The NFL "may prefer" L.A. over Houston, but "recent
polling indicates Houston cares more about" the NFL than
L.A., according to John Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. A
poll conducted by Baselice & Associates for Houston NFL
Holdings shows that 57% of those who live in Harris County
feel that having another team is "either very important or
somewhat important." Williams compares that number to a
January L.A. Times poll which showed that 38% of L.A.
residents said getting an NFL team was very or somewhat
important to them. The polling for Houston NFL Holdings of
800 adult Harris County residents was done February 28
through March 4 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.5%. Other
numbers: 71% of Harris County residents have heard or read
about the effort to land an NFL franchise; 51% would buy a
ticket to watch a game if Houston got another team and 68%
said Harris County should go forward and build a new NFL
stadium if it means Houston will be awarded an NFL team,
while 27% said no with 5% unsure (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/30).
TWISTING BY THE POOL: NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir Doug
Allen, on a proposal to have players contribute pooling money
with owners to help facility development: "We're willing to
consider it on a case-by-case basis because it's clear in
today's new environment stadium construction needs to be a
blend of private and public money" (K.C. STAR, 3/29).
...ESPN's Michael Wilbon on NFL owners' defeat of instant
replay: "It's a sad thing when a league elects to take the
lazy way out rather than get it right. ... In all other ways
the league is consistently tinkering with the game to make
the product better" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 3/29).
