The NFL voted 29-2 Tuesday to award L.A. the 32nd team,
but didn't select an owner or a site and "set so many
hurdles" the team could still end up in Houston, according
to Abrahamson & Simers of the L.A. TIMES. The league gave
L.A. six months, until September 15, to meet its "demands,"
which include a signed "stadium development agreement,"
containing "all necessary approvals" regarding financing,
facility management and other key terms; commitments from
L.A. business execs to "actively support" the team through
luxury suite buys and a naming rights deal; and a "firm
decision" between the Carson and L.A. Coliseum sites. If
the guidelines are not met, the NFL will then award the team
to Houston. The two dissenting votes were the Raiders and
the Bills (L.A. TIMES, 3/17). In L.A., T.J. Simers writes
that if New Coliseum Partner Ed Roski "holds to his two-year
exclusivity arrangement" at the Coliseum that prohibits the
NFL from dealing with anyone other than him, the league
"will go to Carson or accept Houston's deal." The Expansion
Committee will visit L.A. in early April, where it will
"eliminate" either the Coliseum or Carson group, setting
"the stage for [Michael] Ovitz to join the Coliseum" group,
and possibly still own the L.A. franchise. However, the
league said that "it will not accept a situation in which an
owner is forced on the NFL." Roski said that "he will work
out an arrangement to the NFL's satisfaction." L.A. City
Council member Mark Ridley-Thomas: "I think Ed will do what
is appropriate to get the deal done. He will not allow
himself to be an impediment" (L.A. TIMES, 3/17). Roski:
"Maybe with the commitment today, I'll sit down with Michael
and see if there's something we can do" (WASHINGTON POST,
3/17). In N.Y., Thomas George writes that the move "also
opened the door for various ownership groups to surface in
[L.A.] and bid for the new team" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/17). The
league will "probably not cast its vote for an owner before
September," with October being "more likely" (L.A. TIMES,
3/17). In Long Beach, Bob Keisser notes that the resolution
was "devised and endorsed" by NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue, VP/Development Roger Goodell, Expansion Committee
Chair Jerry Richardson, Finance Committee Chair Bob Kraft
and Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen (L.B. PRESS-TELEGRAM, 3/17).
STAYIN' ALIVE: In Houston, John Lopez writes that the
September 17 deadline came after Jerry Richardson "privately
asked" Houston bid leader Bob McNair "how long he could wait
for a decision on expansion and still have time to acquire
and relocate an existing team." McNair said: "Six months."
Lopez: "And six months it was" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/17).
McNair called the decision "a small victory," and said that
he had "feared" L.A. would be given 10 months. Meanwhile,
Titans Owner Bud Adams gave Houston his "verbal support"
early yesterday (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/17). McNair: "I don't
think I got shafted. I realize the world isn't fair." He
added that he will keep his eye open for a team willing to
relocate, saying, "if anyone wants to talk to us, we'll talk
to them because our goal is to get a team for Houston."
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/17). On CBS SPORTSLINE, Ray Buck
writes that the decision likely makes McNair "something of a
martyr in this continuing saga" (CBS SportsLine, 3/17).
QUOTEBOARD: Reax from NFL owners on yesterday's move:
Chargers Owner Alex Spanos, on L.A.: "They haven't done
anything. So how can we go there? Sure you got people
coming up to you and saying, 'Hey, we want a team,' but no
stadium. Am I making myself clear? I hope so, because I
want L.A. L.A. should have a franchise" ("SportsCenter,"
3/16). Steelers President Dan Rooney: "I would like to see
[L.A.] show they really want a team and have the ownership
with the wherewithal to build a stadium" (PITTSBURGH POST-
GAZETTE, 3/17). Bengals President Mike Brown: "I don't know
if they can get it done, but they should at least try. It's
the best thing for the league" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/17).
Raiders Owner Al Davis: "What's changed? They had nearly
four years to get a deal together in Los Angeles, and this
is what they've come to?" (USA TODAY, 3/17). Broncos Owner
Pat Bowlen, on L.A.'s financial plan: "What financial plan?
We haven't seen any financial plans. What we're looking for
is a stadium" (SUN, 3/17). Bowlen: "We want to see the
Houston situation in Los Angeles" (PLAIN DEALER, 3/17).
MORE QUOTES: In S.D., Nick Canepa writes, "Houston did
it right. ... L.A. basically hasn't done a thing. L.A. gets
a franchise it doesn't deserve. You've got to love the
National Football League" (UNION TRIBUNE, 3/17). In L.A.,
Karen Crouse writes that "obviously money -- specifically
the currency that comes with higher overall television
ratings and advertising rates -- was the only thing that
really mattered." Crouse: "Who's chaperoning these football
lords, Paul Tagliabue or His Excellency, Juan Antonio
Samaranch?" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/17). Also in L.A., Bill
Plaschke writes that the Coliseum site "should work for
expansion NFL fans," and writes, "It is time to give up this
Carson act. It is a losing site" (L.A. TIMES, 3/17).
Michael Ovitz: "We will play anywhere the league asks us to
play -- including on a sandlot" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/17).
GIVING THANKS: In Detroit, Curt Sylvester writes that
following a "brief and lively discussion," the NFL owners
voted 26-5 to keep the Thanksgiving Day games in Detroit and
Dallas. Lions Vice Chair Bill Ford, Jr. said that only the
Chiefs, Saints, Redskins, Titans and Panthers voted for the
resolution to rotate the games' sites (DETROIT FREE PRESS,
3/17). For more on the NFL meetings, see (#16) and (#17).
