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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Newsday: Best: Bet your sweep bippy: Keith Hernandez is a boomer

Well...it’s better than being spellbound from being under Capra corn.

I sometimes worry about making too many baby boomer references that go over the heads of younger readers.

Keith Hernandez does not seem to have such concerns, and if he does, it doesn’t stop him.

During Thursday’s telecast from the upper deck at Shea, he used the term “bet your sweet bippy.”

And he described the funk the Mets are in this way: “As Jimmy Carter would say, ‘malaise.’”

And in the top of the fifth, he said, “There’s all these pigeons flying by. I feel like Rod Taylor. I’m looking for Tippi Hedren, or for Hitchcock to walk by walking the dog or something.”

I turned to Hernandez after that one and he waved his hand over his forehead, indicating he knew the reference went over the heads of most viewers. ("The Birds,” 1963.) But that’s Mex being Mex.

Repoz Posted: May 17, 2008 at 10:51 AM | 31 comment(s)
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Reader Comments and Retorts

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Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

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   1. Keith Law Posted: May 17, 2008 at 11:07 AM (#2784053)
I love that he referred to Hitchcock's cameos. That's a little more than just a straight-up movie reference.
   2. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 17, 2008 at 11:14 AM (#2784056)
Hernandez after Santana rings up a strikeout - "the Mets have 99 problems but that pitch ain't one!"

Hernandez after a Carlos Delgado double-play - "he's fading faster than my appreciation of David Archuleta's preternatural professionalism!"
   3. Billy Wagner's unspoken thoughts Posted: May 17, 2008 at 11:36 AM (#2784067)
I used malaise yesterday in regards to David Wright's start and I have yet to hear a hometeam telecast, so I didn't steal it I swear.

It makes sense though, the first Met jersey I ever owned was Hernandez and so what if the 17 was sown on and the 1 hung halfway on and I wore it everyday when I played wiffleball man, it was the 80s I don't remember "official" jerseys being worn.
   4. Kyle S Posted: May 17, 2008 at 11:53 AM (#2784077)
I thought Carter never actually said "malaise."
   5. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: May 17, 2008 at 12:03 PM (#2784085)
I thought Carter never actually said "malaise."

you're right, he didn't

"crisis of confidence" is about as close as he came

(but remember, this was before Al Gore invented the series of tubes)
   6. Bruce Markusen Posted: May 17, 2008 at 01:42 PM (#2784109)
I love the references that Hernandez makes. He's a few years older than me, but I love the references to history. Ralph Kiner is a heckuva lot older than me, and I appreciate his references too. It's refreshing to hear something that isn't targeted for the teenage to 25 demographic, or whatever encompasses the "hot" demographic these days.
   7. Tom Nawrocki Posted: May 17, 2008 at 01:48 PM (#2784113)
"Brian Schneider ran after that wild pitch about as fast as Hitchcock trying to make the bus in 'North by Northwest.'"

"Santana's working so fast you'd think he's like Guy Haines, trying to get the game over so he can flee from the cops."

"Glavine's disappeared from the hearts of Mets fans about as quickly and thoroughly as Miss Froy."

"Brandon Webb went through this Mets lineup like that old Scottish farmer going after his wife in 'The 39 Steps.'"
   8. Flynn Posted: May 17, 2008 at 02:53 PM (#2784185)
Hernandez after Santana rings up a strikeout - "the Mets have 99 problems but that pitch ain't one!"

Holy ####, that would be awesome.
   9. LIMA TIME! Posted: May 17, 2008 at 03:48 PM (#2784281)
He almost didn't make that reference, but then he remembered he was Keith Hernandez and went for it.
   10. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:13 PM (#2784317)
I sometimes worry about making too many baby boomer references that go over the heads of younger readers.


Hernandez doesn't have anything to worry about -- the Far-From-Greatest Generation has forced their "culture" down everyone else's throats since the 60's. Bob Dylan, The Beatles, blah blah blah. Yeah, we get it.
   11. Son of Snigglet Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:32 PM (#2784339)
I turned to Hernandez after that one and he waved his hand over his forehead, indicating he knew the reference went over the heads of most viewers.

Sorry, but I think this shows that Neil is more out of touch than Keith. Those of us born after 1975 have grown up with cable TV and the internet and have been filled in, believe me.

For instance, I used to watch Laugh-In on Nickelodeon in the mid-80s.

I have seen nearly every Hitchcock movie, thanks to a little invention called home video/DVD.

I am familiar with the Presidency of Jimmy Carter thanks to something known as "8th Grade Social Studies".

Nothing from mid-late 20th Century pop culture can really be considered obscure anymore.
   12. Steve Treder Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:41 PM (#2784342)
Nothing from mid-late 20th Century pop culture can really be considered obscure anymore.

What? You mean, you feel as though you know every member of the Combat platoon personally, too?!?
   13. Repoz Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:44 PM (#2784345)
Nothing from mid-late 20th Century pop culture can really be considered obscure anymore.

Not so fast my friend...There is very little written about primitive sex-dancer Lazara, from the Enric Madriguera Orchestra.

Ok...that was in the 40's.
   14. Greg Maddox Ford (Voxter) Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:46 PM (#2784346)
I don't mind Hernandez' references at all, but I do mind the implication that everybody under 30 is a moron who has never seen a Hitchcock movie. There are plenty of older folks who are morons who have never seen a Hitchcock movie. I'm related to a bunch of them. Luckily for everybody, Hernandez isn't one of these people.
   15. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: May 17, 2008 at 04:58 PM (#2784351)
Is the "sweep" in the headline merely a typo from the headline writer, or am I missing something?
   16. Billy Wagner's unspoken thoughts Posted: May 17, 2008 at 05:10 PM (#2784357)
There are plenty of older folks who are morons

What are the 20% of people who still approve of the job George Bush is doing?
   17. Boots Day Posted: May 17, 2008 at 05:37 PM (#2784378)
There are plenty of older folks who are morons who have never seen a Hitchcock movie.

For those people, Hernandez makes Ozu references.
   18. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 17, 2008 at 06:41 PM (#2784480)
What are the 20% of people who still approve of the job George Bush is doing?


20 percent of the populace belongs to the Klan?

That makes me rather uncomfortable.
   19. Jeff K. Posted: May 17, 2008 at 10:43 PM (#2784774)
Hernandez after Santana rings up a strikeout - "the Mets have 99 problems but that pitch ain't one!"

If Alou gave a #### about a pitch
he'd always be broke
   20. S.E. Kaufman Posted: May 17, 2008 at 11:19 PM (#2784818)
Maybe I'm just stupid -- I'm not a columnist in one of America's major markets -- but don't you think Hernandez waving his hands above his heads after referencing The Birds refers, you know, to the movie?
   21. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: May 18, 2008 at 12:01 AM (#2784897)
Johan Santana went through the Yankees lineup like Bernie Goetz did to those guys on the Subway!
   22. Shock Posted: May 18, 2008 at 12:19 AM (#2784899)
403 Forbidden is a pretty cool movie, but it's not as good as 404 Not Found.
   23. PreservedFish Posted: May 18, 2008 at 05:54 AM (#2784916)
Last year the Mets faced Marcus McBeth and Keith started bouncing Shakespeare references around. He is a smart and interesting guy, great to listen to.
   24. Jim Furtado Posted: May 18, 2008 at 08:43 AM (#2784930)
I watch Family Guy with my twelve and fourteen year-old boys. I don't ever hear them complain about the references they don't get. Of course, they do want me to pause the Tivo and explain when they see me laughing at something they don't get. Bonding with Family Guy. Thanks Seth MacFarlane!
   25. kevin Posted: May 18, 2008 at 09:16 AM (#2784933)
I thought Carter never actually said "malaise."


That was Teddy Kennedy. He used it in his speech announcing he was running in 1980. It pissed Carter off bigtime.
   26. kevin Posted: May 18, 2008 at 09:18 AM (#2784935)
Hernandez doesn't have anything to worry about -- the Far-From-Greatest Generation has forced their "culture" down everyone else's throats since the 60's.


Are you the biggest idiot ever?
   27. kevin Posted: May 18, 2008 at 09:20 AM (#2784938)
403 Forbidden is a pretty cool movie, but it's not as good as 404 Not Found.


Damn funny, Shock.
   28. Belfry Bob Posted: May 18, 2008 at 10:47 AM (#2784967)
Come on, let's not forget 'Timed Out'.

And I do feel I know all of the Combat guys personally, even Shecky Greene.
   29. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM (#2784988)
Until someone compares the Mets' home run top hat to Charles Nelson Reilly's seminal performance as Horatio J. HooDoo in "Lidsville," our nation will remain culturally bankrupt.
   30. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: May 18, 2008 at 12:06 PM (#2785010)
Are you the biggest idiot ever?


Not until I add an "I'm pretending to be in the military" schtick. That may put me over the top!
   31. kevin Posted: May 18, 2008 at 01:44 PM (#2785052)
SPBM, maybe you're right. There certainly was one huge error made by at least two members of the boomer generation: collaboration in bringing you into the world.
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