As a Knicks fan, I remember in 1999 when Patrick Ewing went down with a partially torn Achillies tendon against the hated Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.  The team’s leader was sidelined.  He was robbed of what proved to be his last chance to win a championship.  He gathered his teammates together, and he delivered a message:

I told them before practice started that I believe in them, and for them to go out there and get me my ring.  They’re ready.  They’re ready to get it for me.

(New York Times)

As it turns out, the Knicks would rally to beat the Pacers, but they would falter against the much deeper and talented San Antonio Spurs.

Ewing never did get his ring.  When the Knicks had won the Draft Lottery in 1985, the question was never whether Ewing would win a ring, it was how many rings he would win.  Ewing always did his part.  He won the Rookie of the Year Award.  He was an 11 time All Star.  He was the Knicks all-time leading scorer.  He was named to the 1992 Dream Team that won gold in Barcelona.  He was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.  To many, he is the greatest Knick to ever wear the uniform.  Ewing did everything but win a ring.  In many ways, he has become a tragic figure amongst Knicks fans.

That’s the fate befalling David Wright.  When he was called-up in 2004, Mets fans were able to imagine him winning multiple World Series.  That notion was fortified by the 2006 season.  Then disaster struck in 2007 and 2008.  The Mets were then terrible for nearly a decade.  Through all of it Wright stayed with the Mets, and he played extremely well.  He has had a borderline Hall of Fame career.  With his spinal stenosis, the only left for Wright to reasonably accomplish is to win a World Series ring.  He came painstakingly close last year.  He’s on a team that is built to do it this year.

However, Wright is no longer going to be a part of that team.  Wright now needs surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck.  While Wright and the Mets are not discounting his return to the team this year, there are others who suggest Wright will not be able to play again until the 2017 season.  At that point, Wright will be a 34 year old who has spinal stenosis and a cervical fusion.  While we have learned never to count Wright out, we cannot assuredly believe that he will be able to every play again.  Furthermore, even if he will be able to play again, we don’t know what the Mets future holds.

Neil Walker will be a free agent.  Yoenis Cespedes can opt out of his deal, and given his production, he will most likely opt out of his deal.  Lucas Duda is dealing with a back issue for the second year in a row.  Curtis Granderson will be another year older.  The 2016 free agent class will be less than lackluster.  There is no telling what this Mets team will look like next year regardless of whether or not Wright is on the team.  With that said, this year could be Wright’s best year to win a ring.  It could also be his last.

Wright has been important to this franchise and this current Mets team.  Injuries have robbed Wright of so much during his career.  He’s done everything he can do to help the Mets franchise add a third World Series title.  It’s time for his teammates to pick up where he’s left off and go win it.  It’s time for them to go out there and get him the ring the Knicks never could get Patrick Ewing.