L.A. Closer to Bringing Back an NFL Team

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