NFL: In L.A., T.J. Simers writes on the NFL's expansion
process and reports that when the NFL returns to L.A., it
"will do so in the Coliseum," though the league "wants a
better stadium financing deal ... so it will threaten to
take back its expansion team unless city politicians and
business leaders rally to sell luxury suites and [PSLs], and
encourage the potential for more public money." Simers
largely credits bid leader Ed Roski in changing the league's
perception of the Coliseum (L.A. TIMES, 2/19). In San
Diego, Nick Canepa wrote of some opposition to an L.A. team,
as the Chargers want "nothing to do with a team in L.A."
becuas they are currently the only NFL team south of S.F.,
and would have to compete with L.A. and Phoenix for future
Super Bowls. Chargers President Dean Spanos: "The consensus
is that there's a big push to get it done in L.A. But it
still comes back to the stadium issue and that's put a
damper on the whole thing" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/18).
HOCKEY: NHL Kings President Tim Leiweke said that the
team will not "drain its pool of young talent to acquire a
marquee player" because it is "into the long-term survival
of the sport." Leiweke: "Everybody better stay focused on
that. If people in the league don't stay focused, the
league as we know it will disappear. ... We are nervous
about the league, the economics, the salaries. The majority
of teams lose money, and we're losing a lot. We can't keep
jumping into the free-agent market, passing those costs on
to the fans" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/19).
