During his ESPN Radio show on Friday, Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay took issue with the idea of New Yorkers supporting both local baseball teams in the playoffs. Kay criticized the concept of divided loyalties, questioning whether true fandom had evolved to include cheering for both the Yankees and the Mets.
Kay made his stance clear, stating it was impossible to sincerely back both teams. He argued that any Yankees fan rooting for the Mets couldn’t be considered a true supporter of the Bronx Bombers. Dismissing the notion of unity between the two fanbases, Kay expressed doubt about the authenticity of those who celebrated success for both teams.
“Is fandom different now?” Kay said. “Why are you rooting for the Mets if you’re a Yankee fan? Are you out of your minds? You can’t root for both! All of a sudden though, Yankee and Mets fans, kumbaya. I am not buying it! And the ones that are, they’re not real Yankee fans. If they’re just reveling in the Mets having a great win, they’re not real fans!”
Yankees faithful defend diverse NY loyalties
A baseball fan Jared Lewis questioned Kay on X, ” So I can only enjoy baseball if my favorite team is playing? I can’t appreciate a great playoff game that went back and fourth and climaxed with an awesome moment?”
Jacob P.M. replied to the Yankees voice, “Some Yankee fans just enjoy watching good postseason baseball. Could’ve been the Mets or whoever else, as long as it isn’t the Red Sox. You can acknowledge the ball the Mets have been playing without having your “Yankee card” taken away.”
A fan called Emily tried to link it to Kay’s infamous spat with the Mets’ sportscasters, “Let’s all be honest. This is all about Mets fans giving him crap about Gary Keith and Ron being a better booth for Michael. It’s as simple as that. Anyway I’m sorry this Mets fan MUST root for the Yankees against the Royals.”
Bryan Smith tweets, “The Mets are in the complete opposite league and play 4 games of 162 a year. This is absurd.”
But another fan wrote, “I’m the same age as Kay, went to same HS and I’m a Mets fan who doesn’t hate the Yankees. I had Yankees fans who didn’t hate Mets, and we all went to both stadiums as kids. I think his anti-Mets is not typical.”
Actor Jerry Ferrara, best known for his role in “Entourage,” weighed in on social media in response. A self-identified Yankees and Knicks fan, Ferrara admitted to supporting the Mets in their NLDS series against the Phillies—but with a caveat. He explained his motivation was less about loyalty to the Mets and more about his dislike for Philadelphia fans, a sentiment that dates back to a Knicks-Sixers series. Ferrara clarified that his Mets support was strictly for this round, driven by the hope of seeing Philadelphia fans disappointed by another New York victory.
Gene Berardelli, a NY attorney slammed Kay, “Call your own people “not real fans” for appreciating historic moments in baseball that happen to involve the Mets is peak buffoonery.” Another fan retorted, “This is crap. I’m a Yankees fan, but I have no hate for the Mets. I’m a NY fan. Good for them doing well. Unless we get another subway series, in which case, it’s on…”
Angelique cited the spirit of New York, “I grew up loving both Yankees and Mets and no one is going to tell me l can’t be happy about the Mets being in the Playoffs. Yes,I’m rooting for the Yankees to go all the way but l can still be happy for the Mets.”
Yankees fan Robert also had the same view, “I’m in my 40’s and a die hard Yankees fan. I grew up in Queens. My parents, brother and a lot of friends are Met fans. I was excited for them. Will that be reciprocated if the Yankees do the same thing? From a majority of them it would…But again we’re a little older and wiser.”
The debate unfolded as both New York teams prepared for their division series games, shedding light on the unique challenges of sports allegiance in a city with multiple teams competing in the same league.
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