Members of L.A.'s two competing NFL bid groups were
moving yesterday to "unify behind a single proposal that
would drop the campaign for a Carson stadium and join forces
to support" a renovated Coliseum, according to Jim Newton of
the L.A. TIMES. Mayor Richard Riordan "has approached
leaders of both investment groups in the hope of convincing
them to merge their resources." Although Michael Ovitz and
Eli Broad "have yet to speak directly about joining forces,
sources in the football campaign said quiet progress already
is being made to merge the groups." Ovitz, on a joint bid:
"It's hard to assess that right now." But Ovitz's partner
Magic Johnson said "that the time had come for his group" to
join Broad and Ed Roski. Johnson: "If it's the Coliseum,
I'm for that" (Jim Newton, L.A. TIMES, 3/18).
AL DAVIS LOVES L.A.: In L.A., T.J. Simers reports that
one NFL owner close to Raiders Owner Al Davis "let it be
known that the Raiders have talked" to members of the New
Coliseum proposal, "suggesting a deal" that would give local
ownership to someone in L.A., while allowing Davis to
coordinate football operations. Davis, asked if there was
"any doubt" the Raiders would play in Oakland this year:
"This year? I wouldn't answer that." Although there was a
report that Pasadena officials had contacted the Raiders
about playing in the Rose Bowl, the facility's GM Dave
Jacobs said, "I have not had any discussions with [Davis]."
Davis: "We're in the later years of my life, and I don't
want to spend all this time fighting. I don't want to spend
the rest of my time in court" (L.A. TIMES, 3/18).
