An Open Letter To The New York Jets

Dear New York Jets,

With your AFC Championship game just hours away, I felt compelled to write. I just wanted to find some way to convey how excited I am and what this game to myself, the fans of this team and most importantly, this franchise. A franchise that was once a laughingstock, is now one game from the Super Bowl.

I have been a Jets fan since 1980. My earliest memories of the Jets is watching Richard Todd toss touchdown passes to Wesley Walker and Joe Klecko terrorize the opposition at the old She Stadium. Freeman McNeal shredding defenses and the Sack Exchange bringing down the QB. As fond as those childhood memories are, I also can say in the 30 years I have been a fan, I have seen anything that can happen, happen. From AJ Duhe and the 1983 AFC Championship game against Miami, dubbed the Mud Bowl because Miami didn't cover the field during days of pouring rain, to the 1986 AFC Divisional playoff game against Cleveland where a late hit on Bernie Kosar by Mark Gastineau on a 3rd and long allowed the Browns to drive down, tie the game in regulation and then win the game in overtime. To Dan Marino's fake spike to John Elway and Denver beating the Jets in the 1999 AFC Championship Game. To Bill Belicheck resigning after 2 days as Jets head coach to last year's loss to the Colts in the AFC Championship game. What I have not seen in my lifetime is the Jets in the Super Bowl. Let's face it, New York City still belongs to the New York Football Giants. Especially after they pulled off a shocking win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Yet, this city is in a frenzy over the Jets for the first time since probably 1969 when Broadway Joe won Super Bowl III. You guys can own this city if you win two more games. Everyone is wearing Jets cap, stores are hanging Let's Go Jets signs in their windows and Mark Sanchez has surpassed Derek Jeter as NY's resident dream boat. It's a great time to be a Jet fan. Plus, no one likes you guys. They say you talk too much. Who cares?? I'm glad to see some swagger in this franchise. For too long all I have seen are Jets players with their heads hanging down after a heartbreaking loss. Since Rex Ryan has taken over, there has been no taking a backseat to anyone, no more "Same Old Jets". This team has been to the AFC Championship game for the past two seasons, no Jets team can say that. Now is time to take that next step. This team can do it. This team is good enough to be in Dallas, playing for the Lombardi Trophy.

So, as I rest my weary head tonight, I will say my prayers and include a special prayer for the Jets. No one expected you to be in Pittsburgh and no one expects you to be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. You have been proving the critics wrong so far. A win tomorrow would be a swift kick in the rear to all those nay sayers. Tomorrow night, I want my facebook status to read "Let's have a F'ing Snack, The Jets are going to the Super Bowl". Make it happen.

Signed,

Long Time Jets Fan

Bobbleheads

Today, I was able to meet up with Andy Matz, who I met on the Spawn boards. He has a collection of bobbleheads, McFarlanes and Starting Lineups that would make even the most experianced collector swoon. He has most in his office in midtown Manhattan, which is where I met up with him this afternoon. After inviting me to sit down (on a seat from Dodger Stadium no less) we talked about bobbles.

He's been collecting them since the late 80's. It was a progression that started from his collecting of Kenners Starting Lineups and grew from there. He has just about every bobble you can think of from stadium give aways to retail. He has just about every team in baseball represented. also has a nice collection of hockey bobbles. I think I might have seen some football as well. His collection of Starting Lineups as well as his McFarlane Sports Picks also took up residency in his office.

Some of the nicer bobbles were the stadium give aways. I saw a bobble sporting the old Toronto Blue Jays powder blues, a Roberto Clemente, a very nice Joe Torre Dodger bobble and a Mr.Met that caught my eye. His collection of McFarlanes were no less impressive as it seemed like he had every single one on his walls, including the Team Canada figures, the boxed sets and a lot of baseball. He even showed me some autographed Starting Lineups signed by Darryl Strawberry and Willie Randolph.

He reached out to me when I posted a thread on the Spawn forum asking if anyone had any bobbles of teams I collect. He had replied and told me he had three I might be intrested in. A Mariano Rivera Yankee Stadium SGA, a Jason Giambi Yankee Stadium SGA and a Hideki Matsui Trenton Thunder SGA. We negotiated a price and I went to pick them up today. When I went to pay, he told me they were on the house. He wanted to help jump start my bobblehead collection. I was overwhelmed by his generosity. Andy, If your reading this, I'd like to thank you again for your hospitality, your time and generosity.

Now, on to the bobbles

Mariano Rivera Yankee Stadium SGAJason Giambi Yankee Stadium SGA

Hideki Matsui Trenton Thunder SGA

Martin Brodeur Gold Base Team Canada Bobble that I bought from a Canadian Spawn Boardie. Beautiful piece.

Now the rest of my collection

From left to right; 2002 Derek Jeter Upper Deck Bobble, 2003 Hideki Matsui Upper Deck Bobble, Derek Jeter Forever Bobble, Mark Teixeira World Series Champion Bobble, Whitey Ford Cooperstown Forever Bobble, Phil Rizutto Forever Bobble

From left to right; Patrick Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, Zach Parise, Martin Brodeur, Chad Pennington training camp give away. The Devils Bobbles were part of a partial plan. Bought tickets to 4 selected games and you got the set free. Looks like not a lot of people bought them so they sold the set in the team stores then gave them out during game one of the playoffs.

Lastly, from left to right; my Spiderman bobbles; comic and movie versions; my generic Mets bobble I picked up at Shea and my generic Brooklyn Cyclones bobble I picked up at Keyspan Park. The Pennington you see here is a statue.

Here's my goal. I want to collect as many bobbles from my teams (Yankees, Jets, Devils and Knicks) as well as a HOF collection. I also will pick up a bobble from every stadium, arena and park I visit. If I could have a collection that comes halfway to Andy's, then I'd be a very happy camper.