A Place to Tell Your Jets/Titans Stories
Published: Fri, January 25, 2008 - 11:06am EDT
By Randy Lange
Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.
File Under: Namath, Darrelle Revis, Leon Washington, Super Bowl, Jets fans
01/25 — This will no doubt be a tough 10-day stretch for many Jets fans leading up to Super Bowl XLII. Perhaps to take the edge off, or at any time thereafter, you can put together some of your best Jets/Titans anecdotes and send them to a couple of fellow Green & White bleeders, who plan to put them all together in a publication.
The two Jets fans are lifelong friends Alex Parziale and George Coppola. There's a lot similar about them: They're both 35, both are originally from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, both wear the team colors "seven days a week, 365 days a year," both frequent training camp and team message boards.
Now, Alex told me this week in an email, "We're working on an independent project regarding the Jets, the fans and basically everything that has been involved with the team. Our project is in its early stages but has seemed to be picking up steam."
Here is the boys' pitch for you Jets followers with stories to tell:
CALLING ALL NY JETS FANS!!!
On the brink of a Jets fans worst nightmare, a Giant vs. New England Patriot Super Bowl, we are embarking in a labor of love and want to hear your NY J-E-T-S stories. We are looking for the passionate, the loyal, veterans who saw Namath make the guarantee or the rookies who have been following the team since the "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME" speech. The draft junkies, the tailgate chefs and everyone in between, you know who you are.
All of us have a story to tell and we want yours. Please submit your good, your bad & the unusual memories you have had with this team. Tell us about your passion as a NY Jets fan.
We want to make sure that the true fans stories never go away and this is our way of persevering them but it also serves as therapy for all us.
Please email all stories to our email at jetdreams@yahoo.com.
Stories chosen may be used for a future compilation to be published.
I don't know Alex and George, and the New York Jets organization is in no way involved in this project, but they sound sincere and their plans are promising. If you're so inclined, you could give them a heads-up and a tale at their email address above. Good luck, guys.
A Few More Honors
The New Jersey Sports Writers Association has a long tradition of honoring metro area athletes each year. On Sunday, at the NJSWA's 72nd annual banquet, the group will honor two Jets — Leon Washington as Most Valuable Jet and Darrelle Revis as Jets Rookie of the Year. (The awards were named by the writers, not by the team.)
The event will be held, as always, at the Pines Manor in Edison, N.J.
Cactus Radio
We're in our two-minute drill to get a "radio show" up and running from the Super Bowl for all you Website visitors and Radarheads.
We're thinking in terms of a 10- or 15-minute interview between Eric Allen, in Hempstead, N.Y., and me, in the much warmer environs of Phoenix. The subjects will be obviously whatever is happening that day involving the Patriots and Giants, plus Jets sightings and other buzz from around the SB venue. The audio interview will augment the text reports I'll be filing every day.
We're debating whether to go live with each day's show or go right to the archive, but the plan is to have a show available to you on the Multimedia Home page on newyorkjets.com every day from Tuesday through Friday. I'll have more for you on our Super Radio Webcast when I flip on the Radar after my Monday arrival in the Valley of the Sun.
Fans Respond
Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Hide All Show All (30)
Randy Lange Said:
"Ira, I'll have to see if we want a Jets employee making predictions on opposing teams' games, but perhaps a week from today we'll have some prognostications from around the NFL, and of course from Jets fans."
Ira Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 12:19pm EDT"Sorry should've given my prediction before. Giants 31- Pats 30. Tynes hits a 49 yarder with 2 seconds left to win. Coming off a Welker fumble and Giants recovery. "
Bob long suffering Jet Fan. Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 12:44pm EDT"I am a lifelone Jets fan. Some 44 years. I have seen the good ,the bad, and the ugly. Mostly the bad and the ugly. To see these two teams in the Super Bowl is more than I can stand. I am embarassed that I am fan of a team that has virtually done nothing since 1969. This is about as low as it can get for me."
Drew Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 1:23pm EDT"No prediction from this Jet fan. I cannot bring myself to type either team getting a victory........Randy, My families business did all of the granite and marble fabrication/install for the Pines Manor in Edison NJ!! I had my marriage ceremony there in 2003. Spent a lot of time at that place. How long have the Jets been using the site for the awards??"
Randy Lange Said:
"The Jets aren't giving the awards, Drew, the New Jersey Sports Writers Association is. I attended some NJSWA banquets at the Pines Manor back in the Eighties."
Alex Parziale Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 1:36pm EDT"Unfortunatley I am going with Patriots 24 - Giants 14. And now we have to hear forever that the Patriots have gone 19-0."
Alex Parziale Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 2:32pm EDT"Pines Manor is a great Place - I have Djed many events in that banquet hall and my firm does an end of the year meeting and dinner there once a year. Great food and service"
DM Lark Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 3:25pm EDT"I entered H.S. after the Jets won in '69. I wore #77 because it was Jets# for LT Winston Hill . I remember every school QB HAD to wear #12. some even tried to get away with wearing taped up white shoes. I have an autographed pitcher of HB Emerson Booozer and I ran into (should have been SB MVP) FB Matt Snell in mid town Manahattan soon after he had to retire because of achilles tear in."
Randy Lange Said:
"DM, thanks for the story. Send it on to jetdreams@yahoo.com if you want to submit it for Alex and George's publication of Jets fan stories."
Jessie THE BODY 5 C Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 3:30pm EDT"Major fan of Jets and Mets. Both my seasons crashed that day Glavine blew it in the 1st. and Chad threw that pick up in Buff. in the 4th. Sept. is an early ending to the football season, when do we get to play into Feb?"
DAMONE Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 3:59pm EDT"I LOVE THIS!!TO ALL THE REAL JET FANS THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE TEAM SINCE THE 60'S AND ALSO THE GUYS WHO WENT TO HOFSTRA IN THE 80'S LIKE MYSELF TO WATCH WES,BRUCE,AL AND MARK PRACTICE.....I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO SEE ALL THOSE REMARKS SAYING "GO G-MEN" AND ALL OF THAT CRAP!!WE ARE THE MEN WHO KEEP THIS TEAM ALIVE AND HUNGRY!!!LIKE RANDY SAID JETS FANS WORST NIGHTMARE-SBXLII. "
michael Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 4:40pm EDT"hey Jets fan do you know if the senior bowl is going to be on Tv???I wish it because there nothing to do no more with watching football on the weekends.so if any jets fan know please write back on this comment thanks. jets fan for life,Michael"
Randy Lange Said:
"Michael, the Senior Bowl will air on NFL Network on Saturday at 4 p.m. EST."
Howard Said:
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 8:46am EDT"i just cant bring myself to root for either team,i wish there were a way both could lose but i know 1 team must win.so im going g-men 27 pats 24 just cant bring myself to see pats 19-0"
Xavion Said:
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 9:23am EDT"I have a few stories maybe not as great as most since I'm relatively young at 23. But I have a few. I also want to comment how disappointed I am in the NFL I just read that Antoine Bethea is replacing Polymalu in the probowl. Who is making these decisions? Jon Lynch Antoine Bethea wasnt even made active for all 16 games"
frank Said:
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 2:57pm EDT"Williams had been fired by the Skins. This is the hire Tangini needs to make right now he is the best defensive coordinator in the league and a great guy. HEY TANGINI GET THIS GUY RIGHT NOW!"
Ira Said:
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 8:36pm EDT"The Lions need a MLB and the Jets could sure use Rogers. Need i say anymore?"
Drew Said:
Sat, January 26, 2008 - 11:30pm EDT"It has become a complete joke how Kerry Rhodes gets ignored for the Pro Bowl. Feel so bad for this guy. He comes in as a 4th rounder and played his tail off the last 2 years and gets no respect. I can see Sanders and Reed but this has gotten silly now. "
Frank Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 10:05am EDT"Rogers is not a nose tackle and while I am on the subject for those clamoring for Haynesworth he is not a nose tackle either. We have a great tackle D-Rob if he was used properly. Now that Mangini rushed to get a commodity that no one wanted Callaghan we now have a DC/Asst. HC in G. Williams available and we don't have a title available to get him. He is a guy we need Tangini to find a way to get."
Frank Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 10:07am EDT"Drew, Rhodes is deserving no question about it but that is what happens when you are 4-12."
Drew Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 10:29am EDT"Ira....Would you really want to give up Vilma for a guy that is in the substance abuse program and has major weight and motivations issues?? I am on the fence on that one. Vilma is a major chip. If we trade him we cannot get it wrong. Plus we can probably get Rogers for a 3rd rounder or wait for his release.... How about Vilma and a 3rd for Roy Willams and Rogers!! There both available"
damone Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 12:04pm EDT"I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING FRANK BUT UNFORTUNATELY G.WILLIAMS IS MORE OF A 4-3 COORDINATOR AND U KNOW ERIC IS NOT GOING FOR ANY OF THAT."
Ken Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 12:14pm EDT"Its been a painful yr. Seen coaches come and go. been a fan sine the walt micheals Joe walton days. seen 1-15. seen Jumbo create miracle at meadowlands. seen aj Duey destroy our ride and Marino and the Tom Brady express train. Jets need to focus on O-line. sign a Alan Faneca to bring back some vet leadership to this sagging pathetic line. Agree with Frank get Williams as Def Coordinator. Draft DE"
Ira Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 12:39pm EDT"Drew, Its all a popularity vote. Forget it. Kerry will comeback next with a bigger chip on his shoulder. He should be given his extension real soon. The best news i have heard this year is great. Joe Andruzzi who was is cancer is now said to be in remission. Hope and pray it continues. Heard some of the QB's looked good at the Senior Bowl practices all week."
Nick Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 1:13pm EDT"Is that IRA from staten island? Beningo's boy? i cannot stand to even watch the superbowl. I wish Tiger was on next Sunday cause id rather watch him play......Pats 38-17. No matter how bad they play, they find a way to win....They probably wont lose for another 3 years.....im disgusted....i also went to the snow bowl in december and got pelted by over 10,000 snow balls...well worth it though "
Ira Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 2:28pm EDT"Nick, Was that the Pats game this year? It was a nasty day. So people want to know why as a Jets fan i feel the way i do about the Super Bowl. Well i was just outside talking to a friend and this woman walks by and says to me "Aren't you embarrassed to be wearing that Jets jacket?" Figures she is a Giants fan. This weeks best game will be the touch football game with my friends. "
Braeden Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 6:55pm EDT"Suprisingly I just became a Jets fan last year before the season started, I gotta tell you it was a great season. But it still baffles me that the Jets benched their star QB =/ . But I gave my friends my pick the other day so ill give my pick now. I like the Giants 28-20. At least there IS a NY team in the superbowl!"
Row Said:
Sun, January 27, 2008 - 8:05pm EDT"I think the Giants will come in and shock them early like the last game. The Patriots won't be able to come back this time. Their weakness is the D, two average corners, a safety with a bum knee, and no inside linebacker play whatsoever! The ILB with the most tackles has less then 20. People fall for these guys too much. I look to see NYG come out running and moving Burress around. NYG38 PATS 28"
Tom Drogon Fan Said:
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 12:29am EDT"My dad took me to my first Jets game when I was three in 1977 at Shea. The jets beat up on the Houston Oilers with Earl Campbell. I think Harper might have run one back, but that might have been a couple seasons later. That game hooked me. I have never seen them in a Super Bowl, I have witnessed bad decisions, bad calls, Giant superbowls, Dolphin SBs, and Patriot SBs but I still love my Jets!"
McGinty Said:
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 2:12pm EDT"I'm late on this one but Winston Hill was # 75. He was considerd one of the best of the old AFL."
Brandon Said:
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 6:16pm EDT"I have been a Jets fan since Chad Pennington entered the league. I followed him and Randy Moss at Marshall and am still hoping (though the chances are very slim) that they will be connecting on TD's passes before they hang it up! As far as the Superbowl goes, unfortunately i am going with the Patriots 38-17, they are just plain and simply too good."
Gary London Said:
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 7:33pm EDT"The year was 1965. I was 10 and my stepfather took me to see a Jets preseason game at Rutgers stadium against the Buffalo Bills because he wanted to see Joe Namath the hot new rookie with howitzer arm. Namath played in his white shoes. I can't remember if they won or lost but that was the day I became a Jets fan and have been ever since. Still waiting since for the next Super Bowl. Go Jets!!!!!"
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Ira Said:
Fri, January 25, 2008 - 12:14pm EDT"Randy, Since the Jets are not playing how about a prediction and score of the upcoming game. "
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