As Crash Davis once said, “We’re dealing with a lot of heavy
stuff.”
A lot has happened since Aug. 19, when we last were able to
post.
In a nutshell, we got the son off to college, got to help
cover part of the presidential campaign, considered a career change, respectfully
turned down offer for career change, traveled to Florida, New York, Minnesota
and Washington, celebrated our 25th anniversary, chaperoned the
marching band and accepted a new role at work. And, today I got a iPad.
As all this was going on, the Mets fell apart, R.A. Dickey
won 20 games, the Tigers knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs (sweet!), the Tigers
collapsed in the World Series, Jason Bay got banished, R.A. Dickey won the Cy
Young Award, David Wright signed a long-term contract, the Mets unveiled new
alternative jerseys and caps, Jose Reyes and half the Marlins got traded to the
Blue Jays and then R.A. Dickey got traded to the Blue Jays, too.
Throughout this, good friend Greg Prince encouraged me to
work through these trying times with the keyboard, and I appreciate that. And,
he was tired of seeing the Gnome of Defeat bobbing in the surf as the Nationals
continued pounding on the Mets.
So, for better or worse, we are back. You can blame Greg.
I thought it would be appropriate to announced our presence
with authority with a glorious Deezo Friday Five.
The rebranding of the Gnome of Defeat
We learned something during the Mets trials and
tribulations. It’s a lot more fun the photograph the gnome than the Flag of
Victory.
For one thing, he’s a lot easier to smuggle into places like
the Liberty Bell Pavilion than the flag. And, he’s just too happy and cool to
be always associated with defeat. If the Mets are going to turn things around,
as we all hope, we’d see less and less of the gnome and his antics and travels.
So, as of today, the Gnome of Defeat is reborn as the Gnome
of Victory and Celebration! Yes! The Gnome of Victory and Celebration can make
appearances after Mets win a game, but also to note other things that make us
happy.
Mr. Met on batting practice caps
Yes, batting practice caps are generally useless and exist
to try and pry more dollars from fans who must have everything.
The last three versions have flat-out sucked, designed to
fit no one well and made of material that looks all lumpy and frumpy.
Usually, news of new batting practice caps is met with
ridicule or hostility, sometimes both.
But this week, MLB rolled out new designs for each team –
and most look pretty cool. The Braves and Yankees are exceptions. Atlanta for
reasons known to no one resurrected an yelling Indian head design from the
1970s that will serve only to reignite the whole debate over Indian team names
and logos.
The Yankees design is horrible because it is the Yankees.
The Yankees design is horrible because it is the Yankees.
The Mets, however, actually recalled the team’s colorful
history and added Mr. Met to the cap. He appeared on the uniform just once
before – on the giant NY faux-backs best remembered for the David Wright
beaning.
Coupled with the new blue alternate jerseys, and it seems
the Mets are continuing to attempt to please their fans. The Gnome would celebrate
this.
Awesome Christmas gift collection!
My baseball-loving nephew Zack keeps his eye out for things
for Uncle Dave all year and at Christmas presents me with a bag of glorious
things.
This year’s bag contained: A
Carol Of The Bells / Christmas Eve
(Sarajevo 12/24)” with the appropriate bombast.
But I’m
enjoying “The First Noel,” with its mix of aggressive drums and lilting
guitar. He weaves the chorus from Leonard
Cohen’s “Hallelujah” into "O Holy Night."
Everybody is
going to start returning Christmas CDs to the library this week. Put a hold on “Oh
For Joy,” throw it on your iTunes and forget about it until next December.
Trust me.
It’s good to
be back. Thank you, Greg, for the encouragement.