NFL in Los Angeles: Same Old Story?

Although T.J. Simers has basically written the same article about allowing the evil Spanos family and their football team into L.A. a dozen or so times, it’s just sinking in for me now.

It’s true we, the NFL fans in L.A., should accept only a franchise that has won a minimum of five consecutive Super Bowls, is willing to completely rebuild the infrastructure of L.A. County, will pay each citizen $100 goodwill money, and give the L.A. Times sportswriters veto power over all the franchise’s moves.

Thanks, T.J., without you, I might have settled for just any NFL team.

Mark Kummrow

Santa Monica

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Perhaps I missed something, but unless he owns rental property in the area, I failed to understand Mr. Johnson’s outrage [Viewpoint, May 4] over the proposed new football stadium. From what I’ve read and heard, the following would occur:

1. A few billionaires will team together to build a large, shiny edifice in what is now an unsightly area of downtown Los Angeles--at no cost to us.

2. Another misguided billionaire will move his (her?) franchise to the city.

3. Every three years or so, the Super Bowl will come, bringing with it tens of thousands more rich guys having large amounts of disposable cash.

4. My children will get to see a professional football game.

I agree, of course, that we shouldn’t pay a cent, and I’m positive that after the success of Staples Center, that would never happen. So lighten up, guy--we might get this free.

Gary Clifton

La Verne

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In regard to Sam Farmer’s article [May 4] “Coliseum, Rose Bowl Want to Get in Game.”

The comments by Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn are revealing about the contempt his organization holds for UCLA and Bruin football fans. For decades, we have been complaining about the miserable stadium and parking lot egress. The lines snaking out through the narrow, early 20th century tunnels are almost as bad as the chaos that drivers face at the north golf course exit gates.

Mr. Dunn has the nerve to state that “he will fight that battle to keep UCLA if and when a new stadium is actually built.”

My family stopped going to games at the Rose Bowl because of the stated conditions, and I sincerely hope that UCLA does not renew its contract when a new stadium is built.

Scott Dennison

Westlake Village

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Mark Ridley-Thomas questions the ability of Philip Anschutz to deal with the NFL to build a new football stadium and ultimately bring a football team to Los Angeles.

Isn’t this the same Mr. Anschutz who built Staples Center? Isn’t this the same Mr. Ridley-Thomas who failed to bring an expansion team to the city because he insisted that the Coliseum was the only viable site? And isn’t this the same Mark Ridley-Thomas who thwarted Peter O’Malley’s attempt to build a stadium at Chavez Ravine, which resulted in O’Malley’s selling the Dodgers?

How many times does the NFL have to tell you that the Coliseum is not an acceptable venue? It’s time to throw your support behind someone who has proven he can make it happen.

Gary Patterson

Whittier