I love the '80s

The New York Mets take on the Tom Scheck's Phightin' Phils today in the very last home opener at Shea Stadium, which is doomed for the wrecking ball after this season. But as the Mets try to push away the memories of last season's historic collapse, a new controversy is brewing.

Over the past few weeks, the team has been inviting fans to vote for a new song to be played at Shea for the eighth-inning sing along. The previous song was Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," which happens to also be the eighth-inning song used by the Boston Red Sox, and is played at several other arenas and stadiums.

But thanks to the folks over Fark.com, the new song played at Shea could very well be Rick Astley's '80s classic "Never Gonna Give You Up." Apparently, Fark readers bombarded the Mets Web site with requests for the song, and Met officials are none too pIeased. In response, they're planning to play the top six selections on the list (which include the aforementioned Neil Diamond tune, Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer," and the Monkees "I'm a Believer") during their opening homestand and see which one gets the best reaction from the crowd.

And now I can't get that song out of my head.