You buy a used car and upon driving it home it starts to make all sorts of sounds. You are having trouble starting it, and it doesn’t seem to be of the same quality that you were promised at the dealer. You take it back, but they claim nothing is wrong. It’s you that has the problem, not the dealer. That is kind of what it is to be a Mets fans these days.

Every interview with Bud Selig, David Howard, and Fred and Jeff Wilpon results in the same corporate talking points. The fans need to take off their blue and orange sunglasses and realize the Selig and the Wilpons are “peeing on your leg and telling you it’s raining.” On one side you have a used car salesman; the other you have two individuals that have been involved in not one, but two, Ponzi schemes. The Wilpons have backtracked at every point since Bernie Madoff was arrested in December of 2008. We have gone from it not having an impact on the baseball operations, to it won’t affect payroll, to looking for minority investors, to laying off employees. Now they are putting together some elaborate minority investor plan that will pay interest. Doesn’t that sound an awful like a pyramid scheme? At one point will the mainstream media admit what is inevitable? At what point will someone stand up and demand this club is sold? What reporter and newspaper will take the plunge and tell the world the truth? Why are we going along with the scam?

The Wilpons can’t afford the New York Mets. They funded the purchase on the fantasy of Madoff profits and credit. The Mets became a big market spending team because of a Ponzi scheme. They wrote a check to build a stadium they can’t cover. It’s a matter of what will get to them first- the $500 million in loans due in 2014, $450 million borrowed against SNY, and $600 million in Citi Field debt? Tell me what business plan can make that money go away? Even if the Mets won the World Series the next three years can you honestly believe they will be profitable enough to turn it around? We know that is not going to happen, so will a contending team do it? The fan base didn’t show up in 2007, ticket brokers did, the year after they won 97 games and went to Game 7 of the NLCS. What makes you think they will come back right away after what they’ve been through the last five years?

It used to just not be cool to follow the Mets. Now you wear a Mets hat and you get associated with Madoff, incompetence, and failure. Why would any young fan subject themselves to that? With all the other entertainment options do you think kids want to live through a modern day version of the late 70s? You know the answer.

If the Mets were sold there could be hope. Look at how David Einhorn was treated at Citi Field when he was announced as the lead candidate to become a minority investor. Imagine how a new owner will be treated. He will be viewed as the guy riding in on the white horse. The guy who saved the Mets from obscurity. The guy who saved us from the scowl of Jeff Wilpon and the “George Bailey idealism” of his father. The guy who sent Saul Katz and his elaborate financial schemes packing.

Owners can come back from the dead. James Dolan was the most hated owner in all of sports just four years ago. Today, he is trying to save the NBA lockout and he brought Carmelo Anthony to New York. He isn’t loved by any means, but Knicks fans aren’t lining up outside the Garden to call for his head. He should send Fred and Jeff a thank you card for how they have helped him.

The difference is the Wilpons don’t have Cablevision money. Dolan was hated for his decision making, but he always had the capital to run the Knicks like a New York franchise. My feeling is the Wilpons would be better served running the Cyclones than a big league club, that is, if they could afford it.

All the facts are in front of us. Anyone with common sense can see the Mets are a financial house of cards. You don’t need to see their books, just look at their actions and see what happens to any American company that behaves in the same way as the Wilpons. It usually leads to that company being sold or led into bankruptcy. Do you honestly believe it will stop with employee downsizing? Don’t you see the payroll has been downsized? Don’t you see it will be downsized even more? You don’t need more than $100 million to win, but you do need it when Jason Bay and Johan Santana make up 50% of that figure.

Whatever fans are left deserve to move away from this ownership group. Have someone come in and start over in rebuilding the Mets brand. Of course, the used car salesman wants you to believe the car he sold you works; it just needs a tune up. Those sounds you hear when driving are your imagination. Everything is fine. Trust me; would I ever lie to you?

I know the answer to that question, do you?

Of course, according to Jeff Wilpon this is “none of your business.” Guess what Jeff? The fans money in their wallet is none of yours.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

Mike Silva

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Tags: Bud Selig, Citi Field, David Howard, Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, New York Mets, Saul Katz, SNY