The Second Coming
[My last camp report concerns the changes now that Brett Favre is among us]
They might be called the “high holiday” faithful. They are the Christians who go to church once a year on Easter or the Jews who show up at Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah. They don’t pay dues, they don’t tithe; they know nothing of the building fund or the basement leaks; they’re indifferent to the pastor’s children or the condition of the rectory; they can’t recognize the rabbi and they think the word rebbetzin is ridiculous. They don’t know where to park, or sit, or stand, or pray, or chant, or sing; the liturgy is as unfamiliar as the writing of Victor Hugo, in the original French. Their meat is spectacle and ceremony. The unusual is their nectar. They ooh and ah, only at the remarkable.
The Church of the New York Jets held a high holiday festival in the last days of camp at Hofstra and the faithful were in full attendance. Salvation had appeared in the guise of a middle-aged knight protector from rural Mississippi who had arrived, as if by divine providence, in a Gulfstream Five at Teterboro. The luminance had come and they followed in their thousands to see it. They knew things would be different now and they came to bask in His reflected glory.
Hallelujah, Brett. Brett is here and all will be made right. Our season is guaranteed. We will surely have a productive campaign and a berth in the playoffs. Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of the Patriots, we will fear no losses for Brett is with us.
Still, not everyone conceiveth-ed on the same scale. A few grizzled curmudgeons were pretty annoyed. Some regulars complained about the parking, the crowds and the noise but the faithful knew what was important, and they shared their knowledge freely. Yell phrases like “there he is,” if you see a red shirt. Snap pictures of everything that moves. Say, “that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” after every completion. Applaud whenever you see someone familiar. Follow every pass till it reaches a receiver—ignore the receiver.
At one point last week, a regular fan, weary of the crowds, the clamor and seemingly mindless adulation, cried out to no one in particular: “What are they clapping about?” He did not have to wait long for his answer. “It’s Brett Favre,” a knowing newcomer responded. “Can’t you see him?” And he could.
All around, there was evidence of the coming. Everywhere there were giant white number fours on new, green jerseys. “We sold two thousand yesterday,” an employee of the Jets shop confided proudly. There were little kid Brett Favres, and portly, old man, Brett Favres and even girl Brett Favres—Brettettes.
Lest we think we are better than our clueless companions, though, we should think twice before criticizing. Take Saturday night, for example. Which one of us, upon seeing the offense efficiently drive down the field and put up six points with a nifty strike to our exciting young, new tight end, didn’t say to himself “wow” and then notice he had forgotten how to spell Pennington. In the end, we want exactly what the faithful want: an exciting season. We want those memories of victory and triumph, just as badly as our celebrity chasing neighbors. What is more, we don’t care what we have to pay or who we have to hurt to get it.
All we can think of is a wintry deliverance. Take me to the sunshine in February, Brett. We’re all virgins and we like your style.
Filed under: Main Page
I disagree a little. I don’t want just an exciting season. I want an exciting team to root for, for multiple seasons unfortunately after this year or maybe next we will be where we were at the beginning of this offseason.
I’m all about long term success not just 1 season success.
Nice essay. I like it ,despite the fact that I do not belong.., a snap shot that captures the moment ,the need to believe.
Andrew Weiss, I enjoyed reading your entry and I hate to be negative, but lets not associate Brett Favre with any religious God. I remember the last time someone associated himself with Jesus (Beetles Lennon) saying “I am more famous than Jesus Christ, I believe he was shot and killed not too long after.
DO NOT KILL THE SEASON!
what a bunch of crap
lennon was shot more than a decade later
Again, if I want sports comedy, I’ll click on Deadspin. Or I will listen to Jay Mohr.
vbsiena24:
How fast we forget that we had ALOT to cheer for before he even got here. Remember?
wasn’t this posted the other day?
It’s simple. A rather rambling discourse about the seeming stupidity of Jets fans.
a badly written load of crap
what happened to the jetsblog? it used to be a really good source for intelligent jets news and analysis. this post is neither news nor football analysis. (i won’t pass judgment on the intelligence…)
Andrew, I am sorry…I think it is my reputation that killed your essay.
Ian….please tell us something intelligent..we are thirsty.
I thought it was a good piece and what happened to not saying anything if you have nothing good to say? If you dont like reading essays like that then breeze over and read another post.
hank – I was really happen when we got Jenkins/Faneca/Gholston/Pace
So Yes I was very happy before Favre and will be happy after the 1-2 seasons with Favre.
*happy
wow – harsh reaction to the post. i thought it was entertaining.
Amen. Indeed long-suffering Jets fans do have a deliverance that has long been prayed for — a QB who will usher in a new era of triumphant years for the Jets.
His name is Brett, and in time team history will record him as one of the truly great ones.
Oh, I am not talking about the man called Favre — he is like John The Baptist and his life on the team will be short-lived. Favre is the one/two year precursor of the one we have been really waiting for — the other Brett, THE MAN. Some call him The Rat, but Brett Ratliff is the flinger of footballs who will deliver the Jets into the promised land. He will — and note these words — be in time be likened to another leader who came out of college with little fanfare to lead his tribe to greatness, Brady the Patriot.
Indeed, many will say: BRADY ll is on Jets. They will not be referring to Favre of the big flutter, but to The Rat, the Great One — our own unheralded Brett Ratliff.
So, my fellow Jet fans, send up to on high your prayer of thanks. Our deliverance is at hand. Thank God.
It has been a long wait.
What Brandon said.
Goat: I agree, I thought I read this elsewhere.
I am a life long Jets fan, nobody really knows why seeing as I was born and raised deep in Buffalo territory.
And for the record I would like to stress
“I HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY SUFFERING…….since the 90’s”
We’ve mad the playoffs five times in the past 10 years. Sure, I’d like to see a bowl appearance, but let’s not act as if we’re the worst team in the league.
The Jets
Well written and thought provoking.essay. Much truth can be found in its contents.
I just hate the bandwagon jumpers. With a team like the Jets, you have to have suffered to be a true fan, sorry. Everyone who came on board in ‘98 when we were awsome and the following years now are back to being Giants fans anyway. But, as soon as we get good, they will rear their front running heads.
I suffered in 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 (even). A real Jets fan needs at least 4 years of suffering.
…and the Flight Crew cheered….and the Lord did grin…and there was much rejoicing! :-)
Hey Jets fans Get your #4 BRETT FAVRE Home or Away Replica Jerseys NOW before the season starts. limited supply. http://www.Urbandigz.net