Jaguars

There are a number of reasons why the Jaguars are not selling tickets; lack of enthusiam for the team is not one of those reasons. I think the crux of the problem is two fold:

1) College football is king in North Central Florida.

2) The economy is in rough shape.

The first problem is not going to change. College football is king. A family who goes to the Gator game on Saturday is unlikely to get up early and attend a 1:00 Jaguars game on Sunday. Doing both costs too much and makes for a grueling weekend. When faced with a choice between college and professional football, the vast majority of North Floridians are going to choose them Gata.

The second issue deserves some perspective. Jacksonville was hit hard by the economic downturn. But, the economy will not remain in the gutter forever. Things will never be like they were four years ago but they will turn around and have already started to do so. There is no reason to make a knee jerk decision about relocating the franchise.

Jacksonville loves the Jags. Two years ago this team went deep into the playoffs and nearly knocked off the undefeated Patriots. That year, Dad and I rode up to see them play the Raiders in the last game of the season. Jacksonville had all but clinched a playoff spot and the Raiders were abysmal. It was a meaningless contest. Still, the game was sold out and NOBODY was scalping tickets. There was not a seat to be had. So, elite media, don't tell me that Jacksonville can not or will not support an NFL team.

Freedom!

I'm home, cheesburgers, steak, and freedom of expression abound. Did you know it is illegal to give a Nazi salute in Holland? I have never and likely will never execute such a gesture but should be able to if I so desire. In New York I have the right to give a Nazi salute and then get my ass handed to me by the two hundred people who saw it. It is good to be home.

I noticed the difference immediately. At JFK International Airport I saw black people, Spanish people, fat people wearing dirty sweatpants, and Mexicans. It was amazing. At least five languages were heard within the first ten minutes, none of them Dutch. What I underestimated was the reverse culture shock. New York is, well, New York. It's the Big Apple, the streets are slammed at 2:30 in the afternoon, tourists and locals vying for position and relevance in the flow of traffic. I didn't notice it coming from Jacksonville to New York but Gotham is a dimension away from The Hague. The contrast is instructive. It highlights the "good" and the "bad", for lack of better words. I will miss bike travel, the people I met, the bar culture, and the pace of life. I will not miss the food, the Dutch, or the weather.

This is where I should probably talk about how much fun I had and what an incredible experience it was, etc. But, I think that is universally understood. You've read the blog. You know how much fun I had in Holland and throughout Europe. No, this is not some kind of farewell post. I am going to continue the blog if only for my own therapy and vanity. Thank you all for reading. Your comments helped me combat homesickness and keep my focus on the big picture.

Cheers.

Hurricane Holland

You know how the tail end of a hurricane looks and feels? I mean like when the hurricane has all but passed through and all you have left is the beginning of the outer bands? It feels like that all the time in Holland. The rain will blow into you from every angle and then stop for five seconds. Then it starts again. But it's not pelting you. It is just a drizzle boosted by a half serious wind. Everyday.

Brugge, Belgium