Disgusted, I turned off my TV and decided to find out if my next door neighbor was watching a College football game. Of the four local channels I get over the air on the “Big” four local networks, I could only find games like Slipstich U vs Podunk St. from somewhere west of the Mississippi.
My neighbor was busy making noise and sawdust, but he turned off his sander when he saw me walk into his garage.
“Hey, man, what's up?” he asked, lifting his sawdust-framed glasses so he could see.
“Do you watch Saturday college football?” I asked.
“Nah, man my son goes to UCF in Orlando and my daughter graduated from USF in Tampa. They don’t show those games here in southwest Florida.
“Yeah, I know,” I answered. I’m from Miami and they don’t show any of our games here either. They don’t show anything from the Canes or FIU or even FAU in Boca. They don’t even televise any of the conference games, the SEC, AAC, ACC or Conference USA.
“Well, you know,” he answered, “They cater to the snowbirds, even if they aren’t here yet. They show college football games nobody locally cares about. Maybe it’s cheaper that way.”
“In the old days at least we got to see the Gators or the ‘Noles, but they don’t even show those anymore.” I answered. “By the way, do you know anybody from Utah or New Mexico?”
“Nah, Why?
“How about El Paso or Iowa?” I asked.
He laughed and pulled his glasses down. “Why do you think I don’t watch Saturday College football?”
“Later, Man!”
The sander drowned out any lingering conversation. Maybe YouTube on the Internet might have something to watch.
George Mindling
Port Charlotte, FL
