I've owned season tickets since 1995. My wife's name and mine are inscribed at the stadium with the other original season ticket holders. I've experienced the " joy of victory and the agony of defeat" as Wide World of Sports used to proclaim. I've sat in the stadium thru driving rain, chilling cold and oppressive heat and humidity, screaming my lungs out supporting this team.


Recently I attended the funeral of a cousin who died suddenly in New York. The entire family came from every corner of the country. But I left on Saturday last week, flying back to my home in North Carolina, so I could watch the Chargers game on tv. Fifteen minutes into the game, I regretted my decision to leave my family in New York. To those posters who admonish those of us who express their frustration on this board, I'm sorry........but just shut up! I've had it, and I think thousands of others have had it as well.


I don't expect a Super Bowl trophy. I just want a "W " every once in a while. I see other teams accomplishing turnarounds in 2-3 years, but not the Jaguars. Every year the hype begins in the off-season, builds to a crescendo by August, then dissipates by October into utter disappointment.


We calculated that we've spent over $100,000 in the 22 years that we've supported this team. We've experienced some great years, in '96 when the team made that great run in the playoffs; In '99 when we only lost 3 games........all to the Titans. And many others. But in the last 10 years, the frustration level has gradually increased every year.


For some strange reason, players who come here don't perform to their expectations. Whether they're free agent signees or drafted players, their play on the field quickly deteriorates to the point where they're cut.......or they end up with another team. In some cases, their performances improve with their new team.


Every week, I watch players who don't seem to take the game as seriously as the people sitting in the stands. Trailing by large scores, I' m amazed at our players smiling and joking with each other on the sidelines. Is this just a paycheck to them? Where is the pride? I think that the whole pay structure of professional sports is mostly to blame. Paying players today for expected results in the future seems to dull motivation.Some players put out super effort so that they can sign that second big contract.......then, guaranteed money in hand, they get lazy. Some franchises have figured this out and allow their star players to "test the free agency market ". Meanwhile, they sign new, younger players who are ready to put out that super effort.........


Well, sorry for the rant, but I needed to get some things off my chest.

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