Fireman Ed is apparently hanging up his helmet. Ed Anzalone – who has been a New York Jets fan since 1975 and who is known for his passionate chants of “J-E-T-S!” at home games – left his seat at halftime of the team’s embarrassing Thanksgiving night loss to the Patriots and then announced he will no longer attend contests this season. In his guest column for Metro New York , Fireman Ed does not cite the squad’s 4-7 record or the awful play of Mark Sanchez for his departure. Instead, he writes that “confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic.” The basis for many of these fights? Ed’s defense of Sanchez versus the desires of others to see Tim Tebow under center. “The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy,” Ed explains. “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.” Anzalone is a retired firefighter. He’s well-known around the stadium and also within the confines of the team, with Rex Ryan having given Ed a game ball after a 2009 upset of the Patriots. He also says he’ll remain a fan, he’ll just be rooting from afar going forward. “I have enjoyed my time in chanting the greatest chant in all of sports. I have enjoyed meeting all the wonderful Jets fans around the world and look forward to the day we all can raise the Lombardi Trophy as one and celebrate a world championship down the Canyon of Heroes.”
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Fireman Ed, Passionate Jets Fan, Hangs Up Helmet
