As a Mets fan, I was thrilled when Johan Santana threw the very first no-hitter in franchise history last Friday, after a mere 8,020 games played by the team. It seemed an opportune time to speak for all of us who root for the Amazin's. Since a sense of humor is pretty much a requirement for being a Mets fan, here's a list of pros and cons for becoming a fan of New York's "other team":
| Pros |
Cons |
| The Mets did not end up being the last team standing without a no-hitter. Sadly, that award goes to the Padres. |
Since the Padres are four years younger than the Mets, we might still end up being the team that went the longest before getting their first no-hitter. |
| The Mets have the best mascot in baseball. |
I've got nothing. I mean, come on...it's Mr. Met. |
| The Mets have an awesome theme song, which has been around in some version since 1961.("Meet the Mets") |
From 2007-2011, the Mets have the lowest winning percentage of any team in the majors who regularly uses a theme song written before 1963. |
| The Mets have the home run apple (see pic above), which is raised every time a Met hits a home run at Citi Field. |
Until this year, Citi Field was so huge that we didn't see the home run apple all that often. |
| David Wright/Johan Santana |
Jason Bay/Fred Wilpon |
| The Mets are the only expansion team to win more than one World Series. |
We play just across town from some other team that claims to have won 27 World Series. |
| Celebrity Mets fans include Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock and a myriad of others. |
Celebrity fans also include Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. That one hurts. |
All kidding aside, I think the Mets are one of the most fun-loving teams in baseball; they genuinely enjoy playing the game and supporting each other along the way, through thick and thin.
What team do you root for? And why?