Who knew a nickname could cause this much acrimony?
News that Tom Brady recently filed to trademark "Tom Terrific" has drawn the ire of New York Mets fans who insist legendary pitcher Tom Seaver deserves the nickname.
In fact, the news irked the Mets faithful so much that they held a rally Tuesday night at a restaurant in Manhattan's Upper East Side to support Seaver and protest Brady's filing.
And guess who showed up to this rally? Ed Kranepool and Art Shamsky, two members of the 1969 World Series champion Mets and former teammates of Seaver's.
Kranepool and Shamsky witnessed a bizarre scene, as angry Mets fans "hurled Boston baked beans and black beans at a Brady jersey and poster before trashing both," according to the New York Post.
The two "Amazin' Mets" members didn't join those shenanigans, but they still believe Brady is in the wrong by trying to trademark Seaver's name.
"Maybe it’s the new athlete, who is the ‘I’ generation, and he’s only thinking about himself," Kranepool said. "He’s the greatest quarterback that ever lived. [But] there was only one Tom Terrific."
"Tom Terrific" doesn't even begin with Seaver; he earned the nickname as a reference to the late 1950s cartoon series. But with the 74-year-old Hall of Famer battling dementia and out of the public spotlight, Kranepool and Shamsky want to defend their teammate and have Brady's request nullified.
New England Patriots
"Hopefully ‘Tom Terrific’ will live on forever because he’s one of the greatest pitchers ever," Shamsky said.
"If he can’t talk for himself, we certainly can talk for him," Kranepool added.
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