Still Tossing Around Political Football

Mike Downey, you say in your Sept. 18 column that we have harmed Los Angeles’ chances of securing an NFL team by forcing the Coliseum down the NFL’s throats. I suppose you believe that the alternative would be preferable--that the NFL force a stadium down the throats of the residents of this city.

No one gave the Coliseum a chance. It was a foregone conclusion that the Dodger Stadium site would be selected. Who decided this? The NFL, and the L.A. Times Committee of three--T.J. Simers, Bill Plaschke and now Mike Downey.

Let us ask Downey the same question we asked Simers six months ago when he blamed us for standing in the way of the NFL: Since when did you become the spokesman for the residents of this city?

You claim that we blackmailed Peter O’Malley. Mr. O’Malley created a process, as well, that included speaking to residents of Los Angeles. Ultimately he came to the same conclusion as the City Council.

Today, the NFL says it will listen to our Coliseum proposal and Mr. O’Malley says he will support efforts at the Coliseum.

Downey, if you can’t understand process and inclusiveness, then please don’t undermine it. In the meantime, let us suggest that you take a tip from your partner across the hall, Plaschke (Aug. 31), and “Shut up and get out of the way.”

MIKE HERNANDEZ

and MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS

Los Angeles City Council members

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I assume that this will be one of hundreds of letters reacting to Mike Downey’s column of Sept. 18, advocating the brown-nosing of the NFL to gain a team. Once here, that team will no doubt be analogous to the Rams, Cardinals or Oilers, and soon look to another city for bribes.

We do fine here, along with 10 or 15 other fans, rooting for Valley College.

If the NFL is not interested in the Coliseum, then we are not interested in the NFL.

BRUCE GALT

Valley Village

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Why should our hard-earned money be used to allow Peter O’Malley and the like to get richer, or watch millionaire players complain about how little money they are making? I am very happy watching USC and UCLA.

In addition, now that we don’t have an NFL team in L.A., we can see the best football game on Sunday and not what the NFL wants us to see.

AFSHIN YOUSSEFYEH

Los Angeles

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When discussing the prospects of building a new football stadium inside the Coliseum, Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas stated that “a groundswell of support is growing daily.”

Taxpayers just spent $100 million on earthquake repairs to the Coliseum and now our city leaders want to tear down most of the facility. Besides the politicians, who exactly is supporting a new stadium inside the Coliseum? Since this stadium will serve the people of Los Angeles and most likely be paid for by the people of L.A., why not ask the fans who will buy tickets where they would prefer to attend NFL games?

ORRIN H. TURBOW

Chatsworth

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I tend to disagree that there is a silent majority of Los Angeles citizens who prefer that a totally new stadium be built. My own opinion is that there is a silent majority, but it consists of the millions who don’t give a damn if we ever get another football team.

The so-called Figueroa Corridor is a nice dream, and I sincerely wish the city good luck. However, if the project fails because of financial difficulties or from the predictable bungling by city officials, I think that the citizens probably will survive the continued absence of another professional sports team.

By the way, Mike Downey, since you have apparently never been there, try visiting Exposition Park (it’s next to the stadium--that place with all those museums and roses).

GARY CLIFTON

San Dimas

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Why doesn’t the Coliseum Commission ask Al Davis what he thinks of the phrase: “Rebuild it and they will come”?

MICHAEL GRAY

Long Beach