| It's no secret that outgoing NFL | | | | media market is foolish. The revenues |
| commissioner Paul Tagliabue has wanted a | | | | are too much to resist. Even at the risk |
| team back in Los Angeles ever since the | | | | of some fan apathy. |
| Rams and Raiders defected in 1994. It | | | | The city has picked up on Tagliabue's |
| stands as the one goal he hasn't been | | | | desire for a franchise to go back there. |
| able to accomplish in an otherwise | | | | The Los Angeles City Council just |
| impressive tenure. | | | | recently voted to spend $25 million |
| Despite numerous rumors throughout the | | | | dollars on improvements at the Coliseum |
| past decade of an expansion team or even | | | | in hopes of speeding up the process of |
| an existing franchise moving to the City | | | | getting a team. |
| of Angels, nothing has become of it. All | | | | There is also a proposal on the table to |
| the while, the cash-stuffed NFL owners | | | | spend upwards of $800 million dollars |
| and management keep hoping that someday | | | | for a complete renovation of the stadium |
| the second largest media market will | | | | should the NFL owners approve a motion |
| have a pro football team to call its | | | | to put a team in L.A. by the 2009 |
| own. | | | | season. |
| Make no mistake, Tagliabue and company | | | | I for one think it would be a good idea |
| want a team in L.A. and will put one | | | | to bring a team back to Los Angeles. |
| there before the decade is out. Even if | | | | It's a city that has had a rich NFL |
| the Southern California fan base is | | | | history since the Rams moved from |
| somewhat apathetic at times to even | | | | Cleveland in 1946. It's a large TV |
| having an NFL team in the first place. | | | | market that will increase the amount of |
| For those who are old enough to remember | | | | revenue shared between clubs and will |
| when the Rams were strutting their stuff | | | | only make the game better and more |
| in the seventies. A then record seven | | | | competitive because of it. |
| consecutive division titles, five NFC | | | | The problem comes in deciding what city |
| championship game appearances and even a | | | | will lose its franchise. We already have |
| Super Bowl berth in 1979, weren't enough | | | | 32 teams so an expansion team is out of |
| to bring out the L.A. crowd. | | | | the question. It would wreak havoc with |
| Even with all that success, Carol | | | | the schedule. That means an existing |
| Rosenbloom's Rams didn't have a sellout. | | | | club will be picked. The most likely |
| Yes they played in that cavern known as | | | | candidates are the San Diego Chargers, |
| the Coliseum. But even so, fellow tenant | | | | New Orleans Saints and even the Colts |
| USC managed to out-draw the Rams during | | | | and Vikings have been included in the |
| their Super Bowl year, causing the first | | | | talks. |
| blow that would eventually see the Rams | | | | The choice that makes the most sense is |
| leave California and call St. Louis home | | | | San Diego. The franchise started in L.A. |
| in 1995. | | | | back in 1960 and with the city council |
| No matter. Money is what's driving the | | | | recently voting down a tax increase for |
| latest push to get a team in L.A. The | | | | a new stadium, Chargers owner Alex |
| NFL has grown so rapidly since 1994 that | | | | Spanos could be on the move. |
| not having a team in the second largest | | | | |