Mariano on "Enter Sandman"
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As expected, Mariano Rivera didn't find it a big deal that Billy Wagner also uses "Enter Sandman" as his entrance song. Mariano even joked that he should join forces with Wagner to make sure no one else around the league uses it. Here are various quotes from Mariano, pulled from multiple articles: "It's funny, you're talking about a song being a controversy." "First of all, I didn't make that song." "I don't mind it at all. If the guy feels comfortable using the song, then let him be. I know Billy. He's a great guy. He has all my respect." "I think it's funny. To the people that are fighting over this, I appreciate the loyalty." "I love it when the song comes on and those doors open up. It identifies when I'm going to pitch." "The song has not made me who I am. It's just a song the fans like, and they identify me with the song. Most of the time now, they call me 'Sandman.' But that's it. I have a life and it will continue." |
 Mariano Rivera meeting Metallica singer James Hetfield. |
The Origin of the Song, according to the Daily News:
For the record, Wagner used the song first, even if it's synonymous in baseball circles with Rivera's entrance.While with Houston during Wagner's rookie season in 1996, teammate Jeff Bagwell disliked the lefty's entry music, George Strait's "They Call Me the Fireman," and persuaded Wagner to switch.
Rivera didn't begin using the song for another three years. Yankee Stadium personnel had been so struck by the crowd reaction in San Diego the previous season when Trevor Hoffman entered games to AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" that they sought to find an anthem for Rivera. Scoreboard operator Mike Luzzi brought in a bunch of CDs and the Yankees tested different tunes, including Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City." They settled on "Enter Sandman," which drew the best crowd response. Rivera didn't even know anything about the band.
Even though he has grown attached to "Enter Sandman" after hearing it so many times and had met Metallica's James Hetfield last year, Mariano admitted he doesn't listen to Metallica, instead favoring Christian music on his iPod:
"You want me to tell the truth? I don't want to get in trouble."
"I don't listen to that kind of music. I don't love this song. I don't listen to it at home."
Meanwhile, Metallica's manager Peter Mensch, a Mets' season ticket holder, is siding with his favorite team:
"Frankly, they could have played it louder as far as I'm concerned. My comment is: Go Billy."
Sources:
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