The Latest Florida Scrutiny

Tomorrow is the big day. The day when one group of people hope to have forever settled in the public's mind that the term "dynasty" should be associated with their club, while another group of people would desparately like to shake off labels such as "chokers," "losers," and the like, and bring home some bling-bling.

Ahhh...the Super Bowl...in one corner we have the New England Patriots with their no-name group of players (can you name any player on their team other than the QB?), in the other corner we have the Philidelphia Eagles, with players such as Freddie Mitchell and Terrell Owens who have been running their mouths for the past two weeks, the latter claiming that God has healed him for the big game. And don't we all know Donovan McNabb's mother who's been trying to convince us that Campbell's Chunky Soup is what should be in our shopping carts.

Since the Super Bowl is back in Florida for the umpteenth time, I decided to do a little reading on the city NNE of me which is hosting the big game for the first time.

Jacksonville? A city that at one time was called Cowford??? With few hotel rooms to try and accommodate over 100,000 guests? The truth, folks, is that you couldn't buy a hotel room within 100 miles of J-ville, with people piling into Southern Georgia, down the coast of Florida, or on one of five cruise ships brought to the area as floating hotels.

A lot of people think Jacksonville in is Georgia, but it really isn't, not that far from the border though. The city government spent close to $100,000 on a campaign to come up with a slogan to celebrate the city's arrival to modern times. And the winner is...."Where Florida Begins." Some of the other contest entrants included, "It's Not That Bad", "Mayberry, Only Bigger", and "Redneck Heaven".

Oh yes, reality check, you live in the South. And although Florida is not considered to be a part of the group of states known as the "South," there are enough transplants here from them-thar states to fool me. Jacksonville locals will tell you there's a bit of redneck in all of them. But they are hoping that the intense spotlight they've subjected themselves to will help convince the rest of the country that not all of them shoot deer, date relatives, or light up three packs of smokes per day while listening to "Free Bird" in their pickup trucks. But there've been plenty of Confederate Flags for sale this past week...Super Bowl special: $15. And there's enough Civil War memorabilia in J-ville to embarrass Savannah. Don't pass up the Waffle Houses. A waffle is to Jacksonville as Cabernet Sauvignon is to Napa Valley.

While you won't find the glitz and glamour of Miami, the Disney characters of Orlando, or the suburbia of Tampa/St. Pete, there's plenty of home-style cooking in places like Famous Amos or Whitey's Fish Camp. You won't find cows crossing the St. John's river any more, but the city's uniqueness is part of what adds to the color and spice of this state.

As for myself, I'll be joining the Super Bowl party tomorrow on the Carnival Fantasy...which reminds me...I still need to pack!

Until next time...