Being A Mets, Jets, and Islanders Fan Isn’t Easy

With another horrid season for the Mets coming to an end, one can’t help but think, what horrible inhumane crime did I commit in a past life to be forced to endure the torture of being a Mets, Jets, and Islanders fan? I was born in 1991 (which makes me 18 years old) and in these 18 years I have seen nothing but disappointment, collapse, despair and arch rivals winning world championships.

I will begin with baseball, our cross town rivals, the New York Yankees, are the best sports franchise of all time. They have played in 39 World Series’ and have won 26 of the 39. Comparing the Yankees to the Mets, who have played in a whopping four World Series, and have won a grand total of two championships, is no comparison. During the last two seasons New York Mets fans have watched their team collapse epically and give two division titles to the hated Philadelphia Phillies. Last season, Philadelphia took advantage of the opportunity and won their second World Series to tie the Mets. This season, plagued by injuries and poor fundamentals, the Mets have watched a promising season turn into rubbish. They are now in fourth place (11.5 GB) behind Philly. If the Mets are not in first place by the All Star Break of next season, expect mass firings to occur.

Next I will turn to Football; The New York Jets have not been in, nor won a Super Bowl since 1969. That’s 40 years; 40 years of torment and misery. To make matters worse, the New England Patriots are one of the best football dynasties ever, and two years ago they went undefeated until the Super Bowl where they lost to our other rival, the New York Giants. Both the Giants and the Patriots have won three Super Bowls each since we last won 1. Although the past has not been great, the future looks bright as the Jets just drafted their quarterback of the future, Mark Sanchez, in this year’s entry draft. They also hired a new coach, Rex Ryan, who will bring a defensive mentality to a team that desperately needs one. When all is said and done, out of these three teams (Jets, Mets, Islanders), the Jets look like they have the best chance to win a championship in the near future.

Last, but certainly not least, the New York Islanders. The Islanders were the best NHL team in the 1980’s. They had won four Stanley Cups in a row (1980-1983), and things were looking great. Then I was born. Since 1991, the Islanders have been the perennial laughing stock of the NHL. They have made the playoffs only a handful of times and are in the midst of a rebuilding process for the last five years. The Islanders have promise though as they drafted John Tavares, with the number one pick in this year’s NHL entry draft. All fans hope that Tavares will lead them back to the glory days of the early 80’s and only time will tell.

Now you know what it has been like for the last 18 years of being an Islanders, Mets, and Jets fan. Although there is hope for the future with all three teams it’s hard to be optimistic after cheering for these teams for the past two decades and seeing how badly all three could be. One day the streak will end and when it does me and any other fans of any of these teams will be ready and enjoy winning because we have never truly felt what winning feels like.

Josh Jakers

NYchalktalk.com