Soapboxing

WHY WE'RE METS FANS, EXHIBITS ONE?

You got a lot of nerve trash writer ["Farnsworth, Scum," Flannery McCullers, Dec. 28].....you're a geek...... you're a freaking loser..... don't hate on the yankees loser and who in the hell cares what you think.... your opinion like yourself doesn't matter! you got a lot of nerve writing trash! but then people who write trash must be trash! you jerk! why don't you do the world a favor and go find the highest mountain then climb up on it..... too the very top.... then JUMP..... we would sure love to see you splatter like the trash you write but unlike you the rest of us have LIFES..... take your trashy article and im sure you know what you can do with it!......... looooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooser.

Dana Salberg, via email

?AND TWO

I thought your writing skills for this article was completely distasteful and sickening. Until you know what each Yankees fan is thinking, keep your hatred to yourself, because you're the only SCUM I see here, buddy. Go back in your hole and hide from ppl seeing your ugly face you twat scum bucket. Or better yet, do yourself a favor and step in front of a mack truck you asshole. Go back to the bottomless pits, because that's where you belong! If Yankees fans had their wish, we would stick you in at the plate and let Farnsworth bash you upside the head with a heater of a fastball you stupid prick. And this is from a TRUE YANKEES FAN! Take a flying leap you asshole!

Alana, via email

DOUBLE WHAMMIES

I enjoyed Jim Knipfel's "Book of the Dead-Last Round-Up, 2005." [Dec. 28] (Yes, I actually enjoy reading obituary columns-as long as I'm not in them!) But his "double whammies" might have included one more pair: two stars of "The Steve Allen Show"-Louis Nye and Skitch Henderson (neither of whom made Knipfel's column)-both passed away recently.

Hi-ho, Steverino, and Happy New Year!

Richard Fried, Brooklyn

TAXPAKI

Your January 4th cover page with "NY State" holding out an "I Love NY" cup looking for a handout was on the money!

Consider the financial mismanagement that has occurred under Governor Pataki's term in office. New York State is number two nationally among the 50 states with each resident responsible for $2,500 of the $49 total debt. Under "Taxpaki", state debt grew from $27 billion in 1995 to $49 billion today. Projected future red ink may raise this debt to $56 billion by 2009. State public authorities debt is an additional $72 billion. These combined debts plus future interest total $187 billion! The inheritance Pataki has left the next generation could very well bankrupt them.

Larry Penner, Great Neck

THANK GOD FOR The Boss

After reading C.J. Sullivan and Dave Hollander's ridiculous comments about Johnny Damon's idiotic long hair ["Should Damon Have Cut His Hair?," Jan. 4], how about considering a simple explanation why I and millions of others do not enjoy watching a baseball player with long bushy hair and an equally bushy beard running around the bases.

1. He looks like a terrorist, and I don't need any reminders of those ugly-looking crazy men.

2. He looks like a homeless bum. I see them every day. Do I have to see a look-alike on a baseball field for three hours?

Thank God for George Steinbrenner's sensible rules. If I had my way, all teams would be clean-shaven. Ballplayers are too obsessed with their hair and the way they wear their pants. There is a growing trend to wear them knee-high, which looks utterly ridiculous on players with bad legs, like Roger Clemens (who wore the look for a short time) and Manny Rodriguez. Even Alfonso Soriano, slender as he is, looks foolish.

Some attribute the "look," as it were, to superstition.

Somebody ought to tell the players that such superstitions are utterly fallacious. George Steinbrenner should ban that look, also.

Susan Smpadian, Manhattan

We're not sure who Manny Rodriguez is, but neither Manny Ramirez nor Alex Rodriguez wear high socks.-The Eds.

CORRECTED by

a one-named rep

I'd like to thank you for this great story on my client Avishai Cohen, but wanted to point out an inaccuracy. ["Cohen Leaves the Reservation, Dec. 14"] The bassist Omer Avital was home sick that evening, and Jason Lindner played bass lines on a synth? The guitarist was Lionel Loueke.

Thank you for your newly expanded jazz coverage. I enjoy reading Howard Mandel's work.

Amy, via email

While there's actually a long, complicated explanation for both mistakes, suffice to say that Tim Marchman is as red as a tomato and regrets the errors. Avital's forthcoming record Asking No Permission is, incidentally, first-rate. -The Eds.