You possibly can see all of this by way of the prism of cynicism and skepticism. You might be effectively inside your rights to be blasé about this. You have earned a lot whether or not you are a New York Jets fan or only a fan {of professional} sports activities generally.
Aaron Rodgers?
He bought. He’s coming off a horrible yr (by his requirements, anyway). It comes at a value. You possibly can disagree with him — or worse — on any variety of points starting from his assist of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to his endorsements of psychedelics to his stance on vaccinations, or possibly you simply stand beside him on all of it. It is all truthful, and it is all at stake. You have earned your wait-and-see method.
This is the factor, although:
It’s really a pleasure to see an athlete of his standing, gravity, elite means, dealing with his wares in our lovely metropolis. We’re effectively in the beginning of the method, after all. Rodgers solely has a couple of exercises beneath his belt. There are numerous issues that may go flawed between right here and January. Hell, there’s lots that may go flawed between right here and Monday evening, 9/11, when the Jets play the Payments and all of it begins for actual.
However from time to time, it is not a horrible factor to only relish the chance to see somebody so good at their craft do it on behalf of New York.
Was Kevin Durant’s keep in Brooklyn good? Barely. However there have been loads of nights over the previous three years the place you might purchase a ticket, go to Barclays Middle and see one of many three or 4 most gifted basketball gamers on the planet doing what he does finest, and what he does higher than nearly anybody else. Did it finish badly? It made. However if you happen to noticed Durant in Sport 5 or Sport 7 of the 2021 playoffs towards Milwaukee, if you happen to watched what he did with your personal eyes, you recognize you noticed one thing you may bear in mind without end.
Was Jacob deGrom’s keep in Queens good? It was not. However there have been loads of days and nights between 2014 and 2022 when you might purchase a ticket, go to Citi Discipline, and see one of the good craftsmen in all of baseball. Did it finish badly? It made. However if you happen to’ve seen deGrom when he was on the peak of his powers, making main league hitters seem like Legion ball scrubs, you recognize you’ve got seen one thing you may see without end.
We have been fortunate right here, even when the championship drought generally permits us to neglect it. We noticed Aaron Choose chasing Roger Maris. We noticed an ideal sport from Domingo German a couple of weeks in the past. We have seen Eli Manning at his finest, and we have seen Henrik Lundqvist at his finest, and we have seen Jason Kidd at his finest, and Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and Michael Strahan – which suggests we have seen the most effective doing what they do finest. If you’re a sports activities fan, there may be nothing that compares to this.
Possibly Rodgers can be previous his finest in a very long time. Maybe he’ll make extra information off the pitch than on the pitch. Possibly he’ll be Johnny Unitas because the Charger, or Joe Willie Namath because the Ram, or Russell Wilson because the Bronco. It’s definitely inside the realm of the potential.
However possibly – simply possibly – we’ll get Tom Brady because the Buccaneer, figuring it out till the final Tremendous Bowl. Possibly – simply possibly – we’ll have Joe Montana because the chief, who by no means added a last title to his assortment however taught Kansas Metropolis a lesson in professionalism and victory that’s nonetheless felt at this time. Possibly – simply possibly – we’ll get Peyton Manning because the Bronco, who might have been a shadow of himself his senior yr when Denver received all of it, however who shone as brightly as ever within the years earlier than, revitalizing a crew and a metropolis.
Possibly – simply possibly – we’ll get Rodgers at his finest as a Jet.
And if that occurs, it is going to be one thing to see. Will probably be one thing to recollect. Will probably be one thing to share with your pals and your youngsters, and the others who share your part at MetLife Stadium, and the individuals who watch with you on the neighborhood saloon each Sunday.
If this occurs…
Nicely, as Spanky and Our Gang used to rave: Sunday won’t ever be the identical.
