In the worst kept secret in the history of sports, Stan Kroenke and the St. Louis Rams (along with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders) officially filed for relocation to Los Angeles on Tuesday. On the surface, the Rams did so in a simple, two-sentence statement that reads:
“The St. Louis Rams informed the National Football League today that the Rams propose to relocate to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The relocation would be effective for the 2016 NFL League Year.”
Never mind that the Rams’ statement was much more straight-forward and dry than the Chargers’, which outlined the reasons for the filing and described the organization as being “sad to have reached this point.” In the actual proposal sent to the league, Kroenke showed that he intends to turn the already strained relationship with St. Louisans toxic to the point of no return – literally.
The document, which was released by the Rams organization, pulls no punches in describing Kroenke’s feelings about St. Louis and the city’s proposal to give him hundreds of millions of dollars to build a shiny new stadium on the St. Louis Riverfront.
“Any NFL Club that signs on to this proposal in St. Louis will be well on the road to financial ruin, and the League will be harmed,” the document reads.
What seems like a low blow is actually nothing if you continue reading through the document. The Rams owner channeled his inner Drake and went “Back to Back” with a relocation application turned-diss record on the STL. The document goes on to state:
“St. Louis lags, and will continue to lag, far behind in the economic drivers that are necessary for sustained success of an NFL franchise.”
Then in bold font, so that no one could possibly miss it, the proposal reads: “No NFL Club Would Be Interested In The RSA’s New St. Louis Stadium.”
Wow. Tell us how you really feel.
None of this should really come as a surprise. Kroenke began giving anybody from St Louis the silent treatment long ago. At least the Chargers organization recognizes that there’s a chance its bid to relocate will fail and the team will have to go crawling back to San Diego. Kroenke’s actions show that even if he fails, he doesn’t mind alienating the STL fan base so much that make it impossible for a Kroenke-owned Rams team to succeed in St. Louis going forward. Should Kroenke’s bid lose to the joint bid of the Chargers and Raiders, it’s likely he’ll either sell the team or begin looking for the next viable market to move to as soon as an opportunity arises.
It’s a shame too. Before the Rams became terrible (and I’m talking worst five-year stretch in the history of the league terrible) the Edward Jones Dome was known as one of the loudest stadiums in football. The St. Louis Cardinals have shown that this mid-market team can put up big-market numbers when the organization is run properly and embraces the region instead of scoffing at it with a disgusted air of disdain.
It’ll be interesting to see how the relocation process plays out for the league. A resolution could come in within the next week or so at the Jan. 12-13 NFL owners meetings. One thing is clear though, the already strained relationship with the Rams’ head honcho and his punching bags fans will never be the same.
The President returns from prison
One of the most exciting heavyweights from the 1990s, “The President” Ike Ibeabuchi has been released from prison and immigration, and plans to resume his boxing career. Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KO) served more than 14 years for battery and attempted sexual assault charges. Now at the age of 43, he plans to resume his boxing career.
Ibeabuchi participated in one of the most exciting heavyweight bouts of its time in defeating then-undefeated David Tua via a hard-fought decision. He followed up the impressive win by turning eventual heavyweight titlist Chris Byrd into a dizzy, slobbering knockout victim in March of 1999. That would be his final bout after an array of legal troubles.
Ibeabuchi has hired Manny Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz. Rumor has it, he could appear on the undercard of Pacquiao’s final bout with (sigh) Tim Bradley, as long as the Nevada State Commission reinstates his boxing license (which is no certainty, considering his crimes were committed in the state).
It would be easy to write of Ibeabuchi after nearly 17 years of inactivity and prison, however the heavyweight division is currently in a state of limbo. Wladimir Klitschko was recently dethroned as champ and neither his conqueror, Tyson Fury, nor any of the current top crop of heavyweights are particularly scary. Both George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins had boxing success after 40. Maybe The President can turn back the clock and excite boxing fans once again. Time is ticking.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
