Mets good luck charm the "Rally Pimp" sparked a moral discussion on the team's off-day

Not all heroes wear capes. Many do, though. This could eventually be a part of Max Wiener's next outfit when he shows up to Citi Field supporting the New York Mets as the name he received from the fans, the Rally Pimp.

His origin story started on a Thursday. Found by the television cameras in the stands, Pete Alonso immediately homered after. It was the turning point of the young season. Ever since, the Mets have been about as good as it gets. Coincidence? Don’t tell that to Wiener.

Like so many other heroes, this one is now the subject of some controversy. Why wouldn't he be? It was Andy Martino whose wet blanket comment had fans talking on the Mets' off-day about whether or not the rally pimp is offensive.

The good luck charm of the Mets has his haters

This is a completely non-baseball related topic. Those subjects always seem to successfully seek out the Mets. The freedom of expression is at play here, but like so many expressions, people have the right to be offended. They can also be wrong in whatever they believe.

What if Wiener chose a different type of outfit? Pimp might be an extreme. Dressing as a nun, viewable as the complete opposite, would cause the same level of outrage. Martino’s problem is about the imagery being problematic. If the Mets had a Rally Nun right now, people would be crying about the mockery of religion.

Rally Doctor? Eh, that’s offensive to people who worked hard to get through school. Rally Wrestler? Put on some clothes, young man! Rally Clown? It’s like this guy is purposefully trying to trigger my coulrophobic aunt.

Even if Wiener showed up dressed as a mailman—the least offensive uniform-wearing easily identifiable type of human I could come up with—there’d be an outcry over the term Rally Mailman. Because it really should be Rally Mailcarrier or those in the industry might prefer Rally Postal Service Employee since their duties could extend beyond carrying and delivering mail.

It took two weeks for Martino to speak up and it’s not surprising. Many of us probably saw this coming. We didn’t say anything ourselves because we weren’t bothered by it. We know Wiener is an innocent fan. Taking him literally as a pimp is like thinking any kid on the boardwalk with a “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy” t-shirt is a criminal. Whether his aim was to be fashionable or a caricature, he caught everyone's attention which typically is the goal of dressing colorfully. He's peacocking for whatever purpose his intentions are.

To Martino’s point, it isn’t the best representation of the franchise. Purely accidental in the way it all happened, he’s just this year’s Donnie Stevenson with the added benefit of being created organically much like you and I were on drunken night at Long Beach Island back in the 1980s. Wiener’s dedication to the Mets isn’t up for debate. He was there during a last-minute scheduled doubleheader. This is his 15 minutes and I hope he enjoys every second of it.

Martino wasn’t the best person to speak up about this. His relationship with the fans naturally has many going against him even if what he’s saying is right. In this case, it’s a matter of preference.

The best solution would be for a name other than Rally Pimp even if the style stayed the same. Unfortunately, it’s too late. The name was created, t-shirts have been sold, and it is what it is. No one has been hurt and that’s what’s important.

The ironic thing is he doesn’t really look much like his nickname at all. He’s much closer to Ric Flair than anything else. And you better believe if the Mets win a World Series this year, Pete Alonso will dress much the same.

Baseball doesn't always have to be analytics, the process of running an organization, or boring old men talking balls and strikes. Give the sport some color. Get goofy. Have fun.