I became a NY Jet Fan, thanks to Wesley Walker, more on that later. NY Jets vs Oakland Raiders...Shea Stadium. I was young and went to my 1st game at Shea Stadium with my Dad. We sat in the lower closed endzone behind the goallposts about about 5 rows from the rail. During warm-ups, Pat Leahy was practing field goals, he was very accurate making them everytime, until one went right of the net and into the stands 1 row in front of me. A bunch of kids were on the rail, and the ball sailed over their heads and right to me. I fell on the ball like I was recovering a fumble and still have it today. A great memory!! I wasn't a Jet fan, or for that matter a fan of any team. I really liked Fred Biletnikoff and my Dad got me tickets to see my favorite player. My Dad grew up a Giant's fan, but loved any football he could watch live. Richard Todd dropped back to pass and launced an 80 yard bomb to Wesley Walker who caught the ball in stride beating the CB by a wide margin. Walker ran the touchdown into the endzone right in front me only a few yards away. I was hooked, I instantly became a NY Jet fan and a huge Wesley Walker supporter. Thanks to my Dad, Wesley Walker & Richard Todd my user name is WW85 and have been a NY Jet fan for 34 years. The next year my Dad got us season tickets in the upperdeck section 17. My Dad has been gone for over 10 years, but I have great memories going to Jet games.
Thats pretty sick, the first Jets game I watched was the Jets-Chargers playoff game in 04. You gotta shit ton of years on me holycrap. I hope by the time im a Jets fan for 34 years, we will have won Super Bowl.
I was a freshman in college that year. If my memory is correct, the Jets blew a big lead and lost that game. That should have given you a clue as to what the next 35 years would be like.
Jets lost 28-27. I believe the Jets were up 27-14. Pat Leahy missed an extra point, ironic. Jets played the World Champs pretty well for a 3-11 team.
Oh for fuck sake. (excuse my language on Sunday) but I was enjoying this thread and then after this post suddenly started thinking about "THE OMEN" with Gregory Peck for some reason.........
:up: My first game was in '98 Jets vs Panthers. Curtis Martin had 2 touchdowns and 100 yds rushing and Aaron Glenn had a big pick. My dad took me to that game and we sat at lower level around the 50yd line, best seats I have ever had. I always got Jets stuff for christmas before then, but it was on that day I became hooked. [YOUTUBE]vOBoQ5zZUgY[/YOUTUBE]
How did you get to keep the ball and not get thrown out? Today that's the choice, give it back or keep it and get thrown out.
That is a good story about how you became a Jets fan. I was 2 months old on that day so there is no way I knew anything about that game. Getting a ball at a game is so huge for a kid at a sporting event. Hell grown men get giddy as hell when they get one. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
Don, I guess times are different. Security wasn't as tight back then. We had a small bag to carry snacks and kept the ball in the bag under my seat.
My first Jet game was against the Eagles in Philadelphia several years ago. I became a Jet fan out of spite against my father.
I didn't even realize it was 34 years ago till this morning. This was the beginning of the Walt Michaels's era and he always had his team playing well. The Jets showed major improvement in 1977, eventhough they went 3-11. Most of their games were very competitive, the offense was ahead of their defense.
Dam, I was still a year and half away... I barely remember Walker although I was at that O'Brien/Marino OT game in 86. Toon was the 1st big time WR I remember. At the time I started going to Jet games Walker had lost a little bit and the Sack Exchange had been reduced to mostly Klecko and Gastineau The 1st Jet game I attended was the home opener in 1985. We crushed Buffalo 42-3. I had to look up the box score but Tony Paige and Freeman McNeil both had 2 TD days. Kerry Glenn picked off a pass for a TD and everybody's favorite white WR caught a TD pass from Kenny O. Jim Kelly was not yet on the Bills. Their QB at the time was Vince Feregamo. However that was not the 1st NFL game I ever attended. That was the year before at RFK Stadium where the Redskins beat the Eagles. I only remember the Eagles had a barefoot kicker and Joe Theisman was the QB for Washington.
I love watching that 98 Jets offense. I had started watching during Pete Carroll's disaster of a year and then had to endure 2 horrible years under Kotite's watch, so when Parcells took over that team and had them playing the way they did, it was pure gold. That 98 team is probably the best team we've ever had.
Hey, I became a Jet fan out of spite for my step-father, a Giants fan. Same reason why I'm also a Met fan.
