Of Mets and Men

Since the Mets' 0-5 start, they've won five straight, giving them a better record than the crosstown Yankees. I'll grant you that I'm a cynic where the Mets are concerned, but they've got lengthy track record of raising hopes, dashing hopes, raising, and dashing, not only within a single season, but often within a single game. They don't just ultimately end up the loser, but they behave like winners just long enough for you to believe it could be the case this time. Already this season they've gone from the New Mets to the '62 Mets to the New Life Mets... I swear to god if I didn't love baseball so much, I'd hate it.

So why do I root for the Mets? I mean, really, they're underachiveing overdogs. They've been given every advantage in the world to win (high payroll, major market, big stars), and yet they claw and scrape their way to fourth place in their division. Well, ultimately and perhaps unfortunately, I think I relate to them. I, too, have been given every advantage in this world to succeed (white, straight, male), and yet here I am scraping and clawing my way to a level of success that is certainly akin to fourth place in my division. Maybe I'm an underachiving overdog.

And yet, the passion of Mets' fans is undeniable. They/we care so much. It's a great love story, really, with tears, laughter, struggle, and hope. They're imperfect and frustrating, and we love them anyway. And I guess I relate to that, too. After all, my wife seems to love me.