Howie & Gary

Why they really mean so much to Mets fans

It's been a momentous week for legendary Mets broadcasters. On a somber note, longtime radio voice Howie Rose announced he was ending his season prematurely to attend to his health. And on a brighter note, Gary Cohen was a trending topic on Twitter for this instantly classic call:

Brett @Brett_Hanfling

Gary Cohen…best in the business

As Mets fans, each of these developments evoked strong emotions: concern for Howie as if a member of the family was sick, and pride for Gary that one of our own excelled in a big moment for the entire sports world to see. 

It may seem odd to feel so connected to guys who don't even play the game or wear a uniform. But with Zack Scott's troubles (and the possibility that his days as acting GM might be numbered), I think it speaks to something bigger about the Mets and sports in general: These announcers are so important to us not only because they're so good at their jobs -- but also because they're one of the only aspects of our fandom that remains with us through the years and even decades.

Everyone knows Jerry Seinfeld's famous joke about rooting for sports: you're basically rooting for laundry, because the uniforms are the one part of the team that doesn't go away after a few years ("You are standing and cheering and yelling for your clothes to beat the clothes from another city!"). Players come and go -- especially in an age of short-term rentals, career-threatening injuries and roster manipulations. And as we've learned over and over this season, so, too, do front office personnel. 

But Howie and Gary? They've been watching these games since day 1 of the franchise. And like a family member, it feels like you'll be spending time with them until their final days. 

I remember listening to Howie when I was an elementary school student and he hosted "Mets Extra" on WFAN. And as I got older, watching him call TV games with Fran Healy (and, like he was my uncle, angrily wondering why Fran was so unfriendly to him). And I can clearly recall as a kid, sneakily turning on my clock radio on the lowest volume while under the covers, after I was supposed to be in bed, listening to Gary supplement Bob Murphy's pleasant (but not always comprehensively descriptive) calls of big plays. 

But this isn't just about longevity or nostalgia. We also love these guys because they are Hall-of-Fame worthy legends in the booth. If Howie had never uttered a word about baseball, dayenu - his immortality would already be assured, thanks to Stefan Matteau and one more hill to climb, baby. But he’s been an engaging, encyclopedic, comforting companion on car radios, walkmen and now smartphones for every big moment in Mets history these last few decades. 

And as for Gary, how many other broadcasters have twitter threads devoted to arguing over which of his many incredible calls was his best?    

It's why -- as insane as it sounds -- this is actually a hard question to answer:

D.J. Short @djshort

Mets fans, here's the deal: You get a chance for the best and most competent front office in baseball but you'd have to trade GKR for the worst broadcasting booth in baseball. Which would you choose?

Even the best players -- your Wrights, Piazzas and Beltrans -- last a decade if you're lucky. But Howie and Gary are here, it seems, forever. They've lived through every playoff run, rivalry, and awful collapse with us. Through Endy's catch, the Wilmer homer, Jesse Orosco's flying glove. They’ve been our "friends" and rich sources of entertainment for decades now.   

Which may be why Howie's news in particular inspired this reflection. He says his prognosis is good, and we all expect to hear his melodious Long Island patois once spring rolls around. But news like this can serve as a reminder to exhausted Mets fans that -- despite Jared Porter, Zack Scott, Jared Kellenic, Scott Kazmir, Jason Bay, Luis Castillo, Roberto Alomar, Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bonilla, Jeff Torborg, Mel Rojas, Vince Coleman, Bret Saberhagen, Art Howe, Generation K, 2007, Robinson Cano, Mickey Callaway, Rick Porcello and, now, "thumbs down" a.k.a. Boo-gate --  we have one thing better than every other franchise in baseball. The best announcers in the game.

And unlike players, stadiums, front offices or even owners, we have them for a lifetime.