Somewhat Depressed

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a New York Mets fan. Since about 1972.

I grew up going to Mets games for my birthday. In my post-college years, living in Manhattan, I used to take the 7 train out regularly (and yeah, sometimes I read scripts on the train. Or in my seat in the stadium, if I was alone).

I suffered through a lot of bad years, and some very good ones. But this year is the worst.

18 days ago, the Mets were in first place by 7 games. No one had ever blown a bigger lead in September. No one had ever blown a 7-game lead with fewer than 20-odd games to go.

The Mets promptly went out and lost 13 of their last 17 games.

In the final week of the season, with 7 games to play against teams with losing records, 3 wins turns out would have won them first place. 2 wins would have at least gotten them into a one-game playoff against the Phillies.

Instead they only won 1 game. Most of the games they lost weren't even very close.

The pitching staff collapsed. Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine got only one out yesterday, before being pulled after letting 8 of the first 9 hitters reach base. The bullpen was appalling. All-world leadoff man Jose Reyes forgot how to hit.

Even today's LA Times has a photo of a depressed Mets fan on the cover.

Oh well. I'm getting over it.

Go Cubs. Go Indians.

******

THE GAME PLAN wound up being number 1 for the weekend, validating the fact that Americans will go see anything if they think it might be funny. It did an estimated $22.7 million for the weekend.

THE KINGDOM made a solid $17.7 million. FEAST OF LOVE flopped with only $1.7 million.

In limited release, INTO THE WILD continued its solid expansion, averaging over $20,000 in 33 theaters. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE had a decent per-screen average of a little over $6000, bringing in just over $2 million in 339 theaters.

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH only averaged $2000 a theater, and probably won't expand past the 762 screens it's on now. JESSE JAMES did another $18,000 per on its five screens.

THE DARJEELING LIMITED brought in over $140,000 from just two Manhattan theaters. LUST, CAUTION made about $61,000 from a single theater.