The Cheering Stops for Fireman Ed
At first, it seemed like a headline from the Onion. The Jets superfan Ed Anzalone announced Sunday that he was retiring his Fireman Ed cheerleader routine. He told Kristian Dyer of Metro New York that “the boorish behavior of fans” had gotten to him.
“Listen, I went through the Rich Kotite era — we were 4-28 in that era. Any Jets fan knows this isn’t the worst of times; it isn’t close. It’s been about the nastiness. I just think society in general — you’re out in your car there’s no respect at all. I don’t want to put up with that from people taking it out on me anymore.”
Anzalone said fans have gotten nasty and confrontational with him, often mistaking him as part of the organization when he is merely a season ticket holder “who has never received a dime from this team.”
An excerpt from Anzalone’s guest column at Metro New York:
I decided to leave Thursday because the confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic.
This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another. The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. The fact that I chose to wear a Mark Sanchez jersey this year and that fans think I am on the payroll — which is an outright lie — have made these confrontations more frequent. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis.
Although I can “hold my own,” I do not want to lose my temper and make a stupid mistake. I have a responsibility to the families and kids that enjoy the game and Fireman Ed.
He concluded: “I will always love the Jets because they are in my heart, and I will attend games as usual, just not as Fireman Ed. God bless and, as always, let’s go Jets!”
And so continued the tragicomedy that began Thursday with a grotesque loss to the Patriots.
Brian Bassett of the Jets Blog wrote: “I know people have mixed feelings about Ed, but no matter how you might feel it’s hard to not get a little depressed to realize that the guy can’t even hang out among fellow fans without getting blasted for it. Sorry to hear that it’s come to this.”
One commenter at Metro New York wrote: “How are Jets fans going to know how to spell J-E-T-S now?!?”
Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger wrote on Twitter: “So at what point does Belichick sign Fireman Ed and turn him into a Hall of Famer?”
A radio caller on WFAN said: If this keeps up, the Jets’ games next season will be broadcast on Comedy Central.
http://fifthdown.blo...for-fireman-ed/
