You’re a Mets fan who likes to read. Chances are you’re a Mets fan who likes to think, to talk, to listen. Chances are you like doing those things about the Mets and with other Mets fans.
Boy, do I have an event for you.
One week from today, Hofstra University’s Cultural Center presents the 50th Anniversary of the New York Mets conference. It will delve into and dissect myriad aspects of the New York Mets experience at this milestone moment in our team’s history. Many of those doing the delving and dissecting have a vested interest in the Mets.
Because they’re Mets fans.
There are former Mets players, veteran Mets media members, academicians with a Mets bent, those who have studied and written about the Mets all contributing…but what makes this the event you’re definitely going to want to attend part or all of is the Mets fan influence. Because of us, this conference will be, in large part, the Mets as understood by people like you; the Mets as they matter most.
Our Mets.
So please come out. I’ve been talking this thing up since last fall, since I was asked to step in and play a small role in planning and organizing the conference’s content following the death of Dana Brand, the Hofstra professor, Mets blogger and Mets fan who saw our team and envisioned it as worthy of a serious and loving in-depth treatment. That’s what we’re going to give the Mets next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 26 to 28 in Hempstead.
You gotta join us — if not for all three days, then for at least one. At least a morning or an afternoon or an evening.
I’ll be there. Jason’ll be there. You know we’re Mets fans. Mets fans from Mets By The Numbers, Amazin’ Avenue, Eddie Kranepool Society, Gal For All Seasons, MetSilverman, Mets Police, Metstradamus, Optimistic Mets Fan, On The Black, Metphistopheles, Ron Kaplan’s Baseball Bookshelf, Mets Poet, LoHud Mets Blog and ESPN New York will be there, too.
And that’s just the bloggers. There will be Mets fans who collect stuff and Mets fans who notice stuff and Mets fans who don’t normally publicly express themselves yet have a lot to say. This is a forum for Mets fans like that. Like you. C’mon and listen. C’mon and exchange ideas. C’mon and celebrate our Mets in a place where for three days, nothing will be more important than the Mets.
Find out more here and register here. I look forward to seeing you there.
I’ll be there!
I’ll be there also! R.I.P….Mr. Brand..
Is the title of this related to your fandom of R.A. Dickey?
I wish I could join you – I’ll be thinking of everyone as I run the Country Music Half Marathon with Team McGraw. Dana was a supporter of my Team McGraw efforts, and I’ll be running in his memory.
Man, I wish I could be there. If not for other unbreakable obligations it would have been great to meet you guys and the other bloggers. Have a great time!
I’ve got family obligations. Otherwise, I would’ve loved to join everyone. Enjoy the fellowship of the Mets fan universe!
It looks amazin’. I’m an ocean away for now, but I’m looking forward to hearing about it. It’s such a great initiative and way to pay tribute to Dana Brand.
Sorry, time to be a Debbie Downer. Why is it that I look at the program for this event and see no evidence of any actual support from the team that draws us together? They tell us that we’re the greatest fans in the world (but face it, the Columbus Blue Jackets probably tell their fans the same thing), so if some ambitious, smart, passionate group of the aforementioned greatest fans in the world care enough to see an event like this through to fruition, should it not be at least in some way recognized by the team it celebrates? I’ve heard nothing about it on broadcasts, where it should be promoted endlessly…New York Magazine can mention it, but Gary, Keith and Ron can’t? Great that some alumni will be there, but unless I’m missing something (and sorry, sending a Mr. Met costume not booked that day for a bar mitzvah doesn’t count), to me this is just another in the long line of examples large and small of the ownership not really caring about their fans. They’ll do something for us (or at least the first 25,000 of us to show up) so long as we pay for tickets first.
For this reason, and the fact that 3/4 of the programming conflicts with my work schedule, I won’t be attending, and that makes me especially sad, because this should be a great, once-in-a-lifetime event.
The other day the Times had an article about Disney’s successful customer service consulting business…hey Mickey, I know someone who could use your help.
[...] this conference, running from this Thursday through Saturday. If not, here’s a link to Faith and Fear in Flushing and Greg Prince, who’s done a great job as a liaison between Hofstra and us bloggers in memory of Dana [...]