Fatman & Robin

gustoonarmy · Jan 23, 2010

Great article. I'm so excited for now and the future, honestly I feel like a little kid the night before Christmas.

Call it a subliminal message. Call it fashion with a purpose. Call it quiet confidence. Call it whatever you want, because really it was all of the above.

Mark Sanchez stood at an interview podium yesterday wearing a black T-shirt with the word "Wonderboy" printed across the front complete with a silver lightning bolt. The logo on the Jets quarterback's shirt appeared on the magical bat of Roy Hobbs, the fictional baseball slugger played by Robert Redford in the 1984 film, "The Natural."

"Anything," Sanchez said with a smile, "to keep the good karma going."

HE'S A NATURAL: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, clad in a T-shirt that reads "Wonderboy," complete with lightning bolt from the movie "The Natural," -- the rookie's attempt at bringing good karma to the team -- addresses the media yesterday.

The kid is good.

He's a rookie quarterback who was a mere two days away from tomorrow's AFC Championship game in Indianapolis, and he had the wherewithal to go the performance art route with his wardrobe.

It's this kind of unafraid action that has Sanchez's teammates confident in him right now.

"He has the ability to handle the limelight, the moment," veteran right guard Brandon Moore said. "He handles it well. He relishes it."

The beauty of Sanchez right now, as he tries to become the first rookie quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl, is his youthful, sometimes callow nature. Some teammates believe that's all a part of what makes him special.

He's so loose and comfortable that Rex Ryan is able to ride him like he would a seasoned veteran.

For example, when asked what might be the last thing he will tell Sanchez before the Colts game, Ryan said: "Oh, go have fun, let's go, play the position, have some fun. Just because every kid in the world dreams to be in this spot, don't let it affect you."

That's akin to telling a golfer who's standing over an eight-foot put to win the Masters: "No pressure, this is just for the Green Jacket and immortality."

Veteran right tackle Damien Woody, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, said older players might have a tendency to look at this game and the pressure that comes with it differently than Sanchez.

"Older guys think more like that because you've been the league a long time and know how hard it is to get to this point," Woody said. "A guy like Mark is coming from USC, a big-time program, and all sudden your first year you're in the AFC Championship game as a rookie quarterback.

"You win this game and you're the first rookie to start a Super Bowl. That's unbelievable. That's amazing. I don't even know if he understands how big that is."

If Sanchez does, he's not letting on to the pressure.

He said he's "more excited . . . not nervous, like scared to go play or afraid of the opportunity."

"I'm just excited to see what it looks like," he said, "because you've built up this picture in your mind of going on the field, 'OK, I know what our first play is. I have an idea of what kind of defense they are going to run.' You think, you prepare all week, you hope you have some sort of idea.

"It's the coolest thing in the world just knowing that everybody in that stadium, everybody on your team, on their team is watching and waiting for you to say go, waiting for you to hike the ball. It's going to be great. We are very excited for the opportunity and definitely want to take advantage of it."

Will he?

Dating back to the Jets' win over the Colts on Dec. 27, Sanchez has turned the ball over only once in four games -- an interception last Sunday in San Diego. The Jets have won all four of those games.

"I feel good about him; he's been crisp this week," Woody said. "The game isn't too big for him. I think he's ready to play. He's just having fun. He's excited to get out there a show people what he can do."

Moore said he believes Sanchez "is a little oblivious" to the high stakes, "but he understands."

"He's said it during the season that he wants to win for these guys, the veterans, that he wants to play well for us," Moore said. "He's a pleaser. That counters any nonchalant feeling of not understanding the moment. I think he truly understands the moment."

That shirt Sanchez was wearing in front of reporters and the TV cameras may well have served as a message that he understands.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/sanchez_ready_to_3tUZA0EM3CjAe8LFOBFkyL#ixzz0dR8qObvF
Click to expand...

Acad23 · Jan 23, 2010

And to think I wanted Jay Cutler...

17a_tailgater · Jan 23, 2010

Acad23 said: ↑

And to think I wanted Jay Cutler...
Click to expand...

oh god, no. we would be calling for rex's head right now wanting shanahan and not having a 1st rounder for next year or something crazy.

instead we are 60 minutes from the super bowl

stinkyB · Jan 23, 2010

I saw that shirt during the presser....... loved it.

he's got that swagger.

Viva El Sanchez :d

Acad23 · Jan 23, 2010

Yeah, Cutler, no matter how great an arm he may have, would definitely have fucked up the chemistry of the team. And that chemistry (I think) is our greatest strength.

The Jets really seem to like playing with the "kid". And Sanchez really seems to like being a Jet. When Ryan gave his post game locker room spiel after the Charger game and said "three home teams and the fucking Jets"...watch Sanchez's reaction.

Even with his uneven play and mediocre stats, he's totally won me over. If he can get this team past the Colts Sunday, he's setting the stage to become legendary.

JetsUK · Jan 23, 2010

"He's so loose and comfortable that Rex Ryan is able to ride him like he would a seasoned veteran"

This brings some disturbing images to mind...

In case anyone wants to get one Wonderboy T-Shirt

Jetsetter · Jan 23, 2010

Yep, the best damn NY Post cover yet...

TurkJetFan · Jan 23, 2010

i thought this was going to be another fatcessa thread

so happy its not!

Talisman · Jan 23, 2010

man, tomorrow can't get here fast enough...

And it's really looking good for us for about a decade baring any serious injuries...

IWillPeeGreen · Jan 23, 2010

screw the new york post

who cares about rex's weight. I think it suits him and his persona. I bet everyone at the new york post looks like athelete's foot

TurkJetFan · Jan 23, 2010

IWillPeeGreen said: ↑

screw the new york post

who cares about rex's weight. I think it suits him and his persona. I bet everyone at the new york post looks like athelete's foot
Click to expand...

dude i really don't think it was a shot at Rex, more playful humor...relax

JeTerps · Jan 23, 2010

1969, 1983, 1999, tomorrow

J - E - T - S
JETS
JETS
JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fatman & Robin

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