Albany out of problems, onto Jets fans

Don Scott

Not all Jets fans are created equal.

I would consider myself a level four Jets fan. Season ticket holder. I fly my Jets flag on the mailbox every game. I'm an eternal optimist, loving this time of year better than any since we are undefeated in the off-season and the draft lies ahead. Hope springs eternal. But my friend Mike Berardino took it to level five.

When the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 17-6 in Super Bowl III in Miami in 1969, Mike and a few of his friends cut school to meet them at LaGuardia. They were rewarded by ending up on the front page of the Daily News, which required some explanation to his high school principal, who, luckily, was the understanding type. I was excited that day too, but not quite Mike-level.

Last year, Mike died way too early after a long illness. In addition to earning his Jets fan merit badge in life, Mike could only be called a community treasure. He was a State Farm agent and was involved in nearly every aspect of Katonah volunteer life. He was the glue that held several organizations together. An avid runner, he started the Katonah 5K race, which draws hundreds of runners each year and is the flagship fundraiser for the Katonah Village Improvement Society, just one of many ways he contributed.

Not surprisingly, his funeral Mass was memorable on several fronts. After a beautiful eulogy, one of his brothers took to the pulpit, donned one of Mike's Jets hats, and led the congregation in a J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets cheer. An appropriate send-off for one of the Jets' greatest fans.

You knew when you saw Mike in his Jeep driving around town because of his signature "I love New York 'JETS69'” license plate. I'm not exactly sure when he got that, but I'm imagining it went on his first car. A few months after his passing, his widow, Barbara, received a letter from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. She was advised that Mike's JETS69 license plate was being canceled because it was deemed “objectionable.” Apparently, they have solved all the problems in Albany and have time left on their hands to start censoring license plates.

Another license plate cancellation story was the PB4WEGO cancellation. That one drew enough press and attention that Kathy Hochul stepped in to reverse the decision. She said, "How can you argue with good advice?" Governor, if you're listening, we could use your help here.

Contrast the New York approach to that of Delaware. In Delaware, license plates are owned by the individual. Some of the low two- and three-digit plates are cherished and are resold many times for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Just think of what JETS69 might bring at auction.

Mike can certainly be criticized for his choice in which football team to root for, but not for his dedication, as evidenced by his license plate selection. There is nothing objectionable or obscene about his license plate choice. Although it could be considered obscene that the Jets haven't been to the Super Bowl since 1969. The date on the letter from the DMV is January 2026, the 57th anniversary of the Jets' last and only Super Bowl victory. That's a long wait, even for a true fan like Mike. But in true Jets fan fashion, he never stopped believing.