Take a bow, Bob Glauber. While out at Jets camp Tuesday, our NFL columnist weighed in on Jets fans getting hammered by Peter King. Click the link for the full post but here's a snippet:
"I would never criticize a fan for not showing up to a preseason game, even if he/she has already paid for a ticket. The games are meaningless, people's time is valuable, and if there is something better to do on a warm summer night than drive four hours round trip, spend $60 in gas, another $100 in food and other expenses - especially in this economy - then it is that person's right."
Well said. As I said yesterday, I respect and admire King tremendously. But his initial take on this failed every conceivable test of logic and his response Tuesday to some of the letters sent by Jets fans might have been worse.
Ok, good night.
Oh, wait. I should tell you your last chance to see Favre in person - and the final open practice ever at Hofstra for that matter - is Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Camp breaks after that. Too late to make plans? Well, that's too bad. The Jets sent out a release at 11:49 p.m. Tuesday night making the announcement.
I have a bit of sensory overload on this, but I will refrain from further comment until hearing what should be an interesting explanation for what on the surface looks like a collective slap in the face of a fan base that has been supporting training camp out here for 40 years. But, hey, at least you have the "opportunity" to buy PSLs at the end of the month, loyal and appreciated fans!
Comments (28)
When is the last time Peter King had to actually drive himself anywhere, or pay for a refreshment or snack at any venue he's been at? I've seen him show up and get out of the BACK SEAT of a vehicle, and then is handed a bottle of water or diet cola of some kind without even asking, or even being thirsty. He has the audacity to question our devotion to our team, simply because we decided to put our families before 14 Brett Favre snaps? Maybe its not audacity, but simply just being oblivious of the time we are living in. I'm sorry Mr. King, but Charles, my chauffeur, is off for a while, I'm gonna have to drive myself to my desired destinations.
So how bout that press pass to the Pate game?
I typically enjoy reading King's MMQB column. This puts things in a different light. King critized the fans, rightfully so, when they booed Chad limping off the filed last season. But, given all the media over attention the Favre thing received, even according to some in the media, I'm surpsised he would complain about the fans not feeding into it.
Didn't over 10,000 show up for his first practice?
Boland, thanks for having the JETS fans backs.
And good to see Glauber jump on the band wagon.
As for the Jets, this move is just rude, once again the underlying arrogance of this organization rears its ugly head.
Hard for me to feel sorry for him, but they were also quite rude to Mike Francesca yesterday, making him sit at Hofstra all day when he is trying to promote the team, and then giving him the bare minimum amount of time at the very end. No way to treat the largest sports radio station and show in the nation, and Jets fans that tuned in to listen.
Not that he did anything worthwhile with the time they provided.
I listened all day only to be treated to one of the most useless interviews of all time once Favre and Mangini finally showed up, togethar, but nonetheless the Jets should have done a better job of providing him material.
As for Coles, besides the Chad situation, sure the fact that he is injured and is forbidden from discussing such injury adds to his reluctance to speak.
Those criticizing him for always being unhappy must remember that while he is often critical he always made himself available to the media and was considered a good quote. He was one of the few that dared crticize management on occasion.
Now that he is refraining from providing those quotes we see the spiteful side of the media (cannizzaro and cimini, essentially) who are biting the hand that used to feed them their quotes.
I wouldn't talk to them either.
The other issue that no one's mentioned is the fact that King's opinion here is plainly clouded by his personal friendship with Favre. He repeatedly made incorrect predictions over the off-season about Brett staying retired, because he didn't question when Favre told him he was tired of the hard work. Even when other outlets were reporting Brett's desire to come back, King still claimed it wasn't going to happen.
It seems to me a good reported should always take anything said to them with a grain of salt until it's verified with a couple of other sources. Further, I still don't believe it's the function of any reporter to question or criticize the devotion of fans, in any circumstance. Calling out a team's entire fan base in a national publication is entirely inappropriate.
everyone's missing the point here... If you dont want to travel 4 hours round trip to go to a meaningless preseason game that doesnt matter then it's understandable. Just dont compare yourself to other football cities fans that would/do.
No doubt NY Jets have great fans. Just they cant be compared to other cities who do, do this. Dont use the more stuff to do arguement either. There's plenty of stuff to do in other cities that do this even if it's not as much as NY. IE Nashville.
I think the only real excuse is that not everyone who would go could go because of the season ticket holders that had the tickets.
DMB...Boland will hook you up if you promise to pound Peter King!
dmb, you are relentless, if nothing else.
John Z., I wouldn't presume to judge his motives in writing that. I wish he wouldn't have been so quick to judge, either. But you're right, calling out a fan base because of attendance at a preseason game is inappropriate, with some flawed reasoning sprinkled in.
aronnov, judging any team's fans based on preseason attendance is a pretty harsh grading curve. And I'll go back to something I said two days ago: there are no more rabid fans than in Cleveland and that stadium was half full (or half empty depending on perspective) for the opener against the Jets two weeks ago.
Come-On....Preseason is a joke, I think it is a crime that NFL includes Practice (meaningless games) to the Season Ticketspackages. I think it is fair to compare...If you have driven from LI to NJ it is a nightmare, probably the worst commute in the NFL. I know people drive 4+ hours to Green Bay. JET fans are as loyal as any, look this team's history compared to the waiting list for tickets.
Erik, I'll be out there with my camera, hopefully I'll shoot something good. I'm thinking of documenting the entire practice if my camera battery can hold out. It's kind of a special occasion, being the last Hofstra practice and all.
Erik,
Your writing has risen to an appropriate level of cynicism. I would call it sardonic if I knew what that meant. Yes, let's talk about the world of "opportunity" that our ruling class republican owner, Robert Wood Johnson, IV envisions for us. It's nice to be king--a position that only requires you to be born to the right family.
Woody in Wonderland rewards fan loyalty with euphemistic and disingenuos words written for him by his Orwellian ghosts. Down is up and losing is winning. He also wants us to believe that 1) He had no choice but to sell PSLs to finance his 50% share of the new stadium misplaced in the swamps; 2) The purchase of exhorbitantly priced season tickets (the real killer for fans and the uncapped gift that keeps on giving) is a "right" rather than an obligation; and 3) He cares about our comfort, safety and convenience.
To wit, here's a sample quote from Chairman Woody's August 12th letter updating us about 'some important developments':
"I know you are concerned about the overall stadium environment. I have the same concerns. As a father, I find it completely unacceptable if fans are uncomfortable bringing their children to a Jets game." Question: Woody, you've been a father for many years and CEO of the Jets since 2001. What caused you suddenly to have this epiphany about stadium environment and the well-being of decent fans--both young and old.
Here's another beauty from King Woody the Fourth: Gushing about the extra wide concourses (architect-speak for what we used to call passageways) his majesty says these corridors will be "lined with virtually every conceivable type of food at eight times the number the number of concession stands." Great. Pass the sushi. Who are the Jets playing today?
Woody, if you really cared about the fans and had any concept of goodwill you would provide free parking in the limited spaces at the Meadowlands and the satelite sites--pending completion of your dream palace.
I have to laugh. The benefits, comforts and conveniences Woody is benevolently offering us compare to the opportunity muggers give their victims, the privilege and excitement that flexible NFL scheduling gives us to freeze our fannies off at time-shifted games in December, and the comfort of knowing we never have to rub elbows again with the tailgating riff raff.
Lord Woody, enjoy your edifice to greed. As the captain of the Titanic said to the iceberg on her maiden voyage, thanks for the opportunity....
I'll agree with that Eric. It is pretty harsh to judge a fan base for preseason games. I'll give NYC the benefit of the doubt. I still dont think Peter King will be convinced though :\
I agree with everything RC Meany just said. A classic example of east coast gibberish if ever there was one.
"dmb, you are relentless, if nothing else."
its a great promotion you guys are doing, i'm very thankful for the opportunity
Erik
Any chance of this Favre guy making the team? I haven't heard too much about him.
Andy, it's exactly that kind of sarcasm that makes us happy. I heard he's old, but enjoys the sport of deep woods pundit hunting. I also heard a rumor that to convince him to join the Jets, they took him on a backwoods expedition where they hunted the elusive Pasty-tailed Cimini (Absentcia Richacus), who is known for disappearing into the weeds for days.
Initially the hunt was for the enormous Bostonian Red Freckled Land Whale (Petrus Klingleberry) an animal known for the rancid emanations spewing out of its blowhole. Although the largest of the deep woods pundits, this one shies away from direct confrontation, preferring to attack from comfortable distances. Sometimes found comfortably lodged between the cheeks of the Great American Bellicheat.
The hunting party was lead by a wild-eyed young scamp that goes by the name of E-bola, a contagious scamp that make those who come in contact with him, hemorrhage green blood.
Now dmb, when you get in there, make sure you leave a window unlocked so the rest of us can sneak in.
erik,
i try to read every new column written about the jets every morning, and i just wanted to let you know that your writing is far and away the best of any columnist because the reader can tell that you CARE about this team. you are in fact a fan, as opposed to columnists who track the jets because it is their job, and nothing else. when i read your columns, i sense a brother in arms who is as passionate about this team as everyone who bothers to post comments here.
i'm glad you've taken issue with peter king's column. i always enjoy MMQB, but was quite irritated after reading the most recent installment. i expect much of the media to lack respect for the jets (re: rich eisen), but to attack an entire fanbase? aren't we the reason sports even exist commercially? i wasn't at favre's debut game but watched it on tv, so i don't know exactly how populated the stadium was. but by any standards, king was especially brutal and acidic in his assessment of jets fans, and anyone who supports this franchise will feel disdain towards king for some time to come.
Alright, enough toiling. Regular season, hurry up already.
does anyone know if fireman ed is back this year?... the stadium is dead without him.
I only know A) he wasn't at the game last Saturday, a B) some poser with a foam rubber helmut was trying to take his place at the first Favre practice, which I found disquieting. Having met Ed a couple of times, it was always my impression that he is borderline insane which I believe makes him the perfect NY cheerleading personality.
Bravo again Mr Green T
You run into a lot of Ed haters on the boards, but the fact is the atmosphere isn't the same without him. Anyone else leading the J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS! just doesn't work.
Eloquent and on the money, RC. STAY STRONG. You've got Woody's silver spoon act down. On the money--and that's all it's about for this emptiest of all suits. What a robber baron!
DC Jets Fan,
I know what you mean. Every game i've ever been to, Fireman Ed is the best at getting the crowd going! I get goose bumps thinking of that sound.
Erik, will this be your first Jets regular season game?
Just the fact that King would compare this situation with the Knicks if they got Kobe is a joke because you can take the LIRR or Jersey Transit or subway to MSG. Theres no mass transit to the Meadowlands. He sounded like a clown and a man way too full of himself.
Rob K,
Your point is taken, but you can take the LIRR or NJ Transit to Penn Station, walk to the Port Authority and catch a bus. The bus will get you there in 15 minutes.
RC Meany you have the right to voice your opinion....but since Woody has been the owner the organization has been first class. Remember, his first choice was to have a stadium on the West Side. If fans don't like the PSL fees there are 10K+ waiting for a ticket.
I am happy with the Management Team the JETS have, do you want to go back to the days of LEON and Joe Walton????
Boland...If you come down for the Miami game (i'm going) take an extra day and I'll take you fishing...Did I mention that the chicks fish topless in Florida?