More state meddling in sports
 

Are there not more important issues facing the state of New Jersey than this?

Good grief, Charlie Brown...

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - What chance do the New Jersey Devils give a proposal that would give the NHL team a less demonic name?

Think hell freezing over.

"I can assure you the Devils name will never change, and I think there are more important things to be thinking about than something that will never happen," chief executive officer Lou Lamoriello said. "It's who we are and what we want to be."

State Assemblyman Craig Stanley is taking issue with a satanic symbol representing the team, which has won three Stanley Cup championships.

"This is an age where symbolism is very important," said Stanley, a Baptist deacon whose resolution to rename the team is to be introduced in the Assembly next month. A new name would be chosen in a statewide competition.


Chief executive officer Lou Lamoriello said, "I can assure you the Devils name will never change." (Mike Derer / Associated Press)


Stanley's legislative district includes parts of Newark, where the Devils are scheduled to move into a $310 million, 18,000-seat downtown arena in September 2007, from the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford.

"I've always cringed when people say they're going to see the Devils," Stanley said. "The merchandise, the paraphernalia is based on the actual demonic devil. Personally, it causes a little bit of an issue with me."

The team's mascot is a red, cartoonish figure with horns and a goatee.

However, the team's name, chosen in a 1982 fan contest, comes from the mythical Jersey Devil, not the Christian symbol of the antichrist, according to Weird N.J., a travel guide to the state's most offbeat attractions.

The mythical Jersey Devil - with batlike wings, a forked tail and oversized claws - was said to terrorize Pine Barrens dwellers in the 18th century after being born the 13th child to poor south Jerseyans and morphing into a dinosaurlike beast.

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey agrees that the name should stay as is. Team owner Jeff Vanderbeek gave the proposal a less-than-enthusiastic reception.

"He's hellbent on keeping the Devils name," Stanley said.

Soooo lame

I just don't have anything else to say...

ugh...

The legend of the NJ Devil is part of NJ folklore... what are the suggestions then for a new name - -The NJ Traffic? The NJ Smog? The NJ High Auto Insurance Rates? The NJ Turnpike?

Some people really do have too much time on their hands...

Mal's choices are just classic, really c'mon people this is something that should be just dropped. I also thought that the changing of the Bullets to Wizards was kind of lame.

If Mr. Stanley wants to change the name, then he should BUY the team. Otherwise STFU. Of course Mr. Stanley would probably the first to defend a name like Savages or Redskins, even tho in some ways these names are worse "the Devils".

Personally, I like the NJ Mafia as a name, but the French and Italians would protest. (Mafia is the acronym of "Morte Alla Francia Italia Anelia", en Inglese "Death To the French Is Italy's Cry".)

what has this world come to? pretty soon, the great "cowboys" will have to change their name because they fought the indians or were cruel to them or something. when will it stop?

I am Irish, so Notre DAmes mascot is offensive.I ahve a friend who is sterile, the Twins name makes him cry.... My dad fought in Korea do he is offended by the name Dodgers..


Where does it end?

I love what Bob Costas said when Native Americans protested the World Series between the Indians and Braves.. it was something to the effect that they should be asking for the land the teams play on.. not the name they use.

I'm all for the US congress cleaning up baseball, but this guy should just take a break.

just a little FYI here.. (sorry I'm nitpicky). The Dodgers got their name from people dodging streetcars ;)


This is a pretty stupid thing.. although I'm not surprised the uproar is being fronted by a Baptist. (sorry they just seem to do a lot of crying about things like this.)

Awww. I was gonna suggest the New Jersey Legitimate Businessmen's Society.

do you think that it matters where the nickname comes from or just the nickname itself? if the braves were named that because of the brave people that fought during the civil war or something, would indians be complaining about that?

There's legitimate business in Jersey?!?!?! :hmm: Who knew?!

I still love the carefully chosen words of that quote... Devil -- hell - get it ?

That quote offends me - and I want mr stanley to change his words :)

There's a couple - just not in the government of our fair state... :)