The Mets Police

I'm looking back at some of my favorite posts, here's one that suggests that without Murph there can be no happy recaps.   From 2/24/09 it's The Curse of Bob Murphy

I was watching highlights of the 2000 World Series last night and a few things came to mind.

1.  I have no attachment to that team or the players on it whatsoever.  I know this is controversial especially for a Mets fan, but that team just lacks something.  It's hard for me to get excited about Al Leiter and Todd Pratt.  Sorry, that's how I feel.

2.  It's funny to hear everyone talk about how historic that World Series will be, and how people will be "talking about this one in 40 years."  Somehow I don't think so.  It's kind of a forgetful one to be honest.  Sort of like the 1973 World Series - you tend to think of the season more than getting beaten by the A's.

3.  The black uniforms with black hats are so so so horrible.   It looks like a softball team showed up.  What were the Mets thinking?

4.  There's one significant Met who I think was on steroids.  I floated this once before but I know if I voice the name I will be lynched.  Deep down you know who it is, don't you?

5.  John Franco.  Why is he in camp?  Is he there to teach K-Rod and Putz how to shut down a team 1-2-3-4-5?  You know, sprinkle in a double and a walk just to keep it interesting?

6.  Bob Murphy.  Wow Murph was good.  I've kind of gotten used to Howie (he who sees 40,000 in the stands when there is clearly not) and all the Gary Cohen imitators they have trotted in and out - but Murph was so much better, which leads us to...

THE CURSE OF BOB MURPHY.

With no Murph there can be no happy recaps.   The ending must always be a disaster since Murphy isn't there to happily recap it.  How could the Mets have gotten into the playoffs on September 28th without Bob to tell us about it.   No, the team is destined to have Howie Rose express disappointment.

How can the Mets solve this?  I don't have any ideas.   A Murph-bot?   Have the production guys whip up a "The Happy Recap" intro for Mets Extra?  Get rid of Willie?  Oh wait they did that last one - I'm pretty sure that's what the curse was all along.

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Yesterday we discussed The Curse Of Bob Murphy. Yes it's absurd, but people seem to enjoy my absurd theories such as the Curse of Lee Mazzilli (any way to explain the awfulness that befalls this franchise.)

Today's theory is based upon The Curse of Bob Murphy, and it's the Gary Cohen Curse.

I like Gary, he is a fine broadcaster. I liked that the Mets brought him up from the minors way back when. He's solid and I've enjoyed his work on both radio and TV.

The problem is that he has put a curse on this team.

Gary showed up in 1989. The Mets were coming off their best run in franchise history, with a championship and some very good teams in 1985 and 1988.

He started off slow, and could only drag the Mets to a second place finish in '89. Do you even remember who won the East that year? No it wasn't the Pirates and it wasn't the Cardinals. Think harder. Anyway, the Mets lost to them.

In 1990 Gary managed to get Davey fired, and then worked his magic on making New Yorkers hate Buddy Harrelson. Guys like Torborg and Howe who were geniuses elsewhere - became busts.

Baseball had to change the rules to get the Mets to another series. In 2000 the King Of Finishing Second (Bobby Valentine) finished second as expected but because of Selig's ruining of baseball the Mets were able to get crushed by the Yankees.

In 2003, Cohen became the Mets main play by play guy on radio. (See Curse of Bob Murphy). When the Mets started SNY they made Gary the main guy. Gary is the voice of terrible late-season collapses. The Gary Cohen highlight reel is filled with a Todd Pratt home run and a bunch of crushing defeats.

The Curse of Cohen also applies to St. John's basketball which really used to be something in this town.

Gary is back behind the mike. Is Jerry Manuel enough of a gangsta to overcome Cohen's jinxing from the broadcast booth. Will there ever again be a happy recap? Should we trick Gary into taking the Phillies play by play job?






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