Vic Ketchman of Jaguars.com writes an always-entertaining mailbag column (maybe we should do one of those) for the team’s official web site.
And here’s a question he recently got, from Kenny in Atlantic Beach: “Have you had a chance to read the website ‘profootballtalk.com?’ The guy who runs it is named Mike Florio and he seems to have it in for the Jaguars. Every post about the Jaguars on that website is so negative and it seems he will not be happy until this team moves to Los Angeles. The latest rant on there is how desperate the Jaguars are to sell tickets. I, for one, am fed up with national sports hacks criticizing this team and Mr. Weaver. Your thoughts?”
(Kenny was killing us over this item from Thursday.)
Ketchman’s response was simple, and priceless.
“Buy the tickets,” Ketchman said. “That’ll end the criticism. This isn’t going away, folks. The media is watching and it will continue to watch. If this town has recurring blackouts this season, criticism is certain to become intense. It’s time to stop blaming the media and start buying tickets.”
Amen.
We’ve got nothing against the Jaguars. Our issue is with a fan base that won’t support the team. If I lived in Jacksonville, I’d be at every game.
(Of course, I’d also likely have a credential. But that’s not the point.)
NFL football is NFL football, and the idea that folks wouldn’t be lining up to buy the tickets to NFL games in a good economy or a bad economy borders on the inexplicable.
And if not enough people buy the ticket in one of the 30 cities that currently host NFL teams, then the team that plays there should move to a city with enough people who will.
So prove us wrong, Jacksonville. Buy the tickets.
