Mets fan goes crazy about NJ Transit

A  New York Mets fan commuting to Citi Field via New Jersey Transit nearly missed Opening Day, and his subsequent reaction can teach all of us a thing or two.

Frank Fleming is me. Frank Fleming is you. Frank Fleming is all of us (well at least those of us that have ever commuted to New York City via New Jersey Transit).  In fact, I am pretty sure I have uttered the exact same words in the exact same high-pitched tone about New Jersey Transit multiple times. The only difference is I’ve never done it in front of a rolling camera (as far as I’m aware).

But whether it be at Secaucus, Hoboken, or Penn Station, I can assure you that there have been multiple instances in which I was donned in Mets gear cursing out NJ Transit with no care of who was staring at me, just like Mr. Fleming. 

Check out Frank’s outburst below, courtesy of Sports Illustrated:

Frank’s outrage, by the way, is completely justified in this scenario. Honestly, I think he acted relatively calm, given the circumstances. I’ve ridden NJ Transit hundreds of times, many of those trips involving Mets games, and there is not one single time that I can recall where I was not stricken with rage and apprehension about possibly not getting to my destination on time.

In all seriousness, I am thankful that this latest incident did not result in any serious injuries. Of course, that is the most important thing when anything like a train derailment happens. But once we are assured that the incident is not a dangerous one, but merely an extreme inconvenience, it is perfectly reasonable and probably expected to react in the way Frank did.

Let’s dissect the video a bit. Frank starts out by correctly proclaiming that New Jersey Transit is “incompetent,” in a high pitched outburst that only Frank could do. Frank then goes on to mention that they told him “Track G, Track H, Track G, Track E,” only to discover that when he finally got on Track H that he was on the wrong train. The situation is far too real for anyone that has had to deal with NJ Transit before. It brings back the bitter memories of spending nights in Secaucus sleeping on the floor because I showed up for a train that never actually existed.

Listen, being late to work because of train delays is one thing. Work happens everyday and most bosses will accept the simple excuse of “NJ Transit” for your being tardy.

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But this is Opening Day. This is the Mets. This is Thor on the mound. You’ve dealt with the bitter winter and the dreary, pointless baseball-less months since October, just waiting for baseball to return. Anything standing in your way of watching baseball again deserves, at minimum, the outburst that Frank gave us. Even if, as in Mr. Fleming’s case, it only ends up costing you to miss a little bit of the first inning.