Tough Sell

[Centerfield]

My wife's nephew is here from Korea. He's going to stay with us for the summer so he can go to camp and work on his English. He's an avid fan of the Korean baseball league, but knows little about the big league teams other than the Koreans playing here. He came to New York ready to root for the Yankees, as they are the new home of Chan Ho Park.

When he arrived, I told him we watch the Mets in our house, and because he's a great kid, he said that was just fine with him. He watched the Cincinnati series with me, and then the Braves series. Suffered through the All-Star Break ("When are they going to start playing again?"). The San Fran series was too late for him, but he asked me each morning how they did. On Sunday, we went to a birthday party and he watched fans of the other team cheer and have a great time as their team stormed back from a 3-0 deficit against their division rivals to win the game going away.

Last night the start time was early enough that he got to watch a few innings. Finally, after mulling it over for who knows how long, he finally turned to me and asked "Uncle CF, why do you root for this team?"

I'm open to suggestions.

[Guest themetfairy]

I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help....

[MFS62]

How old is he?
Has he suffered through adversity and eventually come out on top?
Has he been subjected to bullying from obnoxious classmates, who dwell on his every failure?
Does he have a sense of honor and tradition, knowing that the Mets play in a league that plays baseball the way it was meant to be played (sans DH)?
Does he have a sense of humor?
Does he know that Citifield is near one of the largest Asian communities in the USA? (Bribery with home cooking usually helps)

Try whatever you think will work.
I'm still trying to stop my grandson from wearing a Red Sox hat.
Good luck.

Later

[metirish]

Someone needs to read CF's plight to the team before the game tonight , it's a matter of international importance, a nine game winning streak would get the kid back on board.(being on the road doesn't help at all)

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Someone needs to read CF's plight to the team before the game tonight , it's a matter of international importance, a nine game winning streak would get the kid back on board.(being on the road doesn't help at all)

How about reading it to the Wilpons? It's of an issue of utmost importance to them.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets are about to give Nephew CF the thrill of his young life. I really believe this.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

themetfairy wrote: I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help....

I'm submitting your article to DSM-IV.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Which would you choose to party with, kid?




Correct choice.

[metirish]

Tell him about the time his fellow country man Mr. Koo toppled the evil yankees.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

themetfairy wrote: I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help....

I think this goes a long way toward explaining the Mets fan... but unfortunately, it probably doesn't do too much by way of persuasion, especially of an adolescent(?).

Team allegiance is super-personal, isn't it? Also-- from the Department of Duh-- can you get him out to CitiField, CF? The Museum may help jog some memories for you, and add some color to them for him. Plus, he gets a strong sense memory of American baseball in person with a blue-and-orange hue; the milieu, I think, does some of the 'talking' for you. (Also, decent Korean chicken at World's Fare in right! Boom-- two-front attack.)

[metirish]

Nice one LWFS.....you know the mind of Asian youth .....

Don't expect to see Keith Hernandez at the museum , he's never been there as he confessed the other night.

[Guest attgig]

talk to him about the glory days with Jae Weong Seo & Dae-Sung Koo

[ashie62]

That is a tough one. Tell him to read the "Give us your tired, your poor" thing from Ellis Island..

Then name every MFY steroid or PED user?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: Nice one LWFS.....you know the mind of Asian youth ....

Also, take him to [crossout]Kevin Elster Memorial Hot Pants Emporium/Beerery[/crossout] McFadden's pre-game.

[Guest attgig]

they haven't scheduled a korean heritage night this year... we're loosing new korean mets fans because of this!

[Guest themetfairy]

The Second Spitter wrote: themetfairy wrote: I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help.... I'm submitting your article to DSM-IV.

LOL

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

If you go to Citifield on Google maps and do a "search nearby" for bulgogi, you get 9 hits within a mile. Do the same for Yankee Stadium and you'll get zero.

[Ceetar]

Vince Coleman Firecracker wrote: If you go to Citifield on Google maps and do a "search nearby" for bulgogi, you get 9 hits within a mile. Do the same for Yankee Stadium and you'll get zero.

isn't there one _inside_ citi Field?

[Zvon]

I won't joke about something like this.
I follow the Mets cause they were walking distance from where I was growin up in Queens, and even with all the many, many, many, downs, they gave me the most miraculous ups. And even if they were few, which I really don't think they have been (one miracle a decade is acceptable to me, and sometimes even miracles fall short of the whole enchilada), they were so momentous to me that they have made me appreciate just what a miracle is.

Is it good to follow a team like this?
A team that relies on miracles?
It's too late for me to say.
I've followed em all my life...
cause they were walking distance from where I was growin up in Queens.


(and its not like they REALLY rely on miracles. That's just the way I tell it)

[metirish]

Hey , last night wasn't all bad....MFY's got HAMMERED .....Mets just suck.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Were the MFY fans actually booing Matsui?

[Frayed Knot]

The Second Spitter wrote: Were the MFY fans actually booing Matsui?

Not that I saw. I caught the player intros and at least one AB.
Maybe they were booing whichever piece of bullpen fodder served up the HR to him or Girardi when he went to fetch him but I didn't see/hear that part.

[MFS62]

themetfairy wrote: themetfairy wrote: I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help.... I'm submitting your article to DSM-IV. LOL

CF, and while you're asking him if he's a masochist, you might as well ask him if he's ever been in a Turkish prison.

Later

[Centerfield]

Nephew: Did they win?

CF: No, they lost again. Shut out 2-0.

Nephew: (Shakes head)

CF: I'm sorry they're so bad. They're usually not this bad.

Nephew: That's ok. If we're Mets fans, we have to do it. If you just root for teams that win, you're just a winners fan.

[MFS62]

Centerfield wrote: Nephew: That's ok. If we're Mets fans, we have to do it. If you just root for teams that win, you're just a winners fan.

CF, your nephew shows wisdom far beyond his years.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: Nephew: That's ok. If we're Mets fans, we have to do it. If you just root for teams that win, you're just a winners fan.

He just gets it. Regardless of whether the Mets take with him or not, he gets it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Just so you know, I'm in the adoption market.

[Guest themetfairy]

Nephew: Did they win? CF: No, they lost again. Shut out 2-0. Nephew: (Shakes head) CF: I'm sorry they're so bad. They're usually not this bad. Nephew: That's ok. If we're Mets fans, we have to do it. If you just root for teams that win, you're just a winners fan.

Your nephew is a good kid!

[Chad ochoseis]

When I grow up, I want to be like CF's nephew.