June 08, 2005
Pasadena to NFL: Get lost
New York wasn't the only city turning thumbs-down on an NFL stadium this week. Yesterday, the Pasadena city council voted 5-1 to seek "non-NFL alternatives" for redevelopment of the Rose Bowl, taking themselves out of the running to be home to a new or relocated NFL franchise. (The NFL is still considering proposals to rebuild the L.A. Coliseum or build a new stadium in Anaheim, though those plans face their own opposition.) Declared Pasadena preservationist Sue Mossman, one of those who'd fought the NFL proposal: "We haven't driven a wooden stake through the heart of this, but the message is clear."
What, no tongue-wagging about how LA is a third-rate, minor-league town because they won't open up their wallets to the NFL? They should hang their heads in shame, how will they ever compare to major league cities like Jacksonville, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, San Diego (that colossus to the south), or the anonymous burg in "Carolina"?
10 years of NFL-free mediocrity, let's just write the place off. Or does it count that USC would probably finish no worse than third if transplanted into any of the NFC divisions?
Posted by JB on June 8, 2005 02:23 PM
What, no tongue-wagging about how LA is a third-rate, minor-league town because they won't open up their wallets to the NFL? They should hang their heads in shame, how will they ever compare to major league cities like Jacksonville, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, San Diego (that colossus to the south), or the anonymous burg in "Carolina"?
10 years of NFL-free mediocrity, let's just write the place off. Or does it count that USC would probably finish no worse than third if transplanted into any of the NFC divisions?
Posted by JB on June 8, 2005 02:23 PM
Sorry for the double post. It's like a team owner hustling for a new stadium, if it doesn't appear to work the first time....try again!
Posted by JB on June 8, 2005 02:28 PM
I love how the NFL will never concede that there is one less card to play against another. NFL spokesman Glatt still claims that Pasadena is in the game. There is one LA option and it's the Coliseum.
Where is the opposition coming from in terms of the Coliseum?
Posted by RudyET on June 8, 2005 06:46 PM
Yeah, and you've gotta love the argument their lackeys make: the Rose Bowl faces a phony $2 million shortfall, and the way to fix it is to spend another $500 million. How can they refuse?
Posted by JB on June 8, 2005 08:13 PM
Let's actually test the notion that a pro sports franchise defines its host city as major league.
For the following pro sports franchises, name the actual municipality hosting the team... anyone scoring more than 80% goes to the head of the list for an Arena Football League relocation and automatically qualifies for the National Geographic Society's quiz bowl:
NFL: New England, Carolina, Tennessee, NY Giants, Arizona.
NBA: New Jersey, Golden State
NHL: NY Islanders, New Jersey, Carolina (again!), Florida, Minnesota
MLB: Texas, Arizona
Posted by JB on June 8, 2005 08:32 PM
Here in Jacksonville we're not a "Major League" city, we're a "Super City." Our Mayor and the Jags owner both tell us so everyday. Of course, last week they also told us that the Super Bowl Host Committee was a couple million short on paying its bills and the city was going to have to chip in to cover it.
Posted by Mase on June 8, 2005 09:54 PM