Rams’ Move to St. Louis
Re “Despite Regrets, Owner Says Rams Leaving,” Jan. 15:
I am 34 years old and have lived in the Los Angeles area all my life. Part of my life here was the Rams. My dad took me to my first Ram game as a child and I have supported them ever since. I have been a season ticket holder for years. I am a Melonhead.
Many people have asked us what the melons mean, or why we do it. We started doing it because Anaheim Stadium was as silent as a tennis match. We were reported to security for standing up and making noise during the kickoff! Every other city had fans making so much noise that penalties were given out. So we started wearing the melons to loosen people up. We have been unpaid cheerleaders ever since. The Rams have also used us in their advertising for years (with not so much as a thank you!).
For the last five seasons we have seen every way that a team can lose. No matter how badly they played, no matter how badly they were coached, no matter how we felt about Georgia Frontiere, we were there. We never put bags over our heads, we just took the abuse from opposing fans.
So, St. Louis gets our team, Georgia and John Shaw get rich fast, Anaheim gets paid off, and the Raiders get the whole town to themselves. Everybody wins!
Except us . . . So much for loyalty.
DAVE NELSON
Pacific Palisades
* My father began taking me to Ram games when the great names in Ram history were still playing. For many years I suffered and rejoiced, as any good fan would, with the mixed fortunes of the team. As I got older and hopefully wiser, I saw how the sportsmen-businessmen of the game were replaced as owners by publicity-seeking businessmen. This was not totally disconcerting, it was only a manifestation of changing times and the amount of money involved.
Frontiere acquired the Ram team through the death of her husband, Carroll Rosenbloom. Her handling of the club since that time is none of our business. You may look at the Hall of Fame and note when the Rams stopped sending players.
My only concern over these last few years has been how rapidly the team should leave town. If I wish to watch professional football on Sunday my options will now be greatly expanded--no more Ram games. My only concern now is that citizens of St. Louis don’t figure this deal out in time to scrub it.
WARREN LARSON
Shadow Hills
* I can’t really be angry at the Rams’ move to St. Louis. After all, even though I am a fan, I didn’t really support them, as I was only able to afford maybe one game every other year. It is a business, and we must remember that is why we had the Rams in the first place, as well as the Dodgers, Lakers, Raiders, and yes, even the Clippers. I will probably even remain a fan just as Flatbushers remained loyal to their bums.
What I am upset about is the idea that Frontiere and Shaw could produce such a horrible product and as a reward end up with the most profitable franchise in the NFL. I shudder to think what sort of a ripple effect this will have on those owners who have really worked to achieve success for their respective teams.
Now that they have a better income base, if they can build a winner, I say “More power to them.” But I have a feeling that those Missouri fans are going to be saying “Show me!”
EARL EAGER ALBERT
Temple City
* How ironic that on the weekend of the conference championships the only way the Rams could get on the front page is to announce they are leaving town.
RON LESOVSKY
Huntington Beach