The New York Mets are such a mess that I almost feel guilty writing about them. Not only are the "Amazin's" hapless on the field, now the management is getting in on the act. Does anyone else feel that Mets General Manager Omar Minaya has been given more than enough rope to hang himself? Earlier this week, Minaya fired Mets Vice president of player personnel Tony Bernazard after Bernazard got into a heated argument with All-Star closer Francisco Rodriquez, challenged Double-A players to a fight, and berated a team employee over a seating mix-up. Minaya then accused a Mets New York Daily News beat writer of writing negative comments about Bernazard so the beat writer could get a job with the Mets. This seems like a bit of a stretch as I am pretty sure the writer's job at the newspaper is considerably more secure than any position in the Mets organization. Minaya and the Mets are making enough headlines to rival the Yankees "Bronx Zoo" days of the late seventies. If you want to know what is at the root of the Mets miseries — here's my take on the situation. The Mets colors are supposed to be blue and orange. A few years back the Metsies added black to their uniforms (presumably to sell more fan-wear to the hip-hop generation) and it is my belief that the Mets will not contend again until they discard the black and go back to their original colors. Some will say this is nonsense. But if it is empirical evidence you want, just witness the fortunes of another professional team that has added black to their colors in recent years — the Detroit Lions (I send my apologies to my good friend Andy Walter for bringing up his frustration-inducing Lions). The NFL season is just starting and I wouldn't want to dampen Andy's hopes of the Lions winning two or three games this year……….One has to wonder how good new Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens would be if he just shut up and played football. Already ESPN has been covering the "breaking news" that Terrell has developed a positive relationship with Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards. Who cares? Dave Collier of Collier Motor Car Company might. Collier is a big Bills fan. I kid Dave that Owens will become a disruptive force by game three of the season. Of course, all of this may come back to haunt me. My own "dedication to futility," the Cleveland Browns, play both Detroit and Buffalo this season……….Former Blue Devils athlete Matt Haight, a 1995 graduate of Ellenville High School, where he played football and wrestled, is now the Assistant Director of Security at the Boston Garden……….A couple of years ago I wrote that the Shawangunk Country Club was experiencing deep financial problems. At the time, the Shawangunk had eliminated the swimming pool and the tennis courts had been long neglected. Many felt that the final days of the Shawangunk were at hand. Well, I played the "Gunk" last weekend and the course is in great shape. It is rare that a golf course gets too much rain, but the Shawangunk has held up well during this wet season and there were only a few really wet spots. The course is as green as anyone can remember and much of the credit can be given to the club pro, John Magaletta. The course is challenging enough and I certainly don't need any additional help in losing golf balls on the course, but the sleeve of three balls I bought in the pro shop quickly found their way into the new higher, European-style rough that surrounds many of the fairways. It was interesting navigating the always tough par-34, nine-hole course. The course was opened in 1927 and remains one of the hidden gems of golfing in the Hudson Valley. The view from the tee box on the fourth hole, par-3, with the mountains in the background, is my personal favorite. The elevated tee box on the eighth hole, par-4, always makes me take a John Daly-like swing and inevitably results in the rough on the left side of the fairway gobbling up many of my tee shots. The Gunk is very reasonable at $15 with a cart for nine holes, and if you are in the area, it is definitely worth a shot. The club also seems to be doing much better thanks in large part to a group of dedicated members who have worked tirelessly to keep the course afloat. The recent tournament to benefit the club, called the Concert on the Green, attracted 127 golfers……….It was interesting to note that Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan recently chose to recuse himself from any vote on the Ellennridge development properties because his law partner represents the Ellenridge group. Kaplan has not created a sterling resume of business development in the village, although we continue to see inordinate amounts of Section 8 housing. If he really wants to help the Village of Ellenville, Kaplan should consider recusing himself from being Mayor……….I recently completed a bike ride that included the 3.1 mile path of the Ellenville Run Like the Wind 5K course. The painted markings that show runners the race route are still visible, although a bike rider must keep an eye out for traffic. The course is relatively easy and includes some scenic sights and a tour of some nice Ellenville residential areas. The Village of Ellenville should consider making the markings permanent so that area residents could run, walk, or bike the 5K route. I've never been a big fan of running. I prefer driving. But I've always tried to motivate myself to take on the Run Like the wind 5K race. I keep putting it off, saying I am just getting older and there are other ways to get in shape and challenge myself. I may have to speak with race organizer Rob Baxter. Baxter is an Ellenville H.S. graduate and former Blue Devils basketball player who runs often and completed this year's 5K in 22:05. I might not be able to use age as an excuse to avoid the race. I noticed that Bernie Stahl of Olive Bridge finished this year's 5K run in 36:23. Stahl is 76 years young……….I like the job Robbie Cano has done since he became the second baseman for the New York Yankees, but I do miss Alfonso Soriano……….The NFL should just let former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick return to the NFL immediately. Vick has paid his debt to society and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should stop acting like the league is clean cut and honest. Besides, we could use some NFL news that doesn't have to do with Brett Favre coming back or not coming back, depending on what day of the week it is……….until next time!