http://m.news4jax.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=326&nid=1123399491&cid=19233&scid=-1&ith=0&title=Top+Stories&headtitle=Top+Stories
Ummm.... wow.
That sucks.
Sorry to him, his family and the city of Chicago. Probably over a little football smack talking.
Here is the report in the Chicago Tribune with a picture of Chris from his Facebook.
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-50723d40/turbine/chi-reports-lake-villa-man-stabbed-to-death-in-001/600)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-reports-lake-villa-man-stabbed-to-death-in-jacksonville-20121007,0,126406.story
A real tragedy. Now we know why we can't take guns into bars, even if you have a concealed weapon's permit. ::)
A friend was stabbed at a bar at Five Points in the early eighties. It was the lounge "I think" called the Five Points Lounge, run by the fellow (Bob ?) who did the wine tasting on TV. Had a pool table or two. You could enter bar from the front or the back.
The knife fellow was a real nut. My friend, who had long hair at the time, was just sitting at the bar. Idiot apparently came up and thrust the knife into his side, saying something like, "I don't like the way you look". He just missed the heart. He was lying on the floor behind the bar when I came in. He survived, but had surgery. Soon after this event, the bar owner closed the actual bar, having only a package store. Perhaps insurance hit the roof.
Knives are scary. They are quick, and can be quite deadly, as this Landing tragedy shows.
Is there any security at the Landing on nights, especially nights before games and big events? I ask this because the article says patrons actually had to chase the suspect down and hold him until police arrived. Is Sleighman trying to slum lord the palce with no upgrades and no security?
yes....there is hired Landing security every night...but they are more like mall cops.
Some establishments, like Hooters, hire off-duty police officers....and from what I was told, the cop who was stationed at Hooters Saturday night ran over to Fionn's to assist in the arrest
Quote from: spuwho on October 07, 2012, 10:59:24 PM
Here is the report in the Chicago Tribune with a picture of Chris from his Facebook.
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-50723d40/turbine/chi-reports-lake-villa-man-stabbed-to-death-in-001/600)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-reports-lake-villa-man-stabbed-to-death-in-jacksonville-20121007,0,126406.story
This is so sad my heart goes out to his family and friends. :'(
Quote from: Dapperdan on October 08, 2012, 09:27:30 AM
Is there any security at the Landing on nights, especially nights before games and big events? I ask this because the article says patrons actually had to chase the suspect down and hold him until police arrived. Is Sleighman trying to slum lord the palce with no upgrades and no security?
Lots of security, as you can see the guy was caught instantly. The landing is probably the worst place to do a crime like this in my opinion.
it really is unreal that this happend. Terrible thing.
Here's the victim's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/william.c.pettry
Seems he grew up close to where I did (around the E KY/WV border). I bet he was a scrapper.
Why hasn't this received the media publicity you would think --- a murder at the highest-profile venue in the city? Has there been some sort of suppression of this story?
I think it's a terrible tragedy for this man's family/friends - and it's not good news, but it IS a factual, relevant local news story that's hardly been reported.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 08, 2012, 01:04:18 PM
Here's the victim's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/william.c.pettry
Seems he grew up close to where I did (around the E KY/WV border). I bet he was a scrapper.
Are you really stereotyping someone based on the neighborhood they live?
Steve. It has been on all the news stations that I have seen, front page of the TU online and on the radio.
Quote from: Steve_Lovett on October 08, 2012, 01:29:55 PM
Why hasn't this received the media publicity you would think --- a murder at the highest-profile venue in the city? Has there been some sort of suppression of this story?
I think it's a terrible tragedy for this man's family/friends - and it's not good news, but it IS a factual, relevant local news story that's hardly been reported.
where have you been?
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Cops: Suspect cut Bears fan's throat after seeing him talking to wife
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-5072e780/turbine/chi-bears-fan-killed-in-jacksonville-20121008/600)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/chi-reports-lake-villa-man-stabbed-to-death-in-jacksonville-20121007,0,5426902.story
How did I know this was over a woman? From the way it sounds, he just walked up and sliced his throat. No questions asked. What did he say to his wife to make him do that?
Quote from: Steve_Lovett on October 08, 2012, 01:29:55 PM
Why hasn't this received the media publicity you would think --- a murder at the highest-profile venue in the city? Has there been some sort of suppression of this story?
I think it's a terrible tragedy for this man's family/friends - and it's not good news, but it IS a factual, relevant local news story that's hardly been reported.
It's a pretty high profile news story. It's on the front page of NFL.com. The link posted to the Orlando news story has more details than jacksonville.com currently.
It's the lead story on the Chicago Tribune, which owns the Orlando Sentinel. http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Quote from: coredumped on October 08, 2012, 01:30:36 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 08, 2012, 01:04:18 PM
Here's the victim's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/william.c.pettry
Seems he grew up close to where I did (around the E KY/WV border). I bet he was a scrapper.
Are you really stereotyping someone based on the neighborhood they live?
I wouldn't call it stereotyping, just generalization from having lived there for so long. A LOT of people where I grew up are hot heads & like to fight. That's number 1. And nothing gets them going like religion or team sports. I know its hard for some people to grasp that something so silly could lead to that, but bad mouth their God or sports figures & you might as well slap their momma in the face. Seriously.
And look, this guy may have been a big teddy bear, I don't know. Just that it wouldn't shock me if thats how it started. And it usually doesn't go that far unless both parties are in some pretty heated stuff. People usually don't just walk up & kill someone flat out.
Anyways, all of this is stupid & we don't know anything. All we know is there was alcohol involved & some die hard sports fans got into some kind of altercation, leading to a death. Regardless of who did what & where someone was from, its still a tragedy & no one ever deserves that.
P.S. There are no "neighborhoods" in those parts. Like, at all.
Sorry - apparently I've just missed it. It's just that as of last evening I hadn't heard anything and I checked with my wife and several friends who were also unaware of the story. And we tend to pay pretty close attention. I hope no one misunderstands, I don't wish for it to be spread further and wider than is appropriate.
It's an awful occurrence - a terrible, terrible tragedy.
After reading the story it seems like a fairly clear cut case of murder. The guy walked up and slit his throat for talking to his wife. Sad...
Keeping it real gone wrong.
three kids and a wife don't get to see their father come home from his first vacation in many years. Horrible
Sick and disgusting!! This is just so uncalled for. Who does this crazed guy think is gonna talk to his wife now? He better brace himself because before long she's gonna be the wife of someone else. He's gone up the river for quite awhile.
Prayers for the friends and family!!
As sure as I type this, I already know the responses this post will elicit, but here goes....
I understand how we can all look at this from the outside, how this travesty took place without as much as a second thought, but I'm making the assumption that no one posting thier anger has ever been intoxicated to the point that rational decisions are no longer 'rational'.
I'll try to put it in perspective from the angry, jealous drunk guy (won't be too hard... 8) ) You're teetering on black-out drunk from an entire day of drinking, you see some dude in [insert team that is not your favorite] chatting it up with your wife and you don't even exchange words - just a 'harmless' cut to tell the dude to back the fuck up. Did you plan to sever his artery - HELL NO!, it was just supposed to be a nick, but in your stupor, your 'nick' ended up slicing right through this other dude's aorta... It's a game you play with your friends.... Just a little stick. This time it went too far and unfortunately someone lost his life.
Some guys punch, some guys play knives, hell, some guys like to pull guns - it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, right? I'm also going to lay this out there - while the Bears fan may have had absolutely ZERO ill will or bad intention, when you think about the situation - 3 kids, wife at home, hanging with friends in another city for a FB game..... not saying he did, but it's hard to think that he was completely without fault. He may have been a standup guy, but let's not look past the situation at hand.
Alcohol is a hell of a drug.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on October 08, 2012, 10:39:23 PM
"you don't even exchange words - just a 'harmless' cut to tell the dude to back the fuck up."
"It's a game you play with your friends.... Just a little stick. This time it went too far and unfortunately someone lost his life. "
I think you were being sarcastic but just wanted to make sure you don't actually give "cuts" out to random people. What person swings a knife at someone without even talking or plays with knives with their friends? Does anyone swing knives at their friends for fun?
Quote from: Jax_Spartan on October 08, 2012, 11:56:29 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on October 08, 2012, 10:39:23 PM
"you don't even exchange words - just a 'harmless' cut to tell the dude to back the fuck up."
"It's a game you play with your friends.... Just a little stick. This time it went too far and unfortunately someone lost his life. "
I think you were being sarcastic but just wanted to make sure you don't actually give "cuts" out to random people. What person swings a knife at someone without even talking or plays with knives with their friends? Does anyone swing knives at their friends for fun?
Not sarcastic as much as just stirring the pot in the other direction. Is this something that I take part in personally.... definitely not. Does it happen in circles that I've been part of? Sure. It's rates on the genius scale in the neighborhood of letting cigars/cigarettes burn out on the forearm, random branding with scorching hot bic lighters (the smiley face) and shooting fireworks at one another. It not meant to permanently harm, just who's is bigger.... I can't make it make sense if you've never been personallly involved with these shenanigans, but it happens, it's quite common in some circles and it seems that this may have been a drastic case.
IMO, the guy wasn't trying to kill him, really didn't even want to get in a fight, just an intentional BtFU message that went fataly wrong.
EDIT:
After rereading the post, no. I'm suggesting that anyone does it randomly to strangers, just amongst themselves, but when alcohol is involved.... The shit you pull with your friends that seems harmless might not be when really done in anger to another person.
It is a shame how this is being portrayed in the news. It is sad whenever someone is killed ... especially someone so young who leaves behind a family, but this is also very bad for downtown Jacksonville in my opinion.
In the stories I've read they talk about him being in an upscale area (he was) and staying at the same hotel as the Bears, which implies it was a nice and expensive hotel (he was) and their close proximity to one another.
We need to bring people downtown. Including people from out of town. Tourism is important. If we get a new convention center, conventiongoers are important. And yes, people who come in from out of town to root against the Jaguars are important.
I do not like how even the NFL's own website is playing this up. It's tragic, but it also makes us look very bad.
Its tragic & needs to be talked about, but I def don't think you can chalk this one up to "just another murder in good ol Jax". This was pretty random & just plain weird, so it really could have happened anywhere. I hope the media isn't spinning it to look bad for Jax/downtown.
Anyways, Chicago of all places REALLY shouldn't be pointing any fingers these days. http://www.businessinsider.com/this-map-of-chicagos-2012-homicides-shows-what-its-like-to-have-dozens-of-shootings-every-weekend-2012-7
This tragedy could have happened anywhere. It certainly was not planned. Both fellows didn’t come into the place, one expecting to be killed, and the other expecting to be imprisoned for twenty years or so for killing. And of course, at this point we don't know what actually happened.
I don’t know about you guys but when it comes to a relationship with a woman, especially during a time when one doesn’t feel confident that the woman is really with you solidly, one is less able to tolerate interference or meddling from another male.
We’ve all seen how animals fight over the right to “have†the females of the species. The fights can be a serious business, sometimes ending in death. There seems to be an almost irrational reaction which comes over a male of any species when it comes to certain events related to a female to which the male has given his attention or claim. The degree to which the human exerts this irrationality depends of course on the individual, and usually on his self-confidence as related to his position with his woman.
Of course, most fights between animals don’t end in death, but only injury. We humans have unfortunately the habit of using tools like guns and knives to assist in fighting the opponent, and therefore a fight can end in death more often.
Knowing how I have reacted in the past, which has been with a good measure of irrationality and aggression toward another male when confronted with some kind of moves toward “my†woman, I have decided that other men are like me, and therefore have always avoided encroaching too carelessly in between a man and his woman. One never knows the state of self-confidence in the man, his ability to remain rational, or his inclination to violence upon feeling a threat to his relationship with his woman. And he might have a gun or a knife. Besides, who, in an altercation, is the most pumped up with emotion and adrenalin, and therefore strength; the man casually approaching the woman, or the man who feels that his relationship is threatened?
Add alcohol to the above mix, and you’ve a situation wherein anything could happen. I’ll just say that to engage too carelessly a woman in the celebrative environment such as after a game, might be tendered with the idea that you had better be ready to either back off quickly if you encounter her man, or you had better be prepared for some action, and possible danger.
The problem is that, if you engage another man’s woman with a certain level of attention, you certainly do not wish to harm the man, but given a possible tendency to irrational behavior, he just might wish harm to you, or even kill you if things develop just so.
Within the breast of a man are still some of the evolutionarily old aggressive forces when it comes to his claim to “his†female. Be cautious. It’s safer that way. It prevents the accumulation of scars, and increases one’s life expectancy. Only a fool would go around carelessly hitting on women in a festive game atmosphere without regard to the possible presence of her husband or boyfriend. Only a fool would not back off immediately when confronted with the husband.
Again, we don’t know what really happened. In any case, I suspect that the progress of this case will accommodate the fact that there is one hell of a difference between premeditated murder, and the kind of killing, or murder, which occurred at the club.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 12:31:30 AM
Its tragic & needs to be talked about, but I def don't think you can chalk this one up to "just another murder in good ol Jax". This was pretty random & just plain weird, so it really could have happened anywhere.
A lot of that could be said about the murders that happen in Jax and anywhere, for that matter. This
should look bad for Jax, in asmuch as it should look bad for anywhere. It's random, sure, but it's a murder. It's unfortunate, but a guy got killed.
But I don't know what criteria we can apply to murder to make the kind of murder we can "chalk up" to Jax. Maybe only gang-related murder? Or gun crime? Murder is murder.
We all know that Jax has a problem with murder. I bet a lot of the murders that take place in the city are seemingly random crimes that could've happened anywhere. That doesn't make them any less of a problem.
It may not have been random. The latest news is that Hinson was a chef at the Hyatt where Pettry and his friend (and the Chicago Bears) were staying. Additionally, they evidently were talking at the bar before moving together to a bench where the stabbing occurred.
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-10-08/story/bears-fans-throat-cut-after-he-spoke-suspects-wife-landing-police-say
No matter what, it's impossible to imagine that anything he could have said justified this. It's a tragedy all around.
This is terrible. Whenever I tell people I live in Jacksonville, I usually get a "Why do you live there?" and people always compare it to New Orleans in that, all they ever hear about Jacksonville are depressing things and high crime rates. This obviously doesnt help.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on October 08, 2012, 10:39:23 PM
As sure as I type this, I already know the responses this post will elicit, but here goes....
I understand how we can all look at this from the outside, how this travesty took place without as much as a second thought, but I'm making the assumption that no one posting thier anger has ever been intoxicated to the point that rational decisions are no longer 'rational'.
I'll try to put it in perspective from the angry, jealous drunk guy (won't be too hard... 8) ) You're teetering on black-out drunk from an entire day of drinking, you see some dude in [insert team that is not your favorite] chatting it up with your wife and you don't even exchange words - just a 'harmless' cut to tell the dude to back the fuck up. Did you plan to sever his artery - HELL NO!, it was just supposed to be a nick, but in your stupor, your 'nick' ended up slicing right through this other dude's aorta... It's a game you play with your friends.... Just a little stick. This time it went too far and unfortunately someone lost his life.
Some guys punch, some guys play knives, hell, some guys like to pull guns - it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, right? I'm also going to lay this out there - while the Bears fan may have had absolutely ZERO ill will or bad intention, when you think about the situation - 3 kids, wife at home, hanging with friends in another city for a FB game..... not saying he did, but it's hard to think that he was completely without fault. He may have been a standup guy, but let's not look past the situation at hand.
Alcohol is a hell of a drug.
I just registered on this site because I've just read the above reply, and it's the most absurd reply I've ever read on any public forum. Just a harmless cut? I don't know how you grew up or what sick games you played in your childhood, but I know of no one that plays 'stick your friend'.
To try and justify this killer's actions with a "harmless" or "oh maybe he only meant to nick the guy" is reckless in your own words and is so absurd as the situation itself.
Quote from: Adam W on October 09, 2012, 02:59:49 AM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 12:31:30 AM
Its tragic & needs to be talked about, but I def don't think you can chalk this one up to "just another murder in good ol Jax". This was pretty random & just plain weird, so it really could have happened anywhere.
A lot of that could be said about the murders that happen in Jax and anywhere, for that matter. This should look bad for Jax, in asmuch as it should look bad for anywhere. It's random, sure, but it's a murder. It's unfortunate, but a guy got killed.
But I don't know what criteria we can apply to murder to make the kind of murder we can "chalk up" to Jax. Maybe only gang-related murder? Or gun crime? Murder is murder.
We all know that Jax has a problem with murder. I bet a lot of the murders that take place in the city are seemingly random crimes that could've happened anywhere. That doesn't make them any less of a problem.
True, murder is murder. But people don't usually randomly stab strangers in bars here, or really anywhere here. We have our problems, but this isn't Detroit, or Gary IN, or Camden NJ, or even Chicago. Where they rob people while they sit at a red light. Those are city problems, meaning most the crime there is a direct connection to vast swaths of their towns being shit holes & breeding grounds for criminals who have nothing to lose.
Jacksonville isn't that. Thats all I was saying. So bringing up downtown or pointing the finger at Jax, like what happened is some byproduct of our town, isn't really fair just because some mental patient decided to go off his meds & randomly stab someone.
And look, I'm not taking up for the town at all. You all know me, I'm never shy of being critical of the faults here. But this could have easily happened in some other part of town. It could have happened at the Avenues or at a bar around SJTC just the same. But because its was downtown, now they're gonna have a field day with it. But its the media, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
Yeah, I have to admit, I have never played "stick your buddy" either. :o
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 11:37:23 AM
Quote from: Adam W on October 09, 2012, 02:59:49 AM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 12:31:30 AM
Its tragic & needs to be talked about, but I def don't think you can chalk this one up to "just another murder in good ol Jax". This was pretty random & just plain weird, so it really could have happened anywhere.
A lot of that could be said about the murders that happen in Jax and anywhere, for that matter. This should look bad for Jax, in asmuch as it should look bad for anywhere. It's random, sure, but it's a murder. It's unfortunate, but a guy got killed.
But I don't know what criteria we can apply to murder to make the kind of murder we can "chalk up" to Jax. Maybe only gang-related murder? Or gun crime? Murder is murder.
We all know that Jax has a problem with murder. I bet a lot of the murders that take place in the city are seemingly random crimes that could've happened anywhere. That doesn't make them any less of a problem.
True, murder is murder. But people don't usually randomly stab strangers in bars here, or really anywhere here. We have our problems, but this isn't Detroit, or Gary IN, or Camden NJ, or even Chicago. Where they rob people while they sit at a red light. Those are city problems, meaning most the crime there is a direct connection to vast swaths of their towns being shit holes & breeding grounds for criminals who have nothing to lose.
Jacksonville isn't that. Thats all I was saying. So bringing up downtown or pointing the finger at Jax, like what happened is some byproduct of our town, isn't really fair just because some mental patient decided to go off his meds & randomly stab someone.
And look, I'm not taking up for the town at all. You all know me, I'm never shy of being critical of the faults here. But this could have easily happened in some other part of town. It could have happened at the Avenues or at a bar around SJTC just the same. But because its was downtown, now they're gonna have a field day with it. But its the media, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
+100
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 11:37:23 AM
Quote from: Adam W on October 09, 2012, 02:59:49 AM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 09, 2012, 12:31:30 AM
Its tragic & needs to be talked about, but I def don't think you can chalk this one up to "just another murder in good ol Jax". This was pretty random & just plain weird, so it really could have happened anywhere.
A lot of that could be said about the murders that happen in Jax and anywhere, for that matter. This should look bad for Jax, in asmuch as it should look bad for anywhere. It's random, sure, but it's a murder. It's unfortunate, but a guy got killed.
But I don't know what criteria we can apply to murder to make the kind of murder we can "chalk up" to Jax. Maybe only gang-related murder? Or gun crime? Murder is murder.
We all know that Jax has a problem with murder. I bet a lot of the murders that take place in the city are seemingly random crimes that could've happened anywhere. That doesn't make them any less of a problem.
True, murder is murder. But people don't usually randomly stab strangers in bars here, or really anywhere here. We have our problems, but this isn't Detroit, or Gary IN, or Camden NJ, or even Chicago. Where they rob people while they sit at a red light. Those are city problems, meaning most the crime there is a direct connection to vast swaths of their towns being shit holes & breeding grounds for criminals who have nothing to lose.
Jacksonville isn't that. Thats all I was saying. So bringing up downtown or pointing the finger at Jax, like what happened is some byproduct of our town, isn't really fair just because some mental patient decided to go off his meds & randomly stab someone.
And look, I'm not taking up for the town at all. You all know me, I'm never shy of being critical of the faults here. But this could have easily happened in some other part of town. It could have happened at the Avenues or at a bar around SJTC just the same. But because its was downtown, now they're gonna have a field day with it. But its the media, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
I see where you're coming from now.
I guess I didn't quite get that at first. I also was thinking about that guy who got his eyes cut out of his head at Starlight. He didn't die, of course, but that was crazy. And it was just so random. And there was that girl who got shot over in those apartments by Pizza Palace (she was the girlfriend of a friend's friend). That was so weird and random (it was a random stalker thing that I think started at the Landing).
I don't think any of that stuff was Jacksonville stuff, per se. Jacksonville is no worse than anywhere else, I guess - it's like any other big city that has lots of people. Lots of crazy people.
It's depressing as hell, which ever way up you look at it.
A Jacksonville man has setup a fund for the victims family:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Jacksonville-man-helps-Fionn-MacCools-murder/ErYTvMxsPEu-GcRx4jBSmg.cspx
That's good news, glad someone stepped in to make a move like that. Hope it helps the family.
Sad, tragic, a shame, yes.
You hate to see this kind of tragedy, especially in your hometown but I dont know why this is a "Jacksonville" thing though. Aside from the above emotive thoughts, the next thing that ran through my mind was that the event was so ironic as Chicago is the murder capital of the US.
Quote from: SunKing on October 10, 2012, 10:56:07 AM
Sad, tragic, a shame, yes.
You hate to see this kind of tragedy, especially in your hometown but I dont know why this is a "Jacksonville" thing though. Aside from the above emotive thoughts, the next thing that ran through my mind was that the event was so ironic as Chicago is the murder capital of the US.
I agree. Something like this could have happened anywhere and definately could not have been prevented. There are just some wack jobs luncatics out there. A crime of this nature is a "black eye" to any city. I just wish we would stop acting like Jax is the only place that crime or murder occurs. It is what it is.
First off, what a terrible thing to have happen. My heart goes out to the guy, and especially to his family.
I live downtown, and Sunday morning ran into a bunch of Bears fans while waiting at Einstein Bagels on the back of the Hyatt. (There's no place else really to grab a bite within walking distance on sundays downtown... Cough cough Ron Chamblin) Anyway, I had a few minutes to chat these folks up, and it turns out that because seats are SO hard to find at Soldier Field and so expensive if you can find them, it's actually economically feasible to grab a cheap flight into Jax, buy some reasonable seats at the Stadium, and stay at a riverfront hotel while doing it. They were having a great time and had really complimentary things to say about our city.
Anyway, I'm always looking for opportunity, and it struck me that the Jags and the City should really promote the heck out of that angle. Maybe TV ads on football games a month before those teams play here: "Come here, you can stay on the river and see your favorite team and it's all organized for you with ground transportation from the airport and stadium shuttles".. Hell, play up on the southern hospitality angle with "Tailgate Foster Families" even. Jax could become the "Away Game Capital Of The World", a dick-free, warm, friendly place for football fans from all over. I had the whole thing worked out in my mind; it was pure marketing genius. (I hadn't worked out how it could translate into an income for The Pink Man, but figured something would eventually trickle out of it..)
And then some dick goes and stabs a visiting fan. Y'know, because *anything* could be important enough to kill some dude over in a bar. Oh Jacksonville... Perennial loser sad-sack town that I love so much, always tripping over it's own feet. My great idea didn't even survive Jax for a half a day.
In a city that is 30 miles by 30 miles, almost identical in area to the bulk of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, there are always going to be those who, for whatever reason, shouldn't be allowed to wander the streets without escort or medication. Some time ago, such a guy would likely have been warehoused in an asylum. The ever busy do-gooders with every right intention decided that was cruel and with the aid of a movie (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) a high level decision was made to turn these people out on our streets. That decision in retrospect might have unintentionally been even more cruel.
So an innocent fan gets his throat slashed in Jacksonville, Idaho State players are shot in a bar, and countless other crimes are committed against visitors to distant cities. Wrong, YES! Unique to Jacksonville, NO! While we are certainly not the biggest dog in the NFL's collection of metropolitan area's, WE ARE A BIG DOG, REGARDLESS. These things happen in cities all across the globe, you do whatever you can to make it right and move on.
Your idea is a fine one, and I see no reason why a random death in Jacksonville, or Los Angeles, or Detroit, or... should make a bit of difference. This concept could take wing!
Quote from: Pinky on October 10, 2012, 07:28:48 PM
I had a few minutes to chat these folks up, and it turns out that because seats are SO hard to find at Soldier Field and so expensive if you can find them, it's actually economically feasible to grab a cheap flight into Jax, buy some reasonable seats at the Stadium, and stay at a riverfront hotel while doing it. They were having a great time and had really complimentary things to say about our city.
Funny you say that, because they made Soilder field the smallest stadium in the NFL when they renvoated it years back. Their capacity is only in the 61,000's I believe. I guess they make up for it by jacking up the ticket prices. But you would think that a team which such a rich history and dedicated fan base would have increased the size of their stadium, versus decrease. Really shows us how lucky we really are, regardless of how bad the team is playing right now.
Okay, back to the topic at hand everyone ;D