A Thanksgiving Tribute to 2006

We have a little tradition here at Y2K. In the spirit of the holiday today, we like to take some time out and reflect on the year that was before we up and stuff our faces.

Last year the tribute was devoted exclusively to the Mets. Don't worry, they'll be the predominant theme this time around as well, but they'll have some company. So in no particular order and without further ado...

1. A Year to Remember

How 'bout those new guys, huh? After three years of shittiness, the Mets finally started turning things around in 2005. In 2006, they arrived.

I'd never experienced anything quite like 2006 before. I can't remember 1986 or 1988. The Mets had excellent teams in 1999 and 2000, but we didn't dominate the way this team did. Hell, we didn't even win our division in those years.

But 2006 was one of those years where everything just came together. And you know what, fine, it didn't end the way we wanted it to. It was still a great season, one I'll always remember.

I'll remember it because the Mets were really great this year.

I'll remember it because it was the first year in quite some time that I was able to watch virtually every single game without the hindrance of homework, tests, or what have you.

And I'll remember it because I'm young enough for the Mets to feel like the most important thing in the world to me, and for 6 months they really made me happy.

So no, they didn't go all the way, and hopefully some year soon a Mets team will come along that makes me remember it even more than this bunch in 2006 did. But as for now, cheers to the 2006 New York Mets. We've come a long way, baby.

2. Chris Cotter

I was going to devote one of these tributes to SNY, but you know what, I did them last year. I'm still thankful as all hell for the network. SportsNite is everything I need in a sports broadcast. Mets Weekly owns my DVR list. I sing/hum/emit the SNY theme music several times a week.

So I've got nothing but love for the network, and a big part of the reason are the people associated with it. The Mets broadcast team is a special group, it really is. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are a joy to listen to throughout a game, both for their insight and for their humor.

Matt Yallof, Brian Custer, Julie Donaldson -- love 'em all.

But then there's Cotter, the resident frat boy of SportsNet New York. Simply put, the man is a legend. What other sideline reporter can ask the tough questions and go a minute-plus on a keg stand?

I mean, come on, look at that smile.

I grew up on Matt Loughlin, but Cotter's going straight to the Y2K Hall of Fame. Here's to you, pal.

3. My friend, Mr. Glass

Remember last offseason? Remember all the dopes out there calling into talk radio saying we gotta trade Reyes, or we gotta bat him 8th?

What a difference a year makes. Reyes had the kind of season in which he was pursuing records held by Wille McGee and Honus Wagner. He had the kind of season that had people talking about him being the MVP of the National League. He had the kind of season that made him possibly the most popular player in New York.

He did it through some combination of getting on base, stealing bases, dancing in the dugout, concocting complicated high fives, and flashing the brightest smile in the city.

I won't bore you with the numbers, even though they were damn good. Really though, what makes Reyes such a pleasure is just watching him play the game. It's rare to see a ballplayer take such joy in what he's doing, and it's fun to see.

How many times have we said to ourselves, "don't these guys realize they get to play baseball for a living?" Reyes realizes it, and we as fans get to share that joy every time he breaks into one of his little jigs or emerges from a cloud of dust at third base to clap his hands and show that toothy grin.

4. Citi Field

Really, I'm less thankful for the name that it is than the name that it isn't. I mean, this could have been really bad. Meineke Stadium. The Depend Adult Undergarment Colliseum. You never know with these corporate sponsorships.

Enter CitiGroup. Sure, I wish MetLife had won the bidding, but for all I know they didn't even bid. Besides, as the Hound was quick to point out, with CitiGroup you're talking about a very profitable, very reputable, very stable company.

That's good for us because it basically ensures we won't have the kind of situation like they had out in San Francisco, where the stadium has changed names 3 times in 5 years or however long it's been.

So Citi Field it is. You know, there's a part of me that's certain I'll always find occassion to say I'm heading out to Shea. All things considered though, I can live with Citi Field.

5. Moises Alou

There's been some chatter in the blogosphere about how this wasn't a good pick-up. Let's just say I respectfully disagree. This guy was exactly what we needed. A powerful righthanded bat who can punish lefties -- sound like something we were missing last year, doesn't it?

I think this move helps our team immensely going into next year not only because of the player Alou is himself, but also becuase of the effect I expect him to have on David Wright.

In the first half of 2006, Wright killed lefties, in the second half he struggled mightily against them. I have to think that part of the reason was that with the X-Man (RIP) gone, it was basically Wright's responsibility to win games for the Mets when we faced lefties. That's a lot of pressure. Next year the job won't be his alone, and that should be to his benefit as much as anyone else's.

I also love the move because, my god, have you seen the going rate for outfielders these days? 50 million for Gary Matthews Jr.? Are you kidding me? I'll tell you what, the Mets have doled out some awful contracts in their day but I don't think anything tops that one.

For us to pay $8.5 million for one year to a guy who brings exactly what we need was a good move, even if he does piss on his hands.

6. First Impressions of Earth (The Strokes), It's Never Been Like That (Phoenix), Everything All the Time (Band of Horses)

The three CDs that defined my year. The first one should come as no surprise; the third CD from my favorite band, I swooped this one up the day it hit shelves. I couldn't give it a heartier endorsement.

"Red Light" and "Electricityscape" are in my personal Strokes pantheon, and there are 5 other songs from this disc that make my "Essential Strokes" compilation, plus three B-sides ("I'll Try Anything Once," "Hawaii," and "Mercy, Mercy Me") from the album. Anyway, First Impressions of Earth, buy it.

The other two though I'm really pleased I found. I'd never heard of either band before coming across them on Pandora, so really it was just dumb luck.

The Phoenix CD, It's Never Been Like That, is really superb. Go on iTunes and listen to any of songs 2 through 6 -- if you like rock music, you'll be glad you did, and you'll be glad if you take the next step and just buy the whole CD. So f'ing good.

As for Band of Horses, this one is not the upper that the other two are, with the exception of the excellent "Weed Party," but honestly, it's just a really beautiful CD.

7. Carlos Beltran

We've come a long way with old Beltran, haven't we? I wasn't one of the people booing him last year or in those first 10 at-bats this year, but yeah, it was pretty frustrating watching our 119 million dollar man look like Gary Matthews Jr.

The guy looked lost at the plate, but even worse, he looked miserable in the dugout. Without the cajoling of Old Man Franco, things might have gone on that way. Luckily, Beltran took his curtain call and from there the sky was the limit.

The owner of the awesomest theme music in New York, the guy had an MVP-caliber season, and all of a sudden you started seeing little kids wearing Beltran t-shirts everywhere the way you used to see shirts with "Piazza" on the back.

That's not to say he's the face of the franchise or even its most popular player. But no two ways about it, Beltran was our best all around player in 2006. We're lucky to have him.

Just remember though, Carlos, that it's never too late to have that massive facial wart removed.

8. Readers like you

This little site of ours has really come a long way. On November 1, 2005 we got 36 hits. 36 god damn hits. On November 1, 2006 we got 444, to say nothing of the 4500 people who checked out the site the last three days. For my money that's some pretty good progress.

I know I speak for Sip and Cheddar when I say that we're extraordinarily appreciative of everyone out there who takes the time to read this website. The Mets blogosphere is a crowded place, and for everyone who takes time out of their day to read our content, our thanks go to you.

And that's all I got.

Gobble, gobble.

- A.F.O.M.G.