That Which Does Not Kill Us

That which does not kill us, only serves to make us stronger.

We have heard it a million times.  It is the piece of solace we are told to take out of negative situations.  We will grow from this and the result will be different next time.

My question is, as Jets fans, how strong do we need to be exactly?

There has been no shortage of things that almost killed us over the years.  I am beginning to wonder if we are in this 50 year strength building exercise that requires us to possess super-human strength.  It seems to be where we are headed, although none of us is sure why exactly.

Last year as I walked out of the RCA Dome the Colts fans were celebrating and calling Jets fans every name in the book.  Did I get stronger from that?  As a fan of the visiting team, the walk of shame after a loss is the essence of pain.

This year so many Steelers fans didn’t even stay for the post game celebration.  Thousands of fans left which I just could not comprehend.  Jets fans everywhere have been hoping, praying and clinging to the belief that the 40 year drought may have been nearing an end.  Yearning for that victory celebration.  Yet when the Steelers won, a lot of fans didn’t stay for the celebration.

Why?

Because they have won a lot.

Does this make me stronger?  Not sure how seeing another fan base that is almost numb from winning so much can benefit me.  I am not gifted with musical talent but when I think of the Jets heartbreaking seasons it plays in my head like the Billy Joel song, “We didn’t start the fire”.   A.J. Duhe, fake spike, 1998, 2010 was almost great.

If you ask 100 Jets fans what loss was the toughest for them, you will get many different answers.  No two losses are the same.  No two fans have the exact same reaction.

This is not an indictment of the current New York Jets regime.  Two years and two Championship game appearances is something everyone would have signed up for.  The Jets are no longer the laughing stock of the league.  Jet Nation can certainly take pride in that fact.

The question lingers though.  When does our strength pay off?  When do the Jets end the drought and hoist the Lombardi trophy?  On days like today, the pain of losing makes that seem like an impossible destination.