Met-Loving Big Shots 2010

[Guest Edgy DC]

We have to go back and compare that to our list. I find it hard to believe all members of Twisted Sister are in the fold. People from Baldwin can vascillate. I have large amounts of faith in Eddie Ojeda, however.

Missing from the world of politics: Hugo Chavez.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, I kinda liked the ongoing list. Dave Faulkner from the Hoodoo Gurus!

[Guest Swan Swan H]

During last night's episode of Castle the lead detective character talked about her dad taking her to Shea when she was a kid, but then ruined all of it by going goofy when she met Joe Torre (or, as she put it, Joe Freakin' Torre).

[Benjamin Grimm]

Bradley Whitford's West Wing character, Josh Lyman, was a Mets fan. I remember one episode where he was eager to sit down and watch Mike Piazza and the Mets. I don't know if Whitford is on the list because of that line in the episode, or if the line was in the episode because the actor was a Mets fan.

A few people on that list are dead at the present time, including Richard Nixon, who's been dead for almost 16 years. If they're including the deceased, how could they forget Pearl Bailey? And weren't Jackie Onassis and JFK Jr. Mets fans for a while there?

[Guest Edgy DC]

And if we're including fictional characters (perhaps kind of desperate, but fun), it all starts with Oscar Madison.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I recall reading something a while ago about Whitford growing up around the Brewers, but becoming a Met fan when in NYC postcollege during the '80s (he was doing Off-Broadway and the like during the mid-'80s). Can't for the life of me find it, though.

Pearl Bailey's in there. But the Jackie O and JFK Jr. omissions are significant, if we're going all posthumous-like.

Updated, updated list (I can't find the other one-- am I search-clumsy, or... ?):

Actors/Comedians:

[crossout]Adam Sandler[/crossout]
Robert DeNiro
Jerry Seinfeld
Ben Stiller
Chris Rock*
Jimmy Kimmel
Jon Stewart
[crossout]Ray Romano[/crossout]
Matthew Broderick
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Viggo Mortensen
Tim Robbins
Susan Sarandon
Jason Alexander
Glenn Close
Kevin James
Jim Breuer
Charles Grodin
Julia Stiles
Matt Dillon
Kevin Dillon
Hilary Swank
John Leguizamo*
Jerry Orbach (RIP)
George Carlin (RIP)
Nell Carter (RIP)
Ed Burns
Michael Vartan (Alias, One Hour Photo)
Stephen Collins (7th Heaven)
Bradley Whitford? (West Wing, Billy Madison)
Hank Azaria
Ellen Barkin
Kamal Ahmed (Jerky Boys)
Matthew Morrisson (Broadway, Glee)

Music:

Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)
Lars Ullrich (Metallica)
Luther Vandross (RIP)
Twisted Sister
Chuck D
Nas
DJ Clue
Adam Horowitz (Beastie Boys)
George Thorogood
Cyndi Lauper
JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic)
Robert Randolph
Pearl Bailey (late jazz singer)
Yo La Tengo
Ian Hunter
Marc Anthony*
Brian Setzer

TV/Radio Personalities:

Stephen Colbert
Bill O'Reilly
Kelly Ripa
John Oliver (Daily Show)
Howard Stern/Robin Quivers/Gary Dell'Abate
Opie (Opie and Anthony)
Linda Cohn
Steve Somers
Joe Benigno
Sid Rosenberg
Mike Breen
Gary Cohen
Howie Rose
Richard Neer
Ian Eagle
[crossout]Gene Shalit[/crossout]

Authors:

Roger Angell
Harper Lee
Paul Auster
P.G. Wodehouse
Peter David
Jonathan Lethem

Politics:

George HW Bush?
Richard Nixon (RIP)
David Paterson
Chief Justice Earl Warren
Joe Klein
Carol Bellamy
Anthony Weiner
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (RIP)
John F. Kennedy, Jr. (RIP)
Rick Lazio (former Senate candidate)

Sports World (current, or claimed to root for the Mets in their formative years):

David Wright
Paul LoDuca
Willie Randolph
Al Leiter
John Franco
Doug Mientkiewicz
Alex Rodriguez
Gary Sheffield
JC Romero
Lee Mazzilli
Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Valentine
Steve Karsay
Rich Aurilia
Eric Young
Orlando Hudson
Bobby M. Jones
Jon Daniels (Texas Rangers GM)
Stuart Sternberg (Rays principal owner)
Jeff Van Gundy
Chris Mullin
Tom Gugliotta
Tim Thomas
Ron Artest
Boomer Esiason
Dwight Freeney
Dallas Clark
Keith Bulluck
Gary Bettman (NHL commish)
John McEnroe
James Blake
Sarah Hughes (figure skater)
Mick Foley (WWE)


OE: Struck Sandler. Added Lethem to "Authors."
OE 2: Gave the duplicate Nell a break. Took Shalit out of the ballgame. Added Angell, Lazio, Hudson, Bobby Jones, Eric Young, a few question marks to mark the possibly-suspect... and asterisks to mark suspected dual-allegiance "New York fans."

[G-Fafif]

Sandler's an MFY fan who showed up at Shea to promote "Chuck & Larry" with Kevin James.

Josh Lyman's greatest Met hits recalled here.

[Guest sharpie]

Jonathan Lethem is a Mets fan, pseudonymously co-wrote a book about them.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Yeah, what the hell IS Sandler doing there? Struck his sweatpants-wearing patoot.

And for Believeniks, added Lethem.

[metirish]

Remember that article that had Matthew Broderick questioning his loyalty to the Mets , said he might become a fan of another....Cards?....all in jest I think

[G-Fafif]

2000 GOP senate candidate and possible 2010 gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio claims blue and orange under his red state sympathies.

And as for writers, Roger Angell should be included.

Two non-Met players who grew up Mets-loving: Eric Young and Orlando Hudson.

Bobby M. Jones a Met player who grew up Met-loving.

[seawolf17]

Why did we cross out Ray Romano?

We can cross out Gene Shalit:

http://oldschoolbreaks.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/04wsinserts.jpg

The image is huge, but he's a Dodgers fan, apparently. (I have the autographed version of that card.)

Nell Carter was huge, but probably shouldn't be on the list twice.

George Bush Sr.?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Because while "Ray Barone" is a Met fan, and Ray Romano grew up in LI, Ray Romano is actually an MFY fan:

Oh, one point of contention. Ray's a Yankee fan, I'm a Red Sox fan. We had a bet on who would go further in the playoffs this year. I originally suggested if the Yankees won I would owe him a cup of Starbucks coffee, but if the Red Sox won he would owe me a Starbucks store. Well, we settled on In & Out Burger. So, I owe Ray a burger.

(With video evidence here.)

Putting Shalit on was a real FOUL. Let's STRIKE him from the list, DOUBLE-time!

And Nell Carter was a triple threat-- in my mind, she merits at LEAST two mentions. But yeah, we'll lose one.

Bush uncle GH Walker was a minority owner until 1977, and Bushie 41 himself is a pretty close Wilpon friend; he tossed more than a handful of first pitches at Shea as Vice President. (Although it's probably fair to say he might have a little bit of affection for the Rangers.)

[G-Fafif]

Bush the Elder an Astros patron more than anything now that nobody in the family owns a franchise. Buddies with the owner. Plus he lived in a hotel room in Houston all those years, kind of.

[stevejrogers]

Some more sports talk radio guys:

Don LaGreca and Bonnie Bernstein from 1050's Michael Kay show.
As well as former WFANer, current 1050er Joseph Anthony Aloius McDonald Junior, aka Jody Mac as well.
Tony Paige of WFAN overnights is also a Met fan as well, ditto Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason from the morning show.
Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball.

[seawolf17]

I associate Greeny with the Cubs because he was a Chicago guy. Doesn't mean anything, though.

[Frayed Knot]

SteveJRogers wrote: Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball.

They talk baseball on that show?


Greenberg is from NYC, although went to school in Chicago and worked there for a number of years.
He's a YLDB

[Guest Edgy DC]

Talk radio sidekicks occupy a place comparable to DJs and reality show stars in the "big shot" pantheon.

[stevejrogers]

He's a YLDB

If he was, even casually, I'm sure he'd be talking it up more, especially in relation to his self-loathing Jet fan ways. I'm sure he has more affinity for the Cubs based on his time in Chicago and the fact that the show does tons of remotes out there, but I could have sworn he goes Jets all the way with the Mets and Knicks as very distant second and third.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

SteveJRogers wrote: Some more sports talk radio guys: Don LaGreca and Bonnie Bernstein from 1050's Michael Kay show. As well as former WFANer, current 1050er Joseph Anthony Aloius McDonald Junior, aka Jody Mac as well. Tony Paige of WFAN overnights is also a Met fan as well, ditto Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason from the morning show. Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball.

I opened up a barn door by letting Lazio on the list, didn't I?

[G-Fafif]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Some more sports talk radio guys: Don LaGreca and Bonnie Bernstein from 1050's Michael Kay show. As well as former WFANer, current 1050er Joseph Anthony Aloius McDonald Junior, aka Jody Mac as well. Tony Paige of WFAN overnights is also a Met fan as well, ditto Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason from the morning show. Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball. I opened up a barn door by letting Lazio on the list, didn't I?

Lazio's fanship only became known because his last statewide opponent had (some would say infamously) come out for the MFYs in a Subway Series year. If he runs against true blue/orange David Paterson, we'll see if it's a battle of the Met-Lovin' Big Shots, or if Lazio needs to go to his right and suddenly remember he was for the MFYs before he was against them.

[soupcan]

I think that I posted here that Lazio and his goons manhandled my obviously pregnant wife at Shea Stadium. If I remember correctly Lazio was making his way up the aisle while she was walking down. The bodyguard roughly pushed her out of the way. No apologies, no nuthin' from any of them.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, then, I look forward to seeing him lose a lot of elections.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I look forward to seeing him continuing to age with absurd speed.


Someone check his insurance claims for a burned portrait.

[MFS62]

G-Fafif wrote: Bush the Elder an Astros patron more than anything now that nobody in the family owns a franchise. Buddies with the owner. Plus he lived in a hotel room in Houston all those years, kind of.

He used to head up the CIA.
He wants you to think he used to live in Houston and now roots for the 'Stros.
Who can be sure?

Later

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball. They talk baseball on that show? He's a YLDB

Good call! That show is all-football, all the time. I'll give them another four weeks to continue rehashing the Super Bowl before they start to go into withdrawl, drawn out of it for a month of "Will Favre retire" debates, followed by weeks of "is Favre/Manning/Montana the best quarterback of all time" before they grab Mel Kypier Jr. out of hibernation to start salivating over the NFL draft.

They do occasionally get Jayson Stark on the "OnStar/Subway/this spot for rent" hotline to rip the Mets and praise the Phillies. Used to get Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips, but I suppose both are unavailable these days for contractual/therapy reasons.

And Greenie is absolutely a YLDB.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

MFS62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Bush the Elder an Astros patron more than anything now that nobody in the family owns a franchise. Buddies with the owner. Plus he lived in a hotel room in Houston all those years, kind of. He used to head up the CIA. He wants you to think he used to live in Houston and now roots for the 'Stros. Who can be sure? Later

When I toured Minute Maid in October, they showed me Bush elder's seats in the front row, right behind home plate. I asked if they actually come to games, and the guide said they do -- more when the team is winning, but steady enough to be considered regulars.

[G-Fafif]

From the world of entertainment, singer of pop standards and later WNEW-AM disc jockey Julius La Rosa a big Mets fan and regular anthem singer at Shea in the '70s. And while Glenn Close is rightly listed, her husband Len Cariou, star of stage (and another Star Spangled Bannerer), merits inclusion as well.

From Newsday recently:

This season on FX's "Damages," legal shark Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) is trying to untangle a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by a Madoff-like financier (played by Len Cariou). Interesting casting to say the least. In addition to their impressive acting credits, Close and Cariou share a romantic past - they lived together from 1979 to 1983 - and have something equally as passionate in common. Both are avid fans of the New York Mets. Consider: On "An Amazin' Era," a history of the Mets that was released on home video in 1986 Close introduces a segment and Cariou narrates. Both have sung the national anthem before Mets games. Close also sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch at Shea Stadium's last game in 2008. Cariou's wedding to author Heather Summerhayes took place on Oct. 25, 1986 - the day of Game 6 of the World Series. As the game progressed, Cariou revealed in a New York Times story that the "something blue" that his bride brought to the ceremony was a blue and orange garter, the Mets' team colors. "Perhaps it was just coincidence, but the Amazin's rallied from that moment on," Cariou wrote. "My wife said it was a good omen for our marriage." And need we add: Mets owner Fred Wilpon was one of the more prominent victims of the real Bernard Madoff's machinations.

[Frayed Knot]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: Speaking of morning shows, I can't quite confirm if Mike Greenberg of ESPN is a Met fan, big Jet fan but he never really shows his hand when talking baseball. They talk baseball on that show? He's a YLDB Good call! That show is all-football, all the time. I'll give them another four weeks to continue rehashing the Super Bowl before they start to go into withdrawl, drawn out of it for a month of "Will Favre retire" debates, followed by weeks of "is Favre/Manning/Montana the best quarterback of all time" before they grab Mel Kypier Jr. out of hibernation to start salivating over the NFL draft. They do occasionally get Jayson Stark on the "OnStar/Subway/this spot for rent" hotline to rip the Mets and praise the Phillies. Used to get Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips, but I suppose both are unavailable these days for contractual/therapy reasons. And Greenie is absolutely a YLDB.

It's ESPN, whaddya expect.

Greenberg & Golic as personalities are unobjectionable enough - but what can you say about the show other than that it contains all the strengths and weaknesses of being part of the 'World Wide Leader' machine.
As with most espen shows, their hosts are expected to know and easily chat about football and basketball but then need to rely on one of the hired nerds when it comes to baseball. Having Stark, Olney, Kurkjian (and, until recently, Gammons & Phillips) [strikeout]in chains[/strikeout] I mean on retainer means that there's usually a scheduled baseball chat not too far away, but once those 12 minutes are up they act as if they've done their penance and can go back to the NFL draft or NCAA hoops which, after all, each provide their network with something like 1,467 hours per/week in programming. Then when it's summer and there's nothing else to talk about but baseball ... they all go on vacation.

In short, I don't think Greeny cares that much about baseball except to the extent that his young son is a Jeter-worshipper and he often takes him to games.
Golic acts as if he's a big Indians fan but that's mainly to maintain his 'Im a blue collar guy from Ohio' image and I suspect he hasn't watched an entire baseball game in at least a decade and attended one in maybe two - with the exception of those occasions when the show is done from a remote and even then I'd put $20 on him spending 7 of the 9 innings with the free food spread.

[metirish]

Top podcast personality and "new media" pioneer Steve Rogers.