Monday, December 22, 2008

Stranger on a Train

So, I was riding the subway on the way home from work tonight, when a guy takes a look at the JETS logo on my winter hat and says "Tough game, huh."
This didn't really surprise me. The JETS indeed had a very tough game on Sunday. The loss effectively knocked the Jets out of the playoff race, and for the 40th the year in a row, the Jets would not be going to the Super Bowl. I was aware that wearing a hat with a JETS logo that day kind of made me a target. I had already heard both snide and supportive JETS-related comments earlier in the day, so I wasn't really surprised by the comment this guy made on the train. What surprised me was what happened next. After he made the comment, I gave him a quick nod and turned back to my newspaper. However, this guy was nowhere near done.

Random Guy: I can't believe they didn't go for it on 4th down on that first drive of the game.

Me ( barely glancing up): Uh-huh.

Random Guy: That was 7 points right there. They could have had 7 points instead of 3.

Me ( burying face back in newspaper ): Uhh

Random Guy: And they should have kicked that field goal in the 4th quarter! That would have given them 3 more points. They would have had 13 points! That game should have been tied 13 to 13.

Me ( wondering how 7 + 3 equals 13 ): Uh-huh

Random: Heck, but they probably would have found a way to loose that game anyway. Ha Ha!

Me ( no longer able to hide the annoyed look on my face; trying hard not to make eye contact ): Uhh

Random Guy: It's all the fault of Brett Farve. Everyone else played good, but Brett Farve was terrible. I really think that ...

Me ( No words. No longer trying to be polite. I'm just ignoring him and reading my newspaper at this point )

Random Guy ( Turning to random lady he obviously doesn't know ): Hey! That's a nice Blackberry you've got there!

Random Lady (no words)

Random Guy: Does that get reception down here in the subway?

Random Lady (Looking away; quickly shoving Blackberry into her bag )

Rich

P.S. If I don't Blog or YouTube between now and then, Merry Christmas everybody! Perhaps I wasn't showing the greatest Christmas spirit in the story above, but as all native New Yorkers know, proper subway etiquette dictates that you keep to yourself and stare at random things to avoid making eye contact with anybody. I didn't make the rules, but that's what they are.

P.P.S It snowed a little this past weekend. The boys played in the snow a bit. Perhaps I'll load some snow pictures to Blogger and facebook in the next few days.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish I could find the Dave Barry quote about how felons can be forgiven in NYC subway crimes if they can prove that their victims made eye contact. %-}

Z

P.S.: I still blame the Jets' coaching. 7 Pro Bowlers and the team collapses like this in December?!?

munchkinhugs said...

I think I've already said this before, but I have no interest what so ever in football.
Your post however, was extremely interesting!
Random people on trains are quite creepy and strange, especially when it's OBVIOUS that you're not interested in pursuing conversation with them -I mean, it's all good and well when they're nice and you're nice and there's something POSITIVE/common to talk about. Haha.
That random guy, he probably just forgot his book/music & felt lonely =P

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too (even though I already said so). Hope your family had a great time (=

Also, I shall check out your facebook photos soon (as soon as I finish my latest post.. not sure how long that will take =P)