A Sure Kiss Of Death

In today's New York Post, they have a big screaming headline in their sports section that goes:

"YOU BET-- METS WILL WIN SERIES."

Actually, the article is about the Glantz-Culver betting line in Las Vegas making the Mets the odds on favorite, at 5-1, to win the 2006 World Series. (They have both the Red Sox and Yankees at 6-1.)

I find that making pronouncements like that headline to be wildly premature, and outright silly. The Mets have a lot to prove, especially come October. They have no one chasing them in the NL East, so even if they go .500 the rest of the way, it would take a herculean effort from the Phillies or Braves to catch them. (I don't see that at all possible.)

But come playoff time, anything can happen. I'm not saying the Mets can't win the World Series, it's just that seeing headlines like that have a way of coming back to haunt you. (Remember Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe writing an article last June about how the Red Sox had the AL East all wrapped up?)

And if that wasn't enough bad karma, one of the guys in the Post writing about the Las Vegas odds story today is none other than Steve Serby, who wrote a column during the NFL season called "Mr. Loser," about his terrible picks during the season.

I wish the Mets all the best. I have a feeling they may need it.