04-30-2007, 10:23 AM
Bill Would Ban Teams Playing In NJ From Using 'NY'
(CBS/AP) HACKENSACK, N.J. Normally it is Jersey fans who gripe that they donât get any respect from pro sports teams that play at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford but have âNew Yorkâ in their names.
But three New York assemblymen recently sponsored a bill to stop footballâs Giants and Jets and soccerâs Red Bulls from using the Empire Stateâs name or abbreviation because they donât play their home games in New York.
âAt the very least, the location of the place where a team plays should be accurate, and reflect where they actually play their home games,â Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, of Queens, writes in the bill, as reported by The Record of Bergen County in Saturday newspapers.
The legislation wasnât started here, but it seems to have some supporters in the Garden State.
âThat bill does sound like a Jersey thing, which is ironic considering that over here we basically seem to have given up on this,â George Zoffinger, head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority told the newspaper. âBut I think with all the money we give these teams, they should be called âNew Jersey.ââ
So far the billâco-sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx and Felix Ortiz of Brooklynâonly applies to sports teams.
Officials from the three teams have adamantly said that they arenât going to change their names.
(CBS/AP) HACKENSACK, N.J. Normally it is Jersey fans who gripe that they donât get any respect from pro sports teams that play at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford but have âNew Yorkâ in their names.
But three New York assemblymen recently sponsored a bill to stop footballâs Giants and Jets and soccerâs Red Bulls from using the Empire Stateâs name or abbreviation because they donât play their home games in New York.
âAt the very least, the location of the place where a team plays should be accurate, and reflect where they actually play their home games,â Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, of Queens, writes in the bill, as reported by The Record of Bergen County in Saturday newspapers.
The legislation wasnât started here, but it seems to have some supporters in the Garden State.
âThat bill does sound like a Jersey thing, which is ironic considering that over here we basically seem to have given up on this,â George Zoffinger, head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority told the newspaper. âBut I think with all the money we give these teams, they should be called âNew Jersey.ââ
So far the billâco-sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx and Felix Ortiz of Brooklynâonly applies to sports teams.
Officials from the three teams have adamantly said that they arenât going to change their names.

