Cole Tessler ’11
Sports Editor
As a Jet fan, if the Jets lose on Sunday, Mondays are usually filled with taunts and jokes.
These comments range anywhere from “the Jets are horrible” to “Mark Sanchez might be the worst QB ever.” These comments, for the most part , are coming from Giants fans. But when the Giants lose, that’s when Jets fans like me get payback.
While making fun of Giants fans after a devastating loss to the Colts, I started to wonder why there is such a rivalry between these fans?
The Jets and Giants are not rivals. They share a stadium, and they only play each other once every four years. They are both good team; the Jets made the AFC Championship last year, and the Giants finished 8-8 despite having a number of injuries
. But I came to realize that I really don’t hate the Giants as a team, just their fans. I decided to ask around and figure out why the two New York teams’ fans hate the other team.
Erik Sawyer ‘11 a self proclaimed diehard Giant fan says he roots against the Jets and hates them mainly because of their fans, “They try and act as if they are one of the most historic and best franchises. In reality they have accomplished close to nothing,” Sawyer said
A very valid point. As a Jet fan I’ll admit we do get cocky at times when Jets haven’t gone to a Super Bowl since 1969. But I think you have a right to be cocky when your team was 30 minutes from making a Super Bowl last year.
Sawyer is notorious to Staples students for making fun of the Jets to many fans after losses. “It’s a lot of fun to taunt them, especially if they deserve it,” Sawyer said. “Sometimes it’s just for fun and then other times I to try and get them to admit the truth about their team and be honest.”
Like Sawyer, Andrew Accardi ’11 says Giants fans are the main reason why he hates the Giants. “A lot of my friends are Giants fans, and they constantly brag about how amazing the Giants are and how bad the Jets are.”
This is typical for Jet fans. No matter how well the they play, Gaints fans will always find a way to put down the Jets. For example last year when the Jets made the playoffs, Giants fans would bring up the fact they have more Super Bowls and the Jets haven’t been to one in over 40 years.
Since fans from both teams are saying it’s about the other teams fans, if both fans stop being so cocky, we can end this rivalry. We don’t have to become fans of the other team but at least not root against the other team.
Accardi says it will never happen, “It won’t because both sides are always gonna think their team is the best.” This is definitely true, no matter how good or bad one team is, they will always think they are the best compared to others.
Sawyer agrees and even went as far as saying, “Watching the Jets do well gives me the same bad feeling when watching the Giants lose.” Can’t say I agree with this as a fan, but goes to show some people really hate the other team.
I am still willing to stop my hate for the Giants if their fans agree to stop putting down the Jets. I doubt it will happen. though.