The Chargers are "attacking San Diego Councilman Chris Cate for opposing their stadium ballot measure with Facebook ads and robocalls," according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Cate is one of the leaders of a coalition called "No Downtown Stadium -- Jobs and Streets First," which "opposes the team’s proposal to increase local hotel taxes" to pay for a $1.8B downtown stadium and convention center. Facebook ads funded by the Chargers that "began running late last week say 'Why Does Chris Cate Want the Chargers to Leave' and then urge people to 'Ask Him!' at his City Hall phone number." The robotic calls so far have "generated more than 200 phone calls" to Cate's office. The effort could "discourage other politicians and community leaders from speaking out against the Chargers proposal, which will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/20). In San Diego, Nick Canepa noted Chargers top draft pick DE Joey Bosa remains unsigned, and the team "should have gotten this done long ago because they must do everything they can" to win stadium approval. Canepa: "I don't care if the Chargers are 0-8 or 8-0 by election day. If, as expected 66 percent of the vote is required to pass the initiative, they aren't winning" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/21).
BIGGEST FISH IN SMALLER POND? In California, Jim Alexander wrote the Chargers stadium initiative in San Diego "seems to be toast." But there is "increasing speculation" in San Diego that even if the Chargers lose the Nov. 8 vote, it "might not be the end" of the team's efforts to remain in San Diego. Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "may opt to stay put for at least another year" at Qualcomm Stadium. Meanwhile, L.A. is "definitely not the place for the Chargers, and really never was." With 89,140 fans attending the Rams' preseason opener and people wearing team gear on the street, the Rams "again own" L.A. and its surrounding counties (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 8/21). THE MMQB's Peter King writes the NFL "belongs in San Diego." It is a "perfect NFL town, full of passion for a franchise that simply won’t be there" in L.A. Unless the Chargers "string together consistent playoff seasons (which, obviously, they haven’t done)," they would "be the Clippers in L.A." The league "should step in and say it’s just flat wrong for the Chargers to leave." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "should pull out all the stops." King: "I know he can’t be viewed as favoring one franchise over another, but the Chargers don’t want to go to Los Angeles" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/22).
