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Here's something I hadn't thought about during all the nonsensical hubub over commissioner Roger Goodell's coin toss Friday that will allow the Giants to play the first regular-season game in the new stadium.
Will Woody Johnson's outrage over its secrecy, capped by an angry statement issued last night, put in jeopardy Goodell's support for the new Meadowlands Stadium hosting the 2014 Super Bowl? Commissioners tend to take criticism personally, especially when an owner essentially accuses him of rigging the process.
"An NFL coin toss has a few fundamental elements that are missing here, most notably the presence of the teams involved," he said in a statement released by the team last night. "That's how it's always done in the League, whether it’s determining the order of the draft or deciding who’s going to kick off the game.
"When the issue of which team would be hosting the first regular season game could not be resolved on the merits, I suggested a coin toss as the fairest way to resolve this issue. The League rejected that idea. Then, I was told on Friday that a coin toss had taken place at the League office and that the Jets had lost. We rejected a process in which neither team was present. The League departed from our time-honored tradition and declined the opportunity to set the matter straight with a transparent process."
Here's Gary Myers' take on it. Now, Gary and I don't agree a lot of the time, but he does have a point. Woody might have gotten himself -- maybe both organizations -- in a heap of trouble here. At the very least, Goodell should probably call him in and say, "Woody, you got some 'splainin' to do!"
What do you guys think? And when you're doing your own 'splainin', let's remember to keep families and other noncombatants out of it, okay?
EP
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I don't know why Woody Johnson was upset, Goodell's tenure as commissioner has been anything but transparent. Didn't he learn anything from Spygate?
ReplyDeleteI will not click on a Gary Myers link and could care less what that over-reactionary fool has to say. This has not hurt their chances because Goodell is in bed with the Maras/Tisches/Rooney's who along with Kraft have spearheaded his extension. The Giants will get the Super Bowl because the guys who run the team now are not humble individuals like their dads, but if u havent notice by the greatest fleecing of NY fans EVER, are greedy JERKS who would hold a big grudge. Lets face it the Giants have given quite a bit of revenue back to the league in terms of the TV Pool.
ReplyDeleteAll Johnson has done is confirm the Jest are still second class citizens in NJ and always will be.
ReplyDeleteLet's not trash on the Maras or Tischs. They're one of the best owners in the league. And as much as I thought Wellington was as you put it a "humble" individual, he was the guy that moved the New York Giants from New York into New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteWellington and that move were crucified (and rightfully so) by the fans, media and politicians.
Let's also not forget that Wellington's fight with his brother gave us the Giants of the 70s -when they were awful to watch. Not many franchises could have a lost decade caused by sibling rivalry and survive. We, the fans, owe a debt to Wellington for finally caring and transforming the team. But the Maras owe a far greater debt to all the fans that stayed faithful during some of the worse football that the NFL has ever seen.
ReplyDeleteFinal note on Johnson - Bud, you never worked a day in your life. You're on top of the world because you were born into a family of immense wealth and power. Despite your transparent attitude to the contrary, you're entitled to nothing because of your birth. You want the spotlight all to yourself? Build your own stadium with the money you inherited. There is not ONE sound NFL reason that the Jets should have the first game. More history, more championships, and a team that help build the NFL from the bottom up vs. an AFL team that won one Super Bowl over 40 years ago. It should not have even been up for debate. Please remember your history. The AFL might not have even existed if the Giants didn't play in 1958 Championship game - "The Greatest Game Ever". It was that TV broadcast that inspired Hunt to form the AFL one year later. It's one thing to be spoiled child well into your adulthood, it's another to act like it in public.
"Let's not trash on the Maras or Tischs. They're one of the best owners in the league."
ReplyDelete--- Anonymous
Yeah Great owners fleece and force out fans who have been going to their stadiums, 20, 30 40 years. That is a great owner. You know these guys are billionaires right?
wayno do you know that sports is a business? if you have a product that is in high demand then you charge more for it, its econ 101.
ReplyDeleteWanyo - What I don't understand is why does this concern you? You can turn on the TV and have a better view of the game than 90% of the people in stadium. You think the PSLs are a rip-off. Okay. You can make a legitimate argument that you're right. That said, you do NOT have to buy them! It's okay to not go to the game and just watch it on the TV. Why rant and rave about something that really doesn't affect you? Now, if you had to give up your tickets because you couldn't afford them (no shame in that. I've got three kids under 10 years old and I decided it wasn't worth the cash), well, then I can understand why you're angry. But at least be man enough to admit that's why you have a chip on your shoulder. Because if you did NOT lose your seats, you're making a big deal out of something that doesn't impact you at all. Put on the TV, grab a beer, and hope the defense and the running game show up next season. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteThe job of the Commissioner is to settle disputes! That is exactly what he did. The Commish works for the owners. If you call his method into questioning than you are calling him a liar or cheat. Woody, you are a fool to be calling out the commish here.
ReplyDeleteI know you believe that the Jets have always been treated as 2nd class citizens, but then you should have not gone partners w/ the Giants and gotten your own stadium. When the west side of Manhattan fell through...you should have built a "dual" purpose place in Flushing with the Mets. You make yourself look foolish here.
On another note, I'm sure the Giants were not happy when they found out that the Jets were going to play the final game at Giants Stadium. But you know what Woody? They kept their mouths shut and forgot about it.
The commish made a grave error! The Giants should play the Jets on the first night of the season, Thursday night game. This would be a nationally televised like all the other first games of the season recently. AND make the winner pick the new name of the stadium. It would be a great game.
ReplyDeletelol winner pick the stadium... i just see much more arguements but i do like the Thursday game idea Jets vs Giants
ReplyDelete