Blog Archives
We’ll see you at the Digital Zone
Being one of those people who is probably too honest for her own good, I’m not going to lie. The lockout really upset me. I was mad. Beside myself mad. I was at the point where I was hoping they’d just write off the whole season and let me get on with my life. BUT, being who I am and how big of a fan I am… of course I was first in line to get my tickets to opening night! I couldn’t WAIT to get back to The Rock!
Keeping the NBA in New Jersey
If you Devils fans are anything like us Devils Army Generals (and I bet you are), you may not be huge NBA fans. Or if you’re like me, you see the possible lack of an NBA season as nothing more than a great opportunity for the mass media to step up their hockey coverage. That being said, I think few can deny that our Great State of New Jersey could benefit from having an NBA team. The economic benefit is a great boast, and who doesn’t want another team to bring a championship to the state? With the NJ Nets leaving Newark when their new arena is completed, that would leave us with one major league team to call our own.
That being said, basketball star Shaquille O’Neal (you may have heard of him) is looking to bring basketball to Newark. Shaq was actually born in 1970′s Newark, so needless to say he has an emotional connection to the city that many of us have come to call our second home. Shaq recently had a chat with the folks behind The New York Times NBA blog, Off The Dribble. It’s a small portion of a much bigger interview, but here are the basics: Shaq knows that Newark can support an NBA team, and he wants to be one of the guys to bring it there. Knowing how excited Mayor Booker was about having the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Newark this past season, I bet he would be interested in this as well.
Personally, I’m all in. I love New Jersey and traveling into Newark for Devils games more and more recently has shown me a lot of the city. I want to see Newark be the best it can be, and I feel that having an NBA that’s there to stay could be a huge benefit. It would also be pretty cool to have the best arena in the NHL become the best arena in the NBA. Tell us what you think. Do you want to see pro basketball back in Newark ASAP, or do you think three teams in one market is asking too much. Comment away!
Special thanks and credit to The New York Times and Off The Dribble writer Joe Brescia for posting the interview.
Devils Army Far and Wide: Stian Nevøy from Norway
Stian Nevøy (@Stinev) lives in Stavanger, Norway. He lives in a big hockey town, being the home of 2010′s Norwegian Championship hockey team, the Stavanger Oilers. We have The Cup, they have The Bucket.
It all started 10 years ago when Stian bought an NHL video game. He decided to play with the team with the best goalie – New Jersey Devils had Martin Brodeur. Stian started watching hockey and naturally picked the Devils as his team. Since NHL doesn’t broadcast over in Norway, Stian has to keep up with the Devils through ESPN’s website.
Some of Stian’s favorite players are Patrick Elias, Martin Brodeur and our former captain, Jamie Langenbrunner. His favorite Devils moment is when the they beat the Montreal Canadians 4-3 in 2006 and had 11 straight wins.
Stian has never been to The Rock for a Devils game, but decided that needed to change. He’ll be attending his first Devils game at the Prudential Center this month. Hope you enjoy it, Stian!
Just a few of my favorite (Devils) things…
Summer is in full swing and although I’ve been busy with my horseback riding, I still find myself looking forward to the fall and Devils hockey! Every day I take a look around at all the memorabilia I’ve collected and it reminds me of all the fun I’ve been having the past few seasons. I’ve got some pretty unusual items. Everyone knows I’m a huge Devils fan, so I end up with lots of Devils related “stuff.” Naturally, I’ve got a couple of favorites.
One gift, a giant red pig with horns, ended up being passed around the Player’s Award Ceremony back in March, and is now protected by a custom glass case. When my family had the case made, the people we ordered it from were curious as to what we were putting in such an oddly sized display case. Since they plan to update their website and wanted to show other potential customers their products, they asked if we minded sending them a photo that they could share. So we did! The company’s employees enjoyed the photo and were extremely interested in our story about the “Devil Pig.” We pretty much had an entire “what the heck IS that?” discussion via email!
Another unusual item in my collection of “stuff” (and one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received) came from my boyfriend at Christmas. He knows I love my horses and my Devils, and I go out of my way at every opportunity to combine the two. One Halloween at a horse show, I dressed my horse as a referee, while I dressed as a Devils player (and we were featured on the Devils Army submission page proudly showing off our costume!). The following year, I had my father photograph my horse and I galloping around a field in Devils gear (also showcased here and on the Devils Army Blog!). Well, this summer, thanks to my boyfriend, my horse and I get to ride in style in a one-a-kind “Devils Cavalry” saddle pad! He picked out the pad, came up with the idea and had it specially embroidered. Naturally, it’s one of my favorite pieces of riding gear!
That all being said, the discussion with the custom display case company, and my saddle pad being something I think is unique, got me thinking about all the neat things other fans may have collected over the years. So, what’s your favorite or most unique item in your collection? Leave a comment and submit your photos to devilsgenerals@gmail.com.
Talking with Tom Gulitti: Part 1
Tom Gulitti is a reporter for The Record and many of you know him for his blog on NorthJersey.com, “Fire & Ice” and/or follow him on Twitter (@TGfireandice). Tom took time out of his schedule to answer questions from you, the fans and on behalf of the Devils Generals I want to thank Tom Gulitti for his time. We appreciate you doing this for us.
We would also like to thank all the fans that submitted questions. There were quite a few of you who sent in multiple questions and all were answered. Please know that I did not alter any of your questions. These are the questions you asked and here are your answers!
Please enjoy Part 1 of this series and Part 2 will follow shortly.
Devils Army Far and Wide: Emanuela from Italy
You don’t have to live in New Jersey to be a New Jersey Devils fan. Devils fans can be found far and wide! This is the first of a series of posts featuring international fans rocking their red and supporting Jersey’s team.
Emanuela (top left) and her soccer teammates
Emanuela (@emanupo) lives in Cernusco sul Naviglio, near Milan, in Italy. She grew up watching sports with her dad and would go to A.C. Milan soccer games as a kid. It was her love of soccer that led to her love of the Devils. Her favorite soccer team followed a hockey team called “I Diavoli” – The Devils! It was when she met a few members of that team in the summer of 1999 that she learned about the New Jersey Devils in the United States and our Stanley Cup. Emanuela has been a Devils fan ever since.
Twitter, Facebook and a few blogs help Emanuela keep up with the team. Her favorite current players are Patrick Elias and Zach Parise. Her all time favorite player is Scott Stevens. (We think she has a big crush on him!) Emanuela has only visited the United States once and did not get a chance to make it out to The Rock for a game, but she plans on it!
If you are a Devils fan living outside the U.S. and would like to be featured as an international fan, email us at devilsgenerals@gmail.com.
Post-Season Depression: The Devils Cavalry
I never thought it would happen to me, but I have to admit, I am actually depressed that the Devils season is over! I’m told this is a normal phase for any hardcore hockey fan, only made more difficult by my status as a season ticket holder (and one who only missed two of this year’s forty-four home games).
At first, it seemed like a relief not to be traveling up and down the Parkway/Turnpike every other day, losing sleep and trying to figure out how NOT to annoy my store manager with my game day demands. However, by week two of having no hockey games to attend, I started to get restless. I was sad. Frankly, it was puzzling; until a fellow hard core fanatic explained that what I was dealing with (and my family, though to this day they won’t admit it) can easily be summed up as “post-season depression.”
Armed with a “diagnosis” of my sudden case of the blues, I could begin focusing on the things I usually keep busy with when there isn’t any Devils hockey to watch!
This spring, I have begun the arduous process of getting back in shape. I’m an equestrian. I compete in horse shows around the state and sometimes in Pennsylvania. I’m not famous by any stretch of the imagination, nor will I ever be, but I enjoy the lower levels of competition which I can afford the time and money for. Mostly, I focus on dressage, but I also enjoy riding in hunter/jumper or the occasional horse trials. My favorite days are when my instructor takes me trail riding, and we can just relax and gallop along a nice stretch of open field! This beautiful weather has lifted my spirits, and now that my show season has officially begun, I am a busy person once more!
I know I miss being at the arena. I miss my friends, the staff, and I certainly miss the team. I’m looking forward to the fall when I can enjoy all of the perks of being a season ticket holder again. But for now, I am really excited and content to be spending all my extra time with my horses. What about the rest of you?
Let us know how you get through Post-Season Depression by leaving a comment and sending us your pictures to devilsgenerals@gmail.com.
