COULD IT BE?

Arriving in the USA almost fifteen years ago, one of the major readjustements was learning a bunch of sports that were seldom seen in the UK. There was no soccer worth speaking of, no cricket, no rugby - all of which had been a part of my life since childhood.

Instead there was football, baseball, ice hockey and basketball. Having sat and yawned at a Knicks game and been bored out of my skull watching the Islanders play, I did eventually get to understand the point of two other hybrid sports - football and baseball.

In both sports there are two New York teams of course and while my football loyalties had already been established - far from the Meadowlands - I had to decide who to root for on the baseball diamond. In my ignorance I opted for the underdogs and there have followed endless seasons of disappointment as a New York Mets fan.

Every season has started with great hopes, generally to see them dashed long before Memorial Day. But as I sit here tonight watching Martinez, Reyes, Wright and co, I dare to believe that this really could be the year.

Baseball is no longer a foreign game played by interesting characters in strange outfits - it's a game I enjoy. And I love it all the more when my Mets are winning!