Red Sox fan Bill de Blasio today threw out the first pitch at the New York Mets opening day. de Blasio, still recovering from the 1986 Red Sox World Series loss to the Mets, sought to deflect attention from that loss with a press conference discussing the New York State budget and the many budget items affecting New York City.
Red Sox Fan Reflects on Bill Buckner:
After a lengthy discussion of budget and other governmental issues, de Blasio was asked about Game 6 of the 1986 series. Displaying his true political skill, he minimized his lingering pain, defended Bill Buckner and sought to return the focus to city government and pre-K funding.
Update – Full Press Q&A:
Red Sox fan de Blasio was also asked non-baseball questions. Among the question topics were his reaction to the pre-K funding contained in the state budget agreement and the absence of his proposed income tax surcharge, what funding has been provided in the state budget for the middle school after school portion of his initiative, the outlook for his as yet unfulfilled request for state approval of additional red light cameras in the City and the lingering pain of Bill Buckner’s bobble in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Here is his full press Q&A.