Presidential candidate Chris Christie in hot water after watching Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys

Steve Brenner 14:15 12/01/2015
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  • In the spotlight: Dallas Cowboys fan and New Jersey Governor Chris Chistie is facing a storm after his trip to watch the team, courtesy of owner Jerry Jones.

    All the talk this week has centred around New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who was born in the area and, would you believe it, is a wild Dallas Cowboys supporter. For the record, that’s a mere 21-hour drive.

    – The Dallas Cowboys hope to bounce back against the Chicago Bears

    Most importantly, Christie is running for President of the United States this year. It would appear he is also being advised by a PR team who live on Mars. That can be the only explanation for the scenes in Texas last weekend, which were beyond laughable to the point of embarrassing.

    There was Christie, the man who wants to replace Barack Obama and become the most powerful man on the planet, jumping around like a crazed, rotund eight-year-old in the private box of Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones who invited his newfound ‘friend’ to hop on a private jet and share the thrills of his beloved franchise’s play-off win over Detroit last Sunday.

    It has caused an almighty storm and rightly so. The lack of professionalism, class and decorum shown by Christie beggars belief.There’s nothing wrong with politicians enjoying a sporting contest. Yet, one problem sticks in the throat. The pair are inexorably linked in business – Christie gave a company, in which Jones is an investor, a huge contract in 2013, which has not gone unnoticed among the millions who have pulled themselves away from viral images of fake high-fives and love ins to realise everything stinks. 

    Christie, who also was accused of ordering up retaliatory traffic jams to avenge a political rival in the run-up to last year’s Super Bowl (the row was dubbed ‘Bridgegate’), selected Legends Hospitality LLC in March 2013 to run the top-floor observation deck at One World Trade Center, following a “competitive public procurement process.”

    Considering the company is jointly owned by the New York Yankees, the Checketts Partners Investment fund and, you guessed it, the Dallas Cowboys, which itself is owned and run by Jones, it’s easy to see why the head scratching still hasn’t stopped.

    Sources claim the deal is worth $875 million in revenue over 15 years.  No wonder they’re friends. The Cowboys are unbeaten in the four games the governor has attended this season.  Perhaps the excitement of it all made Christie forget that he was violating state rules against receiving gifts from those who “they deal with, contact or regulate in the course of official business.”

    Jones , brilliantly playing the game , doesn’t care. Bizzarely, he thinks his corpulent crony is actually helping.

    “Well, let’s be true. One thing about him — does anyone think that he doesn’t tell it like it is, and tell the truth? Now, the truth is, he’s been a Cowboy fan all of his adult life, “ he said. 

    “He and his wife used to, on a vacation, use their money to come all the way to Texas to come to a Cowboys game, were so limited on their money that they couldn’t even buy parking.

    They had to park far enough away to walk, without paying. Now, all I’m saying is, that’s a Cowboy fan, but more important than anything he is the mojo! Let me tell you, if he’s got enough mojo to pull this thing off, for this Cowboy team this year, I’m for him being President of the United States. The US could use mojo.”

    Sports and politics are often a toxic mix. The NFL however know which side their bread is buttered.

    When last year’s Super Bowl took place in New York, Christie, instead of boosting local businesses, agreed to a deal to ensure there was a three-mile cut-off zone around the MetLife Stadium. 

    His decision to mandate transportation – fans were unable to drive there – forced shops and restaurants to unnecessarily close down for the biggest sporting event in the world.

    All the action was in Manhattan  which was superb for New York and the sport’s money-men. Not so good ,though,  for those actually trying to make a living in New Jersey.

    Still, at least the NFL weren’t affected. Christie probably got plenty of slaps on the back in his lavish box before disappearing in a chauffer-driven car leaving everyone else to clean up the mess.

    Now, could they inadvertently be helping a Presidential candidate pave his way to the White House?

    Wonders never cease.

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