1969 Year Of The Mets And Jets

The Mets and Jets were emblematic of the era, the 1960s was known for a generation gap and of the emergence of youth as a voice.  Neither team was in existence ten years earlier.  The Jets were part of a brand new league the AFL, that challenged, before it became part of the NFL.  The Mets  were an expansion team, a consistent cellar dweller, that shared a town with the storied New York Yankees. The Jets shared the spotlight with the New York "Football" Giants.  Many noticed that the two teams had names that rhymed.  Both teams played in Shea Stadium.  A field that was also famous for hosting the Beatles.
In  the Super Bowl of 1969, the Jets pulled off one of sports greatest upsets beating the Baltimore Colts. In the two previous Super Bowls, the NFL's Packers easily beat the 2 best AFL entries. The top picture is of Joe Namath, the Jet's brash, outspoken but talented quarterback. Namath was unlike any sports figure at the time. A mod dresser and a lover of the night life.
In the World Series, the Mets upset Baltimore's Orioles, also a heavily favored team.  On a related note.The NBA New York Knicks would beat the Baltimore Bullets on their way to the championship in the upcoming NBA season. Of course the Knicks had been around for a while, but can be tied to the Mets and Jets by the year, the city, and the fact that it also beat a  team from Baltimore in the post season.  Not long afterwards, New York would get the Nets, who would play in the ABA, a team with a rhyming name with the city's two hottest clubs.
In a year that saw Woodstock and a man walk on the moon.  The respective championships of the Jets and the Mets, would put a definitive cherry on top of a decade, forever known for the explosion of the youth culture.

Percy Harvin Trade Shocks Area

The Seattle Seahawks are now big news in this area outside the sports world, so fans and non-fans alike are in a state of shock at the news that Percy Harvin has been traded to the New York Jets.  I received the news on the Twitter feed on my phone while having coffee with my dad at Starbucks and spent a second wondering if it was a joke. 
Percy Harvin, although spending much of last season sidelined by injuries,  was probably the team's most exciting player, he will be remembered running back a kick-off for a touchdown in the Super Bowl, one of the most memorable moments in Seattle sports history.  It put an exclamation point on a great victory.  This year, while healthy, his numbers were less than exciting, but fans seemed to think a breakthrough was immanent. 
The Seahawks will receive a conditional draft choice from the Jets for Harvin.

Golden Tate Leaving The 'Hawks

One of my favorite Seahawks Golden Tate has joined another team via free agency.  Golden Tate has signed a five year deal with the Detroit Lions.  Golden was Seattle's leading wide receiver, but even better, he was the team's "Dennis The Menace" seemingly always falling into some controversy.
The first time that he made news in Seattle, he was caught sneaking into a Top Pot Doughnut shop.  He proceeded to give the company advertising worth hundreds more than what he had taken. Then came the controversial catch to beat the Green Bay Packers on MNF.  ESPN analysts treated it like a national tragedy and the NFL knew they needed to bargain with the striking NFL officials.  There was the taunting of a defender during the Rams game, but after Terrell Owens taking out a pen and autographing a football in our stadium years ago, it was nice to see us doing the trash talk. Tate caught 64 passes for 898 yards last season, and scored 5 touchdowns. 
I was also sorry to see guard Breno Giacomini leave, the former Seahawk tackle signed with the New York Jets.  His wife was a frequent customer at The UPS Store in Crossroads.  I got to meet Breno at the store a couple weeks ago and congratulate him on the Super Bowl win.

Super Bowl Memories: Super Bowl III

By the time Super Bowl III came around, anyone who was paying attention thought that the NFL was superior to the AFL. Would the Super Bowl survive had the Colts beat the Jets? We will never know. Although the Jets upsetting the Colts was the headline of the period, I think that Super Bowl III will be remembered for two opposing legendary quarterbacks, one representing The Establishment (Johnny Unitas) and one representing the youth rebellion of the time (Joe Namath).
The Colts, who had already won 2 NFL titles, would bounce back in a couple years to get their Super Bowl trophy. After 42 years, the Jets have never been back.

A great clip recalling the AFL's imfamous "Heidi Game" of 1968. A game that might have been unnoticed except for two things, number one, it involved the league's showcase teams, the Jets (who would go on that season and win the Super Bowl and the Raiders (at that time, the defending AFL champions) and also,it kept football fans from watching one of the greatest comebacks in professional football history.
41 years later, fans still remember the "Heidi Games". This clip says it all.

Seahawk Josh Wilson Honored

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Josh Wilson has been chosen as Defensive Player Of The Week for the NFC for his role in last Sunday's victory over the Jets.

Jets Are Grounded, But Snowballs Fill The Air

While Jets were grounded at Sea Tac, the New York Jets could not get their ground game going. It was up to Shaun Ellis to do what Brett Favre couldn't do all afternoon, throw an accurate pass.