There’s that old saying that you build things up to tear them down. Kind of like celebrities. Entertainment media spends a lot of time bringing people up to a certain standard, and when they can’t live up to it, people seem to relish in the fall. It’s almost, like, humanizing I suppose. Look at Kim Kardashian and her 90-day marriage or however long it was and the backlash from having a ginormous glitzy wedding televised (though in my opinion, she had it coming).
The same could be said about sports and sports figures. Remember at the beginning of the football season, the Buffalo Bills were the toast of the town, man. They won their first three games, and prior to their bye week in Week Seven, were 4-2. Their losses were even razor thin, and could have easily been won. Pretty soon, they were 5-5 along with the Jets. Now they’re writing about how this could be their worst “collapse” ever (As a Mets fan, I know a thing or two about collapses).
The Jets, however, were the boners. The Bills were overplaying to everyone’s expectations, which is always a good thing. The Jets behind Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez along with Darrelle Revis et al had made it all the way to the Conference Championship game in two seasons…they hadn’t “earned” the right to successfully gloat. Which I mean, come on, Rex is a blowhard sometimes but he’s funny and always owns up to his mistakes. If the shit was on the other foot, i.e. I was not a Jets fan, it may piss me off too. The Jets are boners, apparently, to the masses. Possibly because of my eclectic sports affiliations and interactions, I find a lot of haters. Haters don’t piss me off…my philosophy behind them is that you’re doing something right if people dislike you to the point of bashing.
Yet, a few weeks ago, the Bills were the toast of the league, and now the Jets beat them (it was ugly Sunday, that’s for sure) and it’s all, “Well, it’s not that big of a win…it was the Bills.” Well, fuck that bullshit. I’m sick of the double-standard. If the Bills had held on to a lead, I’m sure it would have been about how the Jets suck and they’re horrible and Rex Ryan likes his wife’s feet and blah blah blah.
I was supposed to attend today’s shit show live. I had a shit show of my own that needed attending to when I was at home and didn’t think it to be a good idea to go a game. I was sad, I was mad…nothing I hate more than wasting those tickets. So I just sat home with my green tea, my yogurt and upped my probiotic intake. And I didn’t drink though for most Jets games, it should be mandatory that I’m stinking fucking drunk. Period. End of story.
I know the Jets are flawed. If ANYONE knows that it’s me. But back to the haters thing, why not give credit where it’s due. The Jets and Bills are battling for a playoff spot — if they’re LUCKY — and it’s the JETS who won and who are getting the shit of the end stick regardless.
And what’s worse? I love taking to Twitter to bitch about them. Yet I was called out for saying “Just forfeit” in jest to someone I follow…a saying, by the way, I’ve been saying for 14 years. People who aren’t even Jets fans RELISHING in each misplay, misfire, miscue. Look, I know they half bring it on themselves. But it’s like they’re the Rodney Dangerfield of football: they get no respect. Stevie Williams mimes shooting himself in the leg scoring a touchdown, and people defend it. Plax got the last laugh there, so it’s all good as far as I’m concerned. Tweeters calling a Jets loss before they even finish. Do I need to remind them that a few years ago they were all but out and “backed in” only to go almost all the way…and that was a year they weren’t expected to do much!
It reminds me of when the Yankees are in the playoffs. ALL the haters come out of the woodwork. Now, I’m not a Yankees fan, but I can respect them and their fans (especially since I’m friendly with many of them). On the flip side though I understand where the hate for the Highlanders come from. They’ve at least earned the right to haters, if that makes sense.
So the Jets are a quirky team with a quirky head coach who likes to talk a lot and their QB is a pretty boy with some neurosis (hey, he’s a QB for a NY team that I like…I take the blame for that). Sit down and shut the fuck up. I’d like just for once to hear about how it’s the BILLS who dropped the proverbial ball (twice, mind you, against the Jets) and not how the Jets won the game because the Bills decided to lose it. Fuck that noise.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to sit on the toilet again.
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