I will summarize my feelings shortly below:
My father was a Reds' fans and my mom as Cubs' fan - because my dad was from Southwestern Ohio and my mom was from a suburb of the Windy City. Jersey doesn't have a baseball team - so I rooted for the Phillies. I threw my dad's Reds cap out at 4 (when we lived in Ewing) and put on a Phillies' cap - because that was the closest city to us.
Jersey HAS a hockey team and appropriately, I'm a Devils' fan since I have always lived here. My dad and I agree on that (he's not from Columbus). I'm 31, and was 11 when the Devils made their playoff run in 1988.
Ranger fans are allured by the city - pure and simple. The parent argument (like, my father was a Ranger fan - so I have to be) doesn't stick to me for the reasons that I mentioned above. I just tell the Ranger fans who live in NJ (and more importantly grew up here) to remember your Jersey blood when the New Yorkers laugh at you as you board the NJ Transit back to NJ.
My whole point is that I DON'T see how anyone born or raised in NJ UNDER the age of 35 can be a Rangers' fan (with the exception of South Jerseyeans who are Philly fans and can't get the Devils on TV). The Devils were already here. And a Jersey team should be enough . . . especially with 3 recent Stanley Cups! Kevin Smith has come out and said it . . . why can't we all?
Well, up next for me, I'm in the process of creating a joke blog on how we can help our brothers and sisters in NJ, who happen to be Ranger fans, ease their transition . . . and offering them moral support . . . .in their eventual move to New York. That's right, I said it.
DMV links, bridge toll & parking information . . . and even links of reliable movers. Everything to help our dear friends move to where their heart really is - NYC. . . that's why I've been gone from blogging so long, but Devil fans - look at it as a Christmas present coming soon.
Flyer fans - no gripes here - you're safe in South Jersey . . though Smith does have some gripes with you . . . I know . . . it's a long ride up to Newark . . .
3 comments:
@aol.com1. Being a "southerner," I could care less what a "northerner" like Kevin Smith thinks of me and my sports allegiances.
2. The New Jersey Devils are not from my New Jersey and I would not shed a tear if the whole toxic swamp up there fell into the ocean.
3. When is this friggin movie going to be ready for DVD? It sure would be nice to finally SEE it instead of READING about it.
The simple fact that NJ has no major city/media market will never earn its team a fair share of the NHL fanbase. They will forever be victims to the NY and Philly media dominance. I feel for them. No one loves them, except for a loyal core fanbase. Also, if the team was more centrally located, like in Trenton, maybe some SJ residents might feel a greater connection to them..?
Oh and Chris's # 1 & 2 comments are typical of South Jersey's ignorance on just about anything north of Trenton. Both sides have A LOT to learn about the other!
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