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Los Angeles is a funny city. This is definitely SO CAL country. The LA Rams first came here from Cleveland, Ohio back in 1946. They had a wonderful play by play announcer named Frank Bull. The radio programs were brought to you by Robert Hall Clothiers. “Robert Hall this season…will show you the reason….low overhead…low overhead.” “The man that suits America best!” When the Rams came to Los Angeles, Bob Waterfield was the Quarterback, with Norm Van Brocklin as the back-up. Waterfield was also the kicker and punter. Bob Waterfield was the first of the good looks Quarterbacks in the NFL. Bob Waterfield was married to actress Jane Russell, who had made a name for herself in a movie called “The Outlaw”….which showed a whole bunch of Jane Russell from the waste up. Howard Hughes was the Director and Producer.
Bob Waterfield went to Van Nuys High School, dated high school sweetheart Jane Russell there and was an All-American at UCLA and could throw the then oversized NFL football with precision. Waterfield went into the US Army in 1943, came back to lead the Cleveland Rams to a National Championship in 1945, then to LA for three division wins in a row 1949, 1950, 1951, which included one National Championship in 1951 Other stars that came to the Los Angeles Rams included; Vitamin T. Smith, “Deacon” Dan Towler, Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch and Tom Fears. Dan Reeves was the then owner of the Rams along with money from Bob Hope and other Hollywood notables. The even did a movie entitled “Crazylegs”, all about the Rams. This publicity campaign resulted in the LA Rams being the first televised National Football League game in 1950. This was the launch of big-time National Football League public relations campaign. Coach Paul Brown meanwhile started the expansion team Cleveland Browns by having the Rams movie to the Glitterdome!
The Rams glitter wouldn’t last however. Bad coaching, terrible trade of Ollie Matson for nine 1951 Championship players…and also competition: The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to LA in 1958, the LA Chargers came about in the early 60’s, but couldn’t compete and moved to San Diego. The Rams were pulling 70-80 thousand per game with a losing record, while the Chargers were pulling around 25 thousand. Then came the halcyon years of Pappa George Allen and the “Fearsome Foursome” challenging all comers including the Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain”. Rosey Grier, Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Deacon Jones created a whole new persona called “NFL Lightout Defense”. The call followed the same gameplan that had made John McKay the legend at USC – “Better let our Offense score or we will put in our Defense and kill you!” With Pete Rozell, the former General Manager of the Rams standing in as Commissioner of the NFL…things were good for the Rams – until they moved to Anaheim and Gene Autryland. In 1972, Robert Irsay bought the Rams for $19 million dollars and traded the franchise to Carroll Rosenbloom for the Baltimore Colts. During the 70’s the Rams could never beat the Dallas Cowboys or the Minnesota Vikings…..especially in the 1978 “Mud Bowl” at the LA Coliseum, when Pat Haden, the quarterback couldn’t score, trying seven times from the two yard line of the Vikings.
Fast forward to yesterday. After 13 years of being in St. Louis – the Rams are coming back to Los Angeles. The memories of Roman Gabriel and Jack Snow. Jack Youngblood too! The legends of the LA Rams now has to make another new beginning. The Rams are coming to Englewood, California with a newly designed “Superdome”! The new facility can even offer enough room for various other events and another NFL Team. Intially, the San Diego Chargers have a year to determine their own fate. “Come or Go!” from San Diego! The Owner of the Chargers Alex Spanos is hedging his bets…at this point. We are sorry to see that “The Raiders” were not offered a shot in Englewood. They evidently put their fortunes in front of the Carson facility and money. Too bad!
Jeff Fisher was a cornerback for the USC Trojans. A good one at that. Fisher is now the Coach of the newly designated LA Rams for 2016-2017! Will Fisher “cease the day” and start to make the LA Rams “the Glitterdome Team” their roots suggest? Presently, in St.Louis “The Rams” exhibited great defense and modest offense. Case Keenum is the “no name quarterback”, that seems to be doing a pretty good job, but what will the venue hold? Can Fisher keep his Defense doing a great “Seahawks Defense Imitation”? Can Fisher crank his Offense and make them another “Patriots Offense Imitation”? The future will tell whether the facilities manager can handle LA Parking and Concession Organization. Will the new jersey sales meet those of other franchises in the NFL? Will all the Corporate Boxes be sold overnight, creating a two year waiting list? We shall see whether Los Angeles attracts an LA Lambs or LA Rams vibe!
Meanwhile, Kobe is going, going, soon to be gone! Meanwhile, the Clippers are fast becoming the Chippers. Meanwhile, the Ducks and the Kings are just sliding around at the moment. The moment seems right for the new LA Rams to capture the imagination of the super fans and gamblers that occupy SO CAL. Wishing them every good luck in this year of the clever Red Fire Monkey 2016! Maybe we will need to add some Red Socks and Gloves to our Blue and Gold Uniforms? Maybe a little Cardinal Red, making sure the yellow is actually Gold and some UCLA Blue. Then then they can support both the Trojans and Bruins. Although, we don’t approve of either College Coach of either college team. “The Three Brothers at Howard Jones/Brian Kennedy” vs. “Son of Jim E. Senior – the so-called Jim L.”
Good Luck you Lambs/Rams!
Damn glad I don’t live anywhere near Inglewood. Imagine the pileups on the I-5 on game days? The commuters might as well rent a hotel room. And if 2 teams relocate there it’s twice the fun. Imagine Monday Night Football with all the commuters who work in LA trying to get home. Arrgh. The entire LA concept surrounded the notion of collecting revenue on 2 teams in one stadium. If the Chargers and the Raiders opt out – I wonder if that would impact the Ram’s relocation? But I believe the 2 teams – one stadium concept is a brand new gimmick. It’ll be interesting to see whether it works out. They’re sailing in uncharted waters. I’m old enough to remember when the Rams and the Raiders left LA. Nobody I knew shed a single tear. Both teams sucked in the win-loss column. As a matter of fact, there was a sense of relief when the Raiders left due to the gang warfare it brought to the Coliseum. I went to see the Raider/Seahawks play at the Coliseum back in the day. There was more entertainment in the stands than on the field. And not the sort of entertainment I pay to see. So that was my last Raider game. Shortly thereafter I vowed never to attend another NFL game after the impoverished players went on strike. And I’ve honored that pledge to this day.
I believe that the NY Jets and NY Giants share a stadium in New Jersey, right? So it’s not really new. Of course, the question is: is Inglewood Los Angeles’s New Jersey? (Answer: pretty much.)
And the Raiders did bring LA it’s sole Super Bowl championship.
You know who did shed a tear when they both left? Their players. And many children here for two decades who have wondered why Los Angeles was not a “four major sports” city. (But I still wouldn’t favor this if it involved spending public money.)
Yep, you’re right. The Jets and the Giants share a stadium. It would seem on its face to be a good business decision, provided that the Chargers or Raiders follow suit. But the schedule would have to be carefully coordinated. I’m really neutral on the idea since I don’t attend NFL games or live in the general vicinity of Ingelwood that will be impacted. Like most things – it’s a tradeoff. If I did live in the area of Inglewood I would be against it. I’m anti-congestion and traffic jams. The added revenue and business would not offset the congestion and traffic for me. If the players do what they’re paid to do – namely to win games – they wouldn’t have to worry about getting moved out of town. Their fans would keep them in town with their attendance. As I recall the Rams couldn’t give away their tickets for their last few seasons in Anaheim. This might sound crass – but I really don’t care about the football player’s personal lives, particularly taking into consideration how much they get paid to play a silly game. I feel much more compassion for some blue-collared worker with 3 school aged kids who is employed at Boeing in Long Beach and is notified he must relocate to South Carolina due to a plant closing, or else lose his employment at Boeing. Now that’s a bummer.
*You guys are all right. This definitely means that we are going to have three toll road lanes coming soon of the 405. It will look like Las Vegas and a Tribal Pow Wow Gathering North of Las Vegas on a Saturday Night, We are pulling for the Raiderettes….they are hot. But the Raider Nation we can do without. Derek Carr is a good QB and there is little doubt that Rivers is about done and ready to have a fork stuck in him. As far as happy to see both teams, in fact all teams go…they had lost the focus and the sense of history that the Rams brought to the table in 1946. It is the main reason why Tommy Lasorda kept the flame burning for the Dodgers over the years. A sense of history and excellence..
*We just ordered our St. Louis Rams hoodie….nothing like getting “a collector issue” which works well whether they win or lose.
*Will miss Dick Enberg doing the play by play for the Englewood Rams…
*Yoah, did you hear…they already have 50,000 reservations for season tickets in 2016. Can you imagine the behind the scenes conversations about the Corporate Boxes and the amenities they will provide?
I still don’t know why an NFL team won’t play in the Coliseum. Jesus, it holds, what, nearly 100,000? And they tore down historic Hollywood Park for that monstrosity of a stadium?
*Lack of Luxury Boxes, which can net huge annual revenue – which is Number One. Number Two, USC owns the rights to the Colesium for another 30 years and is slow to upgrade. According to Haden…..they are supposed to spend about $20 million in the next two years. Basically, a drop in the bucket. The Colesium seats 93,000 – but not comfortably. Don’t forget it was designed in the 1920’s, built for the 1932 Olympics strictly for Track and Field events. Watching an NFL Game from the first 20 rows….is basically a rip. You can’t see much really. Much better to watch at home on the big screen – unless of course you are an avid “Rambo Tailgater” Type!