The expansion process which groups in Houston and L.A.
have gone through in an effort to win the 32nd NFL franchise
was examined by Tom Murray on Fox Sports Net's "Goin Deep."
Murray reported that NHL Kings co-Owner Ed Roski and the New
Coliseum Partners "made a very positive and very unexpected
impression" in their presentation to NFL owners at the
league's meeting two weeks ago in K.C. Cowboys Owner Jerry
Jones said that things in the Coliseum project were "a lot
better ... than they were four or five years ago" and he
felt there was "no question" that there would "ultimately"
be a team in L.A. Murray also interviewed Michael Ovitz,
who said that his group is "not in competition" with Roski's
group: "It's like playing golf. Really you're in
competition with yourself" ("Goin Deep," FSN, 11/9).
THEM BE FIGHTIN' WORDS! L.A. Coliseum GM Pat Lynch,
regarding the competition from Houston: "We like to look at
it a little bit differently. Yeah, they got the financing
and yeah, they got the stakes and yeah, they got their
package together, but it's Houston. It's not L.A." Houston
bid leader Bob McNair's response: "We'll be very competitive
with anyone. Anyone. Bring 'em on" ("Goin Deep," 11/9).
LEVERAGE: L.A. Times NFL writer T.J. Simers: "To watch
the NFL deal with this whole process now is hilarious. They
got Houston. They can move to Houston tomorrow and they're
going to sit around and try to figure out some creative way
to sneak into L.A." ("Goin' Deep," Fox Sports Net, 11/9).
