Friday Five: Pat Benatar and other music of the universe

Settling in for a very busy Labor Day weekend that includes the Famous Chicken – and a very special holiday Deezo Friday Five.


Mystery animal cap

My favorite cap this summer came from a store in Traverse City called Cherry Republic. If you do the Michigan-as-a-hand thing, Traverse City is at the tip of our pinky. It's known for magnificent beaches and sunsets, angst-filled newspaper softball tournaments and growing cherries. The Cherry Republic sells cherries in just about every form imaginable, including salsa and peanut butter. Lots of samples. The cap is one of those rare magical caps that just feels perfect. It's made by a company called Attitude 101. But we've had big debates about the animal in the logo. I think it's supposed to be a bear, based on other things I saw in the store. But other people think it looks like a dog, a pig, Big Foot or Lucas Duda. I like that the mystery animal is looking over his shoulder with a bit of an attitude. Very New York for a laid back place like Traverse City. This might kick off a cool cap of the week feature.

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar says I rock! Pat was in town for a concert and came to the local Barnes & Noble to sign copies of her book, “Between a Heart and a Rock Place.” There about 200 people in line, and about 190 them were guys between the ages of 45 and 55. Pat and I discussed Long Island, and the Lindenhurst native said she was back home recently for a big family barbecue. “The Island's still a good place,” she said. I'm assuming she's a Mets fan because she was nice, though I could not find references to the team in the book.
Words With Friends

My sister got me hooked on the game, and it's one more reason I suffer from separation anxiety when I misplace the iPhone. My winning percentage was only slightly better than that of the 1962 Mets. But now I've discovered the joys of triple word score tiles, I'm a little better, like the 1978 Mets, but without the embarrassment of “Mettle.” Look for me as MetsGuy if you want to play.


Mets blue jerseys

The team wore the blue Los Mets jerseys again this week, and reports are the magnificent tops are returning for special games next year less the Los. Too bad fans haven't been clamoring for uniforms like these for years. Oh, wait.


“The Music of the Universe”

“Chuck” is the latest morning diversion as I put in the daily treadmill mileage, and I'm part of the way through the second season. One episode revolves around an old Missile Command arcade game, and the creator of the game explains it must be played to “the music of the universe.” Chuck, playing under pressure to save the world, realizes that the game creator meant that the game can be conquered when played to the rhythms of “Tom Sawyer.” There's truth to this. The epic was voted the No. 1 song to play games to by the Nintendo Power magazine. Note to the people running the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Some people give Rush the respect it deserves.

Speak now or forever hold your peace

Check this out, the Mets actually appear to care what the fans think.

It appears the team is considering a uniform change for 2010, and sent a survey out to select people. Luckily, this news was posted on http://www.metsblog.com/, and someone of the always-vital Crane Pool Forum posted the entire link to we can all contribute.

Among the qestions was how often the team should wear the traditional pinstripes -- always -- and if the team should drop the black jerseys -- obviously.

Here are the main choices:

The only difference appears to be cream-colored base under the pinstripes. I don't get the cream thing, so A is the clear answer.

Looks like they want to know if we like the piping. I voted to keep it.

I like the ide a of a non-black alternative jersey. But three should be a choice C: Orange letters WITH the piping.


Another piping question. IF the black stays, they should keep the piping.

Still more piping. There must be someone stomping around the Mets' front office yelling, "I hate that piping! We gotta get rid of it!" That would be the only reason I can imagine for these questions.

This must be a joke to see of we were paying attention. I can't imagine any team -- and that includes a recreation league softball team -- wearing these.

These must be a chance to see if fans would threaten to storm the field in protest.

The team also wants to know if fans want to name the bridge in right field. Options are: Amazin’ Alley, Casey’s Crossing, Gil Hodges Bridge, Miracle Mile Bridge, Piazza Path, Seaver Bridge, Ya Gotta Believe Bridge.

Seems to me that the Mets ignore Joan Payson, the original ower and a true pioneer. Not many women own sports teams back in the day. And she was a minority owner of the Giants who voted against moving the team.

I think "Payson's Path" should be the selection.

Feel free to take the survey yourself:
http://www.turnkeysurveyor.com/Surveyor2/default.aspx?sid=1577856&partnerId=ed-2537650-82761024&source=ed-2537650-82761024&RespID=a9d757713c065ed90554d70bb881fdb6

Amazin’ Alley Casey’s Crossing Gil Hodges Bridge Miracle Mile Bridge Piazza Path Seaver Bridge Ya Gotta Believe Bridge

Silly Phillies fans shouldn't be allowed to buy jerseys

Wow, this Phillies fan has all sorts of issues.

Paul Lukas’ Uniwatch blog is required reading for a jersey fanatic like me.

On Thursday he posted a photo showing the folly of Phillies fans.

The intended target of the shot, I suppose, is the goofball wearing the jersey with "Mets Suck" where the player name and number is supposed to be.

So let’s start with him.

First, he’s wrong. The Mets don’t suck. They’re winning about as many games as they lose, so that makes them merely mediocre. The Nationals suck.

And if there is any fan who should know about sucking, it would be a Phillies fan, considering the franchise as recorded more losses than any other in baseball history. Yes, they’ve lost more than the Cubs.

So our Phillie fan is either incapable of reading the standings, can’t spell mediocre or was trying to save on lettering by using the shorter word.

Second, he’s spending a fair amount of money to be incorrect. That’s a replica jersey — you can tell by the lack of the MLB logo on the collar. A personalized replica goes for $89.99 on the MLB Web site. An authentic would cost him about $200.

Either way, that’s a lot of cash to drop on a taunt that loses its effectiveness once you step off an elementary school playground.

But why stop with the jersey? It appears our Phillies fan with more cash than smarts is carrying two water bottles into the stadium, one of which is nearly empty.

I’ve been to Cit-Bank Park, and I know for a fact there are water fountains and sinks that freely dispense water. Everyone knows that you can bring one water bottle inside, and refill it over and over rather than carrying two bottles. Dude, it’s all tap water.

And it’s not like he’s carrying a bottle for a friend. Because if you’re wearing a jersey like that, you have no friends.

There are actually all kinds of jersey horrors in there, which you would expect from Phillies fans. Take the women walking next to our hydrated fan.

She’s wearing a Chase Utley jersey. It’s a cheesy replica, which is bad enough. But it’s got the wrong style lettering and numbers. The Phillies have a distinctive font, and that’s not it.

If you’re going to spend that much money, why not get it right?

I know these things are expensive. But you can find bargains if you look and are patient. I got an authentic Johan Santana home alt with proper lettering and even the Shea Farewell patch for about $25 on eBay.

See the guy walking ahead of the goofball in the Ryan Howard jersey? Same sin, but with the alternative retro jersey. Only he’s stepped into a whole new area of shame by wearing the wrong cap. People, is it so hard to be coordinated?

Right next to him is a Red Sox fan — the Phils were playing Boston when this was taken — and he’s got issues, too.

The green cap is bad enough. I can’t see the number, but I know it’s a Red Sox jersey because of the red piping along the collar.

Drop down from there, and what do we see? As Suzyn Waldman would shriek. "OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!" That’s a player name. The Red Sox are famous for not having the players names on their home jerseys.

Normally this is a sin associated with Yankee fans who feel the need to plant Derek F. Jeter’s name on the back of their jerseys where it is not supposed to exist. Don’t get me started on the ones who put RUTH back there.

But I expect that from Yankees fans. Red Sox Nation knows better, even teen-agers.

Before we call for a shunning of all Phillies fans, look at the guy on the left. Authentic alt retro jersey, properly lettered and numbered with the correct cap. You just know this guy keeps score and doesn’t yell "balk!" whenever the pitcher fakes the pick-off to third.

He should be allowed into the park. But no one else.