Why Would Anyone Want to Kill Mr. Met?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Secret Service threatened to kill Mr. Met if he got close to Clinton, mascot claims

A former Mets mascot claims in his new book that in 1997 a Secret Service agent threatened to shoot and kill him if he got too close to President Bill Clinton. A.J. Mass wrote in �Yes, It�s Hot in Here� that while working at Shea Stadium on April 15, 1997 � the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson�s first major league game � that a federal agent threatened to take a �kill shot� if the mascot tried to approach the president. Mr. Mass said the agent had his sights on him as soon as he saw that Mr. Met�s enormous head wasn�t able to go through the on-field metal detector. It wasn�t long before �the man in the dark suit� approached him for a little chat. �[He] is staring directly into the recess of Mr. Met�s mouth, knowing full well that even though he isn�t able to see inside, it�s exactly where I am looking out from. It�s hard to explain how utterly creeped out I am by this,� Mr. Mass writes, as excerpted by The Huffington Post. � �We have snipers all around the stadium, just in case something were to happen,� he says. �Like I said, do whatever it is you normally do. Nobody will bother you. But approach the president, and we go for the kill shot. Are we clear?� � �He pauses for a moment to let the words sink in, and it feels like he isn�t only looking into my eyes, but also into my very soul with his blank, unblinking stare,� Mr. Mass writes. � �Approach the president, and we go for the kill shot,� he repeats. �ARE�WE�CLEAR?� �

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/17/secret-service-threatened-kill-mr-met-if-he-approa/?cache

[G-Fafif]

I've read the book. Within context, the Secret Service piece doesn't seem that sensational.

Plenty of organizational high jinks to enjoy, however. Let's just say reborn Mr. Met wasn't initially treated like the franchise player he would become.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Crazy, I'd think they just tackle someone going at the
president with fingers so big they could never fire a gun
or even wield a knife.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/16/mr-met-secret-service-bill-clinton-shea_n_5160946.html?utm_hp_ref=sports

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, but the explosives or noxious gas dispensers that he could hide in his head! All the while, smiling... smiling... .

Have you never seen a Bond film?!

[metsmarathon]

the point being, too, that once the big ol' baseball head is on, there's no knowing who's inside.

[Lefty Specialist]

Mr. Mets' head could hold enough C4 to level the stadium.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That would really be a black eye for the organization, if their mascot assassinated the President of the United States.

[Lefty Specialist]

If I were the president. I'd be a lot more afraid of the Phillie Phanatic. Potential explosives in that big belly, and he rides a scooter at breakneck speeds. A Secret Service nightmare.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This thread reminds me of this, from Jeff Wilpon in History:

Benjamin Grimm wrote: With hindsight, Jeff decided that it may have been a bit of a faux pas to bring Mr. Met along.

[smg58]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That would really be a black eye for the organization, if their mascot assassinated the President of the United States.

But the notoriety that comes from being threatened by Secret Service for "walking while Mr. Met" is great PR.

In all seriousness, Secret Service are obligated to take no chances and have no sense of humor where the President's protection is concerned. I totally get that. But this wasn't such a complicated logistical issue that a few simple precautions (like having him put his costume on in the presence of an agent) couldn't have prevented the poor guy from walking around the park fearing for his life.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I should also add that it would be quite a black eye for the Secret Service if they shot Mr. Met dead in front of a crowd of 50,000 people.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Can you imagine? The Clinton's have thrived and survived
through much worse. What's a kill shot ordered at an expendable
sports mascot?

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I think the "kill shot" would be absorbed by the costume head before it reached the real human head.

Clinton was walking on crutches that night. The SS must've been doubly anxious.

[MFS62]

If anyone would ever kill their team's mascot, it would be the Philly Phannatic. Remember, those folks boo-ed Santa Claus.

Later

[Guest d'Kong76]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: I think the "kill shot" would be absorbed by the costume head before it reached the real human head.

Wouldn't bank my head on that.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Silly Secret Service. They were echoing Bill Veeck.

Gaedel, who had never played baseball in his life, was signed and rostered by Veeck, who told manager Zack Taylor to have him pinch-hit for the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first. Meanwhile, to make sure the tiny stuntman from Chicago had no visions of grandeur, Veeck told Gaedel he had snipers on the roof ready to shoot if he even thought about swinging at a pitch.

I've always found Secret Service guys to be friendly, but they were mostly advance people and not the people directly guarding the president.

[Guest d'Kong76]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I've always found Secret Service guys to be friendly, but they were mostly advance people and not the people directly guarding the president.

You were probably dressed more conventionally.
I doubt Mr. Met was as threatened as is painted. Only he
and the guards know.

[metsmarathon]

d'Kong76 wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: I think the "kill shot" would be absorbed by the costume head before it reached the real human head. Wouldn't bank my head on that.

i'm sure the mr. met head could, in theory, be up-armored to withstand a high-powered sniper shot, but the standard mascot head would barely slow the round down, as it needs to be fairly light, no? and at the base, where the head meets the neck would be highly vulnerable. bullet goes here, basically.

uparmoring the rest of the uniform would be very challenging as well.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

d'Kong76 wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I've always found Secret Service guys to be friendly, but they were mostly advance people and not the people directly guarding the president. You were probably dressed more conventionally. I doubt Mr. Met was as threatened as is painted. Only he and the guards know.

Well, just a little more conventionally. Jacket and tie. Press pass. Giant baseball shaped head.

[Edgy MD]

Just so we're clear, I was there that night also, and I was prepared to take down Clinton if he approached Mr. Met. You can never be too careful.

Just so we're clear.

[Guest d'Kong76]

[fimg=600:zy8istu5]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1759752.1397753648!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/mr-met-bill-clinton.jpg?enlarged[/fimg:zy8istu5]

[Frayed Knot]

That looks like MM with post-Presidential Clinton. The Secret Service probably have lower standards for access once the guy is out of office.


Or maybe they were just all out on a binge again.

[Guest d'Kong76]

He does look like he's pretty greased and gassed.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: That looks like MM with post-Presidential Clinton. The Secret Service probably have lower standards for access once the guy is out of office. Or maybe they were just all out on a binge again.

I was amazed how different the intensity of security is for the vice president compared to the president, so I imagine a former president is a little less.

When Bush came to Grand Rapids, the freeway between the airport and the event was shut down, and the three blocks surrounding the event -- in a community college field house -- were blocked with fire trucks and construction vehicles. And that's not counting the personal screenings and credential requests.

I usually covered the arrivals and departures at the airport. We had to arrive hours early. They always arrived in a distant part of the airport, far away from the terminals. So we'd sit there on the back of a flatbed truck for hours after the screenings.

Yet, I covered Biden at the AFT convention in Detroit. We had to submit requests in advance and there were the usual background checks. But other than having the dogs sniff our gear during the security sweep, it wasn't a big deal.

Those events were always a lot of hassle, but always a lot of fun, too. There's nothing like watching AF1 arrive and the president walk down those steps.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

metsmarathon wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: I think the "kill shot" would be absorbed by the costume head before it reached the real human head. Wouldn't bank my head on that. i'm sure the mr. met head could, in theory, be up-armored to withstand a high-powered sniper shot, but the standard mascot head would barely slow the round down, as it needs to be fairly light, no? and at the base, where the head meets the neck would be highly vulnerable. bullet goes here, basically. uparmoring the rest of the uniform would be very challenging as well.

Are you telling me that Mr. Met's head is not surrounded by a cork center, three layers of wool yarn and with an exterior of hand-stitched cowhide? The next thing you're going to tell me is that a egg-laying bunny is not going to deliver treats for my kids tonight!

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

My only experiences with Secret Service are not at all like their stereotype. The first was when I was working at Colonial Williamsburg and I gave a tour to the Taoiseach of Ireland. The Secret Service agent assigned for the duty was doppelganger for Al Gore, but while we were waiting he chatted about his kids and danced the macarena (it was [CROSSOUT]1996[/CROSSOUT, 1997 actually]). In 2004, John Kerry went to our church and since he was a presidential detail had a secret service detail for the Easter service. The agent I met was a woman in a pastel pantsuit with a little handbag. I've always wondered if she had a little handgun in the little handbag.

Edited April 19, 2014 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

A kid I went to elementary school with was on Bill Clinton deatil; his name appears in the Starr Report

[Edgy MD]

Which taoiseach did you get?

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Edgy MD wrote: Which taoiseach did you get?

John Bruton. It was actually a couple of months before he was voted out which is why I edited the date.