Assemblyman Wants Devils To Change Name

[AbNormal27]

Devils burning mad over proposal to change team name

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.

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.

:roll: Aaryn

[ontheboards]

Yep-- maybe they can become the Demon Deacons, or would that be too demonic...

[puck_it]

Being from Jersey im appauled. The Jeresey Devil is one of our closeley held myths. Its a story that EVERY child is taught in around 4th grade i guess, when we cover local history (might be 5th too when we covered folklore). But yeah hes been rumored to be in North JErsey some but mainly stays in Southern Jersey in the Pine Barrens (which is kind of a funny name, considering it is far from barren of pine).

Being from there I'm offended. But it wont pass.

Im sure Guyute knows the story too and any of you other Jersey peeps im forgetting.

[tommy]

Being from Jersey im appauled. The Jeresey Devil is one of our closeley held myths. Its a story that EVERY child is taught in around 4th grade i guess, when we cover local history (might be 5th too when we covered folklore). But yeah hes been rumored to be in North JErsey some but mainly stays in Southern Jersey in the Pine Barrens (which is kind of a funny name, considering it is far from barren of pine).

Being from there I'm offended. But it wont pass.

Im sure Guyute knows the story too and any of you other Jersey peeps im forgetting.

Wait, I've definitely heard of this Jersey devil, but I don't know the story. Anyone wanna kindly fill me in with the nitty-gritty details?

Overall I think it's stupid, though, and the name change won't happen. Although didn't the Washington Bullets NBA team get changed to the Wizards because that name was too 'violent'? Pretty lame to me, I mean, come on, it's just a sports team.

People were also worked up, if my memory serves me correctly, about the Hurricanes at first, saying that it brought back bad memories of Fran or something like that. Again, it's just a hockey team, and it's a good one, because it describes something powerful and awe-inspiring that definitely happens in our area.

Edit: I just realized something extremely cool - this is the 100,000th post on letsgocanes.com! Totally awesome!

[puck_it]

the article gave the general gist of it, and theres been spottings through time and such. Ill see what stories i can find.

[tommy]

the article gave the general gist of it

oh, well duh... guess it pays to read more than just the thread title before responding... :beatup:

[Mona]

I think this is silly.. The mascots are for entertainment purposes only... nobody takes their appearance or anything else they do seriously.. I guess the Blue Devil is next!! :roll:

I know this is sort of OT, but it is along the same lines as changing names of teams so they do not offend Native Americans... I can comment on this because I may not look like it, but I am part Cherokee Indian. I see nothing wrong with names like Redskins..etc. I saw some students interviewed that go to UNC-Pembroke, and they said it was their heritage and were proud of it. I have yet to see an actual NA that was saying anything negative about it. I guarantee the people raising hel* about the Native American thing aren't even Native American at all.. Some folks need a constructive hobby.

[puck_it]

some bimbo wanted to change my highschool from the golden deamons to soemthing else... the principle wisely left it to student government and basically we said FU (i wasnt on but yeah you know).

[apolinar]

On a personal note,
One day in the 70's my family was going to the jersey shore, traveling the Atlantic City Expressway through all the pine trees. All my family was asleep except me and my dad who was driving. I was about 5 years old. I looked up over the window and could have sworn I saw this hairy guy running through the pine trees at the speed of our car, with a long pointy tail, and he was keeping up with our speed. That was even before I learned of the legend of the Jersey devil.

I saw the Jersey Devil. I told everyone in the car screaming and they didn't believe me. They were all just pissed I woke them up. I remember that day vividly.
:eek2:

Back on the subject
The New Orleans Saints football team gets threatened every year by Catholic and Christian groups regarding a boycott until they change their name to something more appropriate. These people feel "Saints" should never have connotation with a football team because of the violence of the sport. I would think you would want to keep a team name with a "good" religious connotation.

So you can't have Devils, and you can't have saints. I guess we should just have "The New Orleans People" or "the Jersey guys." That way there is no religious connotation whatsoever. Those names sound intimidating.

:roll:

[puck_it]

the New Jersey Superfunds

You are the first person i know to actually claim to see him. I woulda been freeeeeeeeeeaked

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Even if the NJ "Devils" was referring to Satan it seems to fit to me..... ;)

[tommy]

So you can't have Devils, and you can't have saints. I guess we should just have "The New Orleans People" or "the Jersey guys." That way there is no religious connotation whatsoever. Those names sound intimidating.

hahahaha that made me chuckle...

The Carolina Things... or the Atlanta Stuff... or how about just Team Dallas?

[puck_it]

Team Dallas would work. youd have to have a Team General Hospital, and a team....

:p

[goalie33]

You know, the Dallas Burn of MLS (their mascot was a fire-breathing Nightmare) did change their name to simple "FC Dallas."

[Fernando da Silva]

People were also worked up, if my memory serves me correctly, about the Hurricanes at first, saying that it brought back bad memories of Fran or something like that. Again, it's just a hockey team, and it's a good one, because it describes something powerful and awe-inspiring that definitely happens in our area.

The Carolina Things... or the Atlanta Stuff... or how about just Team Dallas?

Ouch... do you think as somethink like LetsGoThings???

Even if the NJ "Devils" was referring to Satan it seems to fit to me.....

What if they sign Miroslav Satan???

[AbNormal27]

What if they sign Miroslav Satan???

:crazy: :eek: To quote Ned Flanders...... "When it comes to noodle-scratchers, that's a honeydoodle!"

Aaryn

[tommy]

What if they sign Miroslav Satan???

:crazy: :eek: To quote Ned Flanders...... "When it comes to noodle-scratchers, that's a honeydoodle!"

Aaryn

*bracing for fernando's reaction* :crazy:


:p just playin'.

[puck_it]

no you're not

[apolinar]

Ouch... do you think as somethink like LetsGoThings???


LOL! The SCF in 2002 wouldn't have been the same if we had to say that.


(BTW, I was going to use the emoticon with the Devil's horns, but avoided that to prevent the worship of satan himself. From now on I will use this emoticon for everything to prevent any mention of God or Satan. :roll: I will also no longer use the saint emoticon as assemblyman may think I am blaspheming God's angels. I will probably inadvertently piss off everyone by using the :roll: emoticon, but that is the consequence of living a satan/angel free life.

And I will no longer say "hell". Any mention will be replaced with H E double hockey sticks.

I'm not being serious btw.)

[puck_it]

haha way to be politically correct art! :p

[tommy]

Ouch... do you think as somethink like LetsGoThings???


LOL! The SCF in 2002 wouldn't have been the same if we had to say that.


(BTW, I was going to use the emoticon with the Devil's horns, but avoided that to prevent the worship of satan himself. From now on I will use this emoticon for everything to prevent any mention of God or Satan. :roll: I will also no longer use the saint emoticon as assemblyman may think I am blaspheming God's angels. I will probably inadvertently piss off everyone by using the :roll: emoticon, but that is the consequence of living a satan/angel free life.

And I will no longer say "hell". Any mention will be replaced with H E double hockey sticks.

I'm not being serious btw.)


one of the best posts ive ever read... hahaahaha very nice :D