This is a such a great read from the New York Magazine...so true in many ways..I suggest you guys read it
Not all that good an article, in my opinion. I guess Leitch is writing for the casual fan / average NYer, because I don't think any diehards are thinking that Favre is the next Namath, will definitely lead the team to the SB or will be the larger-than-life character of Namath. Most of what he is saying is just a regurgitation of the media perception of Favre coming to NY, the NY Jets organization, etc. with no real insight / commentary besides "not so fast, my friend."
Favre is Favre Namath is Namath. They are 2 completely different people in two completely different stages of their careers, in two different eras. Even if Brett Favre took the Jets to the Superbowl fans would never forget Namath plain and simple.
It reads like an article written by a non-sports fan for other non-sports fans, so they have something to contribute to the conversation at the cocktail party when all the talk is about Favre and football (or to at least have enough info to roll their eyes when the fans are talking sports).
Steve Young didn't make 49er fans forget Joe Montana, so what exactly is the point? Favre isn't a big city boy - we get it. So what? Neither is Eli Manning, something that all of these "experts" seem to forget. And Tom Seaver led the Mets to a championship the same time Namath did, and he wasn't "Broadway Tom" either. These people should just give this crap a rest already - Favre's performance here will be based on what he does on the field, and nothing else.
I tried to read through this article with little success. To begin with, the premise: "Why Favre Won't Make Jet Fans Forget About Joe Namath" is grossly flawed and essentially inane. Favre, even if he crushed Brady and the Patriots two years running in the playoffs on the way to winning two consecutive Super Bowls, wouldn't cause Jets fans to "forget" about Namath. If anything, the experience would help bring us back again to memories of those glorious and exciting days that Joe and the Jets generated in New York. This City love its heroes. Gehrig didn't "replace" Ruth, Dimaggio didn't replace Gehrig, Mantle didn't replace Dimaggio, and Murcer certainly didn't replace The Mick, but they all have a special place in the hearts of fans. New York fans love gritty heroes who work hard and really care about both their performance and the game. New Yorkers seem to have a particular affinity for athletes like this who wear their hearts/emotions on their sleeves a la Munson, Paul O'Neil or Lou Pinella. Favre fits into this type of mold quite nicely. Unless he flakes out because the experiment completely fails to work for one reason or another, Favre will be embraced and adored by the majority of Jets fans simply for the type of player he is and the enormous passion and excitement he brings with him every time he steps on the field.
Why would we ever have to forget Namath? Even if Favre came in and won 2 SBs the next 2 years Namath's place in Jets history will always be secure.
I have no plans to forget Joe Willie. It wouldn't suck to add more superbowl toys to the shelf though.
The title dooms the article right from the start. The title assumes: A) That Jets fans want or need to forget about Joe Namath, for some ungodly reason. B) That Favre could ever overshadow or replace the aura of what Joe Namath did as related to the NY Jets. C) That we'd even give a shit about the comparison, which is apples and oranges.
yeesh maybe i should have changed the title...but i went with what the guy had. we all know namath wont ever be forgotten, i just thought it was a fun read.
The reason Favre won't make most Jets fans forget about Namath is most of the Jets fans who actually saw Namath play have no short term memory anymore.
That's absolute poppycock. I can remember Namath playing like it was yesterday. It WAS yesterday, right?
