Tag Archives: Super Bowl

Torch in Sanchez’s Hands Now

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By Jason Klein

Originally Written For The Official Steiner Sports Blog – 9/15/09

The torch has been passed.  Now, let’s see how far the kid can run with it.

Prior to making his first professional start, New York Jets rookie Quarterback, Mark Sanchez met up with the only man to ever lead the franchise to a Super Bowl – Joe Namath.  For over forty years now, long-time suffering Jets fans have savored Joe Willie’s performance in Super Bowl III, speaking glowingly about the iconic figure and his positive contribution to an otherwise abysmal team history.  Sunday at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX, Namath informed Sanchez that it’s time to move on.

“…this isn’t about me anymore.  It’s about you,” he told Sanchez.

With that, a new era of New York Jets football began.  Jets 24, Texans 7.

Sanchez was confident and efficient, throwing for 272 yards including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Chanci Stuckey.  He was masterful under pressure, converting 10 of 18 third downs.  He exhibited great mobility in the pocket, and excellent decision making throughout.  Sanchez’s play, coupled with a pair of big runs from Thomas Jones, and Rex Ryan’s“Ravenous” defensive scheme, left Jets fans giddy at what the future might bring.  His quick start was reminiscent of the way another former New York rookie began his storied career.

Thirteen years ago, with similar poise and passion to what Sanchez displayed yesterday, Derek Jeter wrote the first chapter of his legendary career.  Now the all-time Yankees hits leader, Derek Jeter began his 1996 rookie season in Cleveland with a home run and a pair of dazzling plays at short stop.  The sky was the limit that day, and for over a decade, Jeter has been as good as advertised.

He further solidified his legacy on Friday night by passing Lou Gehrig’s hits total.  On Sunday, the fiery kid from SoCal began writing his own legacy, chasing Broadway Joe along the way.

One game into “Matinee” Mark’s career, he looks up for the challenge…even if it was only one game.

“It isn’t fair to anyone to judge a young quarterback after one game,” Namath said.  “Even if it was a really good game…what I saw was a kid who was ready.”

The kid was ready, and so are Jets fans.

In 1996, the Yankees, with a new manager (Torre) and a new leader(Jeter), built on chemistry carried over from the previous regime to capture the team’s first title in 18 years.  It’s been over forty years without a Jets Super Bowl victory.  Could a new coach (Ryan) and a new leader (Sanchez) do the trick for Gang Green too?  Jets faithful burn for another title run – time will tell if Sanchez can light that fire with his new torch.

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Easy to Forget the Real Super Bowl III Jets

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By Jason Klein

Originally Written For The Official Steiner Sports Blog – 8/26/09

The 1969 New York Jets were as smooth as Joe Namath’s flowing brown locks.

Forty years later, as the 2009 Jets prepare for opening day, that legendary club remains the signature team for an otherwise frustrating franchise.  Everything went right that season for the green and white, the story is part of the fabric that makes up the NFL.  Back in 1969, as everyone knows, the New York Jets tore through their schedule, dominated the competition, and then, in dramatic fashion…lost to the Kansas City Chiefsin the Divisional Round of the Playoffs?

Huh?

No upset for the ages?  No merging of the leagues?  No guarantee?

No, actually, all of that happened the previous January during Super Bowl III, the culmination of the 1968 season.  It was the 1968 team that overcame the odds and defeated the Baltimore Colts 16-7.  That’s the club deserving of all the accolades so often misdirected towards the team from the 1969 season.  Confused?  Where did things get mixed up?

Every season, the NFL declares its champion during the Super Bowl – typically held in January (sometimes February) of the following calendar year.  However, this scheduling snafu has rarely caused any confusion…except in the case of the often overlooked 1968 New York Jets.

For instance, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season.  Yet, they won the Super Bowl played in January of 1973.  At last check, no one has ever referred to the ’73 Dolphins as Perfect – that team lost in the Super Bowl to the Minnesota Vikings in January of 1974.

Every Giants fan lives by their 1986 and 1990 Championship teams – even though both of those title games were played in 1987 and 1991respectively.

Take it a step further: Slumdog Millionaire, deemed the top film of 2008, was crowned during the Academy Awards ceremony held in February of 2009 – the following year.  Yet, years from now, film aficionados will refer to Slumdog as the Picture of the Year for 2008, not 2009.

So why are the 1968 Jets almost always referred to as the 1969 club?  Ever see a 1968 Team Signed New York Jets helmet for sale, advertised as such?

It’s possible it has something to do with the symmetry of winning during the same calendar year as the ’69 Amazin’ Mets and ’69 Knicks.  New York sports fans will always have a soft spot in their heart for that year of gluttonous winning – still no excuse for inaccuracy.

In 2008, the Jets wore a commemorative patch to honor the 40thAnniversary of the Super Bowl III team – mathematical recognition appropriate for the 1968 club, and further confirmation of the championship team’s true identity.

Regardless, forty years without a championship is a painfully long time to wait for such a devoted fan base.  When Gang Green finally gets to hoist that Lombardi Trophy for the second time in franchise history, it will be a day, and a year, that no Jets fan will soon forget.

Make no mistake about it.

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Right or Wrong, McNair Memorabilia Has New Life

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By Jason Klein

Originally Written For The Official Steiner Sports Blog – 7/7/09

An athlete’s death gives new life to his sports memorabilia.  It’s simple supply and demand really.  Yes, it’s cold and heartless to think about profiting from someone else’s demise, but this is a very real part of the sports collectibles industry…bottom line.

Taboo to some, many in the industry view it as an opportunity to move product.  Individual collectors see it as their chance to invest in something extremely limited in nature.

For those cynics looking to knock the sports memorabilia industry for taking advantage of such a sensitive issue, understand this: there is a very real demand for these types of items.

This past weekend, in the hours following the untimely and unfortunate death of former NFL MVP, Steve McNair, Steiner Sports phone lines lit up with inquires about items bearing his signature.  Opportunistic collectors were looking to snap up anything they could before the market ran dry.  Politically correct?  Maybe not.  Reality?  Yes.

Steiner Sports experienced similar demand back in March, 2006 when the late, great Kirby Puckett passed away, and again in August 2007 when “The Scooter,” Phil Rizzuto died.  Demand grew exponentially for items signed by either legend as collectors realized how difficult it would soon be to locate such pieces.

It’s difficult to find that delicate balance between sensitivity and commerce.  When does it become appropriate to discuss the value of memorabilia signed by the deceased?  A couple of days?  A week?  A month?  There’s no right answer.

Steve McNair was one of the toughest, and most admired leaders in theNFL during his 13 year career.  He beat the odds, emerging from small Division I-AA Alcorn State, to lead the Tennessee Titans within one yard of a Super Bowl Championship.  Earning co-MVP honors (along with Peyton Manning) in 2003, the third overall selection in the 1995 draft accomplished enough during his career to give inherent value to his collectibles.  Right or wrong, his passing makes anything he signed a hot commodity…bottom line.

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Sanchez to Pilot Jets

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By Jason Klein

Originally Written For The Official Steiner Sports Blog – 4/28/09

His cell phone was pressed firmly to his right ear, his left hand was triumphantly raised above his head.  The voice in his ear, that of General Manager Mike Tannenbaum, asked the kid from SoCal if he wanted to be a New York Jet.  With the world watching, he accepted…punctuating the news with a fist pump and a smile.  Just like that, the Jets had a new face for their often embattled franchise. Mark Sanchez, welcome to Broadway.

Immediately, the Jets have their biggest name at their most important position since Joe Willie sported white cleats and a mink.  So far, the Kid looks the part. Coming from one of the biggest football programs in the nation (USC), he is already battle-tested.  There are certainly some question marks regarding his overall experience – he only started 16 games for the Trojans – but experts are quick to point out just how grueling Pete Carroll’s pro-style practices are.

He looked relaxed and genuinely excited at his introductory Jets press conference, at one point claiming that, “this is so cool.”  His heritage will open up new marketing avenues for the Jets, giving them the ability to target a broader audience within the large New York Hispanic Community.  His diverse background, personality and looks, all in the largest market in the nation, will lead to numerous endorsement deals.  That is, if the kid can play.

He will get every opportunity to start in 2009, and all things being even in training camp, he will be under center against Houston on opening day.  However, if he’s outplayed by incumbent Kellen Clemens, look for Sanchez to start the season as the understudy.

Coming off the Brett Favre experiment in 2008, this team is built to win now.  Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and Alan Fanaca anchor a solid offensive line, capable of protecting a young and inexperienced QB like Sanchez.  Plus, Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Jerricho Cotchery provide this squad with enough firepower to succeed.  Ultimately, new coach, Rex Ryan’s defense will keep the team in all games, Sanchez or Clemens would simply have to protect the ball and not make mistakes.

Whether it was a ploy to help sell more PSL’s or not, by trading up to the 5th pick on Saturday and nabbing Sanchez, the Jets inserted a player, with all the tools, who could potentially lead their franchise for the next decade.  However, fickle and hungry Jets fans know, for every Joe Namath, there is a Browning Nagle.  The heat will be turned up on the kid from SoCal.  Mark Sanchez, welcome to Broadway.

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