Angry Ward Wednesday: Underwater Baseball Teams, Mets Fans Across the Pond, and Lakers Still Fishing

June 12, 2024 Angry Ward Angry Ward, Featured 1

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NEW YORK, NY – I want to get something right out in the open this week. Last night I went to see the New York Philharmonic in Van Cortlandt Park. I tell you this to give you a better picture of who I am. I’m not just some Nacho Cheese Dorito-eating sports curmudgeon. I’m also a beautiful, flawed, complicated human being with thoughts and feelings and dreams outside the world of box scores. Now, let’s talk some f***ing sports.

Major League Blecchball. I know it was exciting to watch the Dodgers take on the Yankees last weekend and even fun to watch the Mets and Phillies clash in London, but it’s time to point out that most MLB teams kinda suck this year. As of this writing, there are 20 teams that are at .500 or below. I stink at math, but I’m pretty sure that’s two thirds of the league. This doesn’t even take into account entire divisions (AL/NL Central and AL West) where none of the teams may be anything better than mediocre and someone has to win. It reminds me a little of last year’s NFL season: a little bit of good and a whole lot of not-so-good. So, if your team has a winning record, pay attention to who those wins are coming against and how they’re faring against the handful of teams—like the aforementioned Yankees, Dodgers, and Phillies—that might actually be decent.

NBA and NHL Finals. Are these two series over yet? Asking for a friend.

Belgian Fans Don’t Waffle on Mets. In previous weeks in this space I’ve taken Sports Illustrated (si.com) to task, so I think it’s only right to mention something I recently read that I really enjoyed. It was a short interview by SI’s Emma Baccellieri with two Mets fans from Belgium. It’s a fun, refreshing, and different perspective on rooting for a mostly-cursed team. But, don’t take my word for it, read it here.

Dan Hurley Tells Lakers: Go Jump in a Lake. So, Connecticut’s Dan Hurley passed on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ offer (six years and $70 million) to be their head coach. While Head Coach of the Lakers is probably one of the most prestigious jobs in all of pro sports, I’m sure Hurley knew it wasn’t right for him. Basically, you’re competing against the ghosts of Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, and “coaching” players who really consider themselves the coaches (see Kyrie, KD, LeBron et al.). So, the money part is beyond nice, but is it worth the humiliation of being fired in two years? To most it probably is, but I always like those rare occasions when someone realizes that they already have enough money and they’re happy. Corporate climbing isn’t for everyone.

Speaking of which, this concludes my latest turn on the bottom rung. Come on back tomorrow for corporate climber Buddy Diaz, who never reads this column.

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About Angry Ward 776 Articles
Angry Ward, who has admirers at the New York Times, is the quintessential angry sports fan but for one exception... he's flat-out funny. And the angrier he gets, the more amusing his work becomes. Psychiatrists say, "Angry Ward's 'anger' is a direct result of "Bronx/Mets syndrome: growing up in the Bronx as a Mets fan." As if that weren't enough, his Minnesota North Stars abandoned him for Dallas, forcing him to embrace The Wild the way Nancy Pelosi embraces Mitch McConnell at charity events. And while his Vikings only tease him with success, his Golden State Warriors actually win these days. A-Dubya is MTM's longest-tenured indentured servant, its Larry David and quite simply, "The Franchise." (Junoir Blaber disputes this). Vent, curse and giggle with him on Angry Ward Wednesdays.