Sept. 15 Deadline Isn’t That Far Away

The politicians and the bureaucrats of Los Angeles regularly go around drinking their own bathwater in the belief that what they think is the same as reality.

The NFL doesn’t want football in the Coliseum area. Almost every executive in the league has said this. The NFL doesn’t want to deal with Los Angeles politicians. They are probably happy on a personal basis that Al Davis got shafted by the Coliseum Commission on luxury boxes and other promised improvements, but why should they be stupid enough to deal with the type of people that did that?

JOHN MARTIN DEMARIA

San Pedro

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Right now, the NFL has fourth and goal at the 10-yard line. Paul Tagliabue is behind center, looking out at an angry defensive line consisting of the L.A. city council, Ed Roski, Eli Broad and Michael Ovitz. In the defensive backfield, Raider attorney Joe Alioto Jr. has NFL lead attorney Frank Rothman covered like a blanket in the end zone. Calling the defensive signals is veteran middle linebacker Al Davis, who is planning an all-out blitz to sack Tagliabue.

Houston will take over on downs as the NFL’s 32nd team, and Al Davis will win a victory in court, clearing the way for a Raider return to Los Angeles next season.

MIKE BALTZER

Long Beach

and MIKE BERNSTEIN

Santa Ana

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I have been following the print media’s coverage of the Los Angeles-NFL expansion football team negotiations. Your headlines have made it appear that Los Angeles is about to lose the NFL expansion team because of ineptitude or incompetence. Words like “Fumble, Drop, Miss, etc.” suggest incompetence. I don’t agree with that description of what’s going on.

From my vantage point, L.A. is handling the situation with fiscal responsibility. I am sure if L.A. were willing to completely publicly fund the stadium improvements and parking improvements, give the NFL control of the stadium, give them all of the parking revenues, 100% of the concessions, and rent-free use of the stadium, the franchise would have been officially awarded to us long ago.

I am happy to know that I live in an area where its leaders are more responsible than that.

EDWARD GAY

Fullerton

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I think that you and all the other L.A. papers should not cover the NFL other than reporting scores if [the new team does] go to Houston. Also inform the NFL of this. This would lead to more of us boycotting their games (which I already do) and loss of more advertising revenue from this market.

Also, I am not in favor of any more tax dollars going to support these pampered athletes. If the owners can’t afford to build their own stadiums, they surely can’t afford the ridiculous salaries. I’m tired of building stadiums for owners who then decide to move because they can’t field a competitive team.

DICK ANDES

Redondo Beach