Pulling the plug on the Jags

There I was, watching the opening minutes of the Jaguars against Buffalo, when zap, all of a sudden we?re switched to the Bengals against the Titans.

Just how I wanted to spend my Sunday afternoon.

After some scrambling, I finally was able to tune the game in on radio on the static-laced AM band.

Oh well. Better than nothing.

But it got me to thinking. Usually when a team is close to selling out, a major sponsor will buy up the remaining tickets to prevent a blackout. And the local TV affiliate that would gain by showing the game would also help the cause.

Why isn?t there such a sponsor ready to step up in Jacksonville?

If they want to keep the team in Jax, everybody needs to seriously pull together at all levels from marketing to sponsorship.

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Another thing about the basic Dish satellite TV package in these parts:

Since there is no local NBC affiliate, there?s no Sunday Night Football.

I missed the Eagles courageous effort against the Patriots.

?Isn?t that the team that got caught cheating?? chimed in my wife, who thinks football means Manchester United.

?Yea,?I answered.

?Shouldn?t they be banned for cheating??she asked. ?Why is everyone in sports cheating these days??

She no doubt was referring to other headliners like Barry Bonds and Marion Jones.

I reminded her that it goes far beyond sports.

Look no further than the 2000 presidential election ?the Florida count in particular.

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There wasn?t much for Florida State fans to cheer about Saturday night, but placekicker Gary Cismesia certainly opened eyes with his 60-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

That feat should get him a look-see by some NFL teams.

I had the opportunity to see Cismesia during his high school days at Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch. He could bang home field goals from 50 plus then. Plus, in soccer, he had a dead-eye bullet shot that could catch the corner of the net from 40 yards out.

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Area high school football teams still alive in the FHSAA playoffs include Newberry and Mayo.

Newberry defeated Trinity Catholic for the second time this season to move into the 2B state semifinals against unbeaten Florida High out of Tallahassee. In the other bracket are traditional powerhouses Frostproof and Pahokee.

Mayo (11-1) defeated Port St. Joe to advance to the 1A state semifinals against North Florida Christian (11-1). In the other bracket are Glades Day and American Heritage.

Both Newberry and Mayo defeated Chiefland this season.

Claude Lewis may be reached at sports@chieflandcitizen.com.