Thanks for your comments. Quick response:
What is unique, and the point you seem to be missing, is that the focus is not just about sports. It™s not about putting the spotlight on the Mets and their fans. It™s putting fans under the microscope, and what better place to do it. What makes Mets fans unique is that at some point they had to make a difficult choice (Not totally unlike Chicagoins, but there™s just more of them): Yankees or Mets. In New York they had to choose between payoff or pain. Mr. October or misery. The laughable history is a small part. So, too, are both championships. What remains is people, literally millions of them, spread all around the country. They yell at televisions, they scream and cry. They cheer and smile. They bond with sons and daughters. They do this for pleasure. They endure invisible pain. They pay to do this. You want to argue that fans around the country feel some degree of the same emotions? I agree entirely with that. The point of our project is not to profile crazy fans who paint their faces and get logo tatoos, although we have some of those. Through a single similarity, based solely on which baseball team they support, these Mets fans share a common bond that, to many people, is stronger than race or religion, nationality or political affiliation. Baseball is important to any baseball fan. We™re just gonna show why baseball is especially important to Mets fans. Not because they are superior, just because they happen to be an interesting bunch. As for shitting on or all over things there is no offense taken. Opinions, and now blogs, are like assholes; everybody™s got one. You might want to wait a little longer to make a more informed assertion, but that™s up to you. One thing is for sure: Mets fans are very excited about what we™re doing and every one of them has a story to tell. So some guy in St. Louis has a great story about the 1st time he met Stan Musial, then somebody, maybe you, should go tell it. We™ve got our interesting stories. What any sports fan should be able to do is what you haven™t. That™s put the team colors and logos aside and notice the similarities between the humans. Take off their blinders and realize that the same way this guy feels about the Mets is how I feel about the Edmonton Oilers or the Arizona Cardinals.
I was excited when I found our 1st piece of criticism, so thanks for that. Hopefully you™ll like the eventual release.
Joe Coburn
Director – Mathematically Alive
(Mr. Met assures two young fans that slashing Doug Sisk’s tires is not how they want to make their cinematic debut)
Ahem.
Dear Joe,
œWhat makes Mets fans unique is that at some point they had to make a difficult choice (Not totally unlike Chicagoins, but there™s just more of them): Yankees or Mets
Sir, if you really believe this represents any more or less a difficult choice than say, Arsenal or Spurs, the A™s or the Giants, or the Freeze and SS Decontrol, you™re horribly deluded.
œThe laughable history is a small part. So, too, are both championships.
OK, here™s where I think you™ve really missed the boat. The œlaughable history, as you put isn™t merely losing 120 games and having a yuck or 3 about Marvellous Marv. It™s more about how IN SPITE of championships in 1969, ˜86 and a near-miss in 1973, the Mets have been a ˜Lil Abner-esque SHIT MAGNET for each generation. David Cone™s cock, Grant Roberts™ bong, Vince Coleman™s M-80™s, Bobby Bo™s Tour Of The Bronx, Joe McIllvane™s cock, Kevin Mitchell™s machete, Dwight Gooden™s nose, Steve Phillips™ cock, Mike Piazza-as-Stuart Murdoch™s lyrical inspiration, Chris Russo™s cameo in œBad Lieutenant, œLets Get Metsmerized”, Leon Lee™s cock, Cleon Jones™ cock, Dick Young vs. Keith Hernandez, Dick Young vs. Tom Seaver, Bobby Valentine vs. Everybody¦I could go, but someone on this team is going to get caught with their trousers down in the next ten minutes and I™ll have to be writing about it!
If a film about Mets fans could possibly be more compelling than the stories above, what can I say? You™ve found some pretty amazing Mets fans.
œThrough a single similarity, based solely on which baseball team they support, these Mets fans share a common bond that, to many people, is stronger than race or religion, nationality or political affiliation.
I wish I thought that was worth celebrating. It™s common enough from town to town that it hardly seems worth noting.
We™re just gonna show why baseball is especially important to Mets fans. Not because they are superior, just because they happen to be an interesting bunch.
I don™t doubt for a minute that there are many interesting Mets fans. But being, y™know, older than 12, I™m also pretty aware there are fans of other baseball clubs who are just as fascinating in their own way. Seriously, Devil Rays fans. How about it? They must exist¦.there have to be at least a couple of hundred out there.
œYou might want to wait a little longer to make a more informed assertion, but that™s up to you.
Sorry, Joe. I just can™t wait. I™m not passing judgement on the film itself (which might turn out to be a terrific documentary, especially if you happen to capture footage of someone assasinating John Franco), but the premise, as explained by your colleague, really sucks. The Mets and their wacky history could well be the subject of a terrific documentary. œThe love affair between the Mets and their fans however, is a little like the love affair between John Hinckley Jr. and Jodie Foster.
œSo some guy in St. Louis has a great story about the 1st time he met Stan Musial, then somebody, maybe you, should go tell it.
I™d sooner gargle with broken glass. The only thing more stupifying dull would be to watch such a film after having made it.
That™s put the team colors and logos aside and notice the similarities between the humans. Take off their blinders and realize that the same way this guy feels about the Mets is how I feel about the Edmonton Oilers or the Arizona Cardinals.
Au contraire, Mr. Coburn that™s exactly what I have done. Not only do I not give a hoot about your devotion to the Edmonton Oilers or Arizona Cardinals, but I™m noticing enough similarities between the humans to get physically ill. If you think that kind of thing oughta be encouraged, or any more worthy of documentation than the existence of gravity, please, knock yourself out. I mean, literally, knock yourself out. I don™t have enough hours in the day to be spelling so much out for you.
I could really go without more films/documentaries/books on the romanticism of baseball, not only has it been done a milion times over, but it may be the most retarded notion ever created.
I won’t be getting you a copy of Major League II for your birthday, then.
jeez. i guess i don’t know anything about the mets. all those cocks, a bong and piazza in a pop song.
you’re right Gerard. Screw the fan’s “love affair” and give me the foibles.
or maybe i could just get yo la tengo to take me on tour.