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www.mybaycity.com January 5, 2015
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CHRISTIE FLUB? NJ Guv Cheering Against Detroit Lions a Political Faux Pas?

January 5, 2015       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Chris Christie, right, with Jerry Jones in Dallas, creating a political firestorm out of a football game.
 

Who ever said there's no politics in football?

The setting: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, where the Michigan State Spartans had stung the Dallas favorite Baylor Bears a few days earlier after a laugher TD by a 390 pound tackle.

The Big 10 isn't interesting, said a Baylor gridder in what amounted to a sectional comment prior to the game. He was eating his words, no doubt, after MSU came back from the dead to snatch the win with 17 seconds on the clock.

Then, when Ohio State put the Buckeye to Alabama, suddenly the Big 10 is getting more respect, wonder of wonders.

No doubt some of the same Baylor fans were on hand to see the Dallas Cowboys clobber the Lions, who haven't won a playoff game in decades. Especially those in the luxury boxes high above the field.

Whoops: the Lions show their claws and are taking it to the rough riders.

Seemingly on a game-winning drive, a Detroit receiver is run over by a defender; clearly pass interference. But then the flag is picked up, no call despite Detroit protests.

Dallas takes over and the irrepressible Tony Romo throws a dart for a TD to seal the contest for the ropers 24-20.

The TV camera swings upstairs, where in the penthouse seats with a posse of Cowboy loyals is jumping for joy, is none other than, who??? Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey-- clapping and cheering uproariously for "his team" -- the Cowboys.

Why is Christie in Texas with the big money boys? Well, he's a presumed candidate for President and is raising money. Go figure.

A MSNBC commentator on Monday morning chortles: "Christie will never see Michigan's 16 electoral votes."

Wait a minute: because Christie is a fan of the Cowboys, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by a Michigan team, he will be less popular in the Wolverine state because of it???

That's the political calculus inherent in fandom, and visible shows of sports preferences that somehow translate to partisan considerations. Strange as it may seem, that's how some folks look at it.

"Dallas Cowboys won the game, but Chris Christie lost the next election," squawked a big bold headline in the Kansas City Star, featuring an electoral map with Texas the only red state in a sea of blue and Christie palling with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"Bookmark this Chris Christie-Jerry Jones hug for the Michigan GOP primary," quipped one commentator.

Suddenly the INTERNET sprouted an avalanche of photos of Christie high-fiving with Jones. It wasn't just Michigan's votes involved in the game that became an incident that became a nationwide media frenzy.

The Star noted in all seriousness how Christie must have offended his home area Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

"Today Chris Christie lost the vote of every South Jersey/Philly native forever," commented another easterner on the Star website.

The New York Daily News ran video of Christie in the sky box partying with Jones after the Cowboys took the lead over the Lions and sniped: "There was no immediate word if Christie would be in Green Bay next Sunday for the Cowboys-Packers game. But if he's there, you won't miss him."

Wow, I guess pro football fans take their fandom to heart when it comes to politics, too. But then we knew that.

It just took Christie's very visible blunder to confirm it.

###

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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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