After not attending a single Mets game all last season, I, an admittedly casual Mets fan, was lucky to be at Citi Field for Johan Santana’s no-hitter on June 1.
For me, in this particular order, it’s Rangers, Jets and then Mets. I’m a closet Islanders fan but the pastime factor far outweighs that of any allegiance there.
But being a part of Mets history is an unreal feeling that still hasn’t quite sunk in. I’ve never handed out so many high-fives nor seen so many people crying and smiling simultaneously.
My dad grew up in Queens and frequented the nosebleeds at Shea regularly. The look on his face when Santana fanned World Series MVP David Freese for the final out in the ninth inning is something I’ll never forget, adding to a heap of unforgettable moments that night. And of course it would’ve been ex-Met Carlos Beltran who could’ve ended the no-hit bid had the third base umpire not called his scorching line drive a foul ball.
That June 1 game reminded me why we are fascinated with sports and the magic they can create. Most of all, as evidenced and witnessed first-hand last Friday, sports remind us that even if we can’t get out to games with our dads, our brothers, our kids or our friends, we can be a part of a family – even if just for one night.
—CT
