ESPN
Ed Anzalone, known commonly as Fireman Ed to Jets fans has called it quits. Sort of. He explained his odd decision in a guest column for Metro US.
I decided to leave Thursday because the confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic.
This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another. The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. The fact that I chose to wear a Mark Sanchez jersey this year and that fans think I am on the payroll — which is an outright lie — have made these confrontations more frequent. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis.
Let’s get this out of the way right now—Fireman Ed is a tool. A man with delusions of grandeur, who at times believed he was a part of the Jets organization. Perhaps that’s a result of his ego or perhaps, more likely, it’s a result of him being old and senile.
This isn’t a statement about the Jets season or the fan base overall as many have claimed. This is a statement about self-worth in a life probably devoid of, for lack of a better term, happiness.
The sad thing here is Fireman Ed actually had a solid message about fan behavior at games. But it got lost. Lost in the aroma of smoke-filled coffehouse crap.