It was October of 2015, and news articles had popped up on my social media about Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada breaking his leg during a slide by Dodgers player Chase Utley. It was causing chaos with New York fans who witnessed the play, and it was quite clear that this was a dirty move. It sparked an intense interest in the game in me.
Now, I was always surrounded by Mets fans growing up (New York Jews...like, hello), and I’d been influenced by the interests of a particular actor who I admire, so when I was asked to choose, I’d always say Mets. Then this leg-fracturing slide was on all of my news feeds and I couldn’t look away. I wanted the Mets—in the simplest terms I can put it—to kick their asses. I started watching the rest of the post-season after tiring and intense rehearsals, covering my ears when friends were discussing the score and staying up to witness every inning. I slowly started picking up how the game worked on a more intricate level. It was so exciting to see a team that is constantly underrated run record-breaking homers, and it didn’t hurt that Daniel Murphy, one of the best players on the team, was the finest of specimen.
I know a lot of straight women are judged for watching sports for the attractive players. That’s going to happen when all of the players are male. Call me when an all-female major league team is created and isn’t regarded for their looks. It’s fine to acknowledge their appearance; God knows men treat us like this all the time. Even so, it is not what keeps me, and many other female fans, watching. I don’t tune out when a less attractive player is at bat. The fact that people automatically assume I bought a seat at Citi Field for this reason means they obviously don’t know my budget.
It’s also often implied by others that I must not know what’s going on. I’m asked questions that test my knowledge on the rules of the game or the particular game lingo. Sometimes I know the answer and sometimes I don’t. I didn’t grow up with my father teaching me how to read the plays or how to pitch in our backyard; my father is a football fan and we don’t have a yard. This is an incredibly particular and nuanced game; there’s no way I am going to know everything in the span of seven months. It is quite clear that I am interested in learning and will admit when I’m confused. Using this to humiliate me because I am a female fan is wrong in so many ways that I find it hard to explain; it’s such common sense. I’m so glad to have found a team with fans that don’t do this nearly as often as other teams or sports.
In the end, the spirit of the team, Daniel Murphy’s butt (which has since then graced the Washington Nationals), the energy of the game, and the undying loyalty of the Mets fanbase will always keep me coming back for more.
#LGM
