Remember the Mets? Remember Shea!

I've become obsessed with this election with day-to-day feelings ranging from "it's all going to work out for the best" to "I'm never overestimating my fellow citizens again; hell, I won't even estimate them." My addiction to polls, political coverage, and left-leaning websites is not good for my blood pressure.

So what better respite from the non-stop, unhealthy, and tabloidy election season than the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club?

Thanks to the election I've been writing about my Mets a lot less often lately, but I've still been following along, watching games when they appear on my limited TV channels and heading out to Shea when I don't forget that I've got a ticket.

I've just returned from what could turn out to be my final game at Shea Stadium, since it's being torn down at the end of the season. (There's a slight possibility, if the Mets make the playoffs, that I'll win the opportunity to purchase post-season tickets.) The Mets won a wild one, 13-10.

Shea is an industrial dump of a stadium, which is part of why I've always liked it. It's a terrible place to watch baseball. The Plebeian seats are particularly far from the action, because Shea wasn't created for baseball specifically. The New York Jets played there, as did the Beatles. So in terms of watching the game, the new stadium should be an improvement.

Still, I've got a warm spot in my heart for Shea. I've seen some great games there over the years, and it's been a big part of my life in New York, especially since 2000, when I moved to Queens.

And it's the Queens charm of Shea that I'll miss. The Home Run Apple popping out of that magic hat is dented, cheap-looking, and cheesy as hell. It's also a highlight for its lameness. I'd have been exceptionally disappointed if the Mets hadn't hit a home run at last night's game, and thank goodness David Wright delivered the goods.

I'm not alone in my fondness for the Home Run Apple. The Save The Apple campaign failed and, as announced by the Daily News, there will be a newfangled, fancypants Home Run Apple as part of our newfangled, fancypants stadium.

It's too bad, really. A touch of the old to go with the new would've really added some non-corporate, non-Citibank, genuine Queens mojo to the new stadium.

I'm going to miss that Shea Stadium.