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Chargers To L.A.: San Diego Mayor, Fans In Upheaval Over Team Leaving Town

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Thursday was "frustrated" by the Chargers' announcement that they are moving to L.A., and "predicted the team would regret the decision," according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Speaking at his state of the city address, Faulconer said Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "made a bad decision and he will regret it." Faulconer: "San Diego didn't lose the Chargers, the Chargers just lost San Diego." He also "predicted the Chargers would never get the support" in L.A. that they have "enjoyed in San Diego, or have the same kind of success." Faulconer: "They are losing out on a strong marketplace. ... The passion that this city and community has for this team -- you're not going to get that in Los Angeles." Faulconer said that he believes a stadium deal "could have been worked out in San Diego if the Chargers had been more receptive to recent joint proposals" for a new stadium from the city, county and San Diego State Univ. He said, "I am certain San Diegans would have supported this new plan. ... At the end of the day, the Chargers wanted a lot more taxpayer money than we could have ever agreed to. We could not support a deal that is not in the best interests of San Diego." City Council member Scott Sherman said that the Chargers "never gave the city straight answers during years of negotiations." Sherman: "Since 2013, Dean Spanos and [Chargers Special Counsel] Mark Fabiani have worked diligently behind the scenes to move the Chargers to Los Angeles" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13).

TODAY IS NOT THE GREATEST:  In San Diego, Rowe & Garrick in a front-page piece report outside Chargers Park on Thursday, the team’s "soon-to-be-abandoned San Diego home, fans gathered to commiserate." Many "tossed blue-and-gold memorabilia -- jerseys, jackets, caps, socks, coffee mugs, posters -- into a heap, smashing and tearing what were once prized keepsakes." A San Diego Union-Tribune/KGTV-ABC poll showed that San Diegans "overwhelmingly blame Spanos -- not Faulconer -- for the team’s move." Spanos is blamed by 70% of those polled, while 6% blamed Faulconer and 9% "blamed the NFL." San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, fighting back tears, said, "I hate this day." Rowe & Garrick note Roberts had "worked with Faulconer the past two years in dealings with the Chargers." Roberts: "They never really engaged in any kind of real negotiations. None" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). Padres Exec Chair Ron Fowler and co-Owner Peter Seidler in a joint statement issued Thursday said, "We are deeply disappointed by the news that the Chargers are leaving San Diego. The Chargers are a community treasure, and we have always believed that San Diego is better off with the team here. That said, we know San Diego will continue to grow and become an even more vibrant community" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). In San Diego, Jeff McDonald reports some Chargers fans "cheered as they burned Chargers memorabilia in open revolt" outside of the team's HQ (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13).

WRONG KIND OF LEGACY LEFT: Spanos addressed his legacy in San Diego while talking to ESPN's Jim Trotter, saying, "There’s going to be a lot of upset people there, I understand that. But at some point in time I have to think about the future, and I did not see the future there” ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 1/12). In San Diego, Kevin Acee writes Spanos "created a lasting legacy," as he is the "most hated man in San Diego. Ever." Spanos "knows he failed himself and a good majority of the folks in the city he has called home for half his life." Acee: "It is likely that the spite of San Diegans will be shocking" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). On Long Island, Bob Glauber writes Spanos "could have been a hero," but instead he has "turned into a West Coast version of Art Modell" (NEWSDAY, 1/13). BLEACHER REPORT's Mike Freeman wrote if Spanos "truly wanted to stay, there would have been more options for the public to consider." The Chargers may "dispute this, but in offering so few alternatives, the move smacks of disloyalty" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 1/12). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said, "A vested, fan-friendly owner with deeper pockets could have gotten this done in San Diego" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 1/12).

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU: A SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE editorial appearing on the front page states the Chargers' move "isn't goodbye," it is "good riddance." The Chargers are "finally someone else's problem." Do not "give the Spanos family a second thought," as the Chargers Chair has "given up" on the city. The editorial: "To be honest, San Diego football fans never warmed to the Spanos family" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). In San Diego, Bryce Miller writes city officials deserve credit for refusing to "blindly buy into the NFL's stadium-based welfare for the rice without thoughtful, detailed discussion and cool heads." There is a "certain peace in the roller coaster screeching to a stop" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes San Diegans "won by losing." Armour: "Disappointing as it is to see the Chargers pack up and move, it's better than being fleeced" (USA TODAY, 1/13).

PICKING UP THE PIECES: The UNION-TRIBUNE's Acee writes San Diegans "lost a part of our identity," as the Chargers' move is "going to be weird for a long time." There will be "much hate watching of and spite reading about L.A.’s 10th-favorite team, at least for a time." Acee: "But we’ll move on. We’ll be fine" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). Also in San Diego, Lori Weisberg writes under the header, "Chargers Don't Yield Large Economic Payoff" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13). SPORTING NEWS' David Steele wrote the NFL has "burned" another fan base. San Diego will "now do one of two things: It’ll hate the NFL for eternity, or it’ll go begging for an existing franchise of its own to kidnap, thus burning that fan base" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/12). Former Charger and Pro Football HOFer Ron Mix: "San Diego will get a team back. The shoe will be on the other foot, leaving another unhappy city. Maybe it’s somewhere like Jacksonville. But San Diego will get a team back. It has an excellent fan base, teams enjoy coming to San Diego and it’s a growing city" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13).

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