Results tagged “nyjets”

As the Giants and Jets consider possible companies to buy naming rights to their new stadium, one serious suitor appears to be German insurance and financial services company Allianz. Some say a 30-year deal could go for $25 million. However, the NY Times' Richard Sandomir has an article about Allianz's "disturbing connections to Nazi Germany. Allianz insured facilities and personnel at concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau." It also refused to "pay off the life insurance policies of Jews, and sent cash that was due beneficiaries and survivors to the Nazis. It also became the insurer of Jewish valuables taken by the Nazis."

Now that Brett Favre is coming to East Rutherford, questions are swirling around the fate of Jets longtime, many-times injured quarterback Chad Pennington. The Post reports that Pennington is "expected to be released by the Jets this afternoon," and that the Dolphins have already put a call into Pennington's agent--plus the Vikings and Chiefs may be interested. Kansas City might be a welcome place for Chad, since former Jets coach Herm Edwards is there. One very far-fetched idea: A Boston Globe blog suggests that Pennington would be a good backup for Tom Brady.

At midnight, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was sworn in as the 54th Governor of New York. The NY Times reports that during the private ceremony (the public inauguration will be today at 1PM, pushed back an hour because of the weather) that federal judge Robert W. Sweet swore in his former clerk, that guests cheered, "Go get 'em, Eliot!" after he took the oath, and that a 12-liter bottle of Veuve-Clicquot was very difficult to open.

The NYPD and FBI shut down a $3.3 billion Internet gambling ring, arresting 27 people and seizing $7 million in cash and assets worth $500 million, including four Manhattan condos. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly called shutting down website Playwithal.com "the largest illegal gambling operation this department has ever encountered." Here's how it worked, according to the Daily News:

Traditional bookies would give bettors a secret code to use the Internet gambling site, authorities said. Bets were taken on all kinds of sports, including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, auto racing and golf - and at the end of each week, the bookies would pay off or collect from each client.

Continue reading "Billion Dollar Internet Gambling Ring Busted"

Beware if you're walking anywhere near Radio City Music Hall Saturday, because the streets are crowded with excited NFL fans awaiting the 2006 Draft. And the drama for tomorrow morning: The Houston Texans are not going to pick Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush as the number 1 pick, opting to sign defensive end Mario Williams instead. It's all about the combine! Which has now set a frenzy for the number 2 selection slot - and the NY Jets, who have the number 4 pick, are in the hunt to move up and sign Bush. Of course, the team that does have the number 2 pick, the New Orleans Saints, say they are happy to sign Bush: In other words, if any other team wants him, they'll have to pay up. The pros of signing Bush for the Jets: Curtis Martin is getting old and has a year or so left of playing; also, Bush is an exceptional talent. The cons: Giving up additional pick(s), when they need them - the Jets need to fill holes on both sides of the line.

At Gothamist, we've been a little obsessed with D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the UVA offensive tackle who the NY Jets may be considering for their first round draft pick in the fourth slot. (The Jets may also be considering defensive end Mario Williams from NC State, or the Jets may trade down - basically, they might do anything.) Why are we obsessed? Because D'Brickashaw suddenly becomes an awesome nickname for anyone or anything. And we were tickled to learn that its origins are from The Thorn Birds - as in Father Ralph de Bricassart. While the book was published in 1978, it got the 10-hour ABC miniseries treatment in 1983, which is the year Ferguson was born. Coincidentally, Ferguson is a religious studies major!

- When you eat at Ninja, you may get a bonsai tree style dessert

NY State Assembly Sheldon Silver told NY1 that he doesn't see a "great need" for the West Side Stadium. And as one of the the three votes on the state committee to approve the financing plan for the stadium plan, this is not sounding good for Mayor Bloomberg or anyone hoping for a NYC 2012 Olympics. What more, Silver thinks that NYC's chances for the Olympics are a "long shot." Gah! As you may remember, the okay to build a West Side Stadium is a big part of what will influence the IOC to truly consider NYC as an Olympics city. Now, not that being a NYC 2012 flunky has to be part of every NYC politician's agenda, but Gothamist is surprised he'd have so little faith in an effort that has tied many people, both Republicans and Democrats, together. At any rate, the slow pace of rulings to greenlight the West Side Stadium has left the NY Jets to do some contingency planning to the tune of staying in NJ.