You are more in need of a night in Atlantic City than any man I've ever met.
—Will Bailey, upon meeting an overwrought Toby Ziegler, The West Wing
I need a trip to the ballpark. Honest to god, I need a trip to the ballpark.
Have we got a ballpark? We do, don't we? It's not the same old ballpark that I loved. It's the gleaming new ballpark I'm only beginning to think about trusting. But it's the only ballpark we've got, so that's good enough for me.
I get my first genuine look at the new home of the New York Mets Friday night. By this time tomorrow, I could be affirming it is the greatest thing since sliced Shea. It will, by every informed indication, exceed its predecessor in form and function. It's up to me (and you and you and you and…) to give it a heart. I imagine we're up to the challenge.
In our final Shea trip together, Jason said to me that he'd walk over broken glass to watch the Mets, which was his way of declaring Shea Stadium, as much as he found fault with it, was better than nothing. Citi Field (brrr…what a crappy name after all this time) is more than a bag o' glass, to be sure. I may have hesitated to embrace it in its construction phase, but now that it's here and I'm going to be in it, it's going to be mine. It has to be. It's got the Mets.
And I need the Mets. I need the Mets to be not just some holding action in Florida, some place for WBC All-Stars to stow their stuff while they're off Representing Their Country. I need the Mets to get to a 48th season. I need the Mets to make history, not merely be history. I need something new to talk about. I'm the guy, it says in my book, who can talk about being a Mets fan all day and all night. At this moment, I'm not interested in talking about being. I'm frothing to be doing. What I'm going to be doing, under the familiar threat of Flushing Meadow weekend rain, is going to the ballpark Friday night to see the Mets.
It will feel good, even if it doesn't count.
Thanks to the Faith and Fear devotees who took themselves out to Varsity Letters Thursday night to spend quality time chilling with/listening to Jason and me. We got to meet some fine folks, renew some great acquaintances, hear three other wonderful authors (one poetic Met, one soulful Yank, one odd man out) and cap the offseason in undeniably unique fashion. Thanks to the organizers, too, for having us on the bill. Will notify all here of other, hopefully geographically amenable (depending on where you live) appearances as they are arranged.
Order Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or find it at a bookstore near you. Keep in touch and join the discussion on Facebook.
Greg. I think you will find less resentment for the new park by the end of April!..People will quickly embrace it ..
That whole ' its not just about the game' crowd are never going to be happy anyway.
So just go and support the team. If you can look past the salaries the players get, you can accept anything..
See you soon greg..
Rich
Oh Shea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMrKKDNgt5g
I have tickets for Wed May 27th (an anniversary date with the Missus), and I'm really looking forward to checking out the new place. Let's Go, Mets!
It's up to me (and you and you and you and…) to give it a heart.
Hence, the major issue with a new ballpark these days. It prices out the people that give it a heart. But, like the BS smoking tax, they know we're addicted and will pay whatever they tell us to pay. Makes me crazy.
(sorry Greg, I know I shouldn't be so down and I should be sharing in the excitement, I really should. I'm just havin a real bad week. Please bare with me)
It's still just a structure, waiting for it's heart. The Mets put the heart in last night, and it's time to make it beat. I actually was debating when it will truly feel like home. (http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2009/03/christening-citi-field/)
For all your reservations, I think you'll enjoy it. (Try not to look westward too long when you get there, that's still sad) The place has definitely got some character.
Hi Greg,
I think I'll feel like any of us who lost a loved one – still grieving over the loss of Shea but also realizing that life does go on and still can be beautiful.
Took the day off so will be able to catch a glimpse on Francesca's show at 1:00 PM.
Have to admit – that new Yankee Stadium looks good but it won't ever have the heart that our new park will because nothing beats being a Met fan — after all, there has never been a book written by a Yankee fan like FAFIF.
Dammit. Stop raining.
At least in Forest Hills… it has.
There's even a hint of that “sun” thing peeking through.
(Departing for Flushing imminently.)
A West Wing reference??!
Had we only known, Greg, we would have had more to discuss last night than we already did.
I will be anxiously awaiting to see how it goes. I don't expect that you are going to walk through the gate and fall in love. I would be worried if that was your response. It's going to be an interesting process to read as you go through it. It is definitely sensory overload and I am glad I already went through it twice. If this weekend was my first, or opening day was my first, I'd be like a kid after she's come home from halloween and has gone through the candy bag.