Rant #1,537: Meet the Mets

Congratulations to the New York Mets for winning the National League pennant.

They did it in convincing fashion, sweeping the Chicago Cubs, and winning the thing at Wrigley Field.

Yes, this is not the "Back to the Future" moment that many predicted, but this team earned its stripes, and deserves to be where it is.

And that is coming from the keyboard of a tried and true, dyed in the wool Yankees fan, who has never had one iota of enthusiasm for the team from Queens.

But my saving grace is that as you know, I predicted that the Mets and Toronto Blue Jays would meet in the World Series weeks ago, and after yesterday's results--the Blue Jays hung on and beat the Royals, and now are down 3-2 in their series--I am sticking with that.

I just loved how both the Mets and Blue Jays, with their eyes clearly on the prize of winning the World Series, went out and got reinforcements for each and every one of their weak spots during the trading deadline.

The Yankees sat there and did nothing, and consequently, did nothing leading up to the championship.

You will read in other places how the Mets deserve this, that everyone all of a sudden is a Mets fan, how the Mets are now the team to beat in the World Series.

What you won't read much about is how Yankees fans are handling this, so I will tell you.

The Yankees had a terrible team this season, everyone knew it, and somehow, they got as far as they did.

I was among the original people who said the Yankees weren't any good this season, and I stuck to that, even as they did better than they ever should have.

Looking at the Mets in the World Series, I would never jump ship and root for them, and I won't do it now.

In New York, you are either a Yankees fan or a Mets fan, and never the twain shall meet.

Oh, you will have Yankees fans rooting for the Mets now, but they are not true Yankees fans.

They are fair weather fans, which means that they have been Yankees fans for the past 20 years, as the Mets haven't done too much during that time period.

So now, if they are rooting for the Mets, that is fine, but they are not Yankees fans.

You see Mets fans seemingly coming out of the woodwork.

They are not true fans; again, fair weather fans don't count.

But you have the real fans, the Mets fans, and to them, I say congratulations, it has been a long time coming.

For Yankees fans, we are on the outside looking in for once, and while I am not comfortable with that perspective, it is something I have to live with.

But I did not root for the Mets in 1969, nor in 1973, or 1986, and I certainly did not root for them in 2000, when they faced the Yankees and lost in the World Series.

I do wish them well, but that is about it.

They seem to be a team of destiny this season, and at least I can say that I picked them right where they are. Let's see if the Blue Jays hold up their end of the bargain.

Yes, I am not a bettor, but I should have bet some money on this.

I could have made a bundle, and many of those same people who said I was nuts in picking the Mets for the World Series are now part of the team's fair weather fan contingent.

Good luck to the New York Mets.

As a Yankees fan, that is all I am going to say right now.