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New Jersey Dick’s Sporting Goods sells referee shirts as ‘Patriots team apparel’ The New England Patriots have been the beneficiaries of...

New Jersey Dick’s Sporting Goods sells referee shirts as ‘Patriots team apparel’

The New England Patriots have been the beneficiaries of some, let’s say questionable officiating this winter. In their AFC Championship Game showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Pats were flagged just once for 10 yards while the Jags were hamstrung by six flags for 98 yards. It’s been enough to suggest a conspiracy in New England’s favor.

Fans in and around Philadelphia have taken notice.

That picture, supplied by @pennyroo_, is reportedly from a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Burlington Township, N.J. Burlington Township is only 25 miles from the heart of downtown Philadelphia — certified Eagles territory.

Of course, there are several holes in the pro-Patriots conspiracy theory. Namely, the fact that commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL spent millions of dollars fighting to have Tom Brady suspended during the battle over DeflateGate. The league has come down hard on New England repeatedly when it comes to discipline, and while having a large market team like the Patriots in the Super Bowl may boost viewership in Boston, it’s not like the rest of the world is clamoring to see YET ANOTHER New England title game.

So there probably isn’t a shady network guiding the refs to benefit Brady and his crew. But that didn’t stop Dick’s from throwing some delightful shade at Pats fans.

You know, like a real...what’s that word?

Oh yeah, like a real jerk.

A/Region Sports Authority boss faces Sports Minister today

The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Sports Authority, Joshua Mensah, is expected to appear before the Minister of Youth and Sports in Accra today [Monday].

This follows his comments indicating that the Baba Yara Stadium was to be closed to sporting activities on Saturdays, to make way for funerals and other social activities. This he said was a viable way of raising adequate funds to maintain the facility which is fast deteriorating.

In a statement signed by Deputy Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, Joshua Mensah will be made to explain why “he should not be sanctioned for making public comments of such serious nature without authorization.”

Mr. Mensah had received a lot of backlash after he indicated to journalists that, it had become necessary to rent the stadium out for funerals and other social activities to enable them to raise funds to maintain the fast-deteriorating facility.

Mr. Mensah at the time, also revealed that his decision had the backing of the Director General of the NSA, Robert Sarfo Mensah, a claim that was subsequently denied by the Director.

Contradictions from authority

Robert Sarfo Mensah

The Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah, said no official directive was given to reserve the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for funerals.

Mr. Sarfo Mensah however admitted that, some unofficial discussions had taken place on the matter and that the Authority had considered the move.

Poorly maintained Baba Yara stadium fast deteriorating

These developments came on the back of Citi News report exposing how sections of the stadium have almost been turned into a dump site with broken seats and stained bathrooms combining to give the stadium a generally repulsive smell.

It is currently Ghana’s largest stadium with a seating capacity of 40,528.

However, its current state is one of a terribly maintained facility that lacks the capacity to be described as a standard sporting facility.

The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957, and inaugurated as a designated football pitch in 1959.

Its stands were constructed in 1971 before the entire stadium was rebuilt in 1977. In 2004 under President John Agyekum Kufuor, it was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer, Baba Yara.

The last major work on the facility was in 2008 ahead of Ghana’s hosting of the CAN 2008 tournament.

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By: Bobbie Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Dick's Sporting Goods in Eagles Country Selling Ref Shirts as Patriots Gear

Everyone's favorite new conspiracy theory is that the NFL not only doesn't hate the Patriots, but the refs actively favor them. The fuel for this theory is the fact that New England was penalized just once in the AFC Championship Game while the Jaguars were penalized ten times.

Eagles fans have been preaching this theory in the lead-up to Super Bowl LII, and a Dick's Sporting Goods in Burlington Township, N.J.—roughly 25 miles from Philadelphia—is going as far as selling referee shirts as "Patriots team apparel."

Nevermind that the league relentlessly battled the Patriots in that whole Deflategate scandal, which led to the suspension of Tom Brady for four games. And nevermind that the Patriots are historically one of the most disciplined teams in the league. The fact that they had a few amount of penalties called on them is indisputable proof of collusion.

If nothing else, Eagles fans have a ready-made excuse if their team can't pull the upset. Creatively planning ahead.