February 14, 2007

Why I Love The Game

Marty Noble writes about some former Mets players, coaches, writers, fans and what they have learned from the game as well as why they love it:


Tom Seaver, Mets Hall of Fame pitcher, Calistoga, Calif.

What I've learned to appreciate is the relationship that develops between you and your physical ability as it changes. At first, it's the excitement and joy of success, the adulation you get from doing a good job. But if you're lucky enough to be good enough long enough, it transcends that, and playing becomes an art form. It's more than your profession. It's a physical and mental art form.

Omar Minaya, Mets general manager, Harrington Park, N.J.

The games, the schedule ... they're like life. The pace of the season and the pace of life are the same. Good days and some bad days. Ups and downs. The mental part of the game has always appealed to me. You can figure it out, like life. And even though it's a team game, it's all about individuals. Players come in all shapes and sizes. If you can figure it out, you can play. Even if you don't have the most talent.

It's a fair game because of that. But sometimes, you know, it seems so unfair, just like life.

There are so many ways to get it done. Look at the players they've had here [with the Mets] over the years. David Cone, he did it different from anyone else. Look at Orlando Hernandez and [Hideo] Nomo. How unusual they were. Lenny [Dykstra]. And David Eckstein, how he gets it done. I love players like that. I want the best athletes, but I admire the players who get it done with less talent. I think you get more of that in baseball than you get in the other big sports. A baseball is there every day.

Keith Hernandez, former Mets first baseman, Jupiter, Fla.

What's cool about is that, really, the game was so good from the start that they've never had to change the dimensions of the diamond. Speed came into the game, and they didn't lengthen the baselines. It was just perfect when it was invented.

To read all the statements use the link in the header.

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