More Champagne, Baby

Watching a baseball game should be a relaxing vibe.

The game is beautiful. It’s played outside on green grass with a little dirt. Sun and rain can soak an afternoon and possibilities are endless. Hope always lives in a ballpark.

So does pain. There is no fix for this. No prescription will handle it. You come to the ballyard, expect the unthinkable. This game will give you agony wrapped in a pleasant setting.

The only way to manage pain is to endure it. It’s inevitable so there’s no use complaining. There’s no reason to be tense watching a game.

But these are the thoughts of a rational person. And there’s nothing rational about being a Mets fan. It’s an emotional ride and it’s better that way.

I’m not saying to ignore emotions but to become more settled with them, more positive.

FLASHBACK — WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2023

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINAL: MANCHESTER CITY VS REAL MADRID

Football. Not American football. But real, actual football. The beautiful game.

I’m a Manchester City supporter. Mostly because of Oasis.

A great friend of mine; equally handsome which is hard to believe; mentioned that Noah and Liam Gallagher were Manchester City supporters. I looked into it. Man City were the Mets to Manchester United’s Yankees. Sold.

This was in 2008, also the year the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Since then Manchester City are on an astonishing run.

Seven Premier League titles won including five of the last six. Domination. It won’t be eternal but it sure is fun. Champagne football is a delight.

Now the Champions League is a collection of Europe’s best teams and football’s shiniest trophy. City haven’t been able to win it yet.

The Premier League, with a nine month season, is a title earned with grueling consistency. The Champions League is an event. Matches are infrequent but weighted with importance. Football is often the absolute best.

So here we are: playing Real Madrid in a tournament they’ve won more than any other club. Fourteen titles to the closest with seven. The Yankees of the Champions League.

We’re up 2-0 which is super-awesome right?! Only City were up 2-0 on Real in last year’s semi and lost. The results of that match broke a lot of sky blue hearts. Football really is a bucket of shit.

But right here, right NOW, as the second half starts, Manchester City are in position to win and I’m freaking out. My back is tense, my neck is granite, and I refuse to blink.

At some point I realized this is an uncool way to live. Just relax. Have faith in the lads. Think positive. The tension starts to turn to butter. And when it does we’re still ahead.

What I hope is Manchester City’s success is a harbinger of the Mets for the next ten years. City spend well and build rotation players in their academy. Their manager is a beautiful maniac who I hope doesn’t get bored. City are built to win every season.

This is the Mets third season under Steve Cohen. Manchester City won their first league title in their fourth season under new ownership. Since 2011, City won have seven league titles in eleven years.

It’s not likely the Mets will match that level of success. But it is possible. And it’s glorious.

After Manchester City won the match against Real Madrid, I sent an urgent textual communication to Toots, “We’re gonna need more champagne baby.”

Not only did City make the Champions League final, they won the Premier League for the third time in a row over the weekend. The champagne was magnificent. Felt nice to relax. Bet the champagne tastes good in November too.