The National Football League should take this New Jersey Super Bowl and shove it up its end zone...

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From the time it was announced, the only thing it’s been for New Jersey is the “Screw You” Bowl.  Rather than pay people to do the welcoming, this multi billion dollar tax exempt organization has asked for “volunteers” who won't even get into the game.

But hey, you get to keep the uniform.

There's also the parking domination - if you’re actually going to the game, you can forget about parking outside and walking up like many Giants and Jets fans do. According to Al Kelly who is the president and CEO of the Super Bowl Host committee: "There is not a single solitary person, unless they’re a Navy SEAL, who is going to walk to that game and get through that marshland to the stadium and get past State Police."  

"This is disrespectful to the people who live here," says East Rutherford Mayor Jim Cassella. "It reminds me of Howard Cosell making all of those jokes about building this stadium in a swamp."

The NFL is calling this the first "mass transit Super Bowl." Even though there is not a train that goes directly to the stadium. The number of available parking spaces has been cut in half. If you’re going by bus or limo, all such vehicles are required to park for the entire game. Parking rates have not yet been announced, but figure they’ll be astronomical.

How about those bars near the stadium that offer low-cost parking and shuttle service to the stadium? They won’t be permitted to do that for the Super Bowl. You can’t take a cab either.

"You start to think the NFL is looking for ways to prohibit other people from making money," said Cassella.

They're not prohibiting all other people from making money, just those from New Jersey. In New York, the priciest packages include hotels and pregame parties in Manhattan. Those people will find it easy to get to the game via train or bus.

This is not fair to the people of New Jersey and their businesses who welcomed the Super Bowl as a boost for the economy. Where exactly on this side of the river is that happening?

Mayor Casella is speaking out about it but he can’t do it alone. If only there were someone bigger, and by that I mean in power, who could stand up to the NFL on behalf of New Jersey and give our people and businesses a chance to make money as well. Perhaps we should ask the Governor.

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