Comments on: Delgado Loves That Pepsi Porch

By: Julia

Julia — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:52:20 +0000

That was next door to the loft I grew up in, and those fire escapes are gone now. The buildings are being renovated, part of the ever-changing landscape of New York.

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:56:43 +0000

I never got to watch a game at Shea Stadium, but hope to watch one at Citi Field sometime in the next few years. I am a pretty new Mets fan but that is only because I was born and raised in Kansas. The reason I am a Mets fan, you ask? Because of the 6’7, 230lb, right-handed pitcher that I call Pelf. I have known him since he was a freshman in college and he might be one of the nicest and funniest guys I have ever met. Give him some time. . . he will show NY what he is about here soon. . .I am sure :]

ps – so happy to know that you are a mets fan and not a yankees fan.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:50:23 +0000

I think we can all agree on that. Even flying into LaGuardia, Shea looks like an eyesore.

By: Julia

Julia — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:22:28 +0000

I meant the Mets deserved a new ball park because Shea notoriously an eyesore.

By: Stephen - NYC

Stephen - NYC — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:58:54 +0000

Let me get this out the way right away: I HATE naming rights. I have been boycotting, if that’s the right word, to the best of my ability, any corporation that participates in the world’s oldest profession. The college bowl games, of course the stadiums and fields and parks, and all the other events where they pay just to name it so that I am forced to see it or read it whenever something takes place with regards to it. Everytime I read a story and there’ a mention of the john’s name, I think oh the reporter got paid; that’s good. And if the john’s name is mentioned more than once then I really get concerned that maybe I’m right.
At least the yankees kept the name the same (I was hearing rumors that they were offered $50,000,000 per year to change the name). At least the subway stop didn’t get the john’s name.
To me, the idea of advertising is to tell me about your product or service. Fine. But to think I’m going to buy it just because you paid for the name of a marathon or a park, well, I am not swayed by that attempt. An example, if you will: When “E.T.” came out, the had a promotion with Reese’s Pieces. I like the candy, but as long as E.T. was pictured on the bag, I did not buy it. Why? Because it would be thought by them that I bought it just because of the ad on the bag. I don’t take to being thought of like that. In a more current scenario, X-Men is being tied to papa johns. Well, besides the fact that p-j sponsors a college bowl game, I wouldn’t buy the product because of the tie-in. I will wait for the movie to come out on DVD and then I’ll add it to my netflix queue.
And don’t get me started on the idea of being the official this or that of a team or organization. Like the mets did an objective taste test to decide that pepsi would be the official soft drink of the mets (or is just the stadium?). No, they went with whichever company was willing to pay them the most money.
And celebrity ads or shilling, another waste. If I was looking to buy a plane, yeah, then I’d listen to what John Travolta was saying if he was talking about planes. So unless their testimonial is based on actual knowledge and experience, just put in an unknown person. Just give me the facts and I’ll make my own decision.
For the record, I used to care about the mets. I was at the 1973 Harrelson / Rose fight (i.e., playoff game). After the 1994 strike, I stopped caring. They all showed it was a business and not a game.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:37:14 +0000

There is room enough in this baseball world for both me and Alyssa Milano.

But yes, I did practice my wind up. Thanks.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:14:35 +0000

Hello Julia:

I enjoyed your article in the WSJ, nicely done. I live on the Northshore of Chicago; your right about the charm of Wrigley, with the low frills and terrible Old Style Beer … that is the charm. That and the day games or course which remind us of the joys of skipping.

The tradition of keeping the Midwestern roots with hot dogs and local beer make sense like getting a brat in Milwaukee. I am from Detroit, so I have been to Ford Field, and its cool, new, great food, looks like a mall, but not as cool as old Tiger Stadium and the bleacher drunks and potheads in the old days when it got closed down for a summer for excess.

I agree have some local fare but Sushi at a Mets game?

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:08:04 +0000

Awesome article Julia! Never knew you were such a big Mets fan. That’s pretty cool.

Go Mets!! They better start hitting with runners in scoring position or else its going to be a long season.

By: Vic Abriano

Vic Abriano — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:53:39 +0000

Julia,

I enjoyed your article in the WSJ and am happy to know that you’re a Mets fan!
Your obervation about the new Citi Field not having a reference to the Mets of old was again mentioned by sportswriter Mike Vaccaro in today’s Post. While we are all excited about the memories that will be created in the new stadium, the Mets definitely need to maintain a connection to their colorful and rewarding past, most notably the seasons of ’69 and ’86. And, although the Mets may have had a number of sub-par seasons at Shea, they still had many memorable players, including Gil Hodges as mentioned above by Jay, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Ron Swoboda, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza, just to mention a few. As for Gil Hodges, I agree with Jay that it’s about time that Gil was voted into the Hall. Gil not only has the numbers, but he symbolized everything that was good with baseball, including his dedictation to his team, family, country and community. I played Little League baseball in Brooklyn with Gil’s son, who at the age of 12, stood taller than any of his peers, a strong reflection of his father, although not destined to follow in his Dad’s baseball footsteps.
My Dad, who was probably the most die-hard Mets fan (you can go to the NY Post archive from 10/09/1999 and an article written by Adam Miller) passed away last year and was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetary in Brooklyn, just a short distance from Gil Hodges. It is indeed fitting that a great player and a passionate fan are resting near each other – a reminder that we Mets fans must always remember what made us great – a long history filled with passion and love for the game.
Let’s make this year one of reflection and appreciation for all of the wonderful Mets memories, of great players, heart-wrenching losses and warm summer days filled with hope. And to Jay’s point about Gil, let’s pray that the sportswriter’s finally correct their error and honor Gil for his documented accomplishments and contributions to the game.

Vic

By: James Gerard

James Gerard — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:08:53 +0000

Julia,
Nice article in yesterday’s WSJ. As a Mets fan for life (due to a father who was originally a Dodgers fan but couldn’t switch to the Yankees once they left for LA), I’ve also “lived and died” with the Mets. Even logging onto ESPN to catch the games from 2-4am, over my blackberry, for 34 nights in a row while in Italy a couple of years ago, as my now late father in law was dying in an ICU and I had night duty. I agree that food at a ball park should consist of hot dogs and similar items, not sushi or fish, but I’d never order it to begin with as freshness is probably questionable anyhow. Too bad the man with the signs behind the 3rd bade dugout, that used to read “Tom Terrific” or something pithy when the Mets won or lost, is no longer around. But, at least the Wilpons brought over the Homerun Apple…
While I was sorry to see Shea go, maybe the new stadium will bring better karma to a team that needs to no longer feel a chip on its shoulder.
Keep up the good work.
Jamie Gerard