Watchdog

The second item in my Tuesday newspaper column concerns the ongoing difficulties at Citigroup and how that might affect the $400-million deal to slap its name atop the Mets' new ballyard.

In it Citi reaffirms its commitment in the wake of a bailout, and its CFO admits that even if it wanted out, it has a binding contract.

This is a complex, emotional situation, as you can tell from Rieber's column and the comments in my post Monday.

I made some lame attempts in my collumn to think of government-related names for the stadium - i.e. "Tax Shack" - but readers can surely do better.

Take a stab at it if you can get your comment through our maddening filtering system. The best idea will earn WatchDog kudos.

I thought about writing a column for Tuesday about Citigroup's $20 million per year naming rights deal with the Mets, which still is in place despite 52,000 pending layoffs and now a government bailout.

I changed my mind and decided to write about the Jets and Giants instead.

No worries.

Rieber took care of the topic for me.

I'm done for today. I swear. Enjoy Caps-Wild on Versus at 8 p.m.

Baumbach shot video today of what's left of Shea Stadium. Well, actually, it's just plain TADIUM now. The SHEA S is gone, presumably sold off by MeiGray Group. Sigh.

This scoreboard doesn't exist anymore.

Click here for the eerie, disturbing video.

I'm starting to tear up.

(UPDATE: Here's a good story on this from my friend/mortal enemy newspaper war combatant Sandomir of The Times.)

I wrote an item in my Friday newspaper column updating the Shea Stadium memorabilia sale, in which bidding is underway for items ranging from the "S" from the Shea sign atop the stadium to a sign for a family restroom.

Here is depressing video and pictures from what Shea looks like now.

Here is the Web site to bid for remaining stuff for sale.

Sigh.

This link from Deadspin is NOT suitable for children.

It is a live decapitation of Mr. Met on Fox News after Wednesday night's debate at Hofstra.

Disturbing.

(UPDATE: More on the story from our friends at MetsBlog.com.)

I realize this is far from an original thought, but it really is quite incredible how closely the story of the 2008 Rays matches that of the 1969 Mets.

Here's the article former Newsday scribe Tom Verducci wrote for SI on that subject a few weeks ago.

I wrote a long story in the Sunday newspaper about the potential impact of the ongoing economic difficulties on New York sports - particularly on teams about to move into new buildings.

Since I wasn't the first sports business writer to tackle the subject, I figured I might as well be among the last.

Thanks to the executives and experts for going through their spiels one last time for the benefit of my readers and me.

These are the kinds of stories newspaper people have to write to be thorough and thoughtful on the issues of the day. So just take your medicine and read it, OK? Then I'll leave you alone and let you watch football.

One of the execs I spoke to was the Mets' Dave Howard.

So did Roslyn's own Darren Rovell of CNBC, who went into much more detail than I did with Mr. Howard on the Citi Field suites. It's right here.

Had a nice chat this morning with Dave Howard, the Mets' Grand Poobah of Business Related Stuff - and former quarterback at one of those Half Hollow Hills Highs (East, I think).

Among other things, I asked about the status of the Mets' discussions regarding a new radio contract now that their deal with WFAN is up.

"Good question," he said. "We have had an interesting competitive period of negotiations. There were two other stations that have expressed strong interest that have made offers. I think we’ll know relatively soon."

Howard wouldn't say what the two other contenders are or characterize the likelihood of the Mets returning to WFAN.

But I believe one of the two suitors was WNYM-AM (970). I also believe the Mets will end up back on WFAN, as I wrote a few weeks back.

This is ridonkulously cool, and weird. It's footage of Tom Seaver pitching for the Alaska Goldpanners in the 1965 Midnight Sun Game, the Fairbanks tradition in which a game is begun at 11 p.m. or so around the summer solstice and played without benefit of artificial light. (Seaver started but left to go to the hospital after trying to catch a batted ball bare-handed.)

I covered the 1983 Midnight Sun Game. I believe Joe Magrane pitched for the Goldpanners. It was cloudy, and thus dangerously dark for a stretch. But no one went to the hospital.

What does this have to do with anything?

Nothing, other than the fact I am announcing SNY will be re-showing the Shea closing ceremonies - in which Seaver played a key role - at 8 p.m. Friday.

Several readers asked whether the event would be shown again. Many missed it the first time around, perhaps because they were too depressed by the preceding game to stomach it.

Marlins-Mets attracted 7.3 percent of area homes, the closing ceremonies only 2.8.

For my next trick, I will write a column for the Friday newspaper. See ya.

Enjoy the Vice Presidential debate . . . speaking of Alaska.

Here is Zack Hample's 5,000-word blog post about catching the last home run hit by a Met at Shea, less than two weeks after catching homer balls at Yankee Stadium on consecutive nights.

Ridonkulous.