The Thursday Top 10: No Respect
Why are the Jets held in such low regard, almost universally? I understand respect is earned, but shouldn’t that be true of disrespect, too?
For the past decade, they have been one of the more competitive teams in the NFL. They don’t run up the score on hapless opponents, their players aren’t “bad guys” or criminals. I mean, outside of Adrian Jones getting busted for DUI and Justin Miller’s recent incident — which he was cleared of — name the last Jets player to run afoul of the law? The team hasn’t had a current player busted for steroids or HGH (see New England or San Diego), nor have there been any loudmouth self-promoting jerks like T.O. or Chad Johnson on the roster since Keyshawn was shipped out of town eight years ago. And before him, you have to go back to Mark Gastineau for a player that other fans could universally agree on as someone they hated.
Overall the past ten years, the team that’s on the field has been a hardworking, blue collar bunch of boy scouts who have rarely quit, even in the face of losing seasons. Yet it seems as though “the Jets” are a punchline to some joke I just don’t get. National sportswriters are always quick to relegate them to the dregs of the NFL — even in 2006, when they went 10-6, it was “a fluke,” the team “overachieved,” they got to the top because of “a soft schedule.” Anything other than, “Hey, maybe, for one year, they were actually one of the better teams in the NFL.”
Okay, no one likes a whiner, right? They want a winner. I get it — really. Win a Super Bowl and the respect will come. But if you’ve rooted for this team for any amount of time, you know that it somehow goes deeper than that . . . and even if we win . . . even if we play so far above our heads that our noses bleed for a week to ten days . . . even if God in Heaven above comes down and points his hand at our side of the field . . . even if every man woman and child held hands together and prayed for us to win . . . it just wouldn’t matter . . . because all the really good looking girls would still go out with the guys from New England because they’re . . . just not us.
Sigh.
All right, my tongue is obviously planted in my cheek here, but let’s have a little fun and examine –
The Top 10 Reasons Why It Seems The Jets Get No Respect
10. “Same old Jets” – If you haven’t noticed, there are very few people in the world capable of independent original thought. Just look at Hollywood — Iron Man, Indiana Jones 4, Speed Racer, Alvin and The Chipmunks [*shudder*] — if they can’t copy it from a comic book or an old TV show, or squeeze out a sequel of from an existing franchise, then it’s not getting to the Big Screen. (Although I did really enjoy Iron Man.) Never mind that in the last decade the Jets have been 82-78 (an over .500 record = winning franchise) with five playoff appearances — it’s same ol’ refrain and rerun when it comes to the Jets, even though a team like Carolina (who has been 77-83 with two playoff appearances in the same decade) gets a free pass. It’s been 13 years since Rich Kotite, 14 since The Fake Spike, 25 since the Mud Bowl, but yet it all still lingers like a fart in a shiny iron suit . . .
9. Lazy sportswriters – An extension of “same old Jets.” From what I can see, there are, like, four reporters who are thought of as doing any actual reporting, and then about 3 million other “writers” across the sports nation who just regurgitate the same story, mostly without doing any sort of fact-checking or research. And now with the internet, this problem has been exacerbated: “What, some unnamed source says that an unnamed source told him through an unnamed source that Chris Baker, who now has the same agents as Pete Kendall, says the Jets lied to him? They must be telling the truth, so the heck with the other side of the story or the fact that the Jets have taken care of other players like Cotchery, Moore, Coles and Rhodes — the Front Office doesn’t know how to deal with players!” Plus, it’s easier to criticize than to say something positive, and it sells more papers, so fire away, right?
8. The uniforms – How can I put this delicately? From an objective viewpoint, the Jets uniform isn’t exactly one that when you see it, you jump up and say, “Yeah, I gotta have one of those!” The logo isn’t anything especially cool. There are no swashbuckling pirates, axe-wielding skeletons or angry marmosets. A really suped-up airplane isn’t something most people fear. And honestly, when I’m thinking “intimidating color schemes,” it usually doesn’t include green — but I do admit it looks good on the Flight Crew.
7. Spygate – I don’t need to — nor do I want to — rehash this for the bajillionth time, so I’ll just say this: Even though Belichick and the Patriots were the ones who got caught cheating, found guilty and then were punished and fined by the league, Mangini and the Jets are widely perceived as having done something wrong (even though Mangini was on the sideline coaching during the game and the two teams were trying to settle things in the tunnel before the NFL stepped in and confiscated the tape). If it had been Tony Dungy and the Colts instead of the Jets in the equation, what do you think the resulting final impression would’ve been? Exactly.
6. National bias against New York – Of course, I blame the Yankees, but it’s clear that a majority of the country just simply detests New Yorkers and their big city ways. Cletus and his banjo-playing pals in Mud Lick, Arkansas, don’t want nuthin’ to do with collared shirts, museums or indoor plumbing, and that’n goes for them fancy sports teams, too! Seriously though, listen to Joe Buck — Mr. Middle America — when doing a broadcast involving a New York team. Remember his non-call of arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history? He could barely contain his disgust. Giants, Mets, Yankees, Jets — it doesn’t matter. Some freakin’ morons are just prejudiced against anything New York.
5
. “Mangenius” – I hated the nickname from the moment I heard it (prefer “The Penguin”), but it’s stuck now, and with it, the impression that somehow Mangini thinks he’s smarter or better than the rest. As many of you who follow the team well know, Mangini is modest, self-deprecating and far from arrogant, and probably the last person to call himself “a genius.” He’s actually a hardworking football geek, who is very well-prepared and even-keeled, especially on game day — qualities that most fans would want for their head coach. But since that isn’t as exciting as a charismatic quote machine (you know who) or or cranky jerkwad who managed to win a Super Bowl or two (see Baltimore until last season, Denver or New England), getting such a moniker without “earning” it (remember 2006 was complete “fluke”), draws the ire of others.
4. The J-E-T-S chant – Name another NFL team who has such a great and distinctive chant that unites and inspires the fans. Go ahead — I’ll wait here . . . maybe poke around on Fark.com for a while . . . organize my sock drawer . . . still waiting . . . waiting . . . Right! There isn’t one, is there? Probably because the fans of most other teams (Miami and New England, in particular) aren’t so much for spelling. Now, if someone higher up on the evolutionary chain can come up with a unifying routine for them — maybe something that involves eating paste, inbreeding or drooling in unison — it might change. Until then, however, other fans will just have to continue to be chantless (and jealous).
3. No one loves the ugly step-sister – See the Mets, Nets, Devils, Islanders and Jan Brady*.
2. Tighter lips – The weekly three-hour long, notebook-filling press conferences with The Preacher detailing the complete game plan for opposing teams, as well as a front office with more leaks than Titanic post-iceberg, are well in the past, and with it all, easier days for the local beat writers. Now actually having to do something resembling reporting (and work), has rankled the local press, and thus, has rippled out through the national outlets. Of course, over the years, coaches like Bruce Coslet, Bill Parcells and Al Groh didn’t exactly endear themselves to anyone either.
1. Us – The coaches and players always change, but the fans stay the same, right? So really, the perceived anti-Jets bias is really how others feel about us, the fans! So when others think of the Jets, they’re really thinking of the vociferous fans, the loyalty, the passion, the reverberating chants, the drama at the drafts (still won’t link to that clip!), the incidents at Gate D . . . how we sorta run with a dangerous crowd . . . that we ain’t too pretty, we ain’t too proud . . . that we might be chanting a bit too loud . . . but that never hurt no one, right?
Well, that’s just fine. I’d rather root for the Jets to be winners then cry for the Saints — or Pats, or Giants, or Phins — because darlin’ you know, when we win, it’ll be much more fun!
And like I said at the beginning, winning = R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Now sock it to me!
*For the record, I always thought Jan turned out kinda hot, especially when she got older, but then again, what do I know?
Filed under: Opinion/R in CT
I like this post – I agree that a SB title, or many consecutive years of success, will change the national attitude.
Let’s not forget John Abraham’s DUI…
Good article man
The NFL has three classes of franchises… “Story book”, “middle class”, and “its pretty much a fluke if they are good”. Story book includes the Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, Probably the Pats now. Will they ever win includes the Cardinals, Texans, Bills, Lions etc…. Middle class is pretty much everyone else which is where the jets are. The middle class teams are popular when they are good and nobody except their fans really cares when they stink.
Fantastic article. We have been one of the better teams the past decade. But, we’ll never overcome many of our image probelms. Even the new stadium will be seen as more Giants-oriented.That’s one reason why TJB is so great–we have to stick together. We’re all we’ve got.
You forgot #11 – The Boston Mafia.
We get slammed with East Coast bias as you mentioned, but even the Pro-east coast writers are overwhelmingly Boston-based. Besides Jets-Pats, witness Knicks-Celtics and Yankees-Red Sox and how the latter three teams are media darlings and the first three are all that is evil and wrong with the world.
I’d mention something about Rangers-Bruins, but we’re talking about real professional sports here, not hockey.
Great post! I love it! Same bias and same people hating as usual. It seems that people are less biased to the damned Giants. When those same Giant fans are Yankee fans!
Actually I will say this, for as awful as the Patriots are, they at least dont throw it in your face like Yankee or Giant fans do, When the Giants won the SB, I felt sick to my stomach! At least in NE, I have a 300 mile border and dont have to face them daily!
Jeff, that’s ridiculous. While the hating goes on from both sides, don’t try to pass it off like patriots/bosox fans don’t “throw it in your face.” they are some of the most contemptuous fans out there. a few super bowls makes it easy to take the high road, and pats fans barely do that. the second the jets have an edge on the pats, they will be just as disgusting as usual.
we get no respect, no respect
Remember when Kotite made Haselrig a captain after his driving rampage up the stairs of the Pitt. Library. That was kinda funny.
In seriousness, we don’t get respect because we’re the only professional franchise that plays in someone elses building. This will be fixed in 2010.
Excellent perspective and very funny. The bottom line is very simple: Let the Jets win a super bowl and all the critics can kiss our collective asses
Oh, and as someone who spent 9 years living in NE and counts Pats fans as his friends…those guys are every bit as obnoxious, arrogant and idiotic as Yankee fans. Finally having the Mets win in 86, while I was in college in NH, was my first lesson in the Idiotics of the NE fan base. We all need the Celts to lose ASAP or it will get exponentially worse.
Great Post.
I have been a NY Jet fan for 28 years. Regardless of how the team has performed, we are always subject to the same old BS!
One of my favorite comments:
“The giants are from NY, and The Jets are from NJ.”
Last time I checked, BOTH teams used to play in NY, and BOTH teams are currently vested in NJ.
Another anecdote for you. Last year for the draft, I was travelling abroad in Amsterdam. Being it was draft day, I had to rock my mean green throwback #99. Even in Europe I was heckled for wearing a Jets Jersey!!!
But there is a silver lining. There are those moments that make you love your team more than ever. One of those moments happened last year at the steelers vs. Jets home game. The entire stadium was packed with those hideous yellow towels. The entire game there was non-stop heckling,fights, arguments and trash talking. But the moment that made it all worthwhile, was walking out of that stadium a winner, even though Jet fans were the vast minority at the game on that day.
All you heard were chants declaring to these losing Steeler fans directions back to PA….
“95 south loser!!!”
“NJ Turnpike is that way! and take your ugly towel with you!!”
“Route 80??? Never heard of it”
For me, those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.
WATCH OUT FOR THE JETS DEFENSE THIS YEAR GUYS!!!!! WE ARE GONNA BUST SOME HEADS!!!
Well done. Made me laugh several times…and most of it is true.
I disagree WRT the uniforms. I think the Jets have the best in the league. They look football players, not grown men in kid’s pajamas – I’m looking at you, Miami.
Things are actually getting better. Football Outsiders don’t rank on the Jets any more. They actually said that the Jets draft was the only one to have zero busts in a recent post. USA Today ranks the Jets 24th, but didn’t add any snide remarks. We might have turned a corner, although I don’t remember what could have caused it. I’m waiting to see the team power rankings to see more evidence that we’re not among the bottom feeders.
I always thought Jan was the hottest if the 3 – she turned out hotter than MARCIA MARCIA MARCIA
“name the last Jets player to run afoul of the law?”
I seem to remember showing up to the Meadowlands in his rookie season with a trunk full of guns. I think it was DRob, but I’m not sure?
Great article. I’d also add the fact that the Jets are entwined into NFL history at a controversial and highly influential time and it could be a holdover from that era. Yes I am talking about the AFL/NFL merger and Joe Namath. Older NFL sportswriters might still hold a grudge there and younger ones might have learned from the older ones.
Damien Robinson was the jet player with all the guns in his trunk
Great Post!!! and great comments from the field!
two points to note though
I think I remember Jumbo Elliot and few Jet O-lineman beat the hell out of few people at a bar in long island. does that sound right?
I also remember the brad baxter chop block on jerry ball was widely viewed a major cheapshot.
Yeah and jumbo busted into the Ladys room and took a leak in the sink… I think O’Dwyer was with them though I dont think he was on the team at the time. I love the jerseys! Look how many Chrebet Jerseys were sold!!! Great Article :)
Awesome Post I can’t agree more with everything everbody has said.
My friends bust my chops and tell me when was the last time the Jets went to the SB, I tell them, Hey we changed the course of the NFL with our win. We’re 100% in the SB we havne’t lost… I wonder what’s everybody problem with the JETS.
Oh and one last thing, I went to school in Philly and let me tell you their stupid E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES chant doesn’t sound half as good as OURS; actually it sounds pretty crappy and corny to be honest. WE HAVE THE BEST FANS and THE BEST CHANT in the LEAGUE… 2008 is our season!!!
The Jets became victims of their own success. Winning SB III, as a major underdog, and then becoming a horrible team within a few short years did that. Because of that many people truly believe that game was fixed. The reason our drafts are more scrutinized is because our fans are at the draft and draw attention. There have been more than a few teams that have drafted worse than us. It took the Red Sox 86 years to shed their loser lable. We would have to follow their model: Win a championship, and remain competitive for a period of years afterward.
I think one of the reasons why the Jets “don’t get no respect” is because they play in Giants stadium. If the Jets received permission to have constructed the West Side Stadium, I’ll be a lot of perceptions would have started to change. Instead, the Jets are stuck perpetually sharing a stadium with the Giants. Boo!
Oh crap, one other thing….
Excellent post!!
if we win a super bowls with unique fashion that would put a end to this! and by the way i heard the jets might be looking into tri color uniforms did any of you guys hear anything?
i read about the tri color uniform in a article in the ny times that suppose to be worn at the start of next season in their brand new stadium lets hope they change the logo to something more exciting.
I agree with the last post about the black hole of the Meadowlands. Any chance we can landmark Shea before they tear it down and move back there? Heck, as Joe would say, they can even bury Leon Hess in one of the end zones or bring Jimmy Hoffa over from Giants’ stadium. The Jets don’t need a new stadium with sky boxes and flat screen TVs. Put a winning team back in Shea, leave the infield dirt for old times sake, and send Maynard long. Hess turned the Jets into a team that plays all its games on the road. For that, they’re terrific. But it’s time for a home game. Stadium karma is all in professional sports, and the Jets lost theirs.
Current players on the Jets who have run afoul of the law: I seem to remeber Brian Thomas in his rookie year having an altercation with a woman (his ex-girlfriend?) in an airport parking garage, no?
Where’d you find that picture of Jan?
thats wat im talkin about tha tis exactly the reason the jets dont get enough respect mayb if we win this yrs SB we will probalby get respect or the media will just find a way 2 down us again
very amazing article well done
Nice but lay off the uniforms. Been touting your site since the begining but if you don’t appreciate them I may have to reconsider.
did anyone watch the jets in 06? They didnt dominate a single team, which is why people didnt consider them a tough team. they got roughed up in the playoffs and their schedule was definitely one of the easiest in the league that year
“The Jets Draft Blunders” video doesn’t help. People ignore the fact that the most recent pick on there is from 1995 (and he’s still in the league) and that every pick from 1997 forward is still in the league.
To this day everyone expects the Jets to blow the draft, and they’ve had some misses in the recent past, but even DeWayne Robertson wasn’t a complete bust (they just overpaid) , only Bryan Thomas comes across as a complete miss. You want a poorly run franchise, look at the Dolphins picks in the last 10 years
Great post. Everything but the uniform crack. We have the best current uniform in the NFL. Period. Our Titan throwbacks suck, but our Green-n-Whites are awesome. The only unis that even come close are the old San Diego powder-blues.
We rarely dominate another team – either defensively or offensively.
The Draft Blunders Video is not unaltered — Chris Berman’s “tight end, tight end” comment was made in 95 when Brady was drafted, yet in the video it’s heard when Johnny Mitchell is drafted in 94 — Additionally, I don’t recall people booing the draft of Freeman McNeil in 81 –
Awsome article!!! Love the Billy Joel at the end way to stick it to all the other fans in a NY way!!! I think the Jersey is a love or hate thing… I happen to love them… Throwbacks included!!! Blue and Gold are awsome colors…
nice article – I actually think that most of it can be pinned on “lazy sportswriters”.
It’s the same guys who refuse to acknowledge the value of “new” baseball statistics like WHIP, OBP, and VORP – if it doesn’t fit into their pre-determined perception of reality, it doesn’t get used. They write the articles and create the sports shows that shape the overall perception in sports fandom.
The only part of the Jets logo that I have never liked is the small football at the bottom of the logo. Other than that, I say we keep the uniforms intact. I also like the throwbacks but I never liked the Kelly green uniforms. I also like any combo of all-white or green & white but I hate the all-green uniforms.