Lamar Thames

I see where former Florida Times-Union publisher Carl Cannon is trying to revive the fortunes of the Jaguars, the pro football team that he helped bring to Jacksonville in the early 1990s.

Good for him. I hope it works. I would hate to see the Jaguars move to another city. It may take longer than anyone anticipates at this time, however, to solidify the fan base and ensure that doesn’t happen.

There are a myriad reasons why it will be a monumental effort. Here are just a few in my humble opinion:

1. It’s the economy, stupid! A lot of Jaguar fans have been hit hard by the economic slowdown and that has struck a tremendous blow to the ticket-buying public, despite what some of the so-called financial experts say. The true-blue Jaguar fans are middle-management types and blue-collar workers, groups that have been especially impacted by the economy. I know because I am one of them. My wife and I were season-ticket holder from the very start — until this year. Without a job and our retirement nest egg in shambles, it has been hard for us to justify spending upwards of a grand per year to continue supporting the Jags. And I know we are not alone. An acquaintance of mine has gone through five different jobs in the last two years and is currently unemployed. No more Jags tickets for him either.

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By LAMAR THAMES

I have been a Jacksonville Jaguar season-ticket holder since the beginning. Until this year. Try as I might, I just couldn’t bring myself to sign up for another season. It just wasn’t in the cards.

Can Tim Tebow save the Jaguar franchise? It is a big responsibility, but I think he can do it.

Or should I say, the budget.

I’m sure you have heard of a little thing called the Great Recession? Well, I am one of the victims of it, going on almost a year now. The $700 tab for a pair of tickets for my wife and I was just a bit too steep for our financial portfolio. I know, we could get a four-pack or the new thing they are calling the flex pack, but we have passed on it for now.

I am sure that we will attend some of the games, but I just don’t want to invest several hundred dollars in tickets right now since one source of our family income  — unemployment checks — will be drying up soon. I would rather keep that money in an income-producing vehicle for the time being until one of two things happens: 1) I get a job, or 2) I win the lottery. (The odds of the latter happening are probably greater than the former, if only I would buy a ticket.

Anyway, I feel really bad about not renewing our season tickets. Especially since I keep getting emails from Jaguar owner Wayne Weaver telling me how much he wants me back.  I hate to disappoint him like this, but the reality is that these are tough times. Maybe next year. Read the rest of this entry »

Fred Taylor

By LAMAR THAMES

Fred Taylor is no longer a Jacksonville Jaguar and my wife and I have decided not to renew the season tickets we have held since the very first year. One thing doesn’t have anything to do with another, however. We were not going to renew our season tickets regardless of what occurred during the off-season. The two events are just coincidental.

I will miss seeing Taylor in a Jaguar uniform. He is as good an open-field runner as there has ever been in the NFL. I am not saying he’s the best back, just as good as anyone in the open field. As good as Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson, Walter Payton, Jim Brown whomever. Even Gale Sayers. Fred’s 4.6 yards per carry over an 11-season career is testament to his running ability. I’ll never forget the big 200-yard plus day he had against the Steelers and all the other big games he had. You knew that once he got past the line of scrimmage that he was going to go for a few yards. And if he ever got into the secondary, look out; he was TD bound. Fred’s raw speed was awe-inspiring.

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