Despite my loathing for most things Evil Empire, I am a big fan of ESPN's Mike & Mike. I watch the show while getting ready in the morning and then listen while driving to work. Early this morning, just as I arrived home after driving north from the Captain's house, I listened to Greenberg tease their next segment by saying that the column he would read after the break would help explain the passion of sports fans.

I had a feeling I knew what he was about to talk about: this. And that's exactly what he did, taking the time to read part of this beauty of a column from a dear friend of mine.

The Jets' loss yesterday was certainly disappointing, although there's no shame in losing to a better team and an incredible quarterback. But that we were even watching the Jets play in late January was alone worth celebrating, and gave me and my fellow Jets fans a chance to enjoy a fun, unexpected run. I exchanged so many text messages over the past three weeks that my phone actually informed me it was at 100 percent capacity late yesterday, shortly before it died.

For the first time in years, I'm encouraged for next season. I was very impressed with how Sanchez played yesterday. Excited about the rookie running back who seemingly came out of nowhere. Love the coach. Eight months until opening day...

Oh, as for what happened in the other game? Let's just say I am EXTREMELY glad His Holiness is not still our QB. Had he been wearing a Jets uniform when he threw that interception at the end of the game, I surely would not have survived it. It was painful to watch as it was, but that would have been devastating.

WHAT THE HELL ARE THE JETS DOING?

This is extremely bad karma. You can't be sending out e-mails touting a pre-sale for AFC Champs Gear three days before the game is played!!!

Clearly, team officials are unaccustomed to being in this position. And Woody never misses an opportunity to make a buck.

Every once in a while, traffic in central Jersey is so bad it leads to an occurrence I like to call Traffic Armageddon. Yesterday was one of those days. I knew there was a house fire in my town that was causing traffic delays but couldn't believe the havoc it wreaked on the surrounding roads. It took me 40 minutes to go from the grocery store to my house, a two-mile trip that usually takes three minutes.

I later learned the fire was apparently deliberately set by the homeowner, who died in the blaze. A very sad situation.

But all is not lost. Yep, you guessed it - you can buy this photo!









I think it looks particularly nice on a t-shirt...












I know times are tough in newspapers, but can they honestly be generating enough revenue through this marketing ploy to make exploiting tragedies like this a wise business move?

I'm sure I'm not alone among my fellow Jets fans when I admit I entered the NFL playoffs with low expectations. The team was schizophrenic throughout the season, playing brillantly one week, looking like absolute crap the next. Losing Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington halfway through the season. Led by a rookie quarterback with limited collegiate experience.

Their march into the playoffs was nice but not overwhelming, given the circumstances of the teams they were playing (although, as one of the fans on-hand Jan. 3 for a bitterly cold Sunday night win over the Bengals to get into the playoffs, they were well-earned victories. And now that I think of it, that was during my unannounced blogging hiatus so I never posted pictures. Here are a few - an excellent afternoon and evening of fun).




























Anyway, I think most Jets fans entered the playoffs just happy to see their team actually at the party, an unexpected spot for a team declared dead by its own coach a mere three weeks earlier. While I enjoyed the nice opening-round win over Cincinnati, I tried to temper my expectations for the Jets' chances against San Diego and its 11-game winning streak Sunday.

We gathered with a melange of Jets-loving friends at our favorite local tavern to watch the game. After watching the Vikings take apart the Cowboys (enjoyable regardless of my feelings for Favre, which I'll get to shortly), we buckled down for what was sure to be a tense three hours of Jets v. Chargers.

And it was. Throughout the game, we felt the Jets could do it, it was just a matter of would they do it. They've led us to the brink of euphoria before, only to drop us off the cliff. So even as the game progressed and the Jets built a 10-point lead, I knew better than to get too wound up. When you're a Jets fan, you have seen it all, and now better than to celebrate until the fat lady has not only sung, but left the stage.

And then, she left the stage...













And chaos reigned in our local tavern...







Perhaps it's the years of heart-breaking losing ways that made this such an immensely enjoyable win. Maybe it's the idea that this isn't the same old Jets. Or could it be this team might actually be good enough to win it all?

Whatever the case, it was immediately added to the best moments of my lengthy career as a sports fan, joining the OSU Fiesta Bowl win in 2003 and the Mets' World Series in '86. Should the impossible happen and the Jets advance to the Super Bowl, I may need an oxygen tank and a heart monitor for the game. I will also have to remember to take the next day off from work...











As for His Holiness, I will admit to rooting for the Vikings despite my earlier vow to end it between us forevermore. It's dopey antics like this that almost suck me back in.

But rest assured ... should the Jets somehow advance to the Super Bowl and face the Vikings, I will not waver in my support of Gang Green. He had his chance.

As a long-time Jets fan, I am always ready to have my heart broken. Sunday was no different.

So imagine my surprise when it went the other way...










Photos and video of the celebration that ensued will follow. Of course, I am slammed at work and can't properly focus on detailing my joy. But I will work on that this afternoon.

Holy crap, you're still here?

Guess who just realized she could blog again from the office...

More to come.