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The Rams are about to make me
following football much easier. I may not have to root for them
anymore. Stan Kroenke has put the proverbial gun to the head
of St. Louis, much like
former Rams President John Shaw did when he first moved the team
to St. Louis 17 years
ago. Now Kroenke has the town over a barrel, and there is little we
can do about it.
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Kroenke can
decide to move his team to another city if St. Louis can not
upgrade the stadium. If they can not meet his requirements then
contractually speaking he can pack up the Rams and deliver them to
Los Angeles, London or to the moon. Kroenke’s latest move to show
everyone he has options is to take away one of the Rams home games
and move it to London for the next three years. Next season’s home
game would have been the New England Patriots. It is no coincidence
that it is a three-year commitment, as that is when the Ram’s lease
runs out with Kroenke.
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I think I will
beat the rush. I will start to look for another team to support.
After all, my efforts here have fallen on deaf ears.
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Yes, I bought
the PSL’s like instructed, even though I had a media credential. I
put my money where my mouth was. I supported a team that has only
had four (count them, four) winning seasons since they have been
here.
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Why would
anyone continue to support a team that has basically told St. Louis
they have nothing coming? Even if St. Louis had money to improve
the Dome, would you consider it money well spent?
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Former
Comptroller Virvus Jones when in office was the only elected
official who saw this mess coming 20 years ago. He just asked how
this was going to be profitable. He was made into a villain, but he
was the only one who spoke up. So now we have this hostage-taking
situation. Yes, St. Louis is being held hostage only this terrorist
is of the business nature.
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State and city
governments are no longer in the stadium-funding business. There is
no money for such shenanigans when it comes to investing into
lavish stadium improvements. What fool in his right mind who is an
elected official would come out in support of some sort of veiled
tax hike to support a billionaire’s efforts to improve his
money-making machine? So don’t count on that as a
savior.
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Private money?
Who’s kidding whom here? If there is going to be private money
invested here, why not start with Stan Kroenke’s money? That will
not happen either. So we are back to square one.
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I like the
hiring of Jeff Fischer. He will do a good job at hopefully getting
the Rams on track for what perhaps may be their next home. By then
it may be too late. As this team starts to improve, I wonder how
many of you will continue to buy tickets and support a team that
has one foot out of the door? How many of you will still have your
pity parties at some bar with the Sam Bradford jersey on that is
too small? Then there are the ones that will say, “They are still
my team,” even though they did not want you.
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As St. Louis is
in line to be kicked to the curb again by another owner who feels
the stadium is substandard, I have already started to look at teams
that may get my interest. Teams with history and tradition of how
things should be done on and off the field.
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Hmm, San
Francisco? Too far, but you never know. Dallas? They will come back
some day. New England? Cannot forget how they beat my old team the
Rams in the Super Bowl.
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See what I
mean? I have a real dilemma here but at least a have a few years to
decide, I think. If St. Louisans call time out and tell the Rams
and Kroenke where to go by not buying tickets, it would then be
easy for Kroenke to turn to the NFL and say, “See what I have here?
I cannot compete here because the fan support is waning.” I guess
the fact that the team does not win a lot might be one reason why.
You think?
