Mets Archives – EzKool

Behold! Vladimir Putin and Ronald Reagan Together in a 1988 Photo

I knew there was a reason Republicans love the Russian dictator president so much.

With Vladimir Putin back in the news so prominently, now may be a good time to look back at a photo that got some attention in 2009: a photo of Ronald Reagan in Russia, a photo taken by the man who currently fills the same official role for President Obama, and a photo that appears to feature Putin himself dressed up like a tourist.

Pete Souza is the White House photographer for President Obama, but he also worked in the same capacity under Reagan, and he snapped that photo in 1988 of Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev greeting tourists. And Souza claimed back in 2009 (and said this information was confirmed to him) that the man on the very left, the tourist-y looking fellow with the camera around his neck, is in fact Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB agent at the time and was undercover.
Moscow officials, however, very much doubt it’s actually Putin, though it does look quite like the Russian leader…

h/t Mediaite

Tears For The Fallen

Last year when Johan Santana tossed the first no-hitter in Mets history, Terry Collins was moved to tears by the display. Many had comments about Collins’ emotional reaction to Santana’s achievement. Even though this was a big day for the Mets organization, people said Collins didn’t have enough history with the club to be moved to tears. Some even went as far as making fun of him for it.

Now it has become a little clearer that maybe those tears had nothing to do with the club’s long history without a no-no until that day. Maybe Collins knew then what we are learning now. Johan was a lot closer to the end than anyone was willing to admit. Collins saw one last moment of greatness for one of the greats cut down by injury.

The Mets just broke the news that Santana has yet another tear in his pitching shoulder and his season is likely over. He will spend the entire year strengthening and rehabbing from his latest injury. But now the question is: is it worth it? Will Santana see the need in another difficult rehabilitation if another injury could be imminent. This latest shoulder tear could spell the end of Santana’s career.

Met fans can’t be mad at him either. You can be pissed at the situation and you can be disappointed that his Mets tenure was ultimately a bust. But comparing him to say Carl Pavano’s Yankee tenure would be inaccurate. Santana is a competitor. He’s a guy that gives 110% on the field and when he is trying to come back from an injury, he gives even more. His determination is something that has never been called into question. However, when talking about him, you can’t help but wonder what might have been if he could just stay healthy.