The Cubs won't be breaking the curse of the billy goat until next year, solidifying the Northsiders as losers for the ages. Most non-expansion MLB teams with histories of not being very good (the Phillies and Tigers come to mind) have won a championship during the lifetime of the average fan, but the Cubs have now gone an entire century without taking home the trophy. This makes all the whining about the Mets even more silly:
The reverse mojo enjoyed and suffered by Cubs and (til recently) Red and White Sox fans is historic. But Mets fans never needed a history of suffering. We were inoculated and immunized against the usual side-effects of futility by their awful first season -- hence their ironic early cognomen, the Amazin' Mets. Like potholes and crime, suffering is part of the Mets' DNA.[...]
The other day I saw some newspaper columnist giving us grief for not giving Glavine a gentler sendoff. Fuck him and fuck you. We are not like other fans, however long or short their period of suffering. We are the children of '62: born to lose, contemptuous of quit. We are impervious to dynastic bullshit and will cheer lustily for the Tribe to extend the Bronx goons' endlessly edifying ringless streak. And come April, from every section we'll let you hear how we feel, long and hard. We are not impressed by the new Shittyfield you offer us. We want blood. We want a manager who will bestir himself to get thrown out every once in a while. We want players who will dive for a grounder. We want a team worthy of our exquisite suffering. We want a Miracle.
Get over yourself, Roy. The Mets have won two World Series in less than half a century of existence and got to the big dance twice more. As a Yankees fan, this imagined history of Mets suffering is pathetic and annoying. They had a very bad first season. They have a history of choking late in the season. These things I'll agree with. But to claim the Mets have a claim to suffering in some special way (this year aside) displays the sort of self-centeredness and entitlement that makes people hate New York.
You're right. It is self-centered of me to whine about the Mets. But it's a loser's prerogative, isn't it? I have no claim on the sympathy of fans of more unlucky franchises, but at the moment of heartbreak we all have the right to cry in our beers. In fact, I believe it's your round.
Indeed it is... but at least this means there's a chance Donny Baseball will manage next year.