Freakonomics -- the book, the blog, the phenomenon -- is basically about applying economic theory to non-traditional things. Things like parenting and sumo and the Ku Klux Klan and what have you. It's pretty interesting stuff, actually, that reminds people that economics is way more about social and behavioral science than it is about money and numbers.
Freakonomics author Stephen Dubner was at the Mets-Yankees game last night, and he wonders why Yankees and Mets fans are so darn economically inefficient when it comes to their cheers and taunts:
A pattern quickly emerged. The many Yankees fans regularly broke into their thunderous cheer: "Let's go Yankees!" (clap-clap-clap-clap … clap-clap). If you are a Yankees fan (we are; but we do not hate the Mets), this was a sign of what might be called prideful hubris, or maybe hubristic pride: we can come into your stadium and rock it very, very hard.
How'd the Mets fans respond? Succinctly. In the space where the Yankees fans did their rhythmic clapping, Mets fans shouted "Yankees suck!" . . .This pattern was repeated all night. What surprised me is that neither side found a way to improve their effort. I kept waiting for the Yankees fans to fill in their clapping with some chanting that couldn't be hijacked by the Mets fans, and I kept waiting for the Mets fans to either be proactive in their chanting or to move beyond "Yankees suck!" But neither side budged . . . I fear not that we are teaching our children to be coarse but that we are teaching them to be uncreative and unskilled in the use of game theory.
I can think of no greater indictment of the new expensive ballparks in New York than the fact that they have priced out one of the greatest forces of nature in the universe: verbally abusive, yet incredibly clever New York baseball fans.
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They just need to drop the price of beer below $4 ... problem solved.
I was at the game on Sat. night and wore a Twins hat. It was an attempt to signal my Switzerland-esque neutrality. It didn't work because i was at the game with a die-hard Yankee fan. At one point, a Mets fan called out, "Kirby Puckett beat his wife!" As if all Mets players in their history were angels off the field. And, really? Attacking a Twins fan at a Yankee-Met game? What's the point of that?
I'm officially a Mets hater.
You said you were with a die hard Yankee fan - was he being quiet and angelic?
After working at Turner Field all week, I can say that BoSox fans are the most obnoxious fans I've ever come across. And not clever at all either. Just annoying. (I won't even go into the sheer amount of bandwagon fans and pink BoSox shirts. Makes Wrigley look like a pure fan haven. Oh wait, I went into.)
Yankees fans were just dumb and enjoyed starting fights.
I've heard that Mets fans are some sort of sick combo of both. I shudder for when they come to town.
I went to a subway series game where a Yankee fan turned around cheering "Let's Go Yankees" and all the while giving everybody in the stands behind her the finger. At that same game, a Yankees fan that was seated behind me screamed "fagg*t" everytime Mike Piazza came up to bat. It was at that moment that I knew I could never support the Yankees. The Mets fans were rooting on their team vehemently (and yes, saying "Yankees Suck!") but it got no worse than that. Mets fans may not have imagination but I have not seen them acting utterly crudely.
I can imagine myself kicking Stephen Dubner's ass. I promise to be creative throughout the whole process.
Mets fans get creative after the game, and at home, I know b/c I am one. I have never used more combinations of swearing mixed into the middle of words and phrases than when I am watching the Mets regularly screw up.
As a Redsox fan who lives in Boston, I feel the need to apologize for all the pink hats around the country and here at home. That said, I don't hear anyone speak well of the Sox and Yanks when we roll into town and sell out stadiums. The Nationals' record attendance occurred when? That's right, during the Sox series. Our fans may be obnoxious and willing to use colorful language, but we fill your team's coffers so a team like the Braves can trade and pay for a guy like McLouth, or the Nationals can sign their perrennial first overall picks. Oh, and it was really nice how the Bravos treated Tom Glavine.