From Mets Daily’s John Stubel.
Kathy Foronjy, a producer for PBS projects and Coburn Productions, and her creative partner Joe Coburn, are in the production stages of the first-ever Mets documentary. The project is unlike anything of kind, as Mets history, warts and all, is being recorded and packaged for Met fans, by Met fans. No frills, no public relations or marketing facade. It’s raw and true.
“The purpose of this documentary is to document the love affair between Mets fans and their team,” said Foronjy. “Each year players come and go. Managers are hired or ownership changes hands. A new stadium is built or the team picks up and leaves all together. There are only two constants in baseball; the game and the fans. In our opinion their stories are the most interesting of all and, as yet, untold. The point is to keep things as real as possible; we don’t want a fake studio look.”
I hate to blast a film before I’ve seen it, never mind before it is completed (didn’t stop me with “Love Monkey”, though), but here goes nuthin’. A warts and all documentary about the Mets’ crazy history could be compelling viewing. While every club in the big leagues has had its characters, scandals, etc., you could make a case for the Mets’ 44 year tenure as having included some of the game’s most comical, sordid, funny and shameful episodes. And that’s even if you can’t secure footage of David Cone beating off in the bullpen.
But a film about “the love affair between Mets fans and their team”….excuse me for shitting all over Ms. Fornojy’s noble efforts, but I’ve got a newsflash for her and every other delusional Mets fan : the bond between you and your favorite club is no more precious, close or unique than that of any other drooling, obsessed baseball fan. If 12 year olds wanna pretend otherwise, that’s fine. But there’s someone out there who has an incurable boner (or bone-ette) for the Cubs, the Dodgers, the Cardinals and (as we know all too well) the Red Sox and Yankees, and their devotion is just as great a sign of misplaced priortities as yours.
Now if Kathy wanted to make a film about the hardcore supporters of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and their oh-so-special relationship with the club, that might actually be worth checking out. Admittedly, it would be tough to find such persons (as well as filling up 70-90 minutes of screentime), but perhaps Errol Morris can help out.
Over the weekend, the Mets announced that former Expos hitting instructor Frank Cacciatore (above) is the new manager of the Sally League’s Hagerstown Suns.
MLB.com’s Marty Noble reports that Victor Zambrano and Chris Woodward agreed to one year contracts with the club yesterday, both avoiding arbitration.
Points out Noble,
With Ramon Castro having signed last week, the Mets have again avoided arbitration. They haven’t had a case go to hearing since 1992, when David Cone won his case and was awarded $4.25 million, and Kevin Elster ($760,000 rather than the $1.35 million he had submitted) and Jeff Innis ($355,000 rather than the $650,000 he had submitted) lost.
Indeed, that contentious arbitration hearing was really the turning point in Jeff Innis’ career, not to mention that of the fired NY Post staffer whose “INNIS IN THE MOURNING” headline was ruled grounds for dismissal.
Thanks for you 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
Dear Joe,
“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”
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.
“The laughable history is a small part. So, too, are both championships. ”
OK, here’s where I think you’ve really missed the boat. The “laughable” 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 “Bad Lieutenant”, “Lets 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.
“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.”
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.
“You 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 in the passage quoted above, really sucks. The Mets and their wacky history could well be the subject of a terrific documentary. “The love affair between the Mets and their fans” however, is a little like the love affair between John Hinckley Jr. and Jodie Foster.
“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. ”
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 stuff out for you.
“But a film about “the love affair between Mets fans and their teamâ€â€¦.excuse me for shitting all over Ms. Fornojy’s noble efforts, but I’ve got a newsflash for her and every other delusional Mets fan : the bond between you and your favorite club is no more precious, close or unique than that of any other drooling, obsessed baseball fan. If 12 year olds wanna pretend otherwise, that’s fine. But there’s someone out there who has an incurable boner (or bone-ette) for the Cubs, the Dodgers, the Cardinals and (as we know all too well) the Red Sox and Yankees, and their devotion is just as great a sign of misplaced priortities as yours. ”
I concur…
There seems to be some confusion about my documentary and I guess it is because the one paragraph that I am quoted on is a combination of my words and an email that was taken out of context so it’s not an accuarte description of what the documentary is about.
Mathematically Alive – The Story of New York Mets Fans
The documentary is a profile of the American Sports Fan and an exploration of fandom. We’re showing how sports impacts people’s lives on various levels. Trying to put forth an understanding as why we are a sports nation and why people invest so much emotion and money into their team? In order to do this accurately we need to focus on one team’s fans. Therefore, our story is told by New York Mets fans. From the fans who sleep outside of Shea for tickets to the local butcher who listens while he works, we have them all. We think their stories are amazing, but in reality their stories can translate to any other fan in America.
Hope that clears things up.
Please send me your address so I can invite you to the premiere.
Thank you,
Kathy Foronjy
Dear Kathy,
I like your pitch much better. Thanks for succeeding where your colleague failed (miserably). I look forward to seeing the film.
GC
i can only speak for myself, the sight of david cone in the bullpen, is one that i will long remember, that man proved that all men are not created equal, not only did he swing a nice bat on field, he was certainly equipped to do well off field, the women just loved it……..whew, wow, what a man!