Matthew Cerrone
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This time it’s different. In 1986, I was 10-years-old, still learning the game. I had to skip school to watch parts of the NLCS. The significance of seeing the Mets win a Championship was not necessarily lost on me, but my context for sports and life were drastically different than they are today. Then, like the guys on field, I was cocky about their success. I took for granted that they’d always get the lucky break, and always come out on top. I took a lot of things for granted as a kid, the Mets were just among them…
In 2000, even though I loved that era team, I never expected the Mets to beat the Yankees. In some ways, that World Series was such a blur, I hardly remember it happening. The reality of it never came close to matching the hype. My girlfriend (now wife) is a die-hard Yankees fan, always has been, as are most of my friends and family. So, it’s possible their ridicule beat my lasting memories to death.
This time it’s different, because I know the game. I’ve watched more than 40,000 innings since the last time the Mets won a ring. I’ve attended hundreds of games. I’ve been to Spring Training nearly a dozen times. I’ve seen the Mets get close, raise hopes, slip, dismantle everything and start again. I get it. Now I know not to take this for granted. I believe this group has the ability to get back here, but I’ve thought that before. This time is different because I know the stakes. I know how much work goes in to winning. More important, I know what it feels like to lose. And, instead of being cocky, instead of taking it for granted, I’ll be genuinely grateful for them being in this series and truly happy if they win.
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