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"Mets Un-American for Hushing Delgado"

Are the Mets indeed "un-American"?

Yes	5 votes
No	12 votes
Eh	8 votes

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 06:22 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 29 2005 06:34 AM

Article.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 06:27 AM

Check out this paper's angle.

Johnny Dickshot Nov 29 2005 06:45 AM

This whole controversy, to paraphase our dignified new first baseman is "the stupidest thing ever." O'Connor is right to the extent of his overarching point, but the Mets in all probability don't give a rat's ass what Delgado thinks about poilitics, they're only acting to quell idiotic questions from journalists posing as patriotic tattletales in pursuit of a scandal backstory that doesn't require any serious committment of time or work to uncover, so they point out there's a team policy that covers standing for attention, hope the lazy journos buy it, and deal with the O'Connor-like criticism.

Johnny Dickshot Nov 29 2005 06:49 AM

Eighty-friggin-two words in that sentence, folks. Top that.

KC Nov 29 2005 07:07 AM

I have two words on the subject - Manny Ramirez. I wonder if The Daily Mirror ran a headline: NEW YORK METS - PRO BUSH, PRO WAR

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 07:12 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 29 2005 07:13 AM

O'Connor also decorates his column with a blow-dried and Vitalis-sprayed mug shot that would make Biff Thunderpants blush: I may make it my new avatar. The best part is that the jacket I'm wearing this morning has the same pattern as Biff's. I mean Ian's.

metsmarathon Nov 29 2005 07:12 AM

lets take a quick informal poll. how many of youze guyze employers would permit overt political protests and/or demonstrations during work hours, and on their property, particularly those which may cause their customers to take their business elsewhere? i'm guessing not many. democracy exists betweeen your front door and the reception desk at your office.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 07:15 AM

Marathon is correct. The true Unamerican thing for the Mets to do would be to tell Delgado that he can't voice his opinions when he's out of uniform.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 07:17 AM

Yo Healey...read those two articles and you'll see those poor journalistic practices that you don't believe exist. Both take Delgado's comment that the war is "the stupidest war ever" and make it seem that that was the reason he didn't stand for "God Bless America". At least the first article Edgy linked to mentions the real reason why he didn't stand for the song, but it's in passing. They both say it's protesting the war in Iraq that is the reason why he didn't stand. I may get off my lazy ass and write a note to these peeps. Can't do it during the day, but later maybe.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 07:19 AM

metsmarathon wrote: lets take a quick informal poll. how many of youze guyze employers would permit overt political protests and/or demonstrations during work hours, and on their property, particularly those which may cause their customers to take their business elsewhere? i'm guessing not many. democracy exists betweeen your front door and the reception desk at your office. Excellent. Well said.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 07:21 AM

I'm not sure I've seen anything about the Mets unwritten policy as stated that won't allow Delgado, on most Sundays, to skedaddle into the clubhouse and sit out the song, which is pretty much what he's been doing.

HahnSolo Nov 29 2005 09:15 AM

82 words, JD? I dare you to diagram that baby. I think the Mets are just trying to cut any potential distraction at the pass. And Delgado handled the questions quite well yesterday.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 12:37 PM

We have three votes for Un-American. Anybody want to forward the argument?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 12:58 PM

I voted "Eh." I think the Mets should let him do (or not do) whatever he wants, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them "Unamerican."

Zvon Nov 29 2005 01:25 PM

When your at work you play by the rules of the ones who sign your paycheck. I dont care what Delgado thinks about the current conflict, and I dont care what any baseball player thinks of the state of the nation.

Willets Point Nov 29 2005 01:32 PM

Hushing people who wish to speak their minds is very American, it's happened again and again since 1787.

seawolf17 Nov 29 2005 02:05 PM

I'm an "eh" also. I understand where the Mets are coming from, but I also think the GBA thing is unnecessary. That said, if he wants to sit in the clubhouse and protest, he's well within his rights to do so.

Rotblatt Nov 29 2005 02:30 PM

I think the workplace comparisons aren't apt. I mean, if our workplace, in addition to requiring us to stand for the National Anthem at 9:00 a.m. every day, also asked us to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance every day at noon, would we all do it? I wouldn't. And if they made it a policy instead of a request, I might because I generally like my job, but I'd be pretty pissed off about it. I originally voted "Eh" but I'm kind of leaning towards un-American now.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 02:35 PM

Why are you forced to stand up when speaking to a judge in a criminal courtroom? Or is that just BS from tv?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 02:35 PM

Good point. I wouldn't like being forced to do that at my workplace either. However, Delgado's job and workplace has a whole public relations aspect that mine doesn't have. If I don't recite the Pledge before I sit down at my desk, the media won't be all over the story. But the Mets shouldn't be fearing the media. They should let Carlos do his thing. And they probably should reserve the patriotic 7th-inning stretch displays for July 4 and Memorial Day.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 02:43 PM

Delgado's workplace also had benefits numbering in the millions that mine doesn't have, to offset some unpleasant aspects. You make a quick little cost-benefit analysis, as we all do.

sharpie Nov 29 2005 02:44 PM

Better yet, dispense with God Bless America entirely. Dreary song.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 02:47 PM

sharpie wrote: Better yet, dispense with God Bless America entirely. Dreary song. Really? I like it much better than The Star Spangled Banner.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 02:48 PM

Let's seperate church and state. No more God Bless America. No shedding his grace on thee. Stick with our ten minute national anthem that no one can sing correctly.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 02:56 PM

I think too much is made of this church and state thing, and I'm as unreligious as they come. I say "God bless you" when someone sneezes, although it doesn't mean anything to me. Even though I don't believe in Yahweh, I accept the God in "God bless you" and "God Bless America" and "God willing" etc. as an allegorical God. It doesn't offend me at all. When the September 11 attacks occurred, it was "God Bless America" that everyone wanted to hear and sing. Even though it's not official, for all practical purposes, it is our National Anthem.

martin Nov 29 2005 02:57 PM

i think churches are unamerican for forcing their employed preachers to respect jesus. where is the freedom?

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 02:57 PM

]I think too much is made of this church and state thing Me too. SC was 100.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 03:18 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 29 2005 06:10 PM

I didn't want to hear it. Other than that, I agree that too much is made of the SoCaS. For one, the Mets and MLB --- despite their corporate welfare --- aren't quite the state, and if they want to bombard me with crappy music (and they do, with regligius or secular references) it's their right to do it, and my right to take my entertainment dollar elsewhere. I'm a little more peeved that the anti-trust exemption MLB enjoys limits where I can talke that dollar.

G-Fafif Nov 29 2005 05:10 PM

Oh boy, a dead horse! Count me in! http://www.gothambaseball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1618

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 06:19 PM

Edgy DC Dec 03 2005 07:30 PM

Sunday Herald gets a whack at the horse.

Willets Point Dec 08 2005 03:45 PM

Never thought I'd see the day where there's baseball commentary in The Nation.

Edgy DC Dec 08 2005 03:52 PM

A lot of incorrect facts. And "baby boy Wilpon" is just dismissable. No writer seems to recall that Delgado went into the last offseason stating that his actions were taken in a context where the Jays had no rules or policies, and if he joins a team that does have a policy in place, he will abide by it --- thereby implicitly inviting the Mets to come up with a policy. I imagine he'll find some platform to make his views known.

Willets Point Dec 08 2005 04:01 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I imagine he'll find some platform to make his views known. Yeah, sitting during a song is not exactly leading a march on Washington. Delgado could do that in the morning and still make it to batting practice at RFK if he liked and it'd probably be more impressive.

Edgy DC Dec 08 2005 04:05 PM

Jeff Wilpon is still pretty damn patronizing: "He's going to have his own personal views, which he's going to keep to himself." Missed that the first time around.

Valadius Dec 08 2005 04:19 PM

If Jeff Wilpon takes over from his dad, I have a feeling he'll become an M. Donald Grant-type figure.

metirish Dec 08 2005 06:51 PM

I think the Wilpons get a lot of bad press and fan scorn , some valid but most not, part and parcel of being team COO/CEO/OWNER.