Cardinals offering lawn maintenance to fans

SUSSEX COUNTY-As the 12th New Jersey Cardinals season approaches, the team has introduced a special ticket promotion. Cardinals fans purchasing a minimum of two season tickets or any current season ticket holder purchasing additional tickets will receive a special bonus: New Jersey Cardinals Groundskeeper, Ralph Naifeh will make one visit to their residence to cut their lawn. Naifeh, who has more than 17 years experience in grounds keeping, has been with New Jersey team since the 1996 season. Naifeh, a native of Houston, Texas, also spent time with the Beaumont Gold Gators and the Texas Rangers. "I'm looking forward to this promotion. Nothing makes me happier than seeing our fans come out to the park and enjoying the experience. This is going to be something special the first time I sit on that tractor at someone's home," said Naifeh. Highlights for the 2005 season include 15 weekend home games. The slate features six home games against the Renegades (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), five versus the Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets), five against the Staten Island Yankees (New York Yankees), and five against Cal Ripken Jr.'s Aberdeen Ironbirds (Baltimore Orioles). In what has become a staple of the holiday weekend, the Cardinals will be home the entire July 4th weekend with games on Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 against Staten Island, and Sunday, July 3, and Monday, July 4 against Brooklyn. Gametimes remain the same: 7:15 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday at 5. The Cardinals offer fans full and partial season ticket plans. The full season tickets are priced at $350 for box and $250 for reserved. For the first time ever either a box or reserved season ticket package will include one free seasonal parking pass. For further information, contact the Cardinals office at 973-579-7500.