Let Security Carry 'em Out: A Jaguar Fan's Code of Conduct for Opposing Teams

-Watch out for my medallions, my diamonds are reckless, feels like a midget's hanging from my necklace.


(Anytime you say "Let Security carry'em out," you must follow with the necklace part.)


In the past several weeks, I've noticed several things regarding fan codes of conduct. In Everbank Field, home of the Jaguars: there is no opposing fan code of conduct. Not one that I've seen. When at LG field for the Titans came, there was a clear opposing fan code of conduct at the gate. I need to know why there isn't one at Everbank field. If there is one, it needs to be more noticeable.


Why is this a big deal??!! Because I pay good money to sit in my seat and I continually get disrespected every single game by opposing fans. To the point of not wanting to sit in my seats anymore. Even a small part of me that says, "I still support my team, but I can't take the abuse. Maybe I should sit at home and watch the game."


If you are new here, you probably think "well, she must be a new season ticket member". Well no, I'm not new. I've been here 10 years and have the pin to prove it.


However, several weeks ago, I had a Stealer's fan (as in stealing my joy) in her short but very popular lace shorts, shake "herself" in my face as she walks down the aisle, directly in front of me and my 9 year old nephew, when the Stealers intercepted Blake Bortles. Albeit, to a seat that wasn't hers.


"Oh ok. This is an aberrancy." No. It's not.

This past week, when the Dul-phins were here, I had the added bonus of getting up and going to the bathroom and coming back to 2 guys sitting in my seats. Alas, where did they come from? From the Bud (aka Drunk) Zone. I immediately motioned for them to get out of my seat, that I had arrived to take my seats back. WWHHHATTTTT!!!????


The 2 seats next to me were empty the whole game until I returned to my seat from the bathroom. There was a very drunk UCF fan next to me, who was passed out asleep. Next to him, was a
Dul-Phins fan who was on his way to being very drunk also. That guy was using chewing tobacco and spitting it into an aluminum bottle with no lid. He got very agitated when the Dul-Phins did something wrong on the field and hit the bottle just right with his other hand. And then it happened. I ended up with chewing tobacco and spit on my right hand. How am I sure? I smelled it. It was nasty and I had no napkin to wipe it off. So, with about 8 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, I vacated my seats to wash my hands and exit the stadium. On my way out , I mentioned the incidents to security and left.


So, I have come up with several rules:


1. Cheer when your team does something good. Then sit down and shut up.
2. Do not plant yourself in my seat. It's mine. I paid for it. Go sit in your assigned/designated seat and leave me alone.
3. You have a corresponding side of the stadium if you are a fan of the opposing team. If you wish to jack someone's seats, go there and do it.
4. Do not become disrespectful to my team and myself when my team does something "bad" and your team does something "good".
5. Please do not get drunk in my stadium. If you throw up on me, you will have a bad time.
6. Feel free to take your shenanigans to the parking lot and express them.


I refuse to leave. I will fight this battle until I am victorious or move to Club seats.


MDK In The House


We Must Protect This House


P.S. It wouldn't hurt to win a few games. You know, WINNING SOLVES EVERYTHING. Apparently.

Football Potion No.9-My First Quarterback Love

For myself, it was sad news this week that David Garrard has said he will retire. It was even more sad the day, almost 3 yrs ago,  he was let go from the Jaguars (I happened to be at the stadium the following day. And through misty eyes I took the photo.) Why is it sad? Because he was the first NFL quarterback on MY team that I loved.

It feels as if not so long ago, that the media dubbed the Jaguars with a quarterback controversy/competition. I believe it was around 2005. That season, Byron Leftwich went out with a broken ankle. David Garrard led the Jaguars to the playoffs only to find out through the press that Byron Leftwich would start in the playoff game against the Patriots. The curious thing about that was the only footage available of Leftwich doing anything significant on the football field was him being carried by teammates at Marshall after breaking his leg. Seriously? That's the only footage they had? Nothing in the NFL? Anyway, the Jaguars lost to the Patriots and it wasn't even close. I was surprised the Jaguars did not let Garrard start. Why not let the man who led us to the playoffs continue? And there was born a controversy.

And then the rose colored glasses were off. That fateful season, my first as a Jaguar season ticket holder, I had seen 2 quarterbacks, and my choice was made: David Garrard. Why? Because he shined through adversity. He kept a straight face when passed over. He struggled through Crohn's Disease. And last but not least, he didn't "lumber" onto the field like he had been in battle for 30 days straight.

The next season, Leftwich would once again have problems with the ankle and Garrard to the rescue. Only solidifying my opinion of his play. Then the following summer just days before the regular season was the announcement I had been waiting for. David Garrard: starting Quarterback!! Leftwich was released. What a season it was! We made the playoffs, beating Pittsburgh in the final seconds and going on to play New England and lost. But what a wild ride!

The next 2 seasons did not fare as well. Mostly because he spent the majority of his time, in my opinion, laying on the ground looking up. You can't be in that position and win games. However, he did go to the Pro Bowl in February 2010. He also had one of the most exciting moments in my history of going to Jaguar games:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlvOUG8nuZ4

(Buys enough time to get his receivers down field)

Out of seemingly nowhere, the Jaguars drafted Blaine Gabbert 10th in the first round. Well, it was obvious Garrard's days were numbered. I still hoped that the inevitability would be at least 2 years down the road. Less than 1 week before the season opener, Garrard was cut in favor of Blaine Gabbert.

The way he was cut is worth mentioning. He was with the team at the Jacksonville Chamber Luncheon for the Jaguars. He was proclaimed the starter, rode back to the stadium on the bus, and was told he needed to meet with Jack Del Rio. And then, he was released. Needless to say, after that I never turned my football back on JDR. He couldn't be trusted. He let my favorite Quarterback go. He let go of the man that gave the fans a Hail Mary that we are likely never to forget. He let the Quarterback that molded me into the NFL fan that I am.

I would just like to say thank you to David Garrard for the memories. Thank you for being a great Quarterback during my fledgling years as a season ticket holder. In my mind, all will be compared to you.


MDK in the House

We Must Protect This House

Part 2 Let Me Get This Right and Drinking the Kool-Aid

So, let me get this right....
It surprises you that Lance Armstrong is a jerk and used performance enhancing substances? I hate to tell you, I knew he was jerky and the fact that he uses those substances doesn't really surprise me. I've never cared much for him. Yes, I get the whole LIVESTRONG thing and what he's done for cancer awareness. But the way he has weaved himself in out of the women in his life is not very attractive in my opinion. And the way he dumped Sheryl Crow because she wanted kids, moved on to the next girl and had 2 kids with her...not cool. Anyway, long story short if he seems like a jerk he probably is a jerk.
Manti Te'o...WOW. He is a testament to NOT doing online dating. Nothing wrong with doing things the old fashioned way. My mom once married someone from Pittsburgh and she only dated him, before she married him, a short time. She failed to go to Pittsburgh and see his "other life". There were a lot of things he exaggerated about himself and not to mention he was a Steelers fan. An obnoxious one at that. What I'm getting at is if you are in a relationship, you want to meet up with them fairly soon. You know. To make sure they are who they say there are. You never really know someone, but at least you won't have a nation mocking you and your draft won't suffer from it. Is Te'o innocent? That's not for me to say. BTW Law and Order Special Victims Unit did a similar episode. CREEPY.

Drinking the Kool-Aid....
I am still drinking the Jaguar Kool-Aid. I am trying to contain my excitement about the new Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager, David Caldwell, and also the new Head Coach, Gus Bradley. My official line is "I'm Missouri. Show me." However, inside my mind I'm excited. Excited I won't have to put for sale signs in "some one's" yard during the off season. Excited that we have people with positive pedigree. Excited to get my team back on the right track. I just wanna win.


MDK in the House

We Must Protect This House

P.S. On the off chance I have struck a nerve with my whole obsession over Andrew Luck, Stanford and the Indianapolis Colts (see It's Not Called The Naive Football League), let me add the names of Pep Hamilton and Ron Turner to the story. Just wiki them. Interesting the flow of coaches between Stanford and the Colts. There are no coincidences.

Super Bowl Leftovers

So, it's time to weigh in on the last game of football for awhile.
Ben Roethlisberger, let me introduce you to KARMA. You and Tiger Woods should be roommates. Oh, you might want to save those late night booze induced karaoke sessions to a minimum during Super Bowl week and save that for Disney World. Oh yeah. You aren't going to Disney World because you have no self control.
Lawrence Timmons, I'm really sorry I rooted against you in the Super Bowl.
Maurkice Pouncey, we all knew you weren't playing in the Super Bowl and we all knew the Steelers could not win without you.
Byron Leftwich, still just 1 Super Bowl ring. We saw you in the Locker Room with Ben trying to act like y'all are old buddies. Seriously.
Aaron Rodgers, I love you because your dad is a Chiropractor.
Clay Matthews, you still need to cut your hair.
Jordy Nelson, thanks for getting rid of the "dropsy's".

Saturday Morning, I went down to the local Barnes & Noble and met Ryan Sprague. He was on the FSU National Championship team in 1999. He wrote a book called "Grateful". He was nice and signed my book. He also noticed my 2003 Rivalry Week Florida vs. Florida State hat. It's my favorite hat. I really like the book so far. 

Already gearing up for the NFL combine!! (Go Ponder, GO!!!)