TV Exchange of the Day (“Seinfeld,” Showing Even Back Then “It Was McDowell”)

Newman (played by Wayne Knight) (to Keith Hernandez): “June 14th, 1987. Mets Phillies. You made a big error. Cost the Mets the game. Then you're coming up the parking lot ramp.”
Keith Hernandez (playing himself): “YOU said, ‘Nice game, pretty boy.’”
Kramer (played by Michael Richards): “Ah, you remember.”
Newman: “And then you spit on us.”
Keith: “Hey, I didn't spit at you.”
Newman: “Oh, yeah, right.”
Kramer: “No no no, well, then who was it?”
Keith: “Well lookit, the way I remember it [back to the grainy 8mm Zapruder-like film parody] I was walking up the ramp. I was upset about the game. That's when you called me pretty boy. It ticked me off. I started to turn around to say something and as I turned around I saw Roger McDowell behind the bushes over by that gravely road. … Anyway he was talking to someone and they were talking to you. I tried to scream out but it was too late. It was already on its way.”
Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself—sort of): “I told you!”
Newman: “Wow, it was McDowell.”
Jerry: “But why? Why McDowell? “
Kramer: “Well, maybe because we were sitting in the right field stands cursing at him in the bullpen all game.”
Newman: “He must have caught a glimpse of us when I poured that beer on his head.”
Newman: “It was McDowell.”—Seinfeld, Season 3, Episode 18, “The Boyfriend, Part II,” written by Larry David and Larry Levin, directed by Tom Cherones, original air date February 12, 1992

Did Larry David ever dream that life would imitate art for Roger McDowell? Seems like the onetime Mets reliever really does take cranky fans a little too much to heart. This week, of course, he got into trouble for hurling homophobic insults at three fans…then profanely threatening another fan who protested that such behavior wasn’t appropriate in front of children…then simulating sex with a bat and his hands.

In other words, a lot worse than launching a “magic loogie.”

During his playing days, McDowell had something of a reputation as a merry prankster—perhaps why he was so up for his bit part in the classic Seinfeld "second spitter" episode. But he’s not laughing too much these days, especially after being put on administrative leave from his current job as a pitching coach.

Of course, Mets fans would say, this is what he gets for working for their onetime (and perhaps future) tormenters, the Atlanta Braves.