Villaraigosa, Tagliabue Talk

A few days after he vented over how long it is taking to get an NFL team in Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Friday and tentatively set up a meeting here next month, possibly at a USC football game.

Villaraigosa said earlier in the week that the longer it takes the NFL to bring a team back to Los Angeles, the more residents will forget about why they wanted a team in the first place. On Friday, Villaraigosa called Tagliabue “to open dialogue” on the issue, an aide said.

“Our conversation was very productive about bringing pro football to Los Angeles,” Villaraigosa told reporters. “I told him we’re committed to doing what we can to bring football to Los Angeles. He acknowledged that, and he respected my opinion.”

Villaraigosa was encouraged by his opening conversation with the commissioner, which included small talk about sports.

“It was a great conversation. We talked about the great work of Councilman Bernard Parks,” Villaraigosa said. “He knows that I’m passionate about football. I was a high school linebacker and running back, not very good. I got the most inspirational award, and you know what that means.”

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-- Patrick McGreevy

and Steve Hymon