Brian Joura – I grew up on Staten Island and went to the same high school that produced MLB pitchers Jason Marquis and Rich Scheid, the latter being in my homeroom class.
I followed Jim Valvano to North Carolina State but earned my degree from Guilford College. Previously, I’ve worked for Howe Sportsdata, Street and Smith’s The Sports Business Daily and SportsTicker. Currently, I work for a Division II school but my favorite gig is being a dad to my two kids.
Following the Mets all of these years has produced some famous highs and lows. I’m still convinced the Mets won Game 6 of the 1986 World Series because I sat completely still on the couch throughout the comeback, afraid to move a single muscle in case I might jinx the comeback.
While most Mets fans point to June 15, 1977 as the worst day in history, I’ve always felt that October 22, 1974 was a bad one, too. That’s when we dealt Duffy Dyer for Gene Clines. It still hurts.
David Groveman – I am a lifelong met fan who graduated from the Met Message boards of ESPN to the blogging world. I am a relatively optimistic blogger who isn’t afraid to take a leap into the whimsical, comical or laughable. I follow the minor leagues every Monday with statistical analysis and general statements about the health of our top prospects and surprise successes. There’s no crying in baseball and I am going to always focus more on the reasons to smile.
Rob Rogan – I’m an IT Analyst by day and whatever-happens-to-currently-hold-my-attention by night. Originally from North Jersey, I’ve since lived in more places than I care to count. I find that Mets fans are a rare breed outside of the (true) Tri-State area, so the online community is generally where I discuss all things Mets. I’ve always enjoyed writing but, with my lovely wife as my muse, I’m finally trying my hand at putting it to good use.
John Fox – On a warm summer evening in 1962, I attended my first baseball game at the Polo Grounds. My father and brothers and I saw a clash between the Mets and the Dodgers. Although it was a close pitchers duel, since the pitchers were Roger Craig and Sandy Koufax, you can probably figure out who won.
Since then I went to college and graduated from SUNY New Paltz, and was in the Air Force for four years. I have worked in several different fields including weather forecasting where I was heard on some radio stations for a few years.
It has been 43 years since I last lived in the New York area. I retired on 2014, and live in Tennessee with my wife Sue and one cat. Our adult children have long since moved out on their own.
Dalton Allison – My father went to games at Shea Stadium when tickets were $1.00 a piece, and he instilled the love for the team in me. Although I have never been alive to witness the Mets win a World Series, I can’t wait to write about it when they do! I am currently a sophomore at Seton Hall, where I am a Visual and Sound Media major. At Seton Hall, I am the Assistant Sports Director/ Web Editor at 89.5 FM WSOU, the 2016 Non-Commercial Marconi Award winning Station of the Year. To pay the bills, I am a producer at Total Traffic Network.
Charlie Hangley – I was born right before Casey Stengel retired. As an 8-year-old in 1973, I attended my first game at Shea Stadium – a one-hit shutout loss at the hands of the Braves’ Ron Schueler — and knew I’d found a home. I’ve seen the good (1973, 1986, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015), the bad (1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1991) and the ugly (too many to list). I’ve rooted for the Mets faithfully for over 45 years and have no intentions of stopping now.
I live in Teaneck, NJ with my wife (Abby), 2 kids (Anna & Adam), 2 dogs (Nick & Hawkeye), 1 cat (Lily), and unfortunately surrounded by Yankee fan neighbors.
Denis Engel – I was born in the same year as the Mets – 1962. I grew up in Somers, NY and earned my undergraduate degree from Albany State. After teaching high school, I switched gears and earned a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University. I am the Managing Partner of my law firm – we are dedicated to representing labor unions.
I am married and fortunate to be the father of twins (one boy, one girl) who are the greatest joy of my life. My son is a really good high school player.
Through all the hustle and bustle of life, I have managed to watch or listen to nearly every game the Mets have played for the past 55 years. They are my diversion from life’s journey.
If there’s anything I would change about my life it’s this: I would love to be in the booth with Gary, Keith and Ron.
Steven Shrager – By day I am the Director of Audit Services for a NYS governmental agency striving to ensure that hundreds of millions of dollars that we supply to non-profit organizations is appropriately spent. The rest of the time is spent enjoying life including of course following our beloved Mets, an obsession that started back in their 1962 inaugural season. Through the highs and the lows I have kept the faith and hoped for the best. I live outside of Albany, NY and aside from the Mets, I am obsessed with my four young grandsons, who of course already have a full complement of Mets garb!