Mets Misery Meets Sabres Joy

Two New York stories collide on the Rich Eisen Show. One is joy. The other is misery.

Coordinating producer Mike Hoskins finally has something to celebrate. The Buffalo Sabres picked up their first playoff victory in the 11-plus year history of the Rich Eisen Show, beating the Boston Bruins. The Sabres had not even made the playoffs during that window, let alone won a game in one. Video rolls of Western New York fans celebrating in a wintry mix, knocking over stanchions, banging on the glass. Rich plays it straight. The sweet people of Western New York, close to Canada. Josh Allen is somewhere showing up in a Sabres sweater and a Tim Hortons hat.

Then Rich pivots to the Mets. The New York Post headline reads 11 in Hell. Gavin Blows It as Mets Skid Keeps Growing. Devin Williams blew a one-nothing ninth-inning lead at Wrigley Field. The Mets lost in extras. Eleven straight losses, their longest skid since 2004.

Rich puts the question to TJ Jefferson, the show's longtime Mets fan and a frequent target of Rich's Yankee-leaning commentary. How is TJ handling the streak?

TJ handles it by walking out of frame and returning wearing a Dodgers jersey. O'Shea Jackson Jr. gave it to him at a birthday party a couple years back. Rich loses his mind. Is this happening? Are we doing this?

TJ plays it for laughs but stays loyal. He calls himself disgustingly loyal. He will not abandon the Mets. Rich digs into the history. The 1962 Mets lost 17 straight in their first season. Thirteen-game skid in 1982. Twelve in 2002. Eleven in 2004. So 22 years since a skid this long.

Rich floats the over. TJ flinches. Sarah Tiana, the Braves fan, is presumably over the moon watching Atlanta and Philadelphia pile on while the Mets slide. TJ admits he hates the Braves.

The segment lands because the energy is real. A Sabres win. A Mets collapse. A coordinating producer celebrating his team for the first time in a decade, and a longtime Mets fan nearly flipping allegiances at 4:20 PM Eastern.

This is why we follow sports. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and a Whoopie Pie ready to go.