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ROTTERDAM
Jets faithful cheer their home team Elks tailgate party raises funds for needy, but fans don’t get Super Bowl berth
BY JESSICA HARDING Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Jessica Harding at 843-2830 or jharding@dailygazette.net.

    Imitating what some call the most famous Jets fan in history — Fireman Ed — Tom O’Toole climbed on a tall stepladder Sunday at the Rotterdam Elks Lodge dressed in a green jersey and fireman’s helmet.
    The crowd that had gathered to cheer on the New York Jets in the NFL’s AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts quieted before erupting into the famed Jets chant, “J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets.”
    The stepladder O’Toole stood on was decorated with shiny green garland to match the rest of the function room, which was festooned with green and white balloons, and large green sign with white letters that said “Tom’s Tailgaters, Let’s Go Jets.”
    For the second week in a row, O’Toole organized a Jets tailgate party for his fellow Elks brothers and guests to root on his favorite team at the Elks Lodge in Rotterdam.
    “The Jets don’t do it a lot,” he said. “It’s usually all Giants, Giants, Giants.”
    His fellow Elks brothers and guests each paid $8 to attend the event, which also raised money to fill holiday food baskets for needy families. O’Toole said the crowd raised about $500 for the baskets.
    “A lot of people think that we just get together and drink here, but we do a lot for the community,” O’Toole said.
    O’Toole, who has been a Jets season ticket holder for the last 15 years, is originally from Queens and has been a Jets fan since January 1969 when the AFC team, lead by quarterback Joe Namath, beat the then Baltimore Colts 16-7. That was the last time the Jets even made an appearance at a Super Bowl.
    Fellow downstater Ray Kearney, who moved upstate in 1981, said he used to live 20 minutes from Shea Stadium and used to sneak into the Jets home games when he was a child. He has been a fan since 1968. ..............>>>>.......................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00800&AppName=1