Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Appears Live on WFAN Sports Radio

October 12, 2015

Mike Francesa: All right, from Eli Manning to Mayor de Blasio who joins us now on the line. Mayor, how are you?

Mayor Bill de Blasio: I’m doing good, Mike, and I want to pass on my greetings to all the members of the Mongo Nation. 

Francesa: Oh really? I didn’t know you were familiar with the Mongo Nation. Are you a member? 

Mayor: I cannot claim to be a member yet, but the Mongo Nation is a very important constituency in this town. 

Francesa: Yeah, it’s getting larger by the day. So, mayor, tell me, are you actually – is this a political deal or are you really a Met fan?

Mayor: At this point in the season, you know, there’s a team I grew up with and I’m loyal to, but they’re gone now, Mike. [inaudible] it’s all the Mets now for me, because this team is fantastic, and they were robbed the other night, but I think this team has a look of destiny about them, I really do. 

Francesa: So, you are a lifetime Yankee fan. Is that true?

Mayor: No, no, no – I grew up in Massachusetts –

Francesa: Oh, you’re a Red Sox fan?

Mayor: Born in New York City, grew up in Massachusetts – loyal to the team of my childhood. But as you know about Red Sox fans, we have an alliance with the Mets. We have an alliance with the Mets.

Francesa: A Red Sox fan – okay, okay. So – but now, tonight, you’re a Mets fan for the evening. Is that it?

Mayor: Unquestionably, for the whole series and beyond, because I am convinced they’re going to win this series. And I think this is a team that could go all the way with [inaudible] I really believe they could do it. 

Francesa: [inaudible] with you being a Red Sox fan and now rooting for the Mets, you better watch the Bronx, you know that? I mean, jeez – I mean, you know, you’re alienating some of your constituents there. 

Mayor: No, you’ve got to be – when it comes to sports, you’ve got to be loyal to the teams you love. So, I’ve always been clear about what my first team is, but, since they’re not here anymore, this team – this is a really fantastic team. I’ve got to tell you, I really want to emphasize they got robbed the other night. And I am in the camp that believes that what Chase Utley did was wrong [inaudible] it wasn’t even close. But if baseball needs to clarify its rules, there’s no time like the present, because that was unbelievable. 

Francesa: Well, we’re ready for game three this evening. So, do you go to a lot – are you a big baseball fan?

Mayor: I’m a huge baseball fan – number one sport for me by far. And I love all baseball and I think this is going to be an exciting one tonight, so I’m looking forward to being there. 

Francesa: And have you attended a lot of games this year or not too many?

Mayor: I went to three or for of the Mets games, and I thought, you know, this team has gotten better and better. They handled the trade deadlines beautifully. I think this is one of the most improved teams because of what they did in July. And I really think they’ve got all the pieces now. And I fell bad about what happened to Tejada, obviously, and it was totally wrong, but they still have enough – they’ve got enough of a bench. This is a team that can go all the way.

Francesa: Now, listen, you’ve got – you know, if you go out there tonight, the one thing folks look for is – they like their civic leaders to show up and stay the entire game. So, are you going to camp out for nine innings tonight or what?

Mayor: It’s the only way to go to a ball game.

Francesa: Alright, so –

Mayor: It’s the only way.

Francesa: You got a prediction for me this evening?

Mayor: I feel great about Harvey, and I think – look, I think the Mets are a more complete team than the Dodgers. Obviously, I love the pitching. I think the Mets now have the kind of bench they always needed. I think you’re going to see a lot from [inaudible]. I think it’s just a better all-around team and tonight’s going to be a big night for the Mets. That is my prediction. I think – they beat the Dodgers. I assume they get the Cardinals, although the Cubs are –

Francesa: It might be the Cubs after [inaudible] today. He’s been un-hittable. So, I mean, he’s a little tough. But, Mets and Cubs would be fun. The Mets and Cubs – Mets and Cubs would be a lot of fun, I agree with that. Who’s your – we’re talking with Mayor de Blasio as he heads out to the game – who’s your all-time favorite Red Sox growing up? Who’s your guy?

Mayor: Growing up, I have to say – I loved Rico Petrocelli, a proud son of Brooklyn – definitely one of the biggest ones. And then, you know, more recently I loved David Ortiz. I think he is just special for all of baseball. 

Francesa: Well, now all the Yankee fans really hate you if you love Ortiz. 

Mayor: You know –

Francesa: I mean, nobody’s killed the Yankees more than Ortiz has. I mean –

Mayor: Look, you’ve got to respect him. You’ve got to respect what a clutch hitter looks like. 

Francesa: Alright, Rick Petrocelli – okay, who used to hit a lot of home runs playing shortstop for the Red Sox. Well –

Mayor: 1967 – Impossible Dream team, remember?

Francesa: I remember it very well, as a matter of fact. Do you remember that?

Mayor: I do. That was the first year I really, you know, started to understand baseball. I was six-years-old, and you could imagine being around for that team and then the ’75 team as well. That’s what hooked me for life. 

Francesa: What town did you grow up in?

Mayor: Cambridge.

Francesa: Oh, in Cambridge? Okay, yeah, I’m familiar. So – grew up in Cambridge as a Red Sox fan. Were you also a football fan or really a baseball fan?

Mayor: I was a football fan, but the Patriots back then had nothing, but I stuck with them. Who knew? Who knew? I stuck with them through the bad times, not knowing how good they would get later, but it’s been amazing. 

Francesa: Well, listen, I appreciate the call. Enjoy the game tonight, mayor. Thank you very much.

Mayor: Thank you, Mike

Francesa: My pleasure, thank you. Alright, Mayor de Blasio, who – I wasn’t aware he was Red Sox fan. I did not know that. Alright – heading out to the game tonight, and, you know – listen, all you got to do is hope that the mayor stays for nine innings. You know, you can’t get up and leave, that’s the only thing. You’ve got to stay. You’ve got to deal with it. But there’s the mayor, heading out to the ball game tonight.