Fans Flock To Shea

 
Met and Yankee fans very rarely agree on anything. But they all can attest to the belief that the Subway Series isnt getting old, as some well-known New York City pundits have surmised, but that it may be getting better.
The inter-city rivalry continued over the weekend in Flushing at Shea Stadium, a week after the Bronx Bombers hosted their cross town rivals for three games.
"Its not getting old at all. I think its a good rivalry," said Frank Jackson, a Yankee fan from Middle Village. "Its reminiscent of the Dodger-Yankee series of the past. It gives people in New York something to argue about, which is always a good thing. As long as the fans keep going, they should keep [the rivalry] up."
The fans certainly kept up their side of the bargain this weekend, selling out Shea Stadium all three days, with an announced combined attendance of 165,625.
The games themselves lived up to the crowds this time around. After a lackluster game on Friday, in which the Mets routed the Yankees, 11-2, the teams engaged in perhaps the best Subway Series matchup in the two teams history. The Mets won the contest 10-9 on a Shane Spencer infield hit, but it was what led up to that final inning that had the stadium shaking at times. There were 23 hits, 19 runs, four lead changes, five ties and five homeruns. With almost an equal amount of Yankee and Mets fans, the atmosphere was playoff-like, with each teams fans chanting derisively against another as if it were a college rivalry game.
"Thats what is great about the Subway Series," said Adam Cohen, 16, of Bayside. "You have people yelling for both teams, fights breaking out; you dont see that when the Phillies come to town. Its a very emotional series and it brings excitement to Shea."
Valerie Leventhal, 21, of Bayside, meanwhile felt the fact that so many people attend every game between the two teams makes everyone a winner.
"It doesnt matter if youre rooting for one team or the other," she said. "It matters because youre rooting for New York. The Mets and Yankees rivalry never gets old."
The Subway Series is also a good thing for the surrounding areas around the ballparks. It brings in extra money, which is never a bad thing.
"It helps the economy and the series is good for tourism," said Joe Schwartz of Forest Hills. "A lot of out of town Yankee fans come to Queens for this series also."
Mimma Taormina, 27, of Ridgewood thought the Subway Series was important and it brought due respect to Queens.
"Its exciting, everyone comes together for these games," she said. "It also helps Queens a lot. I dont think the borough gets much notice citywide and its a historical place. The series brings a lot of attention to Queens, which is good because its a beautiful place."
After the talk of the series getting stale, the Mets helped revive the baseball side of things, sweeping the Yankees out of Flushing in their three game series and winning the season series for the first time since the two inter-city rivals began playing in 1997.