Article by: Scott Blanchett
It is that time of year again, when kids are getting ready to go back to school, vacations are ending and football is returning to TV. I grew up in a college town that had a football team, but no professional team. There were two NFL teams in my home state so, as a kid, I picked Tampa Bay. It happened to be the one my grandfather rooted for and it based in the area he lived in so it was a logical choice.
It is that time of year again, when kids are getting ready to go back to school, vacations are ending and football is returning to TV. I grew up in a college town that had a football team, but no professional team. There were two NFL teams in my home state so, as a kid, I picked Tampa Bay. It happened to be the one my grandfather rooted for and it based in the area he lived in so it was a logical choice.
When I was in high school, my state got a third team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. This team was closer to where I lived but I was still loyal to my Buccaneers. My favorite team was no longer on TV though because the Jaguars took over the "local" broadcasts. I was able to follow my Bucs through the news all the while resenting this new team for simply existing, and thereby denying me access to my favorite team.
Three years ago I moved to Jacksonville. The team is a serious contender for worst in the league every year. Even their owner gave up on them and sold them. But this city, this beautiful city refuses to give up on them. The team had to cover entire sections of the stadium seating with billboards so the seats weren't empty. There has not been a single game in the three years since I moved here, that they have come close to selling what is left of the seats.
Now my fair city has taken it upon themselves to renovate the stadium in hopes of drawing a bigger crowd. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent to put in pools, big screen TV's and entertainment. The players have proven time and time again that they are incapable of providing an entertaining game, so they had to resort to these embarrassing tactics. The team is even the subject of national late night tv talk show monologues ridiculing the town of Jacksonville for supporting them in such a way.
Why then must I, who am embarrassed to have this team in the city where I live, be forced to pay for enhancements to their stadium? If there is a dog in your neighborhood who goes from house to house pooping on the lawn, you call someone to have him removed. This team produces no more than that dog does. Is there no one I can call to have them removed?
The bright side? The opening game tomorrow is the Jaguars and the Buccaneers. Game On.
Three years ago I moved to Jacksonville. The team is a serious contender for worst in the league every year. Even their owner gave up on them and sold them. But this city, this beautiful city refuses to give up on them. The team had to cover entire sections of the stadium seating with billboards so the seats weren't empty. There has not been a single game in the three years since I moved here, that they have come close to selling what is left of the seats.
Now my fair city has taken it upon themselves to renovate the stadium in hopes of drawing a bigger crowd. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent to put in pools, big screen TV's and entertainment. The players have proven time and time again that they are incapable of providing an entertaining game, so they had to resort to these embarrassing tactics. The team is even the subject of national late night tv talk show monologues ridiculing the town of Jacksonville for supporting them in such a way.
Why then must I, who am embarrassed to have this team in the city where I live, be forced to pay for enhancements to their stadium? If there is a dog in your neighborhood who goes from house to house pooping on the lawn, you call someone to have him removed. This team produces no more than that dog does. Is there no one I can call to have them removed?
The bright side? The opening game tomorrow is the Jaguars and the Buccaneers. Game On.
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