New Jersey is hosting the Super Bowl in 2014!

Whether you’re the type of New Jerseyan who loves that the Super Bowl is coming to MetLife Stadium or whether you hate it, there are some undeniably great impacts coming our way. To begin with, the general rule of thumb is that Super Bowls can provide up to $500 million in gross economic activity for a host city. Half a billion dollars? That’s not too bad for a few days of mayhem!

What’s better than the $500 million economic impact, though, is the fact that there will be a variety of part-time and temporary jobs available to help set up for, manage, and break down from the Super Bowl and its pre-game festivities. Those types of jobs aren’t segregated to New Jersey alone, either. Those are the types of jobs that folks in New York City can benefit from as well as New Jerseyans living in the central part of the state. I believe that this is one of the best impacts from hosting the Super Bowl because it provides an opportunity for an unemployed or underemployed person to make their own, professional impact on a company that is looking to hire more people. In other words, if you’re one of those people who thinks all they need is a chance at a job so they can impress an employer enough to want them to be hired full-time, then this is that chance!

A third benefit from having the Super Bowl in New Jersey is the fact that we get to show off the real New Jersey. No, not that stereotype-laden image that most of the rest of the country has of us as fist-pumping, loud-talking, self-obsessed members of the mafia. We get a chance to showcase the real New Jersey – a place filled with optimistic people, caring families, and intelligent discussion.

Alright, well most of the discussion is intelligent!

However, before we get to experience the economic and social impacts that come along with hosting the Super Bowl, New Jerseyans have a chance to realize more than $200 million in economic impact from hosting another global event… WrestleMania XXIX!

Are you ready for WrestleMania XXIX next year?!

If you read this blog, then you probably know that I used to be a big wrestling fan many years ago and am still somewhat of a fan today (though to a much lesser, rather passive degree). However, since I have that latent wrestling fan mentality I fully intend on attending WrestleMania next year (and the Super Bowl in 2014 for that matter) because it’s going to be so close to home. Aside from the fact that I plan on attending one of the major annual global sporting/entertainment events based in America (i.e. the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, NCAA Championships, WrestleMania, etc), I think that this gigantic wrestling show presents a much more exciting opportunity for those who are without jobs.

As I wrote above, there are going to be a lot of staff ramp-ups leading into the Super Bowl. Well, there are going to be a bunch of staff ramp-ups leading into WrestleMania as well. Not only does the stadium have to transform into the spectacle that Vince McMahon creates every year, but there is usually a week-long series of events all around the host city (or, in New Jersey’s case, the host region). Sometimes, the events leading up to the actual show can bring in as many or more visitors than the show itself.

And that’s another item to consider. Currently, MetLife Stadium can hold about 82,500 fans. However, WWE has a history of extending attendance capacities in football stadiums by the thousands since they utilize the field for seating space, too. Chances are that WWE is going to try to figure out how to pack as many people into MetLife Stadium as possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were 95,000+ people in that stadium for WrestleMania when all was said and done.

Anyway, the point of this entry was simply to acknowledge that there are two major events coming to New Jersey in the next few years and we all should be pretty excited about the opportunities that come along with hosting these events. There is an economic impact with dollars spent at local business, there is a professional impact with jobs being created for the unemployed or underemployed, and there is a social impact that will allow us to show the rest of the country and the world all of the great things about New Jersey.

From Garfield High School...

After the game, a Facebook page that purports itself to be Austin’s official page had this to say:

My passion for football began at Garfield.. not sure why yall are so upset that I repped them for once instead of Monmouth. Yall should know I love MU and always will.. But without Garfield and the support I received there, I woulda never made it to Monmouth. Kids need to know that high school is a time to find your talent or passion and run as far as you can with it.

Now, I’m not sure if this is Austin’s real Facebook page or not, but the blurb above makes sense in my world. Of course, before Austin posted this on his Facebook account, I commented about how hilarious I found the whole situation. In the comments following my blurb, I wrote the following:

[My Roommate] and I figured that thousands of MU alumni started laughing out loud when he said “Garfield High School” while dozens of MU employees and administrators were confused as to why someone would do that in the first place!

And this point is the crux of this entry. I guarantee that all of the idiot “yes men” ass kissers that I went to college with had no idea why Austin wouldn’t even consider announcing himself from Monmouth during that opening game. I also guarantee that some exorbitantly paid administrators at Monmouth who are so full of their own bullshit started to panic after hearing “Garfield High School” during what should have been the shining moment of their delusional impressions of my alma mater. The fact is that many of the folks working in the administration at Monmouth are out of touch with the student body. And when they need to get student opinions on issues and items, they choose their “yes men” and ass kissers to provide feedback for the general population. It’s useless.

Oh, and I speak for a super-majority of the current students and alumni from the school? How do I know that? Very simple. I looked at a copy of Monmouth University’s most recent results on the National Survey of Student Engagement. One of the questions asked, “How well do students get along with administrators and staff?”

The answer?

Some 35% of first year students find the administrative personnel and offices helpful, considerate, and flexible. Gah! If 35% of my clients thought that I was helpful, considerate, and flexible to their needs I’d get fired on the spot! Because if 35% think that you’re great, then 65% want to bang their head into the wall each time they deal with you!

Anyway, for the reason that Austin stated in his Facebook update and because of the results of the national survey – and for the many less-than-pleasant encounters I had with the administrators over there when I was an undergraduate – I’m glad that Austin said he was from Garfield High School instead of Monmouth University. It serves them right. There’s clearly a disconnect that the university isn’t addressing and, quite frankly, doesn’t seem to know how to address.

So for this Giants fan, my favorite Cowboy is Miles Austin. And that’s in light of the fact that Tony Romo and I are in the same fraternity (Sigma Pi Fraternity)!

Me with the 1998 State Title at Giants Stadium

12/5/2009 UPDATE: ROXBURY HIGH SCHOOL BEATS EAST ORANGE CAMPUS

Earlier tonight, the Gaels decimated Fair Lawn by 42 to 7 to earn a trip back to the state championship game for the first time in 11 years. Incidentally, the last time Roxbury was in a state championship football game, I was one of the starting defensive tackles – and we won (see the picture of me to the left holding the state trophy after we won the first on-field championship in school history). With that in mind, I was glad to read this in the Star-Ledger post-game report:

Chris Biank ran 11 times, gained 113 yards and scored four touchdowns for Roxbury (10-1), which will play East Orange Campus, its former rival from the Iron Hills Conference, for the state sectional championship in two weeks.

Roxbury will seeking its first title since it defeated Plainfield, 7-6, in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 final on that day in 1998. Plainfield is the Cardinals and its helmet is a replica of Arizona team’s of the NFL.

That was a good day back in 1998. I really hope that the current team gets to experience how great of a feeling it is to win a state championship. I haven’t watched a Roxbury football game in years – since my younger brother graduated from the high school a few years ago. But I’m looking forward to finding out where and when the state championship game will be taking place and being in attendance to watch my team bring that state championship back home!

Roxbury is going to be playing against East Orange in the state championship. I have to admit, when we used to play East Orange when I was playing for Roxbury back in the late 1990’s, we pretty much shut them out each year. So the fact that East Orange is in a state championship game is somewhat surprising to me. I can’t picture them as a championship caliber football club, but then again I’m basing that opinion off of a team that I last saw in action about a decade ago – when we shut them out my senior year.

The headline in one of the local papers after we won the state title in 1998:

The headline after we won the state championship in 1998

In any event, I’m incredibly proud of the current football team and I know I speak for the rest of the guys from our 1998 team when I wish them the best of luck in the state game. We want these guys to win the state championship, break our record for wins in a season, and break the football state championship drought in Roxbury more than anyone else! Go for it guys – keep making us and the rest of Roxbury proud!

The Giants, Titans, and Eagles are all better teams. Hell, the Cowboys and Patriots are better teams and they both make me sick! That said, I’m looking for the Steelers to make a mockery out of the Cardinals and send them back to Arizona in no time at all. In truth, it’ll be interesting to see how the NFL will play the Roethlisberger vs. Warner match up. That said, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’m really not that interested in the match-up.

For those of you who are attending a party or SuperBowl gathering tonight, remember to be safe on the roads and don’t be stupid by drinking and driving. Other than that, enjoy the night!

The Giants have not been creative enough in their play calling and with Eli Manning having a so-so game so far, it would be a good idea for Kevin Gilbride to pull some type of card from up his sleeve. I’m not talking about trick plays because I hate that shit in the NFL, but something other than Jacobs this way and Jacobs that way.

The other observation I have about this game is the penalties. I hate when the referees become a third team on the field. Let the Giants play the Eagles and stay out of the damn way, for Christ’s Sake. There’s nothing worse than when two good teams like the Giants and Eagles get together and the game is marred to any degree by the officiating staff.

Anyway, here’s hoping for the Giants to rally and take control in the second half!

What really concerns me is the merging of the two styles. SIRIUS Satellite Radio has dedicated itself to 100% commercial-free music channels. I like that – a LOT. Each morning when I go to work I have to flip over to regular radio for about 2 minutes when I go into the tunnel into Trenton. Folks, if you want to know how good commercial-free radio is, consider this…

Go through your regular radio dial in a 2-minute period and tell me how many stations that you LIKE to listen to are playing a commercial. Chances are that it’s more than a majority. Sirius’ commercial-free radio doesn’t put you through that crap.

It should be interesting to see how these two brands merge. But I’ll tell you this – if they raise rates and/or put commercials on these music channels, I’ll drop the service in a heartbeat. Yeah, I like listening to Howard Stern and Artie Lange, but they are only in there 3 days a week – 4 days if we’re lucky. Fifteen to 20 hours of programming just isn’t enough to keep me as a subscriber if I have to listen to commercials when I’m listening to the music.

Let’s all hope they do this the right way – the SIRIUS Satellite Radio way.

Because it was so damn funny, I had to listen to the first show twice. Mr. Sulu (George Takei) is by far the best addition to the show. And as they said on their third or fourth show, unleashing Artie on uncensored radio heightens his part of the show to no end.

Robin has taken an increased role in the show, commenting more than I’ve heard her do in the last few years. The entire staff and all of the on-air talent just sound so much happier and better than they have in years – it’s a nice change for his show. And maybe it’s just me, but the political talk on his show has been drastically reduced – and for obvious reasons.

I think that Howard is going to lead Sirius radio to new heightens (and he already has done that, but he can only go higher). Think about this SIRIUS Satellite Radio company…Howard Stern, the NBA, Martha Stewart, Eminem, the NFL, Cousin Brucie, Bubba the Love Sponge, and hundreds of stations of commercial-free music. How great of a diverse line-up is that?!?

SIRIUS Satellite Radio is going to give XM a run for their money. The last numbers that I saw had XM with something like 6 million subscribers and Sirius with around 3.3 million. Those numbers are incredible for Sirius, considering that 1 year ago at this time, they only had 600,000. Amazing.

So I’m going to research this satellite radio a bit and I might actually take the plunge and get it. Hey, my birthday is coming up – that might be a hot present, right?