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Then call them the Jersey Giants, damnit

8 comments on Then call them the Jersey Giants, damnit

Then call them the Jersey Giants, damnit

: Well, my state has agreed to spend a fortune to keep the Giants in the Meadowlands.

I say that a condition of the deal must be to change the team’s names to the Jersey Giants.

Even the head of the Sports Authority is against the deal:

The opposition was led by George Zoffinger, the Sports Authority’s chief executive, who said he wanted to “remain consistent” with his past criticism of a deal he has claimed will cost taxpayers at least $150 million and will force his agency to operate at a deficit.

“My opposition stems from my wife being a social worker and my seeing the things the state needs to spend money on rather than football stadiums,” Zoffinger said. “We’ve worked hard over the past three years to accomplish some financial stability and that is going to be difficult moving forward.”

I’m against the deal. But I fear there’s no winning now. So we need to get something out of it: Let’s make the Giants recognize that they’re in New Jersey, not New York. Make them change the name.

Hey, Jersey bloggers, let’s swarm ’em. I just sent this email to Acting Gov. Codey, the director of external affairs for the Sports & Exposition Authority, and to my state legislators (find them here):

If you’re going to spend millions in taxpayers’ money building a new stadium for the Giants, the least you can do is make changing their name to the Jersey Giants a condition of the deal.

Follow the links above and do likewise.

8 responses to “Then call them the Jersey Giants, damnit”

  1. Shawn Levasseur Avatar
    Shawn Levasseur

    I think it would be easier to kill the sweetheart deal than it would be to change the name of the team.
    Just ask the residents of Anehiem. Somehow their team is now known as the “L.A. Angels (of Anehiem)” even though not only is the team not in the city of Los Angeles it isn’t even in Los Angeles COUNTY!

  2. Eric Avatar
    Eric

    A name change makes particular sense now that the Jets are set to get their own taxpayer-funded stadium across the river. Seriously, what percentage of kids growing up in NYC in future years will opt not to root for a football team that actually plays its home game in their city, but rather for one that plays them in some godforsaken swamp in another state?

  3. HA Avatar
    HA

    Jeff,
    At the risk of giving you an overwhelming desire to move, I have to tell you that we share the same state. This state is a corrupt cesspool. I don’t know about you, but my property taxes have gone up fifty ‘effin percent in the last five years. Our politicians are turning our money into their plaything. And they pull it off by using the bait and switch strategy of making emotional appeals for more social spending.
    There is only one way to get rid of corruption in government. Don’t give government excess money. Cut taxes and cut spending. Then cut it some more. Rinse and repeat. Cut, cut, cut. This is the only way to get “clean” government.
    Maybe along with buying the naming rights, we can bury some NJ politicians in the new stadium’s concrete foundation. We could start with McGreevey. This guy was a corrupt bastard, but at least he was gay! That way when he gets run out of office for running the state into the dirt, he at least can be portrayed as a martyr.
    New Jersey is a joke.

  4. James Avatar
    James

    Eric & HA:
    I’d like to invite you (as well as any other NJ-naysayers) to spend some time in the Meadowlands. I don’t mean the sports complex, but the Hackensack Meadowlands itself. Seriously. The Meadowlands is one of the most interesting and important undeveloped places in the New York metro area. It’s hardly a “godforsaken swamp”. The Meadowlands are undergoing a stunning natural revitalization, and have lots of opportunities for recreation that don’t require a biohazard suit.
    Go to North Arlington to the Hackensack Meadowlands Environmental Center and see some of the best birding in the area. Visit the NJ Garbage Museum and learn about some of what the area has survived.
    Go to Laurel Hill (Snake Hill) Park in Secaucus. Rent a canoe from the Hackensack Riverkeeper and paddle up to Walden Swamp. Climb to the top of Snake Hill.
    I love this state, and usually tell people who don’t appreciate it that they should head out west to the Wyanokies or the Delaware to see a different side of it, but even the godforsaken East has some beautiful surprises.
    This is the book I read a few years ago that got me started exploring this area

  5. matt Avatar
    matt

    I’d hold off on the Jersey Giant thing since i think that is a species of chicken/rooster. It was also my favourite Pub in Toronto for a while.
    MAtt

  6. eddy Avatar
    eddy

    It’s pretty clear that a name change isn’t going to happen, unfortunately. The NFL isn’t going to give up the ‘New York’ name recognition.
    This is just another one of the many idiotic things Codey’s done in his trainwreck as interim governor.

  7. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    The wisdom of the forefathers on social spending:
    http://www.neusysinc.com/columnarchive/colm0009.html

  8. Jersey Exile Avatar
    Jersey Exile

    Jeff,
    This former Jersey resident thinks you may be on to something here. But let’s see how powerful your much-ballyhooed “citizens’ media” is when it takes on the awesome might of the sports-industrial complex.
    Ukranian corruption and Chinese repression are nothing compared to the professional sport cartels who can hold entire States hostage.