THE RAMS: 10 Years in Anaheim : A Decade of Rams Memories : Pro football: It’s been 10 years since the NFL arrived in Anaheim. There’s been no shortage of entertaining moments.
It has been 10 years since the Rams made their historic land grab and moved south from Los Angeles to Anaheim, roaringdown the Santa Ana Freeway with a football team and the name of its former home. Can you believe it? Ten years and 10 starting quarterbacks. Ten years of chasing Joe Montana around Anaheim Stadium. Ten years of never catching him. Ten years with the same owner, though she began the decade as Georgia Rosenbloom and ended it Georgia Frontiere.
The Rams have won only one division title in Anaheim, in 1985, but never have lacked hype or hope. For the record, they have averaged 8.6 victories per season in Orange County, and one head coach every five years. They began the decade with Ray Malavasi, who was fired in 1983 after two consecutive losing seasons. Malavasi would be remembered for, among other things, leading the Rams to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1980, and falling into a sound, snoring sleep one morning during a radio interview.
The Rams finished the 1980s with John Robinson, who has yet to reach the Super Bowl or doze off during an interview.
Mistakes? They’ve made a few. In Anaheim, the Rams would sign a 34-year-old rookie quarterback from the Canadian Football League who was called Ralph Dieter Brock. Later, he would be called unspeakable things, then released unceremoniously in 1986. There was another Canadian misfit named Mike Schad, who flopped as a first-round pick the same year. At least Donald Evans, their failed top choice of 1987, was an American mistake, the youngest of 16 children from the projects of Raleigh, N.C., an engaging story except for the fact that he couldn’t play football.
Bizarre moments? How about the goal posts collapsing during a game against the Atlanta Falcons one season. Or the Monday night game in 1987 when Dallas Coach Tom Landry walked the sidelines in a bullet-proof vest after receiving a death threat.
This story is about 10 years of nuts and bolts, highs and lows, the best and the brightest.
The Rams have had their share of moments but, respectfully, any story about the Rams in Anaheim Stadium must begin with San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana, who would rule the Orange County turf as no other player has. Montana, who has led his team to four Super Bowl championships and seven NFC West titles at the Rams’ expense, is 8-0 as a starter in Anaheim. He averaged 23 completions in 33 attempts for 321 1/2 yards, two touchdowns and 0.625 interceptions. Bad news: He’s back for Round 2 in the ‘90s.
When Montana retires, the 49ers could hold tributes in both stadiums.
The first Ram game at Anaheim Stadium? It was an exhibition against New England on Aug. 11, 1980. Some predicted the Rams would sell out every home game through the life of their 35-year lease, which expires in 2015. Fat chance. The opener drew 62,356 fans, (capacity 69,000), who witnessed a 35-31 defeat. The Rams played without stars Jack and Jim Youngblood, Dennis Harrah and Larry Brooks, who were kicking off their infamous “Gone Fishin’ ” holdout to protest rookie Johnnie Johnson’s contract, which was to pay him the ungodly sum of $1.1 million over six years ($183,000 per season).
The Rams also lost the regular-season opener in Anaheim, Sept. 7, 1980, when Detroit tailback Billy Sims, making his NFL debut, rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-10 victory. The Rams would win a few games eventually.
So now, the envelopes please . . .
THREE FRONT OFFICE MOVES THAT SHOOK THE FRANCHISE
1. Valentine’s Day, 1983: The Rams hire John Robinson as head coach. No move changed the course of the franchise more dramatically. The team was in shambles, coming off seasons of 6-10 in 1981 and 2-7 in strike-shortened 1982. Malavasi had become a public relations nightmare, his dark-eyed scowl a permanent stamp on the Rams’ personality. Georgia Frontiere had absorbed one media drubbing after another since taking control from her husband, Carroll Rosenbloom, who died April 2, 1979. “She changes her mind more often then she changes dresses,” one front-office man remarked at the time.
Well, Frontiere pushed the right button with Robinson, the successful USC coach, who would spit-and-shine the Rams’ image in no time. Robinson was a polished orator and motivator, not to mention a fine coach. Frontiere handed over the reins to Robinson and, wisely, disappeared from the public scene. She hired two newspapermen to help insulate her from the press. Frontiere still does not grant interviews, and her image has improved, if only for lack of her whereabouts. In the front office, John Shaw, the vice president of finance, took full control of her business affairs and wasn’t afraid to play “bad cop” when it came to tough decisions with player contracts. Shaw doesn’t speak with the press, either, leaving Robinson to disseminate Ram policy.
The result has been six playoff appearances in seven years, two trips to the NFC title game, and a sharp decline in public embarrassments.
2. Sept. 18, 1986: The Rams send All-Pro guard Kent Hill, defensive end William Fuller and three draft choices (two firsts and a fifth) to the Houston Oilers for the rights to quarterback Jim Everett. The Rams had long been accused of trigger shyness when it came to making a big trade, but they squeezed off a few rounds with this deal. Everett, the third-player selected in the 1986 college draft, has in four years become the most prolific passer in franchise history. Everett gave the Rams a backbone after decades of comedy and chaos at the quarterback position. Not just a great passer, Everett has become the consummate role model in the community.
3. Halloween, 1987: Rams trade disgruntled All-Pro tailback Eric Dickerson for three first-round choices, three seconds, and running backs Greg Bell and Owen Gill in a three-way deal with Indianapolis and Buffalo.
With his calculated tongue-lashings of management, Dickerson forced this trade upon himself, but it took Shaw to pull off the three-team deal of the decade. Three years later, The Trade has proven an unqualified success for the Rams, who have re-stocked their roster with young talent and have seemingly become Super Bowl contenders for years to come. Bell, for instance, a throw-in to the deal, gave the Rams two 1,000-yard seasons before his recent trade to the Raiders for a fourth-round draft choice. So the Rams aren’t through cashing in on Dickerson.
NINE MAGIC MOMENTS
1. Dickerson breaks O.J. Simpson’s single-season rushing record: Before Dickerson poisoned the well, there were memorable days like this. On Dec. 9, 1984, he gained 215 yards against the Houston Oilers to break Simpson’s record of 2,003. Purists note that Simpson did it on a 14-game schedule, while Dickerson needed 15 games. Still, the record fell at 3:53 p.m. on Dickerson’s signature play, 47 Gap. (Pop quiz: Can you name the quarterback who handed him the ball on his famous run? Answer: Jeff Kemp.) Dickerson finished the season with 2,105 yards.
2. Everett’s first game: He stepped on the field Nov. 16, 1986, with 14:35 left in the second quarter and his team trailing New England, 13-0. His second professional pass went for 34 yards and a touchdown to receiver Henry Ellard. He finished having completed 12 of 19 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns. He rallied his team to a 28-23 lead in the final minute. So much for storybook beginnings. New England won the game as time expired on a 25-yard pass from Tony Eason to Irving Fryar.
3. Flipper Anderson and all that jazz: In training camp before the 1989 season, Willie Anderson was a second-string receiver who needed to grow up. On Nov. 26, 1989, Anderson grew up, setting the NFL single-game receiving record with 336 yards in 15 catches against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. In a tale that evokes memories of Wally Pipp, Anderson had cracked the starting lineup only after a hamstring injury to teammate and friend Aaron Cox.
4. Mike Lansford beats Saints: His dramatic, game-winning, 42-yard field goal against New Orleans in 1983 set the tone for Lansford’s career and the Robinson era. Lansford’s swift boot put the Rams in the playoffs and knocked the Saints out. Lansford, who was cut more times in his career than Jerry Quarry, has gone on to become the Rams’ all-time leading scorer.
5. Jack be nimble: Going out in a blaze of glory, defensive end Jack Youngblood coaxed one last great game out of his 34-year-old body on Nov. 4, 1984, against the St. Louis Cardinals in Busch Stadium. Youngblood recorded three sacks, forced a fumble that led to a game-tying field goal and then blocked kicker Neil O’Donoghue’s 48-yard field goal attempt as time expired to preserve a 16-13 victory. Youngblood retired the following August, his legacy preserved.
6. Charles White wins rushing title: With his career and life in peril after an August, 1987, drug arrest, White made one of the great comebacks in football history, filling the void left by the Dickerson trade and finishing the season with 1,374 yards to lead the league.
7. The 500 Club: At times, Vince Ferragamo made up his own plays in the huddle, scratched pass-patterns in the dirt with his finger, and confounded his coaching staff and teammates with his occasional vacuousness. But no one could deny his place in team history in December, 1982, when he passed for 509 yards against the Chicago Bears. Of course, the Rams lost the game, 34-26, but no one told Vinnie.
8. See Dick run: In one of the greatest playoff performances, Dickerson almost single-leggedly led the Rams to a 20-0, first-round victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 4, 1986. He gained a playoff-record 248 yards and scored both Ram touchdowns, on runs of 55 and 40 yards. No one said he couldn’t play.
9. The Homecoming: On Sept. 17, 1989, Dickerson returned to Anaheim Stadium for the first time since his trade. Shockingly, the game wasn’t even a sellout, but most of the 63,995 in attendance let Dickerson know how they felt about his return. The game was a lopsided Ram victory, 31-17, which gave the fans plenty to jeer about. When the game ended, however, several Rams hugged Dickerson in a touching tribute to a former teammate.
EIGHT BAD MEMORIES
1. And the handoff goes to . . . Crutchfield?: Robinson may never be forgiven for this call in a Dec. 23, 1984, wild-card loss to the New York Giants. Trailing, 16-10, in the fourth quarter, the Rams had second-and-goal on the Giants’ four-yard line in the fourth quarter. Dickerson, who had set the NFL single-season rushing record that season, had carried six times on the drive for 49 yards. So who gets the ball in crunch time? Fullback Dwayne Crutchfield, who was thrown for a three-yard loss. The Rams settled for a field goal and lost the game by three points. Dickerson? He was a decoy on the play.
2. Eric is hamstrung: On the Monday night before his fabled trade, Dickerson sat out the second half of a game with the Cleveland Browns with a “hamstring pull.” Dickerson had looked fine on a long first-half scoring run, but played no more. The Rams lost the game, 30-17. Commented Dickerson afterward: “I don’t care what my teammates think. Are they going to send a check to pay my mortgage?” Dickerson was traded the following Saturday and played the next day. “We have the greatest trainers in the world,” Everett said at the time.
3. Chip off the old Brock: On the Dieter (Brock) Meter of really bad performances, his showing in the 1985 title game against the Chicago Bears ranks among the worst. Brock completed 10 of 31 passes in the chilling 24-0 loss in Chicago, leading to a public skewering and a quick run out of town.
4. Read the fine print: In 1981, the Rams tried to cut defensive end Fred Dryer. Dryer had a no-cut contract.
5. Charles White: The 1979 Heisman Trophy winner was found in August, 1987, incoherent and wandering around a vacant lot in Brea, wielding a trash-can lid. White’s problem with cocaine had reached its nadir. He was charged with a misdemeanor of being under the influence of a controlled substance. In September, 1988, he was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He retired following the 1988 season.
6. Nice dolls, bad game: It wasn’t enough that the Washington Redskins had humiliated the Rams, 51-7, in a divisional playoff game in 1983. Afterward, Frontiere presented each player with their Christmas gifts: Cabbage-Patch Dolls. Ever see a 280-pound lineman carrying a doll?
7. For immediate release: In July, 1981, Malavasi, who was to press relations what fluorocarbons are to ozone, held a media orientation seminar in Anaheim for sportswriters, a group for which Malavasi held the lowest regard. Writers used some of Malavasi’s insights to chronicle the Rams’ 6-10 season in 1981.
8. Unlucky 13: As the strike of 1987 was drawing to a close, Robinson submitted a list of 13 names to the league office, claiming the players had reported back to work before a 10 a.m. Wednesday deadline that would allow them to play the following Sunday. Robinson then gave the players the day off.
In truth, the players had voted the same day to stay out as a team for one more week. Robinson had, in effect, crossed the picket line for them, angering those on the list. “Some players feel like the coach stabbed them in the back,” said Dickerson, one of the 13. The league allowed only two of the 13 to play.
FIVE GREAT GAMES
1. Rams defeat 49ers, 27-20; Dec. 9, 1985: This one led to the Rams’ only division title of the decade. Trailing, 20-13, in the fourth quarter, Brock heaved a pass that would have been intercepted by Dwight Hicks had he not collided with teammate Ronnie Lott. The ball instead popped into the waiting arms of Ellard, who completed the 39-yard scoring play. Minutes later, cornerback Gary Green intercepted a Montana pass and returned it 41 yards for the winning touchdown. Afterward, Robinson sang the praises of his much-maligned quarterback. “That’s Brock,” Robinson said. “B-R-O-C-K.” Less than a year later, though, Brock was O-U-T. After their dramatic victory at Candlestick Park, the Rams clinched the division the following week by beating St. Louis.
2. Dolphins defeat Rams, 37-31 (overtime); Dec. 14, 1986: If not for the flip of a coin, the Rams might have won their second consecutive division title. Instead, the Dolphins won a memorable game and the Rams lost the division the next week in San Francisco. Miami’s Dan Marino was unstoppable, throwing for 403 yards and five touchdowns. The Rams had rallied from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to send the game into overtime and most assumed the team that got first possession would win. Miami center Dwight Stephenson called heads and won the toss. Three minutes later, Marino threw the game-winner to Mark Duper.
3. 49ers defeat Rams, 30-27; Dec. 11, 1989: In a Monday night game for the ages, Montana rallied his team from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to victory, thanks in large part to two acts of charity by the Rams. The first came inside the 49ers’ 10-yard line, where a center exchange between Everett and Doug Smith was fumbled away to San Francisco. The Rams had a 10-point lead at the time, but it didn’t last long.
On first down, Montana threw a 95-yard scoring pass to John Taylor, who already had caught a 92-yard scoring pass in the game. Ron Brown fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up Roger Craig’s winning one-yard run. Montana completed 30 of 42 passes for 458 yards and two touchdowns.
Afterward, Robinson predicted a rematch in the NFC title game, and got it, to the tune of a 30-3 defeat.
4. Rams defeat New York Giants, 19-13 (overtime); Jan. 7, 1990: Anderson had two catches on the day. Both went for touchdowns, including the dramatic game-winner in overtime that lifted the Rams into the NFC title game. Robinson made the call of his life in overtime, after a disputed pass-interference penalty had moved the ball to the Giants’ 25. The Rams were going to run it into field goal range for Lansford until tackle Jackie Slater was called for illegal procedure on first down. From the 30, Robinson went for the kill. Anderson beat corner Mark Collins to the end zone and Everett floated in the winning pass. Anderson never stopped running after the catch, disappearing into the tunnel and into Ram history.
5. Rams defeat Green Bay, 41-38; Sept. 24, 1989: The Rams had a 38-7 halftime lead and almost blew it. It would have been the greatest comeback in NFL history had the Packers pulled this one out, and they had their chance. In fact, with 11:37 left, Brent Fullwood fumbled on the Rams’ goal line with what would have been the tying touchdown. Bell rushed for 221 yards in 28 carries, none bigger than his 45-yard sprint in the final minute to run out the clock on Green Bay.
TEN STARTERS IN 10 YEARS
Everett may have stabilized the Rams’ quarterback situation in 1986, but the franchise still fielded 10 starting QBs since moving to Anaheim. Here they are, from best to worst: 1. Jim Everett, 2. Vince Ferragamo, 3. Pat Haden, 4. Dieter Brock (Hey, he won a division title), 5. Steve Bartkowski, 6. Steve Dils, 7. Jeff Kemp, 8. Bert Jones, 9. Jeff Rutledge and 10. Dan Pastorini. Note: Rutledge actually started his game in 1979, but played with the Rams in Anaheim through 1981.
Five best draft choices in Anaheim: Linebacker Kevin Greene (fifth round, 1985); fullback Robert Delpino (fifth round, 1988); safety Vince Newsome, (fourth round, 1985); guard Duval Love (10th round, 1985); safety Michael Stewart (eighth round, 1987).
Five worst draft choices: Linebacker Donald Evans (second round, 1987); wide receiver Chuck Scott (second round, 1985); lineman Mike Schad (first round, 1986); running back Gaston Green (first round, 1988); running back Barry Redden (first round, 1982).
Losses: Cornerback Kirk Collins, 25, who died of cancer in 1984. Coach Ray Malavasi, 57, who died of a heart attack on Dec. 15, 1987.
Most prophetic headline of the decade: From an Oct. 21, 1981 Times story: “Now It’s the 49ers on Top and the Rams Trying to Catch Up.”
Quote of the Decade: This one wasn’t even close. It goes, hands down, to Dickerson, who could have bought his ticket out of town the moment the words left his lips on Oct. 19, 1987: “John (Robinson) makes more than all of us. All of the players. Me too. He makes more than me. Let him run 47 Gap.”
Rams’ Year-By-Year Records in Anaheim
Year: Record
1989: 11-5
1988: 10-6
1987: 6-9
1986: 10-6
1985: 11-5
1984: 10-6
1983: 9-7
1982: 2-7
1981: 6-10
1980: 11-5
10-year record: 86-66
JOE MONTANA AT ANAHEIM STADIUM
Year Completions Yards TDs Int Score 1981 19 of 30 283 0 1 20-17 1982 26 of 37 305 2 0 30-24 1983 25 of 39 358 3 0 45-35 1984 21 of 31 365 3 0 33-0 1985 22 of 30 306 3 0 28-14 1986 Did not play 1987 21 of 30 294 3 1 31-10 1988 21 of 31 203 0 1 24-21 1989 30 of 42 458 2 2 30-27
