POSTING FOR A FRIEND: Dear Football Fans, Someone pinch me! Are the New York Jets really 60 minutes from the Superbowl?? I've been a New York Jets fan since I was a child growing up in the Waterville, NY area. I cut my teeth on some horrible teams during the fledgling years, but by the mid 80s I was rewarded with some dominant teams. Then everything went South. Thoughts of jumping ship crossed my mind, but I knew they would suck me back into their green web. I guess I would only be changing seats on the Titanic - the ship was clearly going down. The sub-par football years in the late 80s and most of the 90s were tough on me. The play on the field was as reprehensible as those kelly green uniforms were. I even conjured up a conspiracy theory that Namath never even was a Jet. We were years removed from that splendor and pride and it just didn't match up with the team I watched every Sunday. It wasn't surprising that we played in a stadium that read "Giants Stadium," either. They were a fanatic tragedy of epic proportions. The bumbling Shakespeare character with their fate sealed by page one. The years that followed did have high points, but they always preceded the carpet quickly being pulled out from under our feet. We often found ourselves in big games fighting for the distinction of "backing" into the playoffs. Usually, we just, ahem, blew those games...a la 1997 and 2000. We did seem more competitive making the playoffs six times since 1998. Even playing in an AFC Championship there once in the late 90s. Forget about us not even playing semi-respectable ball the second half that dreadful day in Denver. We were there! Every year thereafter, they just always went home as "also rans" waving goodbye to the AFC's elite after a week, or wait for it, two, in the playoffs. No matter what they did the GangGreen never seemed to get respect within the league. Perhaps it's the disasters they put up between playoff years? They still remained a Monday morning punchline, seemingly, only solidifying their infamy by rotating coaches, discovering Tom Brady, drafting duds, winning one-to-four games some seasons, suffering season-ending injuries at the QB position (sometimes in the first quarter of the first game), making advances on Susie Colbert, trading future pro-bowlers, and basically "finding" a way to blow any game and squander a season (Thanks Mangenious and Brett!). Clearly the Jets are one of the strangest, if not the strangest, franchise in professional sports. It started years before I found them. They always deflate any confidence that anyone might have in them, only to restore it with a season like the one we are witness to now. I'd like to say it's an adorable habit, but those don't exist in professional football. It's difficult to imagine what my life would be like without the Jets. Equally, I can't imagine what my life would be like if they won ring after ring. I do love those lovable losers. Teams can go into every week blowing out every opponent, but with the Jets you will feel ALIVE every game - for the better, or worst. They are family at this point and no family is perfect. As frustrating and flawed as they may be I do take great pride sticking with them following this team all year - every year. They remind me that we are only human and underdogs will always exist in life. Again, anyone can be a fan of the Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys, Yankees, or the Lakers. It takes true grit rooting for those former Titans of New York. It's usually feast or famine with that franchise - and our feast is usually only a bite, or two. This year we're just hungrier and the fans deserve a square meal. We've happily suffered for too long. I sometimes thought I would never even see them in a Superbowl in my lifetime. It's a possibility my future grandchildren may genetically suffer from that ailment too. Now, with an identity and their helmets on heads high, I may be telling my grandchildren bedtime stories, ironically, of the improbable run of those 2010 New York Jets. These aren't the "same old Jets" we are flying into Indianapolis this weekend. But, I am a Jets fan, so I'll hope for the best...and prepare for the worst. Jason T. Hill Astoria, New York jhillio9@aol.com
I think Sunday is the opportunity for my lifetime. I don't think I will ever see it again and I am just gonna enjoy the ride. Don't get too angry or too happy about a play and just expect the worst and hope for the best, that way we can maintain sanity. Savor every moment and soak it up. Being in the final four is pretty special. I can't believe the Pats have been in 5 of these things this decade which makes me pretty sick to my stomach. We are finally here and have a chance to do something out of this world. Sunday cannot get here soon enough. The Colts are not an invincible team like the 07 Pats or the 93 Cowboys...we can beat em. I believe in this team. I am hoping for a mini-miracle, and I think it can happen, in football, there is always that ONE team that comes out of nowhere to make it to the SB each , and I feel its the Jets.
I totally agree about enjoying the ride and not taking anything for granted. I am 42 and this is only the 3rd time in my lifetime that the Jets are going to play for the AFC Championship. We may not win this one and odds are that we won't. I'm just hopeful that we can make more of a routine out of going deep into the Playoffs. Teams like the Colts, Bucs and Eagles got close several times before they broke through and won.
When did the Eagles win a Super Bowl? And it's Suzy Kolber...it's only polite to spell her name right after you perve out on national tv. Ohhh Joe. This thread feels kinda jinxy to me.:sad: Yep...the Jets have a wacky & weird history. Now it's time to re-boot.
