Are you Kidding Me?

[Galaxy]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3648960

Devils mad over proposal to change name
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Associated Press
Posted: 7 hours ago



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.


Religious nuts are pushing me to be a democrat in voting.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm a Devils fan. I want to always be a Devils fan. If this went through, the name would probably be changed to something "cute" like the New Jersey Ice Frogs (or something equally ridiculous).

[illinifan999]

Sounds to me like you like the Devil. Enjoy your stay in hell.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3648960

Religious nuts are pushing me to be a democrat in voting.

I missed the part where it says he's a Republican.

[Pyser]

its named after a different devil!

gotta love jersey. i love the devils name....lots of pride there.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Religious nuts are pushing me to be a democrat in voting.

Craig Stanley is a democrat.

[MrBug708]

Anything for a cheap shot. Never mind the facts....

[cthomer5000]

It's one of the truly great names in sports. Don't fuck with it.

[cthomer5000]

http://www.weirdnj.com/_unexplained/jerseydevil.html

THE JERSEY DEVIL

Without a doubt, New Jersey’s oldest, most enduring, and important pieces of folklore is the tale of the infamous Jersey Devil. For close to three hundred years now, Jerseyans have told tales of this mythical beast which stalks the Pine Barrens and terrorizes local residents. The recurring nature of this story begs a few of questions: Why have New Jerseyans embraced this legend so steadfastly, and above all others? Is there actually some sort of creature roaming the Pine Barrens of Southern NJ? And if so, what in God’s name is it?

Legend has it that in 1735, a Pines resident known as Mother Leeds found herself pregnant for the thirteenth time. (Leeds is the name of one of New Jersey’s earliest settlers, and many descendants of the Leeds family can still be found throughout NJ to this day.) Mother Leeds was not living a wealthy lifestyle by any means. Her husband was a drunkard who made few efforts to provide for his wife and twelve children. Reaching the point of absolute exasperation upon learning of her thirteenth child’s forthcoming, she raised her hands to the heavens and proclaimed “Let this one be a devil!”

She went into labor a few months later, on a tumultuously stormy night, no longer mindful of the curse she had utter previously regarding her unborn child. Her children and husband huddled together in one room of their Leeds’ Point home while local midwives gathered to deliver the baby in another. By all accounts the birth went routinely, and the thirteenth Leeds child was a seemingly normal baby boy.

Within minutes however, Mother Leeds’ unholy wish of months before began to come to fruition. The baby started to change, and metamorphosed right before her very eyes. Within moments it transformed from a beautiful newborn baby into a hideous creature unlike anything the world had ever seen.

The wailing infant began growing at an incredible rate. It sprouted horns from the top of its head and talon-like claws tore through the tips of its fingers. Leathery bat-like wings unfurled from its back, and hair and feathers sprouted all over the child’s body. Its eyes began glowing bright red as they grew larger in the monster’s gnarled and snarling face. The creature savagely attacked its own mother, killing her, then turned its attention to the rest of the horrified onlookers who witnessed its tempestuous transformation. It flew at them, clawing and biting, voicing unearthly shrieks the entire time. It tore the midwives limb from limb, maiming some and killing others.

The monster then knocked down the door to the next room where its own father and siblings cowered in fear and attacked them all, killing as many as it could. Those who survived to tell the tale then watched in horror as the rotten beast sprinted to the chimney and flew up it, destroying it on the way and leaving a pile of rubble in its wake. The creature then made good its escape into the darkness and desolation of the Pines, where it has lived ever since. To this day the creature, known varyingly as the Leeds Devil and the Jersey Devil, claims the Pines as its own, and terrorizes any who are unfortunate enough to encounter it.

In 18th and 19th centuries the Jersey Devil was spotted sporadically throughout the Pine Barrens region, frightening local residents and any of those brave enough to traverse the vast undeveloped expanses of New Jersey’s southern reaches. Unearthly wails were often reported emanating from the dark forests and swampy bogs, and the slaughter of domesticated animals would invariably be attributed to the Phantom of the Pines. Over the years the legend of the Leeds Devil grew, occasionally even overstepping the boundaries of its rural Pine Barrens haunt to terrorized local towns and cities.

The most infamous of these incidents occurred during the week of January 16 thru 23, 1909. Early in the week reports starting emerging from all across the Delaware Valley that strange tracks were being found in the snow. The mysterious footprints went over and under fences, through fields and backyards, and across the rooftops of houses. They were even reported in the large cities of Camden and Philadelphia. Panic immediately began to spread, and posses formed in more than one town. Fear and intrigue grew even greater when it was reported that bloodhounds refused to follow the unidentified creature’s trail in Hammonton. Schools closed or suffered low attendance throughout lower NJ and in Philadelphia. Mills in the Pine Barrens were forced to close when workers refused to leave their homes and travel through the woods to get to their jobs.

Eyewitnesses spotted the beast in Camden and in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and in both cities police fired on it but did not manage to bring it down. A few days later it reappeared in Camden, attacking a late night meeting of a social club and then flying away. Earlier that day it had appeared in Haddon Heights, setting its sights upon a trolley car before flying away. Witnesses claimed that it looked like a large flying kangaroo. Another trolley car full of people saw it in Burlington when it scurried across the tracks in front of their car. In West Collingswood it appeared on the roof of a house and was described as an ostrich-like creature. Firemen turned their hose upon it, but it attacked them and then flew away. The entire week people reported that their livestock, particularly their chickens, were being slaughtered. This was most widespread in the towns of Bridgeton and Millville.

The marauding misanthrope reappeared later in the week in Camden, where a local woman found the beast attempting to eat her dog. She hit it with a broomstick and it flew away.

While there has not since been been another week to match the frequency, fervor, and intensity of the January 1909 rampage, numerous sightings of the Jersey Devil have continued to be reported to this day. The tale of the Devil has spread beyond the Pine Barrens and has been embraced by all of New Jersey, even to the point where it has been largely commercialized. The Devil is portrayed in toys, on t-shirts, and is even the subject of his own comic book. Most famously, the Devil has lent its name to New Jersey’s NHL hockey team.

There are still many, however, who believe that the Jersey Devil is a very real, very dangerous creature. There has been a constant stream of reports over the years of Devil encounters. Most often, people report finding strange, unidentifiable tracks in the sandy soil in desolate areas of the Pine Barrens. Some reports claim that they are the footprints of a strange bird. Others say that they closely resemble hoofprints, although whatever it is walks on just two legs. There have even been a substantial amount of reports which describe the tracks as being cloven, a well cited description of the feet/hooves of a more famous Devil, Satan. While less frequent, there are still occasional reports of people who see more than just tracks and manage to catch a glimpse of Ol’ JD himself. He is most commomly described as having the body of a kangaroo, the head of a dog, the face of a horse, large leathery wings, antlers similar to those of a deer, a forked reptilian tail, and prominent, intimidating claws.

While some Jerseyans embrace their Devil as nothing more than a quaint figment of our collective imagination, a source of unification and pride, and a unique and important piece of NJ folk culture, others see it as a very real creature and a threat upon their safety. Still others who have sworn they did not believe in the existence of the Jersey Devil have had their minds changed after spending just one moonlit night in the Pine Barrens. There, where a ghostly mist drifts across the cedar swamps and the unearthly cry of some unseen creature can be heard piercing the stillness of the dark forest, few disbelievers can be found. Whether its deep in the Pine Barrens or deep in our collective unconscious, one thing is certain; the Devil still lurks in New Jersey, and most likely always will.


Field Trips to the Jersey Devil’s Turf
Dear Weird NJ;
As a native of Cape May County, I’ve had the typical right-of-passage trip to the Pine Barrens, the legendary home of the Jersey Devil. This Jersey girl went to Cape May County Technical High School, which sponsored trips to the Pine Barrens for good grades in certain classes. I was one of the fortunate students to go three times during my four year career at CMCT.

Each time I went on this trip, my canoe was followed by a heavy footed thing. With each step I heard branches snap under its feet (hooves?). Once every ten minutes or so I could hear deep beastly growls that to this very day give me the creeps. Being in a canoe and on a class trip didn't afford me much opportunity to flee in terror, so I stuck it out – for three years. Every year it was the same.

During my sophomore year I was pretty confident about my canoeing skills, so I didn’t look over my shoulder much. I went canoeing with a friend of mine when we came across a bag that had been torn open and gone through. Around it were prints on the ground that looked something like a horse's hoof, only bigger. Then I heard it, the cry that still haunts my dreams: part human, part beast, and full of anger, pregnant with pure hate. I nearly flipped the canoe! We left, leaving whatever it was out there behind – or so I thought.

But it followed us. Every time we stopped or paused, it got closer to the river. We pushed on. Then worse came to worst, as we tipped the canoe. I heard the thing running behind us, and thought for sure we were dead. Then we righted our canoe and got into it as fast as humanly possible. We finally made it out to safety, sun-fried to a crisp, missing all of our valuables and most of our clothes, but never happier to be on shore. We packed up our bus, and left.

As we were leaving, I rested my head on the window and saw a little cottage. I looked at it until the bus was about to pass it and saw a woman. She looked back at me, and I could see her skin was torn and bleeding. After the bus passed, she vanished. Scared me so badly I wouldn't go into the woods for a year.
–Kellie

[Galaxy]

I overrated. Sorry if I jump to conclusions. Just that the wing is more generally "rooted in religion". Just hate to see politics and religion getting "bigger".

Personally, he should worry about the Devils actually playing. Secondly, I think he has bigger things to worry about.

[Young Drachma]

Name change wouldn't ever happen. But sure way to get yourself a soundbite in the national news. Asshat.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

I overrated.

You no be so hard on self. You be ok if keep chin up and do best.

[st.cronin]

Next thing somebody will be drafting legislation forcing Miroslav Satan to change his name!

[sabotai]

State Assemblyman Craig Stanley

Noted. He will be forever on my shitlist.

[JonInMiddleGA]

For the curious, or for any FOFC Jerseyites who'd like to share their thoughts with him
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/stanley.asp

[CraigSca]

Craig "Taking Back New Jersey's Barbershops" Stanley.

One of his sponsored bills: "Creates limited licenses for general barbering and for barbering and hairstyling within the practice of cosmetology and hairstyling."

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

You no be so hard on self. You be ok if keep chin up and do best.

Wow...Maybe I was tired last night.

[RendeR]

Quite honestly the man should be impeached or removed or whatever they do with asshats like this for wasting taxpayers time and money on personal issues.

His constituants, I'm betting, didn't have the slightest clue he was writing such ignorant legislation.

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Next thing somebody will be drafting legislation forcing Miroslav Satan to change his name!

He should change his name to "Shatan" and tell everyone it's pronounced "Satan".

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

Craig "Taking Back New Jersey's Barbershops" Stanley.

One of his sponsored bills: "Creates limited licenses for general barbering and for barbering and hairstyling within the practice of cosmetology and hairstyling."

He needs to luncheon with that guy in Texas that proposed the anti-sexy chearleading bill.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

He needs to luncheon with that guy in Texas that proposed the anti-sexy chearleading bill.

LOL

[Fonzie]

State Assemblyman Craig Stanley

Originally Posted by sabotai

Noted. He will be forever on my shitlist.

I humbly suggest that you take away his cup.

[Ksyrup]

I still remember the uproar in the Tampa area when the Devil Rays were named. "Why did they have to make them devil rays? Why not manta rays?" Or the best argument - "ray" is "yar" spelled backwards, and Yar was the devil's dog!

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I still remember the uproar in the Tampa area when the Devil Rays were named. "Why did they have to make them devil rays? Why not manta rays?" Or the best argument - "ray" is "yar" spelled backwards, and Yar was the devil's dog!

I never quite got that generation of expansion. Why not Rattlesnakes and Sting/Manta Rays? Why did it have to be Diamondbacks and Devil Rays?

SI

[revrew]

Personally, I don't care for "devil" or "demon" in sports mascots. I find it repulsive. I think it's just plain wrong.

But that said...why do legislators seem to think all power to effect societal change lies in the government? In this case, Stanley was acting like a Democrat--"I don't like something, so I'll get the government to change it. Let's pass a law!" I'm surprised he didn't propose a cigarette tax increase to pay for the "pick a new name" contest. This case certainly does seem to be a colossal waste of a legislation's time.

[Galaxy]

Why is he wasting his time with a team that isn't even playing? I got a feeling the new arena deal might have something to do with his thinking, maybe using it as carrot?

[Blackadar]

Nice to know that Democrat Bible-thumpers are just as stupid and idiotic as their Republican Bible-thumpin' counterparts.