JERSEY STRONG

With the depature of the Nets basketball team to Brooklyn, I wanted to write about New Jersey and the sterotype that comes with being from and living in this beautiful state, with the hope of setting some things straight.

For those of you only familar with New Jersey through the television media, let me set something straight – I suppose it started with The Sopranos. Over the last 15 years people have come to think that everyone from New Jersey is Italian, which is simply not true. People from NJ are represented by almost every different culture there is.

On that note, I have to say Snookie from the “Jersey Shore” or the Real Housewives of NJ do not represent women in New Jersey. By the way, Jersey Shore was named for where it was filmed not where the people were from; and the women on RHNJ are mostly from NY. Growing up, “Jersey Girl” was a term I was proud of. It comes from a song by Bruce Springsteen. I am hoping instead of people seeing a “Jersey Girl” as stupid and drunk (yes, YOU Snookie) they see her as strong and intelligent.

The state of New Jersey is filled with beautiful landscapes and talented, successful people – just as all states are in this country. Perception has become reality. One day I am hoping that changes.

In the immortal words of Bruce Springsteen “Cause nothing matters in this whole wide world when your in love with a Jersey Girl” No truer words have been put to music.

As for sports, we LOVE our sports here. Yes, we lost the Nets, but we are tried and true fans of our teams. We love our Jets and Giants; our Yankees and Mets; our Rangers and Devils; our Knicks and Nets. It doesn’t matter if they are actually playing in NJ or across the river. People from NJ are devoted-sports is a big part of that devotion.

It’s easy to knock New Jersey. We are New York’s little brother. But when we need to – we step up. Immediately following the moments of 9/11 – boats of all kind, large and small deployed from the docks of Jersey City, Hoboken, Secaucus and like to help. It is estimated boats from NJ transported close to 100,000 people that tragic day.

At the end of the day, I and the millions of people who live and work here are always…

JERSEY STRONG!