OK, so I’m over it. After 21 seasons, the St. Louis Rams are packing up and headed back to sunny Los Angeles. I get it, whether it’s fair or not. And anyone who didn’t see this coming is either delusional or intellectually challenged. All of the signs were there if one paid attention.
Plus, after 14 seasons of sitting in the press box at Rams games, I’m sure that I can find more productive things to do with my Sundays, like going to church or spend time with my family, for instance.
Most of the whining (primarily from the spoiled credentialed local sports media elite) stems from the reality that, after two decades of kissing the backsides of Rams management, owner Stan Kroenke made a gangster business move and didn’t think enough of them to share the details.
It also stems from the reality that no longer will they indulge in free lunches at Rams Park, out of town travel to Rams road games and free prime rib, brisket, beverages, brats, nachos, etc. as they enjoy Rams games from the cozy confines of the press box. Oh, and a few of them will lose an extra paycheck as the “Voice of the Rams,” game announcers or as pre- and post-game analysts. In short, they’ll have to justify their existence on Sundays now. Tough break, guys.
However, I’m more concerned about the impact on a few good folks in East Boogie. For instance, you probably didn’t realize that, for over a decade, the Rams’ uniforms were cleaned and repaired by New York Cleaners, an East St. Louis business owned by the McIntosh family for over 50 years.
You also may not be aware that another ESL native, Chantelle Overton, was employed by the Rams as a sideline photographer (one of a very few black female photographers in the entire NFL) and was responsible for many of the awesome action photos of the Rams that you may have viewed online or in Rams publications.
Those are the folks that I immediately thought of when the Rams announced their move, as well as numerous ESL folks working the concessions at the Edward Jones Dome; not a bunch of sniveling, butt-kissing media cry babies who are upset because the Rams’ gravy train just ended for them.
No, I’m concerned for New York Cleaners because every time I saw a Rams player run onto the field in their immaculately maintained uniforms, I thought about East Boogie and how excellently the McIntosh family must do their work, that of all the dry cleaners in the bi-state area, THEY were chosen. That’s a contract that they will no longer have.
And it’s perturbing to me that I won’t see my home girl, Chantelle Overton, hustling up and down the Rams sideline, clicking the shutter of her camera and capturing throws, catches, tackles and big plays on Sunday afternoons.
These folks quietly represented East Boogie well and I’m proud of them, but sad that they will lose because of the Rams relocation.
Our politicians in ESL could stand to learn from their example of excellence. So I salute them and wish them nothing but the best because they are the best at what they do.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.
