Wicked Series

October 19, 2000 1:12 PM

Wicked Series - For long-suffering BoSox fans, New York's Subway Series is a Jacob's Ladder tube ride to baseball Hell.
posted by kevincmurphy (26 comments total)

I don't necessarily agree with Stevenson's assessment, mind you, but I did like the following analogy: A (non-Bostonian) friend of mine compares the Subway Series to the presidential race—he dislikes both candidates, but he'll vote for the one he hates less.
posted by kevincmurphy at 1:15 PM on October 19, 2000

I (in Boston) was having this discussion with a friend (in New York) a few days ago. His advice was to root for the Mets, "because they're more fun." Also, I might add, they're not the Yankees.

Deep in their hearts everyone knew that the Red Sox were doomed, ever since Sports Illustrated printed that cover back in the spring. But for a Subway Series to manifest itself the same year crosses the line between irony and injustice.
posted by tingley at 1:41 PM on October 19, 2000

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

hahahahahahahahahahaha

(repeat laughter until i run out of breath.)
posted by maura at 1:43 PM on October 19, 2000

That's enough out of you, Mets lover!
posted by solistrato at 1:45 PM on October 19, 2000

The author of the article writes: "This is the absolute worst thing that has ever happened in my whole entire life."

That dude really needs to get out more. I'm sure there are worse things that could happen to him right in Boston if he went out looking for them.

Sheesh. Anyone who claims anything connected to any sporting event is "the worst thing that has ever happened" is way too into sports. Ten years from now, the 2000 World Series will be a fricken trivia question, all right? So now, instead of two cities caring who wins, as is usually the case, only one will. That's a 50% reduction in useless sports claptrap compared to a usual Series, as far as I can tell.
posted by kindall at 1:53 PM on October 19, 2000

Yeah, everyone knows the Yankees will have this done in 6.
posted by Cavatica at 2:02 PM on October 19, 2000

um, those people living in dreamland do, anyway ...
posted by maura at 2:25 PM on October 19, 2000

*yawn*
posted by terrapin at 2:41 PM on October 19, 2000

I'm just surprised people still watch baseball.
posted by vitaflo at 2:52 PM on October 19, 2000

The football team I support got to two cup finals, lost them both, and was relegated in the same season. Which is like the past 82 years for the Red Sox rolled up into the space of a month.

I just want lots of punch-ups.
posted by holgate at 2:59 PM on October 19, 2000

New York = bad is always a safe stance for unimaginative writers with the sharp ends of pencils jammed in both ears and their BoSox hat pulled about four pegs too tight around their necks. Go Metsies.
posted by Mo Nickels at 3:01 PM on October 19, 2000

I'm surprised myself. With the baseball strikes we had in the '90s, baseball was missing for a while. Everyone concentrated on the Knicks, Giants, and Rangers (the Islanders don't count).

The Subway series is good for New York, but what I'm worried about it how everyone's going to celebrate it. When the Lakers won the 2000 NBA Championship, a few cars outside of the stadium were torched, if memory serves. I just hope the same doesn't happen here.
posted by Cavatica at 3:04 PM on October 19, 2000

Everyone knows football is the one true sport
posted by owillis at 3:10 PM on October 19, 2000

("the islanders don't count'?!?!?! oh, now i am so sad...)
posted by maura at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2000

Everyone knows the Chicago Cubs are the greatest team on the face of the planet. (Sorry, I felt somebody had to say this and I didn't want anyone to beat me to it).
posted by leo at 8:19 PM on October 19, 2000

Cavatica:"The Subway series is good for New York, but what I'm worried about it how everyone's going to celebrate it. When the Lakers won the 2000 NBA Championship, a few cars outside of the stadium were torched, if memory serves. I just hope the same doesn't happen here."

I don't know how long you have lived here, but, in the past few years the Rangers won a Stanley Cup, the Yankees won 3 World Series and the Knicks lost two championship series. Through it all, New Yorkers have shown GREAT CLASS of not rioting and being civil.

We have also had the great Millennium celebration at Times Square. (I had slept overnight at the stadium for tickets for the '96 series, was at 47th. and Broadway for the Millennium.) The City has never been as safe as it is now. New Yorkers in general are not muggers, looters and rapists. New Yorkers don't even drive as bad as people say they do. If you observe carefully, all the cars cutting you off in midtown have New Jersey plates.

Even the only "incident" of throwing a beer bottle at John Rocker was actually done by some idiots from New Jersey.

If you are a New Yorker, have pride. This is absolutely the best thing for the City. I am just happy to be here at this time. While I am a Yankees fan, I was once employed by the Mets as an usher at Shea. I have seen more Mets games for free than I have seen Yankees games in the Bronx.

The only thing that bugs me is that the lack of ticket availability for the average fans. You will see Calista Flockhart at the games, but not a lot of Mets fans who have suffered through the years.


posted by tamim at 10:12 PM on October 19, 2000

I think what bothers me about this is the claim that this is the first "subway series" in umpteen years (some huge number they cited) and they seem to have conveniently forgotten the Giants/A's series. (Hint: you get from SF to Oakland by taking BART under the bay. According to the dictionary, that's a "subway".)

It actually may surprise some New Yorkers to learn that there are actually subways in other cities. A "subway series" would also be possible in Chicago. (When hell freezes over, but theoretically possible.)
posted by Steven Den Beste at 10:17 PM on October 19, 2000

Steven:
>A "subway series" would also be possible in Chicago. (When hell>freezes over, but theoretically possible.)

Sorry, Steven, hell could freeze over and it would still have to be an "El" Series in Chicago.

LEO
posted by leo at 10:50 PM on October 19, 2000

I wasn't sure if Chicago had a subway or only an El, so I did a web search and found this:

The Medical Center campus is situated in the pleasant surroundings of Maywood, a suburb about 12 miles west of downtown Chicago. An expressway and bus and subway system provide rapid access to downtown Chicago with its full range of cultural, educational, and recreational activities.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 11:04 PM on October 19, 2000

But I'm willing to concede that the subway doesn't come near the ballfield...
posted by Steven Den Beste at 11:05 PM on October 19, 2000

You will see Calista Flockhart at the games, but not a lot of Mets fans who have suffered through the years.

Especially since FOX has the rights. Are there any other shows that they need to plug by sticking their stars in prime seats with a suitable cap?

(Although we Brits, courtesy of Channel 5, get the amazingly parochial and patronising commentary from MLB International, with its usual lame attempts to relate baseball to cricket. Ah well.)
posted by holgate at 12:10 AM on October 20, 2000

So now, instead of two cities caring who wins, as is usually the case, only one will. That's a 50% reduction in useless sports claptrap compared to a usual Series, as far as I can tellThat's a pretty good point, one the author avoided pretty well.The sports fans here are amazing. It's a great place to be if you're a star athlete, brutal if you're not.New York is a great place; I love it. I think everyone else is just jealous of us.
posted by tomorama at 7:04 AM on October 20, 2000

However, Steven, the train that goes to either does run in the subway ...

(We only have subways downtown. Almost the entirety of the system is either the "L" (not the "El", ha!) or on embankment.)
posted by dhartung at 8:09 AM on October 20, 2000

I didn't know that anyone actually gave a damn about baseball. Then again, what do I know about professional sports?Of course, that's something I take great pride in!
posted by Mr. skullhead at 4:39 PM on October 20, 2000

Well as a (as far as I'm concerned) New Yorker, I'm thrilled as hell. New York City is the only city that has two baseball teams... and for most of us, born after the 50's, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Most of the Poconos are New Yorkers, CT and NJ don't have baseball teams (and *they're* infested with New Yorkers too) so it's four states going apesh*t here....

So it's even worse than everyone originally imagined!

Let's got Mets!!!!
or...
YANKEEEEEEES!!!!!
(Don't wanna make enemies here) :0)
posted by EricBrooksDotCom at 12:33 PM on October 21, 2000

New York City is the only city that has two baseball teams

After reading the threads, I forgot about the White Sox and the Cubs... sorry.

(Snicker) yeah... like *THAT* will ever happen!
posted by EricBrooksDotCom at 12:36 PM on October 21, 2000