Q: How did your Jet fandom begin?

A: I was born in College Point, New York and my family didn’t really care for football when I was young. It was all about the Yankees in my house, until I watched Broadway Joe [Joe Namath] guarantee that the Jets would win Super Bowl III when I was ten years old. Even though they were heavy underdogs, Joe came out and completely controlled the game from start to finish and came home with a ring. I've bled green and white since that day. 

 

Q: You weren’t the creator of the J-E-T-S chant, but now it’s synonymous with your name. How did that come to be?

A: Well, the chant started back in the 1970s when the Jets were still playing at Shea Stadium and these guys named Larry Mack and Don Schaeffer started spelling out J-E-T-S in the upper deck seating on opposite sides of the field. The Jets moved to the Meadowlands in 1984 and my brother and I were at a game sitting in the lower deck while the upper deck was chanting back and forth. I said to my brother “It’s dead down here”, so I start running up and down the aisle and trying to get the fans going. So, I do the J-E-T-S chant on the railing and I almost fall over, and my brother pulls me back in and puts me on his shoulders. It just really took off from there. It’s all about the home field advantage, and when us die hard Jet fans are chanting as loud as we can, every once in a while we may cause the other team to screw up. That’s all it’s about, comradery and passion for the Jets.

 

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Q: What’s a typical game day like for you?

A: First off, I always have to rest my voice. I’ve been screaming at games for 30 years now, so I always need to make sure I drink a ton of water and rest my vocal chords before a home game. Usually my brother, a couple of friends and I will tailgate in the parking lot before. It’s a tradition, for one, but it also gives me a chance to meet, talk and take pictures with fans. Honestly, I’d prefer for fans to come up to me before the game, because during the game, I’m focused on the Jets and the Jets only. After we tailgate, we head to section 134, the section I’ve sat in since 1986. My friends always say my whole mood changes the minute we step into the stadium. I get really locked in and focused like I’m actually playing! But, regardless of the outcome of the game, Jets fans are always there with me fiercely chanting J-E-T-S. I always come home happy from a Jet game, because whether we win or lose, I know I’m a part of a very special and loyal fandom.

 

Q: As someone who has seen every era of Jet uniforms, what are your thoughts on the new Jet uniforms for 2017?

A: I think they’re so awesome! They’re definitely different, but the Jets have always worn very classic green and white uniforms over the years. Those uniforms will always be a part of the history, but I think these new uniforms are sleek and intimidating. Sometimes a little change is needed to spark something special, and I think these uniforms can do just that.