Speech to the Seattle Mariners and its Fans by Matt Bricker-Mounts

Mr. Owner: No one fan thinks more highly than I do of the devotion, as well as the sheer enjoyment, of the very people who support this Mariners organization. But some fans often see the same moves by you in a different light than I, and therefore, do believe that it will not be thought of as disrespectful to those fans, if, I hold as I do, opinions of our team are very different from theirs, I shall speak of my disgust freely and without reserve. The question before us is one of horrible moment for this team. For I feel it is no less than a question of losing the team from our very city. It is in only this way that we can think of arriving at the truth, and fulfill the great responsibility we hold to this team and its fans. Should I hold back my opinions at any time, I should be accused of treason to the fans, and disloyalty towards the team, which I revere above all teams.

Mr. Owner, it is natural for a fan to indulge in the illusions that the General Managers trades are good for the team. We generally shut our eyes to the moves, and listen to the words of the team, until it makes us into firm believers. Are we supposed to turn into those who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the idiocy of this General Manager? For my part, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst of the deals, and to convince him otherwise.

I ask you sir, what purpose these trades have, if not to make our team a fourth place team? Can Bill Bavasi assign any other possible motives for it? Does Bavasi have any enemy, in the front office, to call out all this accumulation of bad trades? No, sir, he has none. They are meant to appease the fans for one season; they cannot be meant for the long run. And what have we to oppose him? Shall we try boycotting? Sir, no one will ever try that in a million years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing. We have held up this thought in every way that it possible; but it has all been in vain. Shall we resort to only hope? What terms shall we find which have not already been exhausted. Let us not, Owner, deceive our selves any longer. Owner, us fans have tried everything that could be done, to avert the disaster that is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have hoped; we have booed fiercely; we have begged the front office, and have implored its position to fire the incompetent General Manager. Our petitions have been ignored; our boos have resulted in nothing; and we have been ignored, with contempt. In vain, after these things, may we indulge in the fond hope of a good, young team. There is no more room for hope. If we wish to have an excellent team-if we mean to repeat the magical 2001 season we have been so long trying to repeat- if we mean not to abandon the struggle in which we have been engaged for 4 long years, and which we have pledged never to abandon until we do repeat that season, we must fight! I repeat it, Owner, we must fight!

They tell us, sir, that this is just a time of rebuilding; that we are not done yet. But when will we be a playoff contender? Will it be next season, or in ten seasons? Will it be before all of our aged, overpriced players get injured and retire? Sir, we are not weak, if we make proper use of the city. Three and a half million fans, wanting to see a World Series ring, and in such a state as that we are in, we are invincible by any means the General Manager my entice us by. The fight, sir, is not to the loyal alone; it is to the casual fans, the active fans, the willing fans. Besides, sir, we have no choice in the General Manager. There is no retreat, but in a lifetime of losing, and injuries. Our loser attitude is being molded. We must have a chance to beat Boston in the American League Championship Series! The firing is inevitable- and let it be, for there is only one October! I repeat, let it be, for there is only one October!

It is in vain, sir, to extend his contract. Fans may cry for time, time- but there is no time. The impatience has already begun! Are team is almost on the field! Why do we stand here idle? What is it that these fans wish for? What do they want? Does the team have so much time as to be purchased at the price of another non-playoff year? Forbid it, everyone! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me a playoff team, or lose my loyalty!