"New York" Meadowlands Teams Under Attack ... (Warning : metrogo v MattBurlew handbags within)

[MasterShake29]

You know that before my conversion to perhaps the staunchest defender of New York Region, that I advocated that teams that play in the state of New Jersey, such as the then newly named Red Bulls, should reflect the fact that they play west of the Hudson River.

But then I saw the light, and the naming controversy died down and everyone was happy, as we learned that the Red Bulls are called "New York" because they represent the metro region, not just the city or state.

And everyone was happy. Or so we thought. The kicker is the latest stink isn't being raised by Gov. Jon Corzine, or acting Gov. Richard Codey, or even George Zoffinger, but... the New York Legislature (http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/local_story_118172427.html)???

(CBS/AP) HACKENSACK, N.J. Normally it is Jersey fans who gripe that they don’t get any respect from pro sports teams that play at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford but have “New York” in their names.

But three New York assemblymen recently sponsored a bill to stop football’s Giants and Jets and soccer’s Red Bulls from using the Empire State’s name or abbreviation because they don’t play their home games in New York.

“At the very least, the location of the place where a team plays should be accurate, and reflect where they actually play their home games,” Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, of Queens, writes in the bill, as reported by The Record of Bergen County in Saturday newspapers.

Ha! At least the Red Bulls were acknowledged as a tenant.

Although it's great humor value, I have no clue how this actually can affect anything even if it goes through (which I highly doubt).

[Roehl Sybing]

But then I saw the light,
Seriously, when did this happen?

You're right, though. No chance of it being anything.

[DiamondsYank]

Just when you thought politics couldn't get any more ridiculous...

So where were these legislators when the Jets were trying to build a stadium on the West Side that would have generated lots of jobs and potentially given NYC an Olympic bid? They don't want teams playing out of state using New York in their name, but they don't want to help those teams build a presence in state. Something has to give.

[Brandinho]

Instead of focusing on taxes, homelessness, education, jobs, healthcare, gun laws, etc...this assh0le is focused on removing NY from football team's helmets and soccer shirts.

Good work buddy.....got next president written all over you. Jackass politicians.

[Devil500]

Well New Jersey will sound nice I refuse to call em that arrest me now!

[Paul Nasta]

And while we're at it, let's not let these guys off the hook:

New York Bagel Company - Massachusetts
http://www.newyorkbagel.com/

Gourmet Joe's - The New York Pretzel Company - United Kingdom
http://www.gourmetjoes.com/index.asp

[Boreal]

Go "Red Bull Tri-State Area"!

[TOTC]

Go "Red Bull Tri-State Area"!


Or, what about "Greater Manhattan Region Male Cows of the Vermilion Pigmentation"?

[soccerdad]

NY will need to purge themselves of these businesses.....

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2736119-caffe_napoli_new_york_city-i

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15238675346

http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_mars.htm

[Father Ted]

NY will need to purge themselves of these businesses.....

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2736119-caffe_napoli_new_york_city-i

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15238675346

http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_mars.htm

So far the bill includes only sports franchises -- presumably good news for the town of West New York in Hudson County, Brooklyn's Brick Oven Pizzeria in Hackensack and any other Jersey-based entities that reflect a slice of the Big Apple in their names.




In any case, this is the kind of stuff politicians work on?

I thought they were supposed to be working on things like improving education for kids, finding ways to lower taxes, ridding poverty and homelessness.

[Brownswan]

Red Bull Metro

[MasterShake29]

I like North Jersey myself, but I'm biased. :)

I'd love to hear the explanation over how to make this happen. Let's say this actually passes and is signed by the Governor.

Then what? Are they going to send in the National Guard to East Rutherford? Or are they just going to ask nicely?

I hope it comes up for debate though, that would be funny to hear.

I am guessing I just gave this more thought than the legislators did though.

[mercury3164]

Yeah...this is all a publicity stunt most likely

[sublicon]

If these guys are looking to please voters through this initiative, they are barking up the wrong tree. This will anger more people than it will make happy. New Yorkers who follow the Jets and the Giants will be really pissed. No one cares where they play, in the end, as long as they play.

[dickmac]

Or, what about "Greater Manhattan Region Male Cows of the Vermilion Pigmentation"?

Now THAT is the best suggestion yet!

[dirk diggler]

If these guys are looking to please voters through this initiative, they are barking up the wrong tree. This will anger more people than it will make happy. New Yorkers who follow the Jets and the Giants will be really pissed. No one cares where they play, in the end, as long as they play.

Different versions of this bill been have been introduced into the NY Legislature many times since the mid 70's, when the Giants Stadium was built. This is just a publicity stunt a by a couple of Assemblymen looking to get their names in the paper. Even if the planets aligned and this bill did get singed into law, it changes nothing. Red Bull, the Giants, and Jets are all incorporated and have their offices in New Jersey. State laws are not valid in other states.

[crusio]

In any case, this is the kind of stuff politicians work on?

I thought they were supposed to be working on things like improving education for kids, finding ways to lower taxes, ridding poverty and homelessness.Insane.. It really is.

Corzin racing at 92mph to mediate freakin Imus/Rutger debate says it all.

New York, New Jersey or nappy headed ho banter, why the heck are these guys spending their time on this nonsense.

[Juan Luis Guerra]

That is exactly why i like the "NY/NJ thing". I used to love the "NY/NJ Metrostars"

[Metrogo]

While this certainly is a publicity stunt and no more, it is an important point to be made. Why should teams not pay for, one way or another, the prestige of the New York City name? These teams want the prestige of the name without the hassle or expense of building in NYC. Don't want to do that? Fine, but don't call yourself "NY". That seems fair.

This is legitimate public policy. Remember when Ed Koch refused to allow the Giants have a ticker tape parade on broadway? Same point. As he famously said, let them celebrate in a NJ parking lot.

And the Jets were welcome in NYC, in Queens.

[REDBULLMANIA]

I hope the politicians go foward with the new legislation. Maybe someday in the near future our team will carry the states name. RBNJ...lets cross our fingers.