Got kicked out of the game last night

[DaneykoIsGod]

This is a long one, folks. Grab some popcorn. Let me start by introducing the players in this drama:

Me

Friend #1

Friend #2

Friend #2's Mother

Skinny Kid

Fat Mascara Kid

Troll Girl

Fake Newark Cop

Cool Usher

Friday was Friend #2's birthday, so to celebrate we went to last night's game. It was especially nice since his mom was even able to make it. We stood on line for $10 tickets and got seats in 233. We were even able to help out the kids behind us in line, since they needed two more seats and we were only buying four between the three of us. Good start to the evening.

We get to our seats and sitting in front of us are a skinny dude wearing a Johnny Mac jersey and knit cap, a fat dude in a blank Team Canada jersey wearing eye makeup (seriously), and his troll-looking girlfriend. As the game gets underway my friends and I whoop it up like we always do at games, starting chants, screaming stuff like "I'M NOT YOUR BUDDY, GUY!" and "I'M NOT YOUR GUY, FRIEND!" (anyone who watches South Park would get the reference), and just in general having a great time in a section that has a reputation for being loud and fun. Five minutes into the game, Skinny Kid tells us to shut up because he is having trouble paying attention to the game (this is the kind of guy who doesn't even stand and cheer when the Devils score). The people behind us and the people in the row in front of the Trio Of Awful start laughing at him because, frankly, he was being ridiculous. Fat Mascara Kid puts his arm around Skinny Kid and says, "I'll be right back." He went down to the usher and got him to try to kick Friend #1 out. Some roided up d-bag "233 Crazy" claiming to be a Newark cop jumps up and starts putting his hands on Friend #1, trying to shove him down the stairs and telling him he's gotta go. Between me, my two friends and Cool Usher, we got Fake Newark Cop to settle down. Friend #1 goes down to the concourse, explains what happened and was allowed to go back to his seat.

So we go back to being our normal, rowdy selves. Keep in mind that Friend #2's Mother is sitting with us, so we are, to a degree, watching what we say. There was also a three-year-old sitting next to Skinny Kid that kept high-fiving us throughout the game, so again, we're watching what we say. Nothing crude, nothing off color. Just having fun and being loud, things that should be normal behavior in the cheap seats at any hockey game. In fact, after what happened in the first period, we all agreed to be even MORE careful with watching what we say. The Trio Of Awful felt so threatened by our fun that they actually asked Cool Usher to escort them back to their seats before the second period and had him sit with them for the entire period. We didn't care, the guy was just doing his job, so we continued doing what we were doing. As the period neared its end, Cool Usher left the seat and actually tried to cover his face (I can only assume because he didn't want to be associated with the three nuts in the sack of suck in front of us).

At this point, everything that's going on is starting to pile up and we're getting a little annoyed. Not only did these people try getting Friend #1 kicked out five minutes into the game, but now they're asking for escorts to their seats and for an usher to keep an eye on us for a whole period? It's insulting. Meanwhile, everyone else around us is having a grand old time. We're chatting it up with the girls behind us, high-fiving the family two rows down that was in the $10 line with us, BSing with the kids next to us, just having fun. We decide to start making fun of these ballbags in front of us. Skinny Kid tells us to shut up, but after everything that's happened (and, yes, some liquid encouragement) we're only getting started. After an insult from Friend #2 that had something to do with Fat Mascara Kid's pubic looking hair, Fat Mascara Kid throws his beer on Friend #2. Friend #2 retaliates by dumping his beer on Fat Mascara Kid's head. Troll Girl, who was mostly silent for the entire evening, turns into a crazed spider monkey, jumping over her seat, over Friend #2 and going straight for Friend #1's throat. Friend #2 and his mom immediately got the hell out of there, which was smart on their part. (When Cool Usher saw them on the concourse, he actually told them to head for the exit because security was coming.) Fake Newark Cop then jumps back into the mix, throwing Friend #1 (who isn't a very big guy, BTW) around like a rag doll. Friend #1 is able to get Troll Girl off of him while I push Fake Newark Cop out of the way. At this point, security is there and they remove me, Friend #1 and Fat Mascara Kid. Most of the people immediately around us are yelling at security, trying to tell them that it was Fat Masscara Kid who threw the first beer. But as we made our way lower in 233, some of the "Crazies" started cursing us off and some old guy even gave me the finger. I'm not sure what any of that was about.

As they escort us to the security area downstairs, the security guys keep telling us to not say anything, that we'll have a chance to give our side of the story when we get downstairs. So, I decided to try to use the time to shed some light on a question that's been bugging me. I asked the guy why they don't let fans walk down the stairwells to street level after the games are over. I mean, it would only ease the congestion at the towers and seems to make sense. The guy tells me that it's because people from the street make their way into the stairwells and walk up to levels that they aren't supposed to go. Makes sense, I guess, but it seems like nothing that a few well-placed ushers can't fix. Oh well.

So we get down to the security area in time to see Fat Mascara Kid being allowed to go back to his seat. That didn't take long. They send me and Friend #1 in, ask for our IDs and immediately begin berating us like we're a pair of Osama Bin Ladens or something. Any time we try to get a word in, they tell us to shut up. They say they've had their eyes on Friend #1 from the second he walked into the arena (yeah right) and that they've had cameras on us the whole night (another yeah right ... if that was true they coulda seen that it was the fat dumpy bastard in eye makeup that threw the first beer). In fact, when Friend #1 tried to explain that Fat Mascara Kid threw the first beer, they'd say "Well then why aren't you wet?" Completely ignoring the fact that it was Friend #2 who got the beer thrown on him, not me or Friend #1. They then kick us out of the arena, saying it's just for the night and we aren't permanently banned or anything. We never got to tell our side of the story, we never got to hear why Far Mascara Kid was allowed to go back, we never got anything except a lecture and a headache. Meanwhile, apparently the Hurricanes scored twice during all of this and we never got to see that either.

So, that's the story. I've been to hundreds of Devils games since I started following the team in '94, and most of those games were attended with this same group of friends. Only once in that time has an usher ever asked us to keep it down (CR76 was there for that ... as soon as the usher asked us to quiet down, a Flyers fan behind us called him a "fat f@ggot" and immediately got the boot). We can get loud, get can get obnoxious. But we've never had anything close to an experience like this. The 233 Crazies, for the most part, seem like a high school clique. Some of them are cool, but some take it to a level where they hate anyone who isn't one of them. Why Fake Newark Cop flipped out, why so many of them cursed us off, and why the old guy gave me the finger will be questions that will boggle my mind for a long long time.

Last night sucked.

[njdevil26]

Remember my fiasco in Philly?

I made a stink about it... I wrote a thought out letter stating my displeasure with the situation and was awarded with free tickets to two games and now a contact that I keep in touch with in the Flyers PR department. Find the e-mail address to Devils management... I believe it is mgmnt@newjerseydevils.com .. double check that to make sure..

You will probably be answered by Chris. Chris in not your friend. He will most likely give you a generic e-mail appologizing for the situation and thanking you for supporting the Devils.

DON'T stop there. If you really want retribution, e-mail this to every Devils management e-mail addy you can find. Print it out and send it in an envelope to Lou. Lou responds to letters, not e-mails.

Best of luck to you. I don't know what could be done about this given that there are three home games left. It's pretty doubtful that they would even think of getting you in the arena for the playoffs...

Stress on the point that the mother that was there was uncomfortable and had her night ruined so they don't think it was just kids messing around.

One of two thing will happen... They will either A. Ignore you... or B. Throw a perk at you so you will leave them alone... they will not investigate the situation or look at tapes or anything.

The Devils are an extremely EXTREMELY corporate bunch and they aren't very easy to deal with.

Good luck!

[Random Poster]

The Crazies are, and will always be, an embarassment to this team's fan base. What a bunch they are. I've seen them pick more fights and start more sh!t with our own fans then the assclown Rags fans or Flyers fans that invade the building. I've heard stories of fans requesting not to be seated next to them when inquiring about season tickets.

Being someone who has been outspoken about this team's younger fanbase (under 25) for years, i'll stress it again. It's one thing to go to a game or with your friends and cheer, support and make it a great atmosphere for the Devils to play in and a terrible one for the opposition. It's quite another to go to a game and act like a douchebag looking for a fight, turn it into a drunken college fraternity type atmosphere, chant sh!t that is unrelated to hockey or both teams currently playing and act like a total fvcking degenerate making yourself an embarassment to the team and your fellow fans.

No reason for it at all.

[adavid]

Having never been to a Devils home game, who are the 233 Crazies?

[njdevil26]

The Crazies are, and will always be, an embarassment to this team's fan base. What a bunch they are. I've seen them pick more fights and start more sh!t with our own fans then the assclown Rags fans or Flyers fans that invade the building. I've heard stories of fans requesting not to be seated next to them when inquiring about season tickets.

Being someone who has been outspoken about this team's younger fanbase (under 25) for years, i'll stress it again. It's one thing to go to a game or with your friends and cheer, support and make it a great atmosphere for the Devils to play in and a terrible one for the opposition. It's quite another to go to a game and act like a douchebag looking for a fight, turn it into a drunken college fraternity type atmosphere, chant sh!t that is unrelated to hockey or both teams currently playing and act like a total fvcking degenerate making yourself an embarassment to the team and your fellow fans.

No reason for it at all.

I think a "college atmosphere" can be fun as long as the people participating are responsible and not obnoxious. When I was at the Devils/Coyotes game I made sure I checked who was in the seats surrounding me and it was all people my age (college night)... so I let some words fly... especially when Upshall was on the ice.

When I was at the Devils/Wild game, I was in the club seats around older people and their kids... So I would say "What the fvck was that?!!? Blow your mother Upshall!!!" during the Phoenix game, but when I was around the kids, I said "What the heck was that ref? That's terrible!!!"

People need to have control over what comes out of their mouths. Everyone should be able to have a good time.

Just take notice to who is around you..

And if someone asks you to tone it down or watch your language, you are obviously offending or bothering them. So find another way to cheer. Seriously.

[Weekes Head]

...who are the 233 Crazies?

Some of the most annoying people you'll ever meet. It actually embarrasses me that at least four or five of them went to my high school and graduated with me.

[MadDog2020]

Having never been to a Devils home game, who are the 233 Crazies?

They are a group of a$$holes who are far more interested in promoting themselves and getting attention than they are in the the success of the Devils on the ice. If you ever come to a game, ignore them. It's what most people try to do.

[njdevil26]

If you want passionate fans that have funny cheers but are respectful at the same time, then 208-209 is for you.

If you want little kid and fan clubs of the other team, the balconies behind the goals are for you.

If you want corporate quiet people, the lower section is for you.

[robdeselich88]

Theres one that takes the jersey off all the time with the mask, and then the asian kid with the fitted.

I like the 2 guys in 133, with the rangers suck jerseys and who usualy starts the {"rangers suck" whistles.

[nmigliore]

As soon as I read 'fat mascara kid' I thought:

[Devilsdude530]

233 are usually a bunch of a$$holes, I hate having to sit there when I get the $10's. It's a shame, because I love 232.

[RunninWithTheDevil]

If you want passionate fans that have funny cheers but are respectful at the same time, then 208-209 is for you.

damn right

[Random Poster]

You will probably be answered by Chris. Chris in not your friend. He will most likely give you a generic e-mail appologizing for the situation and thanking you for supporting the Devils.

DON'T stop there. If you really want retribution, e-mail this to every Devils management e-mail addy you can find. Print it out and send it in an envelope to Lou. Lou responds to letters, not e-mails.

One of two thing will happen... They will either A. Ignore you... or B. Throw a perk at you so you will leave them alone... they will not investigate the situation or look at tapes or anything.

The Devils are an extremely EXTREMELY corporate bunch and they aren't very easy to deal with.

Good luck!

This right there should be read and understood by everyone on this site. This is EXACTLY right.

This organization is impossible to deal with and they are totally unresponsive and apologetic to any fan issues.

My wife and i had a bad situation regarding Draft Day and the equipment sale where it was a total nightmare and nealry led to a brawl involving myself, another person in line and with security.

We were 4th and 5th in line for the sale, arriving at 12 noon. We entered the area to go buy the equipment and this assclown who was behind me in line, for some reason, followed me and pushed me from behind like a football block into the tables where the helmets were, knocking them onto the floor. Security grabbed me by the arm and shoulders and escorted me to the side where i broke his hold, pushed him off and told him get off me or i'll defend myself further. My wife came over and two other security blocked her by shielding her off, i yelled "touch her and find out what happens next you overgrown mongoloid". They kept us detained for a minute while we watched people grab the items we stood in line for 6 hours for and ready to throw us out and call Newark Police without anything further in our defense. They somehow saw me get pushed, but not the person who did it.

Luckily, a person we are friends with in the organization that just happened to be on the floor, saw the whole thing, came rushing over and said "NO, no he did nothing!!! It was that person in the white T-shirt!!!". They escorted the person out and i ran over to where he was exiting and i told him "you want to be a cheapshotter? How about we meet in the VIP garage and let's see what happens when i don't have my back turned you piece of sh!t". Our friend told us to stay when were done. He waited until we were done and personally escorted us out of the Rock carrying 25 sticks as an apology and walked us to our car in the VIP garage (where my other "friend" was no where to be found). I told him we were going to purse the matter and he said he'd gladly vouche for us, which he did (again, somehow Chris M. did not know this later on when we finally got him on the phone.....)

We pursed the matter through the organization for about 3 weeks and everytime we had contact it was either from someone who was not appraised of the situation or the perosn that contacted us prior was no longer with the organization when we called back. We contacted Chris M, with no repsonse as well, at the time.

Finally, after 3 weeks, my wife and i had enough and she sent him a fax regarding the incident on her law firm's letterhead as a last straw and warning. Chris finally personally repsonded with a phone call within a day of getting it.

Cut down the story a bit, we were offered nothing and given nothing. We told them to stick our season ticket plan were were buying up their ass. He then gave us a priority for any ticket packages we wanted in another section with a deal and that was about as close to a reparation as they got. Chris said the security who hassled us would be repremanded and their behavior reviewed. Sure. We never heard back from Chris as a follow up and my opinion of the organization was tarnished.

However, when our anger subsided sometime in October, i worked a deal with a few fans to buy their seasons in two different sections. We finally decieded don't hold our anger by lack of support for the players themselves becuase the organization gives not two sh!ts about the fans.

[No1betterNJDevs]

Sorry to hear about that.. that really sucks. Did you happen to catch the security guards name? If so, you should try to write a letter to the organization, stating what happened, and that you were treated poorly and unfairly. I don't know how much will be done about it, but you can atleast give it a try.

I know exactly what all of you are saying about 233. I refuse to sit anywhere near there, which is a shame, because you should be able to sit wherever you want, and not feel annoyed or ashamed to act like yourself. From the experiences I've had sitting up there, weren't good at all. And they have the nerve to sit there and make fun of other sections?! Haha, they should take a step back and look at themselves.

...Also from the experiences in the $10 line, they are so unorganized it's not even funny. It just shows you how well put together 'SOME' of these staff members of Prudential Center really are. Starting from the outside, in. I know very few workers there, who are sweethearts...the rest?..just have those 'i hate my life' mindsets

Edited March 29, 2009 by No1betterNJDevs

[95Crash]

What's going on here? All of a sudden, the Devils have stopped winning. ... DIG's getting thrown out of games.

There must be some bad mojo going around.

In the meantime, I wanna hear more stories about this incident!

There had to be someone else in this forum who was sitting nearby.

Edited March 29, 2009 by 95Crash

[Prucenterrules]

Wow that sucks.

[hit the post]

Here it is Sunday,so I'm going to read my 3 newspaper's like I always do.I read themand after I'm done I check the team's forums--Thank's for the BOOK,but I must say I enjoyed It.I used to have 3 seat's at CAA for 8 year's so I've been to my share of Devil's game's.In all the year's there I only had a problem once--In the first round in (95-96) against Boston my 10 year old son and I were in our seat's before the game and low and behold here come's 2 guy's wearing Boston Sweater's and they sit right next to me.They start with the Devil's ,the Devil's Blow I say we have a 2 game's to none lead on Boston --Boston suck's.That's it for most of the game,until one of them tell my kid to Shut-up--my kid was saying LET'S GO DEVIL'S you all now the Chant,I tell this guy to Shut the F up and he does.Now any true Devil's Fan know's we won that game when Randy Mckay stole the puck and scored,and when the place went wild,I punched that Bastard so Hard he went right down.My son said Dad what happened to that man I said I didn't know and we left.It wasn't for many year until I told my son what really happened.Bottom line,be a good fan,respect other fan's and by all mean's stand up for yourself and your team.I think you should have all kicked the crap out of them,the result would have been the same,and you would feel better,I know I did.And your friend's mom would have had the night of her life---Sorry look's like I wrote my ownBook!!

Edited March 29, 2009 by hit the post

[maxpower]

lol, you're not kidding about them not "responding" to fan issues. I heard a bunch of email complaints third-hand last season. (Now, before I continue, some were legitimately stupid) They're pretty much laughing at your email complaints. And some were legitimate gripes. The office really doesn't have fan relations down, in some cases, you might be better off dealing with Jeff's office than you are Lou's.

[RSC]

DIG,

For some reason, the fat kid sounds like this kid who used to go to my school and troll girl sounds like his gf. I can PM you a link to his facebook so you can see if its him if you want.

[CRASHER]

I actually know the guy they are talking about :doh1:

I kinda got the other side of this (don't get me wrong... I totally agree with Bill... then again I saw how much they let the two underage kids drink cause big guy was trying to get with lil girl )

Bill... man, it sucks... I'm sorry... you shoulda texted me... we'd have made room for ya's in 209!

(just when I thought the drama hit its PEAK last night I find this out )

[nmigliore]

DIG,

For some reason, the fat kid sounds like this kid who used to go to my school and troll girl sounds like his gf. I can PM you a link to his facebook so you can see if its him if you want.

You should post the link so everyone gets to see

[RSC]

You should post the link so everyone gets to see

If he says its them, I will

[koolkoreankid23]

You told this story in HF boards as well!

[CRASHER]

You told this story in HF boards as well!

Um, so?

That's like me telling something in here and on 2ma... what's the big deal

(and I think I actually have pictures too BTW )

[DaneykoIsGod]

njdevil26, unknown poster, maxpower, thanks for the tips and info when it comes to dealing with the team. We're gonna try calling tomorrow and see how that goes. I'll definitely keep everyone informed.

Hit The Post, not gonna lie, that story had me laughing like hell.

DIG,

For some reason, the fat kid sounds like this kid who used to go to my school and troll girl sounds like his gf. I can PM you a link to his facebook so you can see if its him if you want.

Thanks, but I don't wanna make this any more personal that it already became. The fact that he's a fat, worthless sack of mascara-wearing, fat-chick-banging crap should be enough punishment for him.

I actually know the guy they are talking about :doh1:

I kinda got the other side of this (don't get me wrong... I totally agree with Bill... then again I saw how much they let the two underage kids drink cause big guy was trying to get with lil girl )

Bill... man, it sucks... I'm sorry... you shoulda texted me... we'd have made room for ya's in 209!

(just when I thought the drama hit its PEAK last night I find this out )

You know that guy? Ugh, dude, he sucks. No offense if he's a friend of yours, of course. No one else in our immediate area had any problems with us, in fact we got along great with everyone else in the rows around us. But between those three grundles and the "Crazies" in the bottom rows, there was enough suck to make the Rangers jealous.

Next time we'll probably take you up on that offer. Thanks.

You told this story in HF boards as well!

Yeah, Friend #1 posts there more often than I do. I felt I should corroborate his story. The peoples gotta know!

Edited March 29, 2009 by DaneykoIsGod