It’s prah’lee my fault because I was overconfident and cocky thinking about the Fall Classic being played at the crappy, yet endearing Shea Stadium. Why wouldn’t it happen? We had WILLIE in the driver’s seat and the ‘Lil’ Superstar’ on the hill. Plus, it was like what, twenty years ago that New York City was turned out by one of the most colorful lineups ever in the game of baseball(not to shit on the Oakland Athletics dynasty from the early ’70s, but this was NYC).
Thanks to RAFI for sending me this photo…
This photo is a sad reminder of the greatness and granduer that occupied these boros. The people over at DeadSpin compared them to CY YOUNG, TED WILLIAMS and JOE LOUIS. That was their downfall too. The New York City stage is unforgiving when you don’t have your act together. The other New York City guy at this time that was missing from that ill-fated picture was the Association’s 1986 Rookie of the Year.
PATRICK EWING had a signature pair of kicks that Adidas released in 1986. I had to cop a pair because they went with all the Mets shit I was rocking so heavy that summer. Let’s just say that one of the fringe benefits to working at the stadium was the access to free I.T.’s.
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ADIDAS ‘Attitude’ These joints were sick because the colorways repped for the Knicks, the Mets and for New York State. I think I even came up on these through some chicanery too. MEGATRON took me shopping one day and showed me how not to buy a pair of sneakers from store. We’ll discuss that on another day. |
Then Adidas went and fucked up the game by creating a pair of metrosexual sneakers. They’re even called the Metro-Attitude (no CAM’RON to these kicks). It wasn’t about looking backwards to see the future for this Mets team. I was ready to create a new paradigm for this club. I was calling the NIKE Air Force II’s my ‘Vote For Pedro’ sneakers. I should have known that things weren’t going to last when LM was the only guy to buy one of my ‘Vote For Pedro‘ t-shirts.
Ahhhh…the 86 Mets. Gooden on the mound. DAAAAARRRRYYYYLL. Mookie. Dykstra. Hernandez. Carter. Backman. Santana. Foster.
That was my squad.
I had high hopes for this year. Who knows? It ain’t over until I hear the fat lady….
Here’s a plug for ya….*AHEM* CDs by D.P. are the joint, my black superheros shot has the potential to save the world!!!! (via restoring my sanity and thus preventing my metamorping into the greatest villain the world has known.
One thing that I missed growing up in Africa was the summer of 86, when as my cousin put it the whole world stopped with Doc pitched. I have heard it over and over but never got to see it happening, ahh well I guess I’mma have to wait for ESPN Classics.
PS: Why did Ewing leave Adidas and start his own line? Do you know?
Mr. Kamoji….the greatest was watching the ball roll between Buckners legs. All of Brooklyn started beeping horns, screaming outside…I mean…PANDEMONIUM broke loose in my neighborhood. And then when they won the next game….I mean it was NUTS. That has to be one of my greatest sports memories of all time.
Amadeo,
Thanks for the endorsement. You actually paid me for those jawnts too. I just mailed you some more ish today.
Kamoji,
Not sure why EWING left Adidas to start his own brand (prah’lee one of his T.I. advisers told him that was whats up), dude ended up with NIKE at the end of his career. Must have lost a bet to JORDAN.
Candice,
I worked at Shea and lived in Corona. It was the single greatest moment of my life not including the births of my daughters.
waitaminnit, I don’t have any kids.