34 replies to this topic

[joebabyny]

Ok, so I know Ed is taking a bit of a beating right now by a lot of Jets fans, and people are saying things like he is an attention whore, gets paid by the Jets, it's all about him, etc. Well, truth be told, I never understood the resentment and hate he received from lots of fans on the messageboards. After something I witnessed earlier this season, nobody is ever gonna be able to tell me this guy isn't genuine and a class act.

Don't remember what game it was, either the Bills or San Fran game this season this year, but I am sitting in my regular seats in the 33rd row, sharing the same aisle with Ed who is down in row 1. The guys who have the seats next to me are at the game, and have their father with them, who was visibly pretty frail. During the end of quarter timeout at the end of the 1st, one of the guys runs down the aisle and I can see him get to Ed and is talking to him for a few minutes, before returning to his seats. A few minutes later I see Ed, in between plays during a time out, running up the stairs 2 at a time like he usually does when he runs up to use the bathroom or whatever else. But this time, he stops at my row and walks in and up to the guys frail looking father, puts his arm around him and embraces him for a solid 2-3 minutes, whispering in his ear and talking to him. The man cracked the biggest smile ever at this. Now, mind you, this is going on while everyone surrounding us is going apes#it. Ed just lingered there for 5-10 minutes talking to the guys and their father and taking photos with them and then anyone else who wanted one. He did this until he was literally dragged away by whatever stadium team rep who handles him.
After Ed left, I looked at the guy who went down originally to talk to Ed and asked what that was about. The guy tells me his father is battling cancer and not doing well and he went down to tell Ed and ask if he could stop by our row for a quick pic on his way up.
Now, first off, Ed didn't have to come by, and he certainly didn't have to stick around, hugging the guy and talking to him like they were old pals the way he did. As someone who has dealt with cancer myself and has had people I don't really know act fake concerned, I can usually spot the pretenders, and Ed was not being a pretender that day. I know after witnessing Ed take the time to run up the stairs to cheer up some old guy he didn't know that I would never begrudge him any of his fame. He was a class act.
Just thought this needed to be shared to counter the peanut gallery.

[AirForceJetFan]

Yeah... But.... But..... Was he wearing a Sanchez jersey at the time. This is what really matters.....Amirite?

[jack48]

Good Grief! Three Fireman Ed threads?

[Integrity28]

Ok, so I know Ed is taking a bit of a beating right now by a lot of Jets fans, and people are saying things like he is an attention whore, gets paid by the Jets, it's all about him, etc. Well, truth be told, I never understood the resentment and hate he received from lots of fans on the messageboards. After something I witnessed earlier this season, nobody is ever gonna be able to tell me this guy isn't genuine and a class act.

Don't remember what game it was, either the Bills or San Fran game this season this year, but I am sitting in my regular seats in the 33rd row, sharing the same aisle with Ed who is down in row 1. The guys who have the seats next to me are at the game, and have their father with them, who was visibly pretty frail. During the end of quarter timeout at the end of the 1st, one of the guys runs down the aisle and I can see him get to Ed and is talking to him for a few minutes, before returning to his seats. A few minutes later I see Ed, in between plays during a time out, running up the stairs 2 at a time like he usually does when he runs up to use the bathroom or whatever else. But this time, he stops at my row and walks in and up to the guys frail looking father, puts his arm around him and embraces him for a solid 2-3 minutes, whispering in his ear and talking to him. The man cracked the biggest smile ever at this. Now, mind you, this is going on while everyone surrounding us is going apes#it. Ed just lingered there for 5-10 minutes talking to the guys and their father and taking photos with them and then anyone else who wanted one. He did this until he was literally dragged away by whatever stadium team rep who handles him.
After Ed left, I looked at the guy who went down originally to talk to Ed and asked what that was about. The guy tells me his father is battling cancer and not doing well and he went down to tell Ed and ask if he could stop by our row for a quick pic on his way up.
Now, first off, Ed didn't have to come by, and he certainly didn't have to stick around, hugging the guy and talking to him like they were old pals the way he did. As someone who has dealt with cancer myself and has had people I don't really know act fake concerned, I can usually spot the pretenders, and Ed was not being a pretender that day. I know after witnessing Ed take the time to run up the stairs to cheer up some old guy he didn't know that I would never begrudge him any of his fame. He was a class act.
Just thought this needed to be shared to counter the peanut gallery.

Good story. I truthfully don't understand why people hate on him either. People and their envy, it's pathetic.

[JOJOTOWNSELL]

It was the Buffalo game......i was nervous that having super fans Tailgate Joe and Fireman Ed in such close proximity was going to spin the earth off its axis and be the start of a 50 year nuclear winter.....i was about to convey this to Ed but Joe smacked me in the back of the head lol!

[Bergen Jet]

Great story, and definitely not something that was out of the ordinary for Ed.

[HessStation]

Good story. I truthfully don't understand why people hate on him either. People and their envy, it's pathetic.

Agree to the people who would make it personal. Hating the man is absurd, hating the media/organization made mascot is something else. As I've said, it's not Ed's fault. The whole story from start to end is typical though. Only the Jets. Hopefully people leave Ed alone now. Glad he stepped down tbh. Let the guy just be a normal fan.

Edited by HessStation, 26 November 2012 - 09:03 AM.

[PatriotReign37]

I read that any money that Mr Anzalone made off being Fireman Ed, he donated all of it to widows of Fire Fighters with kids.

Edited by PatriotReign37, 26 November 2012 - 08:37 AM.

[JiF]

Thanks for sharing. Great story and definitely one that hits home with a lot of people.

I got nothing for love for Fireman Ed. Sucks fans are such obnoxious belligerent a$$holes.

[HessStation]

amazing all the good stories that are coming out. Nice to see...

Edited by HessStation, 26 November 2012 - 09:02 AM.

[Jetfan13]

great story Joe. I met Ed in New Orleans, at Pat O'Briens. Doesn't compare with your story but he was a super nice guy who took timeout for pics with me and Judy and a nice conversation afterwards. Jealousy is all it is, F the biotches.

[sirlancemehlot]

I've met the guy a few times and he was nothing but a decent, genuine person. Nonconfrontational and always positive. Also really friendly. Never took his role as Fireman Ed too seriously.

[Integrity28]

Agree to the people who would make it personal. Hating the man is absurd, hating the media/organization made mascot is something else. As I've said, it's not Ed's fault. The whole story from start to end is typical though. Only the Jets. Hopefully people leave Ed alone now. Glad he stepped down tbh. Let the guy just be a normal fan.

Agreed.

Thanks for sharing. Great story and definitely one that hits home with a lot of people.

I got nothing for love for Fireman Ed. Sucks fans are such obnoxious belligerent a$$holes.

This. At the end of the day, it just goes to show that 90% of adults never mature beyond the 17 year old version of themselves. Envy, jealousy, self-centered, you name it. Douchebags.

amazing all the good stories that are coming out. Nice to see...

About time.

[Kleckineau]

I met the man twice. Once with my son and once with my brother. On both occasions he was genuinely nice and you could sense that he really enjoyed the comraderie. Big deal. He was a Dolphin fan 35 years ago. When I was a kid I was a Giants fan because of my dad but soon after picked MY team. The haters have become ingrained in our culture so I understand Eds decision. Who is to blame for this culture shift? I think its politicians.Just look how they lie, obfiscate,cheat etc. Our society now seems to think this is perfectly acceptable behavior. It just isnt worth it for him with how things are today. The same people that held ill will toward Ed when he was doing his thing are the same people who will purposely state negative reasons for his retiring.

[slowmoe57]

I met Ed in Tampa during the Keyshown Bowl. After the Hback option pass to Chrebet that won the game he led us in a J-E-T-S chant. To this day one of my favorite moments as a Jets fan. Ed is a Jets fan and a good one at that. That is all that matters to me.

[cr726]

It appears this topic brings out the worst in sh1tty fans/people. Grown men jealous, sad.

[Bob]

Ed used to come by the 16-H tailgate at the old stadium, back when I used to go to games. He posed for pics with everyone who asked and was as friendly as could be. He didn't have to do any of that. F the haters.

[Matt39]

Was he or was he not getting paid by the organization?

[cr726]

Was he or was he not getting paid by the organization?

I hope he got something from the trust fund kid.

[Blackout]

Was he or was he not getting paid by the organization?

claims he was not