L.A. AND THE NFL

Update: Since “Will L.A. Get the NFL Team It So Richly Deserves?” by T.J. Simers appeared Jan. 28, Seattle Seahawks owner Ken Behring announced plans to move his team here to play in the Rose Bowl. Behring first faces legal action with the city of Seattle, which wants him to honor the 10 years left on his Kingdome lease or sell the Seahawks to local investors. Meanwhile, the NFL has frowned on Behring’s plan because of its own interest in dictating what happens in Los Angeles.

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If the NFL wants a Los Angeles franchise, the password should be expansion (“Will L.A. Get the NFL Team It So Richly Deserves?” by T. J. Simers, Jan. 28). I seem to recall an independent survey last year indicating that four out of five Angelenos favored a new team rather than another hand-me-down franchise. Los Angeles is no different from any other major American city when it comes to fan support. Put a home-grown, home-owned winning team on the field, and the support and championships will follow.

The current crop of NFL owners is so preoccupied with profit that the league feels that it must control the establishment of any franchise here--a big mistake. Any dying-on-the-vine franchise that’s relocated here should be boycotted by the fans. The NFL needs to be sent a message.

Lawrence M. Kates

Los Angeles

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When I was a little girl growing up in Los Angeles, my father and I watched Roman Gabriel and the Rams. As an adult, I attended Raiders’ games for nine years. My friends and I paid $5 to $15 to parked off of Grand Avenue and walked through broken glass, garbage, mud and the stench of urine and past concrete barriers, freeway construction and graffiti to watch the Raiders play.

Whenever I heard Nolan Harrison or Al Davis complain about the fans and their “lack of support,” I wondered who they were talking about. After all, we were at the games, screaming our brains out while observing a succession of loser quarterbacks, the exile of Marcus Allen, the retirement of Howie Long and the passing of Lyle Alzado.

I loved the Rams. I love the Raiders. But I will not allow one dime of my tax money to go into building a stadium in this city for a bunch of carpetbagging thieves. I won’t spend a cent for a personal seat license.

I will, however, watch the Raiders on TV and laugh every time I read about Al Davis gouging Oakland and its fans. I’ll sit in the comfort of my living room watching Marcus Allen in Kansas City and switch channels when Jerry Jones blows hot air or Art Modell explains how he lost money in Cleveland while the stadium was sold out for every game.

We in Los Angeles are happy without greedy football owners who whine because they can’t squeeze another few pennies out of us.

Faith C’Dealva

Marina del Rey

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I have been, and continue to be, opposed to the construction of a new football stadium at Chavez Ravine. The only potential for compromise on this position would be if my constituents in the Elysian Park area should signal their willingness to support a new stadium. Personally, I believe that these residents have already done more than their fair share in support of professional sports in Los Angeles.

And it is not my intention to champion the Coliseum or any other site.

Mike Hernandez, Councilman

First Council District

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Colonialism is alive and well in 1996. Only this time, the conquistadors have landed in Elysian Park and eyed the gold in Chavez Ravine. They have planted the banners that say “NFL” and are plotting a strategy to appease the natives while pulling the land out from under them. It’s an old, recognizable game in which those with the most fire power--in this case, the bucks--win.

They view the land--from helicopters, media board rooms and the mayor’s office--through narrow little telescopes with lenses tinted by power, prestige and money. They’ve failed to notice families picnicking, children on nature hikes, red-tailed hawks circling and the sound of wind in the trees.

I wish the conquistadors well in their endeavor to bring NFL football back to Los Angeles. But the needs and wishes of the people who live in the target neighborhood should dictate the outcome, not the millions a new sports complex would generate.

Sidney Higgins

Silver Lake

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Simers’ and the NFL’s perception of Peter O’Malley as a squeaky-clean hero figure does not match up with the Dodger owner’s indifference to his neighbors over the years. When neighborhood representatives met with O’Malley and his advisors about the proposed NFL stadium, they were not encouraged by his New Age corporate babblespeak that allowed the concerns they had raised to roll off him like water.

Also, if a new stadium is built in Los Angeles, and either major Coliseum revenue-producer--soccer or USC football--jumps ship, the Coliseum could face the prospect of losing money. And because it’s a national historic monument and by law must be maintained, you know who will have to make up the difference--the taxpayers.

Gary Friedlander

Los Angeles

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When Los Angeles brings another NFL franchise to town, there will be the matter of the team name to consider. The most appropriate might be the L.A. Lemmings.

Gary Nordell

Los Angeles