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Post by jetstream23 on Dec 11, 2014 1:30:39 GMT -5
We had a thread like this a while ago at JI and I thought it was pretty cool. It's interesting to hear how people became fans of the NY Jets because as we all know, it's not easy, we endure some pain, and it takes effort to not just be a fan but to be an emotionally invested fan, a person who does things like post on message boards about the Jets and follow them closely. So....what made you a fan?
Were you "born into it" with a father or family who has always been big Jets fans?
Did you move to the area at a young age and gravitate to the team?
Was there a particular player (like Namath, Martin, Chrebet, etc.) that drew you in?
Was there a particular game that made you a big Jets fan?
What about those of you from out of state or out of country?
As for me, my father was always a big fan and the Jets game would be on TV every Sunday so I naturally started to take interest around the time I was 9 or 10 I guess. We were living in NJ and in 1986 my father got season tickets (2 seats in Section 129 at the old Meadowlands). That year I went to my first game, I was about 11, and saw the Jets beat Miami 51-45 in the duel between Ken O'Brien and Dan Marino. I'll never ever forget it. I was already a bit of a fan but that day, beating the Dolphins in OT, and the stadium erupting with Wesley Walker's TD....I went "all in" on the Jets.
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Post by Hollywood Nosebleed on Dec 11, 2014 1:48:20 GMT -5
I'm a lot younger than most on here, but I actually wasn't interested in football the first few times I watched it. Most of my family are Giant fans so I went to a bunch of Giant games as a kid, but always found them boring. I even attended the game at the Meadowlands when the shitty Giants beat the future Super Bowl Champs Denver Broncos in 1998. I brought my best friend since kindergarten (who was a Jets fan and got me hooked on them) to the game and we cheered like crazy when the Giants stopped them on the goal line 4 times in a row to win it. However, I still wasn't hooked until I watched the Jets lose to the Bears in a heartbreaking fashion in 1999. We were driving and Chrebet got lit up trying to jump over a defender and fumbled. I believe that was the start of his concussion problems. After that I was in love with the Jets and started playing football soon after.
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Post by Harrier on Dec 11, 2014 4:08:10 GMT -5
My sister met a New Yorker while visiting my aunt in DC, they ended up getting married.
He and his family are all Jet fans and he took us to a game at Giants stadium, so I sort of fell in love with this team there and then.
I like the fact I never just chose a team to follow, I'm emotionally invested in this team come what may.
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Post by The Turk on Dec 11, 2014 5:15:32 GMT -5
I moved to New York the fall of 89 and because I hate all blue sports teams (its a Turkish/Galatasaray thing) I became a fan of the Jets.
Kyle Clifton, Al Toon and Jeff Lageman were the guys that kept me interested through the Coslet Era, Blair thomas, Browning Nagle, etc. and then moved back to Turkey. I only followed the team through US newspapers until the interwebz came along. I remember listening to the 41-0 beatdown of the colts at three in the morning on internet radio.
And then came the torrents and I can now watch all the games again albeit a couple of days late.
I've never watched a live NFL game, hope to go to London for my first one next October.
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Post by Hollywood Nosebleed on Dec 11, 2014 5:24:55 GMT -5
I moved to New York the fall of 89 and because I hate all blue sports teams (its a Turkish/Galatasaray thing) I became a fan of the Jets. Kyle Clifton, Al Toon and Jeff Lageman were the guys that kept me interested through the Coslet Era, Blair thomas, Browning Nagle, etc. and then moved back to Turkey. I only followed the team through US newspapers until the interwebz came along. I remember listening to the 41-0 beatdown of the colts at three in the morning on internet radio.
And then came the torrents and I can now watch all the games again albeit a couple of days late. I've never watched a live NFL game, hope to go to London for my first one next October. I was there in person for that game. When Richie Anderson took that screen pass for a TD and the black hawks flew over the stadium it was ridiculous. One of the loudest games I've ever been to. |
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Post by mrganggreen28 on Dec 11, 2014 5:38:19 GMT -5
I was born and raised in Massachusetts. Everyone in my family was a patriots fan and so wasn't my dad, but my dad revered Parcells and Martin, when they both went to the Jets I guess so did my dad. When I was old enough to understand the game a little I just overtook his passion for the jets. Curtis was my favorite player and I also loved Testaverde when we had Chrebet, dedric, and Coles, good times. My most memorable moments as a child was the 41-0 blowout against the colts and that pass to Richie Anderson, the playoff loss to the raiders (that killed me), or when Pennington had a perfect 158.3 game and still lost haha.. I partially resent my dad for making me a jets fan but the pain has been worth the ride becasue I know in my lifetime when we win the big game it'll be the best feeling and I'll appreciate it.. A lot of people around my age (21) don't truly understand the heartbreak of losing, they're spoiled with Red Sox and pats titles around here. I passionately love the jets and hate the pats, I've been to 3 jets games all at foxborough. Favre wins in OT, and the last 2 games with Geno at the helm  ?.. It's been a hell of a ride tho, looking forward to decades more of self loathing and pain from this team haha |
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Post by Hotman on Dec 11, 2014 5:38:36 GMT -5
I was born in Jersey so I always rooted for the NY teams. Mainly Yankees and when I was younger I liked both the Giants and Jets.
I didn't choose them. They must have chosen me. Maybe it's because people hate them so much and with so much anger that they drew me in more. I like the underdog and I hate bandwagoners.
I guess it's just more natural for me to be miserable, so the Jets found themselves a perfect fit.
Oh, also I absolutely HATE Boston teams, so Jets being their nemesis was of value to me I think.
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Post by Bing© in Buffalo Chairman on Dec 11, 2014 6:30:46 GMT -5
I lived in Rockland county from 1970 til 1975... I remember watching Namath v Unitas in 1972 In a high scoring game... Everyone was rooting for the Jets.. That was it... I was hooked... My Dad was transfered to Buffalo in 1975 and my Uncle Joe, who just recently died, took me to the Bill Jets game week one in 1975... Jets lost 42 to 14 but I ll never forget how much fun that game was.... Namath and OJ playing.....the Jets were 3 and 11 for 3 years in a row, but the Bills stunk too...so I stayed with the Jets... Its been my persona here locally as the guy always wearing Jets gear in Buffalo....and I enjoy the role.....oh Lord have I put in a lot of quality time on Sundays...watching that uniform go up and down the field......
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Post by Jets Things on Dec 11, 2014 6:56:58 GMT -5
I moved to New York the fall of 89 and because I hate all blue sports teams (its a Turkish/Galatasaray thing) I became a fan of the Jets. Kyle Clifton, Al Toon and Jeff Lageman were the guys that kept me interested through the Coslet Era, Blair thomas, Browning Nagle, etc. and then moved back to Turkey. I only followed the team through US newspapers until the interwebz came along. I remember listening to the 41-0 beatdown of the colts at three in the morning on internet radio. And then came the torrents and I can now watch all the games again albeit a couple of days late. I've never watched a live NFL game, hope to go to London for my first one next October. Fenerbahce 4eva!! |
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Post by southparkcpa on Dec 11, 2014 7:15:16 GMT -5
I grew up in a single parent household. I remember my mom putting me in front of the TV so she could "whatever" to get peace of mind. I watched Joe Willie do a play action against the GIANTS and score a TD in the Yale bowl and I was hooked. Sorriest day of my life. (LOL). I was a GIANTS and JETS fan to that point. That day, I kissed off the Giants. I was about 13 to 15 cant remember. |
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Post by LockeJET on Dec 11, 2014 8:38:32 GMT -5
I was born in Miami. My dad was born and raised in NY but ended up going to the U. He's a die hard NY Jets fan. He met my mom in college and they got married. They had me in Miami and when I was 1 we moved to NY. I became a Jets fan at a very young age. When I was 9 we moved back to Miami but I was already hooked on the Jets and the Fins were our biggest rivals. I hated the Fish. I grew up in Miami a Jets fan. I went to college at FSU and now currently live in the Tampa area. I'm 41. My Dad, sister and myself are Jets and my mom and brother are Fins.
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Post by quantum on Dec 11, 2014 9:21:45 GMT -5
I was tortured by nuns. Geneva Convention violations and everything.
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Post by kenindc on Dec 11, 2014 9:26:09 GMT -5
Born in 1961-so just the right age to start liking the Jets when they won SB III.
First game I saw was 1969. Saw the Jets lose to the Raiders. Family had ST from 1977-2009.
My favorite Jet was David Knight-he was a WR in the mid-70s when I was playing Pop Warner. I related to a slow white guy with good hands.
Still love the team-more pain than pleasure, alas.
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Post by Lithfan on Dec 11, 2014 9:40:11 GMT -5
I was 7 years old when my dad took me to my first game -- a Saturday night game in 1968 at Shea Stadium when the Jets beat the Chargers 23-20. About three months later, they were playing in the Super Bowl and I was hooked. The irony is that my dad was never much of a sports fan - I guess he decided it would be fun to go to a game with me, but he had no idea how emotionally invested in the team I would become.
I moved to the Chicago area in 2000, but made sure that I passed on the love of the Jets to my son. I think he still curses the day that I took him to his first game -- a Sunday night in Indianapolis in 2001 when Vinny hit Anthony Becht with a minute left to give us the 29-28 win and he was sold on the Jets.
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Post by BEAC0NJET on Dec 11, 2014 9:40:12 GMT -5
Born on Long Island, my dad who was older was more of a baseball guy, and for football, probably more of a Giant fan since that's all there was when he was younger, but he used to watch and root for both teams. Living not far from Hofstra growing up, training camp with dad was a summer ritual, and how could you not love the Sack Exchange, Al Toon, Wesley Walker, Freeman McNeil, et al. Never had season tickets growing up, finally got them the year after I got out of college, through the last year of the old stadium (which to this day makes me wonder why someone like SAR complains about the old waiting list - a little savvy, being nice and a few bucks got this at-the-time 22 yr old past the wait list). Long story short, I cant blame family on this situation, I made my own choice  Now the Mets, thats where the family fucked me |
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