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Small town jubilant over Devils` Stanley Cup win
East Rutherford, June 14: American bragging rights for the best sports teams are longer exclusively in New York, Dallas or Los Angeles. Across the Hudson river from Manhattan, one small, scruffy New Jersey town has won one championship this year and is confident about making it a double.
East Rutherford, June 14: American bragging rights for the best sports teams are longer exclusively in New York, Dallas or Los Angeles. Across the Hudson river from Manhattan, one small, scruffy New Jersey town has won one championship this year and is confident about making it a double.
On Monday (June 9) night at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3-0 for their third Stanley Cup trophy in nine years. Fans in this local community of 9,000 people are getting used to winning.
The town is also hosting the NBA Championship with the Nets currently tied at two games apiece with the San Antonio Spurs. Both franchises have a chance to become the first teams from the same place to win NBA and NHL championships in the same season.
In downtown East Rutherford, people of all ages were celebrating the Devils championship on Tuesday (June 10) and were also rooting for the Nets to do the same.
"I am happy, because the Devils won and am pretty happy they are three time world champions," said six-year-old Kevin Cronk. The adults are even getting into the act of root, root, root for the home teams.
"Well, the kids in this town can have a really proud day and say to somebody what their team is going to do in the playoffs. Their team is not going to lose in the playoffs, they are going to make the playoffs. Their team is going almost to the championship," said New Jersey resident Bryan Greene.
The Meadowlands sports complex sits on a large unsightly swamp that until the Devils and New Jersey Nets arrived, was infamous for gangland killings.
Mayor James Cassella, who also works at a tire dealership during the day, has had many reasons to smile lately.
"For once, we are not being interviewed on these tragedies and disasters of the last few years, but about a community that has two championship teams playing. One already winning their leagues championship, the Stanley Cup, and the Nets possibly vying for another championship, which has never happened before," said Cassella.
Councilmen Joel Brizzi is happy to get rid of the reputation linking the town to the mob.
"Well, we have gone from the reputation of being the last place where Jimmy Hoffa has been sighted, or possibly buried. Also, maybe having two world championship teams. We have the Devils now and, hopefully, the New Jersey Nets. This is quite a transition for a municipality like East Rutherford," said Brizzi, whose town is in an area many refer to as "The armpit of the world".
There are two square miles of swamp land in East Rutherford which was euphemistically dubbed the Meadowlands. People who have lived in that area have been made fun of for years, but with the Devils and the Nets doing well, East Rutherford residents feel like they are getting the respect they deserve.
"They always say this is swamp area down here....swamp bugs we are not. We are up and now we have, I think this is the Devils. The third time (they have won) in nine years. And the Nets. They missed out last year, but they will probably will make it this year," said East Rutherford resident Frank Malatterra.
Many sports fans were out at the local East Rutherford bars on Wednesday (June 11) night cheering on the Nets. It has been 20 years of losing before this franchise started playing at a championship level.
"It's kind of surreal, because they sucked for so long. Now, they are actually good and you don't realize it yet," said Dave, an East Rutherford resident.
Stacey Lucis left the game on Wednesday night, because she had a restricted view seat high in the arena. But Stacey and her friends could not pass up watching the rest of the game at a popular Irish sport bar near the arena.
"The Garden State rules! The Devils, three times in nine years. Then, we have Bon Jovi and Bruce (Springsteen), that's separate. And then, the Nets! Kerry Kittles.....love you. We are hoping for the Nets to win the rest of the evening and the series, I should say," said the New Jersey born Wall Street employee.
William Chambers, who bartends at a popular sports bar called "Reds' says the future for the Nets' relies on one player.
"The Nets have been bad for so many years and, just now, they only have been getting good. They have to hold onto their star which is Jason Kidd. That's the only way to keep people out and get another star like that."
Maybe both teams will win and New Jersey finally will experience a transcendent sports moment. But - with Jersey there's often a but - there also are worries about the future.
Will Jason Kidd go to San Antonio as a free agent next year? And the big question for the Devils this week is where and when will they have their parade? The last two parades have been in the parking lot of Continental Airlines Arena. Nothing like the "Canyon of Heroes" in Manhattan.
Bureau Report
"Well, the kids in this town can have a really proud day and say to somebody what their team is going to do in the playoffs. Their team is not going to lose in the playoffs, they are going to make the playoffs. Their team is going almost to the championship," said New Jersey resident Bryan Greene.
The Meadowlands sports complex sits on a large unsightly swamp that until the Devils and New Jersey Nets arrived, was infamous for gangland killings.
Mayor James Cassella, who also works at a tire dealership during the day, has had many reasons to smile lately.
"For once, we are not being interviewed on these tragedies and disasters of the last few years, but about a community that has two championship teams playing. One already winning their leagues championship, the Stanley Cup, and the Nets possibly vying for another championship, which has never happened before," said Cassella.
Councilmen Joel Brizzi is happy to get rid of the reputation linking the town to the mob.
"Well, we have gone from the reputation of being the last place where Jimmy Hoffa has been sighted, or possibly buried. Also, maybe having two world championship teams. We have the Devils now and, hopefully, the New Jersey Nets. This is quite a transition for a municipality like East Rutherford," said Brizzi, whose town is in an area many refer to as "The armpit of the world".
There are two square miles of swamp land in East Rutherford which was euphemistically dubbed the Meadowlands. People who have lived in that area have been made fun of for years, but with the Devils and the Nets doing well, East Rutherford residents feel like they are getting the respect they deserve.
"They always say this is swamp area down here....swamp bugs we are not. We are up and now we have, I think this is the Devils. The third time (they have won) in nine years. And the Nets. They missed out last year, but they will probably will make it this year," said East Rutherford resident Frank Malatterra.
Many sports fans were out at the local East Rutherford bars on Wednesday (June 11) night cheering on the Nets. It has been 20 years of losing before this franchise started playing at a championship level.
"It's kind of surreal, because they sucked for so long. Now, they are actually good and you don't realize it yet," said Dave, an East Rutherford resident.
Stacey Lucis left the game on Wednesday night, because she had a restricted view seat high in the arena. But Stacey and her friends could not pass up watching the rest of the game at a popular Irish sport bar near the arena.
"The Garden State rules! The Devils, three times in nine years. Then, we have Bon Jovi and Bruce (Springsteen), that's separate. And then, the Nets! Kerry Kittles.....love you. We are hoping for the Nets to win the rest of the evening and the series, I should say," said the New Jersey born Wall Street employee.
William Chambers, who bartends at a popular sports bar called "Reds' says the future for the Nets' relies on one player.
"The Nets have been bad for so many years and, just now, they only have been getting good. They have to hold onto their star which is Jason Kidd. That's the only way to keep people out and get another star like that."
Maybe both teams will win and New Jersey finally will experience a transcendent sports moment. But - with Jersey there's often a but - there also are worries about the future.
Will Jason Kidd go to San Antonio as a free agent next year? And the big question for the Devils this week is where and when will they have their parade? The last two parades have been in the parking lot of Continental Airlines Arena. Nothing like the "Canyon of Heroes" in Manhattan.
Bureau Report