There's No Crying in the Casino

Desperation for cash makes people do strange things.

For example, it has recently come to light that NY Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz's Sterling Equities proposed building a huge casino next to Citi Field as part of the retail and entertainment complex they will soon construct in Willets Point, Queens.

While Mayor Bloomberg quickly vetoed the idea, the mayor will be out of office by year's end. Will the new administration look more favorably on the deal?

Earlier this year NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver reversed field and said he would now consider bringing a full-service, "Las Vegas style" casino to Willets Point. If so, could you bet on the game while at the game?

The Mets have been desperate to offset losses they incurred in the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme. While the owners claim they are now financially solvent, their penny-pinching ways say otherwise. Not long ago the team had a $143 million payroll and was competitive.

Now that payroll has dropped to $93 million and the Mets have simultaneously plunged in the standings.

Perhaps a casino beside the stadium might allow the team to retain its best players. If the casino was already in place, they could have paid off Cy Young winner and fan favorite R.A. Dickey in chips.

Come on-baseball and gambling? What could possibly go wrong? The all-American family outing: baseball, hot dogs and craps.

And if you get in over your head and can't pay up, there are plenty of baseball bats available to smash your kneecaps!

Hey, the State uses gambling as a cash cow, so why not the Mets? The parking lot would make a perfect  spot for the new casino. While let all that empty space go to waste?

The Mets have always been gamblers, currently shown by their willingness to start the 2013 season without a professional outfielder.

Many spoilsports say while they could understand a casino at Aqueduct, which is already packed with degenerate gamblers, a casino beside a family friendly baseball park is another story. They think the Met owners could come up with better ways to fill their empty coffers.

What about renting out Citi Field for bar mitzvahs, or letting premium ticket subscribers play left field?

I've got an even better idea. If the Wilpons are so desperate for cash that they can't field a competitive team, why not just sell it? I'm sure it would bring them relief__not to mention the relief that would be felt by thousands of Mets fans.

You're welcome, Fred.