Sep 07 2007 12:29 PM
So, who's the sponger from the Braves?
Mets careful when it comes to perks of the job
By JOHN DELCOS
THE JOURNAL NEWS
NEW YORK - David Wright and Jose Reyes live the life of dreams.
With youth, talent and money in New York, they are famous athletes in the country's most glamorous city.
There's little they can't buy, but that doesn't stop people from offering things to them. From dinners to theater tickets, from cars to electronics, from clothes to playing equipment, there are perks to being a Met in New York.
"There are a lot of players who go by the belief that 'If it's free, it's for me,' " Wright said. "I am sure, if you wanted to, you could take advantage of it."
Doing so, however, requires little shame.
"It's really embarrassing when you go out and people want to pick up dinner for you," Wright said. "For a lot of people, I think they want to be a part of things and that's the way. That's why they do it.
"When I go to dinner, I like to go under the radar. I don't expect anything for free. If I want something, I buy it myself.
"I don't want to feel obligated to anyone."
Reyes said he doesn't ask, but has been offered computers, electronics and clothes, and admits there are times when he accepts.
"It's part of playing in New York," Reyes said. "People give you things, but it's because they want things from you."
It's called the barter system.
"I got a suit because (the clothier) wanted people to see me in his suit," Reyes said, calling it a gift that benefited both parties.
Such arrangements are common, said Carlos Delgado.
"A car dealer wants you to be seen in his car, so he'll let you drive a car for the season. But you don't get to keep the car," Delgado said.
"If you go to a restaurant, they might buy you a meal because they want you to be seen eating there.
"If you want to promote something, what better way than to get somebody well known to use your product?"
Actually, it's called advertising.
Pedro Martinez said if he wants to do a commercial for somebody, he would get his agent to sign a contract with a company or corporation.
"I have the money," Martinez said. "If I want something, I buy it for myself. I don't accept anything from anybody. If somebody wants to give me something for free, it's like, 'What does he want?' "
That's why if broadcaster Ron Darling likes the place, he pays.
"I tell them if you pay for me I'm not coming back," Darling said. "If he wants to send over dessert or coffee, that's fine. But, I won't let him pick up the whole meal."
Darling then smiled and said, "Now, if I know I'm never coming back ... "
For most Mets, it's not the meal, but the chance to eat it that they'll take advantage of.
"There are a lot of perks to this business, and one of them is getting to the front of the line," said Tom Glavine, who, if he wants to go out on one of his few off nights during the season, prefers not to eat at 10 or 11.
"I'll do that. There are places in New York that you can't get into, but if you're with the Mets, they'll find a table for you."
Glavine once had a teammate with the Braves who made the rounds, from restaurants to department stores with expectations.
"He made no bones about it," Glavine said. "He was making the minimum and knew he wasn't going to be around long. He was looking for things.
"There are always going to be people like that. There are people who are always looking to get something. There are cheap baseball players, too."
Billy Wagner got access to tickets to see "The Lion King." He paid for his tickets, but got to go backstage.
"That's a nice perk the normal person wouldn't have gotten. I know that," Wagner said. "When you're in this position (as a well-known athlete), you get it both ways. You have people wanting to give you stuff, but you'll also have them overcharging you because they know you have money."
And if you're not on top anymore, you might not get anything.
Who didn't know Keith Hernandez when he played for the Mets and St. Louis?
"They know who you are in New York, and in St. Louis they love their baseball and will do anything for you," Hernandez said.
Not so, he said, at the end of his career in Cleveland.
Hernandez recalled one day when he tried to play the celebrity card when he was having trouble finding a parking spot on July 4 in the Flats, a popular restaurant and entertainment district.
"I told him, 'I'm Keith Hernandez. I play for the Cleveland Indians,' " Hernandez said. "He just turned and walked away."
