla. You can enjoy major league sports from the stands or on television, but being down on that playing surface, looking up and around at the new stadium from the players’ point of view, talking with Dave Winfield and Tom Seaver, seeing Frank Robinson up close (I’m from Cincinnati and he was my first baseball hero, a few years back) … I was like a little kid on Christmas morning.
But there were a few lumps of coal in the stocking, as well. I’m not talking about Citi Field. I’m no architecture critic or stadium expert, but I think it’s a terrific place to watch a ballgame. I was very impressed. In fact, it was so gleaming and new and intimate (compared to Shea, certainly), and it was such a pretty, although chilly, evening, I would have thought all the fans at the game would be in a sort of blissful, happy trance.
I started winding those thoughts down when the booing started. Sports fans are expected to boo politicians when they’re introduced at games… at least a little bit. But when Governor David Paterson’s name was called, the catcalls were deafening, cascading out of every part of the stands. I know Paterson is not being given high marks for his time in the state’s highest office, but I guess I was naïve enough to think that on this glorious occasion, at least, he’d get a bit of a pass. Nope.
And then there was the booing during the player introductions. Even some Mets got the, if you will, Bronx cheer, if they hadn’t played or pitched well in the handful of games played so far this season. Boos rained down on the San Diego Padres, also, during their introductions as they stood along the third base line. I’d understand this a little more if the opponent were the Braves, or the Phillies, or some other divisional rival. But the San Diego Padres? Hardly a Met fan’s natural enemy. The loudest boos were reserved for the handful of players who had played for the Mets at one time. So much for “welcome back.” Relief pitchers Duaner Sanchez and Heath Bell, who didn’t exactly shine for the Mets while they played here, pretty much got the Governor Paterson treatment. (Although Bell responded to the jeers by going to the mound a few hours later and getting the first official save recorded at Citi Field. He seemed really pumped about that. Can you say “karma?”)
It felt strange, being in this bright, sparkling new facility, and yet witnessing such old, bitter feelings. I concluded by the end of the night that it will take more than a beautiful state of the art stadium to turn our current collective mood around. Put simply, we’re living in an angry time. I had a wonderful time witnessing the launch of this new era in New York City baseball. But after all angry booing, it didn’t really feel like Christmas morning anymore.
Comments: 19
Did any of them boo your hair?
It looks like the wind completely abused it yesterday.
Then go back to cincinnati...come on man you went to a NY baseball game...We don't live on "Wisteria Lane" we live in NY...being a NY reporter u should be used to this by now...we keep it real...I went to that game as well I'm sorry i left my pocket protector home!
I just have respond to these two wonderful comments that have come in... Too funny! and you're not the first; Lolita and Mr. G were teasing me after I mentioned the blog, about maybe, you know, me being a little too delicate about the booing thing.. They teased me and told me to expect comments like the ones above. This IS a tough town.
although Kelly actually makes a good point about me being from cincinnati. They definitely don't boo as much there. It's those repressed midwesterners.
and yes, Daniel, that wind outside citi field was murder on the hair.. true story.. a friend of one of our crew members texted her during the newscast, asking if she could do something about my hair. But there was little that could be done, alas.
anyway, thanks for making me laugh and for taking the time to read the blog.
Let's put it this way, people are just not in a good mood these days.
If you were so worried about your hair Jim, why not wear a hat. And by the way, I don't think Paterson is very popular, so you get the boo hoos.
I personally have no problems with the boos for Governor Paterson btw.
As for the Padres? Jim's right. Its the Padres at the beginning of the season. Not a division rival, or a team we're in a wild card race with in September. NY Mets fans usually have more class.
Jim,
I have to agree that your hair the other night was scary!
All kidding aside, I never blog, nor do I usually take exception to anything you say, as I am a nightly viewer. Your comment last night about "without representation, we had a vote and you lost" was uncalled for. I don't think ANYONE expected Trillions of dollars to be spent on frivolous buy-outs. And yeah, I'm a little annoyed that I'm the one paying for it.
Regarding the last comment about the trillions being spent on buyouts, yes I am mad about it. It doesn't seem fair that the middle class usually foots the bill for all the mistakes that are made. What are we getting back for this money being paid out. NOTHING!!!
And another thing, paying taxes is a total waste of time and OUR money. People are angry. And boy was I furious when I saw my credit card company up my rates another 3 percent. Should I pay 20 percent to keep it?
As I mentioned, I never blog so I didn't even know enough to put may name in earlier. I was the one that posted the blog about Jim's comment last night. And I agree, why am I footing the bill for those that didn't take any consideration when they made deals that were too good to be true? Suze Ormond suggests not cancelling credit cards at this point in time--given the uncertainty of the economy. You may need it!
As I mentioned, I never blog so I didn't even know enough to put may name in earlier. I was the one that posted the blog about Jim's comment last night. And I agree, why am I footing the bill for those that didn't take any consideration when they made deals that were too good to be true? Suze Ormond suggests not cancelling credit cards at this point in time--given the uncertainty of the economy. You may need it!
What's not funny is claiming copyright infringement on Improve Everywhere for using footage that you stole from them.
http://improveverywhere.com/2009/04/14/cw-11-files-copyright-claim/
I enjoy Suze Ormand's show and try to catch it on TV when I can. I also called the credit card company this morning and they said they are all scratching their heads. I hope that congress can do something about these enormous finance charges. I don't plan to cut up my card, but another bank offered me a year of no finance charges, and I might get that, and keep the other card too. I will just try to pay in full every month, because I certainly don't want to pay 20 percent on my purchases. I also watch ON THE MONEY and you can get some interesting tips on that show too.
what a waste
if this is a waste why are you writing
Mets fans are jerks. I am from New York and I think these louts need to grow up. It's just a game, you jerks. Jim is right, although I can't blame people for being in bad moods, post Bush.
Mets fans are jerks. I am from New York and I think these louts need to grow up. It's just a game, you jerks. Jim is right, although I can't blame people for being in bad moods, post Bush. And Ji, what's with the hair, but some spray on that mop?
Mets fans are jerks. I am from New York and I think these louts need to grow up. It's just a game, you jerks. Jim is right, although I can't blame people for being in bad moods, post Bush. And Jim, what's with the hair, but some spray on that mop?
Are you kidding me with this post. This is New York. This is the greatest baseball city in the world.
This sparkling gem of a stadium has flaws. There are many, as Executive Vice President of the New York Mets David "Tier Pricing" Howard indicated, "blind spots." Not obstructed view, but "blind spots." The Mets advertised this stadium as "not a bad seat in the house." Parts of the outfield are shielded by these "blind spots."
In addition, this Dodger-centric ballpark does not celebrate the history of the franchise. The ownership and team management did not find it a priority to incorporate a "Mets Museum." This summarizes Mets management lack of understanding their fan base and disregard for the franchise's history. Afterall, why celebrate Mets history when we can romanticize about a team 3,000 miles away. This alone makes this ballpark feel like a road game.
Mets fans have come off two terrible collapses. Then they have a stadium that could be in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh for all Mets references that there are. Is Citi Field really in New York? Could have fooled me.
I really feel the media has such a warped sense of reality. You are catered to so much by the team, you have lost the ability to realize what motivates a fan and how they respond in a particular situation.
I have a problem when the media criticizes the actions of fans. The fans pay the exorbitant prices for tickets, parking, concessions etc. The fact that the stadium has yet to sell out and only 36,000 fans have gone to the last five games of the first homestand show you that a new stadium isn't the only thing that drives New York baseball fans to the ballpark.
If you are not treated well, maybe you just don't go back. Mets management has no idea how their fans feel and they do not care.
I wrote a similiar post on Lolita's Blog last week. I love Lolita and think she is the finest sports anchor in town, but in some cases, I thought she lacked reality of the stadium and the experience of the fan.