Devils mad over proposal to change name

FoxSports.com ^ | 29 May 2005 | APEE

[MikefromOhio]

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.

--snip--

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.

[MikefromOhio]

I guarantee the state assemblyman has much better things to do....

[MikefromOhio]

ping!

[Tabi Katz]

This crybaby needs to get a life!

[mainepatsfan]

This is as ridiculous as lefties trying to get UMass to drop the name Minutemen.

[MikefromOhio]

yes he does....

[MikefromOhio]

or the rant that was on SI.com about having Indian names as sports mascots....

and it is about as ridiculous as the NCAA asking universities to justify why they name their teams what....

[cowboyway]

"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.

This is just great. Change the name to the Jersey Angels. All the players can try to win the Lady Bing trophy. Of course they'll have to send somebody else to pick it up for them after the rest of the league has beat the crap out of them.

[kabar]

How about the Duke Blue Devils? Satanic and racist.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL!!!!

[MikefromOhio]

yep...

how about the Red Wings? Communists....

or the Dallas Stars, it is discriminatory against the other players that aren't Stars!!!

[jocon307]

"How about the Duke Blue Devils?"

St. Dominic's Academy, a Catholic girl's HS in Jersey City also call their team "The Blue Devils".

[R. Scott]

Source

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!”

I believe the hockey team was named for this, not for the Christian devil.

[AlGone2001]

What difference does their name make if their too good to play for the astronomical amount of money they already make?

I think they ought to be named the Crybabies.

[MikefromOhio]

don't know. Ask the assemblyman who is making an issue out of it...

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

How about the New Jersey "Beelzebubbers"?

[MikefromOhio]

there ya go...

or the Lucifers :)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Back in the sixties there was a notorious criminal on the Isle of Jersey, referred to by locals as "the Jersey Beast." Wearing a grotesque costume studded with nails he would kidnap children from their beds at night, rape them and then (in most cases) murder them. Believe it or not, his sentence was 30 years, so I imagine he's at large right now.

[LouD]

"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.

It's not yours to rename. Raise the money, buy the team, and call it whatever you want - otherwise, STFU.

[theDentist]

All the players can try to win the Lady Bing trophy.

That reminds me of a story about Derek Sanderson of the Bruins. He said his father gave him 1 piece of advice when he joined the NHL. "The first chance you get during the first game of the season, get into a fight. That way, you don't have to worry about carrying around that damn Bing trophy during the off season."

[MikefromOhio]

ouch....

I don't understand why murderers don't get hung or electrocuted anymore. Maybe we are too advanced? :-P