When I first started this blog, I wanted to create a place where people can visit and read about others misery in hopes that it would make them feel better and maybe share some of their own misery. For me, it has been a therapeutic way to combat my own misery. Scoping out stories of other peoples misfortunes and funny stories has made me feel better about my situation, just like I thought it would. I've realized that I haven’t shared any details of my own issues, I think it apropos to do so now.
Let me start with a small issue first. I promise I will get deeper as the blog goes on. I am a Jets fan! There, I said it. I have been a fan for over 30 years. I probably don’t need to write anything else since I can feel your pity oozing through my WI-FI as I type on my Mac. I went through the birth of the Sack Exchange in 1981, where I finally got a taste of the playoffs by making it to a Wild Card game against the Bills, only to be screwed in the end by our QB throwing an interception at the Bills 2 yard line with 10 seconds left on the clock! I have gone through the Mud Bowl of 82, where I first learned to loath the Dolphins. The Jets had advanced to the AFC Championship game, but because it’s the Jets, the Football Gods decided to have a pissing party the night before and create the messiest field you could ever image. Turn over after turn over made for a horrible and pathetic 14-0 loss to the fish. Then came the wonderful move to Jimmy Hoffa’s burial plot known as Giants Stadium in 1984. We were so pathetic that we couldn't even have our own place! Nothing like going to see a game in a stadium named after another team and painted in that team’s colors. To remedy that, the wonderful Jet decision makers decided that every time we played at home they would put up green and white cardboard panels to make it feel more like home. It looked more like a Pre-K classroom than anything else. All that was missing was NY JETS written in crayon!
I have been through the Dennis Byrd injury, the Marino fake spike, the years of Rich Kotite, Bruce Coslet, Herm ("you play to win the game") Edwards, the Blair Thomas experiment, the birth of Tom Brady, the ruptured Achilles of Vinny Testeverde and so much more that there may not be enough space on this blog to completely fill you in on my misery. I have attached a link to the History of Jets so you can understand a little more. One warning, if you cried during Beaches you most likely will cry when you read this.
OK, now that I have set it up for you, this leads me to last nights AFC Championship game between the Jets and Steelers. I know I should be happy with going to two consecutive AFC Championship games but it still doesn’t change the fact that my heart has been ripped open once again. Why? Why does this story always end the same exact way? It’s like being trapped in a Ground Hogs Day scenario. There we were putting our child to sleep early against his wishes so we can get ready to witness history. Our beloved Jets were going to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969, yes, 1969! All the pieces were in place. We had just had a terrific season. We had just beaten Peyton Manning and Tom Brady at their respected homes and we had beaten Pittsburgh already a couple of weeks ago at their stadium so our confidence was sky high. We sat down to eat our real hamburgers, a treat since my wife insists on turkey everything. Seriously, I think I might have a turkey farm out back that I haven’t been told about. I love you honey for taking care of us! I opened an ice cold beer, my wife made a martini and BANG, we were down 24-0. WTF! Really? WHY? Can’t we ever have a nice easy game where my heart doesn’t feel like it going to crawl out of my mouth, stand up on the coffee table and with an evil smirk and raspy voice say, “same old Jets Marty”! Of course it couldn’t just be a blow out so we can stop watching early, switch over to our DVR and catch up on the latest episode of Intervention and smile at the fact that we weren't the ones leaning over a toilet and going through heroin withdrawals. The Jets decide in the second half that they were finally gonna show up and make it a game. Although we all know how it’s going to end, as Jets fans we have no choice but to stare at our TV’s and wait for the pending debacle to take place, and that’s exactly what happened last night. Bad clock management, bad play calling, bad officiating and plain old bad play made the norm come true once again. We lost 24-19 and had to watch the hideous yellow and black confetti come raining down on a bunch of frozen Pittsburgh fans for the 10 millionth time in their history. (Think I’m a bit bitter?)
In closing let me say that I’m proud of my team and coach for another crazy season that ended in nothing but misery. I will once again be pining for Jet news starting as early as this morning and will be ready for another exciting trip to the prom, only to be doused by a bucket of blood while I stand in front of my peers, smiling and excitedly waving after winning prom queen. (A scene from Carrie for all you non-reader and movie watchers) "They're all gonna laugh at you!, They're all gonna laugh at you! And believe they have and they will. Let’s go green and white! (pathetic)
