Jewish fans of the New York Jets are upset as the NFL has scheduled the Jets to play at home on consecutive jewish holiday weekends...
According to the 2009 National Football League schedule announced on Tuesday, the Jets first two games in Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., will take place on Sunday, Sept. 20, the second day of Rosh HaShanah, and at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, erev Yom Kippur. The late start of the second game would conflict with Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur evening services, which usually begin around 6:30 p.m.
The Jets are upset because the Giants were scheduled for road games both weekends while the Jets are being forced to play at home, including the one game which is considered the best home game for the team against the New England Patriots.
Jets chairman Robert Wood Johnson IV wrote he was "extremely disappointed with the League's decision to schedule us to play at home on consecutive Sundays that are in direct conflict with the Jewish High Holy Days," in a letter he sent this week to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "There has long been an understanding that neither the Jets nor the Giants should have to bear completely the brunt of the issue since we are in the largest Jewish market in the country."
The other issue with the schedule comes from Arizona where the Cardinals are scheduled to play at home against the Green Bay Packers the day before the Fiesta Bowl even though the Cardinals and Fiest Bowl have a contract stipulating that no even can take place at the stadium within two days of the Fiest Bowl.
