ESPN’s ‘My Wish’ series is seemingly impenetrable to the ire of critics.
Seriously.
Let’s look at the show’s formula:
1) Sick kids
2) Sick kids overcoming adversity
3) Sick kids connecting with millionaire ballplayers
If Phil Mushnick were a semi-automatic weapon, ‘My Wish’ would be the equivalent of a bulletproof vest.
In reality, I don’t hate the show. But I don’t really like it, either. Overall, I’m indifferent toward it.
Chris Connelly, who might be growing his hair in protest of being stuck with the series, does a solid enough job — for a fired VJ, at least.
And I’d say the emotional quality of ‘My Wish’ has wafted into a good number of American homes, causing a good number of American tear ducts to drain.
With all that said, I must confess something: David Wright’s ‘My Wish’ episode felt a little off.
Why, you ask?
Because it was fucking hilarious.
The humor didn’t have much to do with the six-year-old boy, whose story was an inspiring one.
More than anything, it was the current state of the Mets franchise that made it look like something The Onion would have produced.
So, let’s break the episode down:
5:58 — We learn that Deion Sanders’ impact on America’s pastime was exponentially bigger than Joe DiMaggio’s. (If Carlton Fisk is watching, he jumps from a three-story building into bathtub filled with acid and toaster ovens)
Also, you have to love Chris Connelly’s forcing-the-goosebumps-delivery of the question.
“Why do you think baseball is the best game there is?” Connelly asks, expecting a response more wholesome than a threesome between Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.
Oddly enough, Jose Reyes gave the same exact answer as Matt.
2:00 — Nick Evans signs the bat, thus bringing down its potential re-sale value by 150 percent.
1:56 — Sandy Alomar does a Latino version of this scene from The Godfather, scaring every single person in the Mets clubhouse.
1:40 — Jerry Manuel isn’t, in fact, kidding. The nervous twitching of David Wright’s leg verifies it.
1:23 — (Insert Luis Castillo jokes here, here and here.)
:58 — Ryan Church realizes his swing has more holes than a six-year-old’s.
:46 — Matt smacks two home runs, which is approximately eight less than David Wright is on pace to hit this year.
Now that I’ve locked up my own personal sector of hell, ‘I Wish’ for everyone to have a great weekend.
