Two Department of Public Works employees, one a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, the other a Dallas Cowboys fan, right, hug it out outside the Municipal Building in D. Bilal Beasley Square on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the annual Tree-Lighting and Toy Giveaway, amidst the rumor that the star made out of a string of lights was really supposed to represent the star on the Cowboys logo, instead of the Star of Bethlehem associated with the Christian Christmas holiday.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Sports rivalries among fans of the NFL don’t get any better than the Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC, or their NFC East division rivals the New York Giants. But members of the Irvington Department of Public Works Department who are Cowboys fans might have taken this adulation too far when they claimed the star made out of a string of lights that hangs above the front entrance to the Municipal Building is actually a replica of the Cowboys logo, not the Star of Bethlehem that Christians believe led the three wise men to Jesus Christ.
“That’s a vicious rumor, because the big boss is not a Cowboys fan. That’s the north star,” said Robert Morrison, a Steelers fan and DPW worker who helped hang the lights and other holiday decorations, on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the township’s annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony and Gift Giveaway. “I’m Pittsburgh all day, baby. I hate to say it, but we beat the Bears, too. But since this is the season of giving, all these Giants fans need to ask Santa for a new quarterback.”
Anthony Washington, a Cowboys fan who also works in the DPW, said his friend and co-worker was wrong about the lights hanging above the Municipal Building. But they both agreed.
“I believe that is the Cowboys star,” said Washington on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Irvington DPW Supervisor Samad Beasley, who is also a Cowboys fan, agreed with Washington and said he would be in a position to know whether or not the star hanging above the Municipal Building is not his favorite NFL team’s logo, because he assigned the workers that hung the lights and put up the other holiday decorations around town.
“I’m a Cowboys representative and I would like to thank Mayor Tony Vauss and the Municipal Council for putting the Dallas Cowboys star on top of Town Hall. Let’s go, Cowboys,” said Beasley on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Tree-Lighting Ceremony. “The mayor is a Chicago Bears fan, but he’s also a service man, so just like you salute the star, he respects the star. We don’t let the NFL come between us. We get the job done.”
Everyone agreed they work together for the benefit of the town; however, Beasley and Washington were adamant that the star lighting up the Municipal Building is the Dallas Cowboys logo.
Ever the politician, Vauss did not agree or disagree with anyone, but did say the Cowboys and Giants rivalry and the Cowboys and Steelers rivalry doesn’t mean much to a Bears fan, so it was OK for Giants fans such as Rasheed Williams and Joanna Patino to be fellow Team Irvington Strong members and for the DPW workers to represent for their respective teams.
“The Giants are not in my division anyway,” said Vauss jokingly on Thursday, Dec. 6. “If she was a Green Bay Packers fan, then we might have a problem,” he said of Patino. “The holidays absolutely bring people together.”
Patino agreed with Vauss, but added her own caveat.
“It’s about celebration, too,” said Patino on Thursday, Dec. 6. “I’m a Giants fan for life. I’m asking Santa for a quarterback for Christmas. Actually, I’m asking for a Giants collection.”
Vauss’ sentiments about community unity and sharing during the holidays were on display at the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corporation headquarters on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the annual Community Luncheon, where fans of rival NFL football teams “broke bread” and shared a traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal with all the trimmings.
And since Vauss is the mayor, he had the final say on whether the Municipal Building star was actually the Dallas Cowboys logo.
“I try not to get involved between the Cowboys fans and the Giants fans and let them argue that out,” said Vauss on Tuesday, Dec. 11. “But there’s a lot of both teams’ fans in Town Hall. I’m more concerned with what’s going on in my division.”
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