FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Cliff Smith Jr. was nonetheless a number of years away from being often known as Technique Man and serving to Wu-Tang Clan take the hip-hop world by storm when he bought hooked on what grew to become one in all his life’s largest passions.
Rooting for the New York Jets.
“I think a lot of it has to do with their colors,” Technique Man instructed The Related Press in a phone interview Friday from Canada, the place he is attending the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant. “I really like that inexperienced and white. There’s simply one thing about it. It says we’re blue collar and we got here right here to struggle.
“I am sorry, not sorry. I adore it.”
Earlier than the Jets’ season opener Sunday towards Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Technique Man will probably be amongst 4 inductees of the crew’s 2024 fan corridor of fame class — becoming a member of Michael “Hulk Hands” Gutradt, Raymond Londa and Michael Shannon — launched to the gang at MetLife Stadium. Whereas he cannot attend due to earlier commitments, the Grammy-winning artist will probably be rooting from afar.
“I would much rather be there with you guys,” Technique Man stated with amusing. “I said it, I don’t care. My manager’s standing right there. It’s real, though! And no disrespect to those guys, the people who I’m going there for their film and all that, but I would much rather be at that game.”
That is the way it has all the time been for Technique Man, a Jets fan since he was 8 and a season-ticket holder since 2012.
“I’ve bled with them,” he stated. “I’ve had their disappointments and I’ve also had their triumphs as well.”
He is a world superstar with a laundry record of credit as a rapper, producer, entrepreneur and actor — his newest film, “Poetic License” directed by Maude Apatow, will premier on the movie competition on Saturday. However there’s one thing particular about becoming a member of a bunch of people that, identical to him, get fired up concerning the Jets.
“You know what? It’s bucket list (stuff) for me,” he stated of being inducted into the crew’s fan corridor of fame. “Something that has to do with the Jets, from me doing the breakdown within the huddle (in coaching camp in 2023) for the Jets — epic. Having the ability to name (former defensive finish) Marty Lyons a good friend — much more epic. And this fan corridor of fame? I bought to fulfill (former vast receiver) Wayne Chrebet. And to be acknowledged only for being a fan of a crew that principally breaks your hearts yearly? You have to be an actual fan to place up with that.
“This is an honor, first and foremost. And it’s always good to be acknowledged.”
The 54-year-old Technique Man, who grew up on Lengthy Island and Staten Island, remembers going to Hofstra College along with his youth soccer crew to observe a Jets coaching camp follow — and his fandom was born. He was wide-eyed whereas watching “The Sack Exchange” — Lyons, Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko and Abdul Salaam — on the sector.
“That was it for me,” Technique Man recalled. “I thought (quarterback) Richard Todd was the coolest guy on the planet. I thought Freeman McNeil was the best running back in the league because I was in my own little bubble. Even ‘The Sack Exchange,’ we all know those guys were gladiators.”
However he nonetheless typically wonders, like many Jets followers, about what might need been.
— What if New York had defeated Miami within the 1982 AFC championship recreation, when A.J. Duhe intercepted Todd thrice?: “I hate A.J. Duhe to this day.”
— What if the Jets had drafted Dan Marino in 1983 as an alternative of Ken O’Brien?: “Imagine what he could have done with us with that defense.”
— What if Mo Lewis hadn’t slammed into Drew Bledsoe throughout a recreation towards New England in 2001, clearing the way in which for Tom Brady: “We’re responsible for making Tom Brady a GOAT.”
— What if Rodgers hadn’t torn his left Achilles tendon 4 snaps into his Jets debut in 2023: “We didn’t even get a chance to enjoy the shiny, new car. It was kind of like buying a Bentley and as soon as you pull off the lot, you get into an accident. Car’s never the same again.”
The Jets enter this season with a brand new coach in Aaron Glenn — who performed eight of his 15 NFL seasons with the franchise — and new normal supervisor in Darren Mougey. In addition they have a brand new quarterback in Justin Fields, who’s trying to rejuvenate his profession.
“As a longtime Jets fan, it feels like a rebuild,” Technique Man stated.
In fact, although, he is rooting for the brand new regime and for Fields to be a winner in New York.
Technique Man additionally needs Rodgers nicely.
Besides this Sunday, when he predicts a Jets victory.
“We’re going to kick their (butts),” Technique Man stated. “I believe there are some guys which can be fairly upset with Aaron, so I believe it’s a delight subject. And even when we don’t win, it’s going to be a hell of a battle for these guys to succeed, for Pittsburgh to get by way of us. And so they’re going to recollect this recreation, I’m fairly certain.
“They’re our first game of the season, we’re going against our old quarterback on a new team. Yeah, I mean, it’s already written. These things write themselves.”
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