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Dean Spanos Drowned Out By Crowd During Chargers' L.A. Kickoff Event At The Forum

The Chargers yesterday held an invitation-only kickoff ceremony at The Forum to celebrate the team's relocation to L.A., and the half-hour event included "pounding music, brief video highlights from the team’s 56 seasons in San Diego and reminders of the awkwardness that’s accompanied the relocation," according to Nathan Fenno of the L.A. TIMES. Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "stood in front of a newly-minted 'Los Angeles Chargers' backdrop on a stage" with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff, Inglewood Mayor James Butts and recently-hired Chargers coach Anthony Lynn. When Spanos was introduced, fans chanted, "Dean! Dean! Dean!" Spanos said, "This is really surreal." However, less than a minute into Spanos’ remarks, a Chargers fan standing in the front row of the fan section "interrupted." He shouted, "Way to screw over San Diego, Dean!" Spanos continued, but the "din grew" as many in the crowd tried to drown out the fan with "shouts and catcalls of their own." Spanos said, "We know we need to get to know this community, listen and learn what makes L.A. tick." But the noise of the crowd "finally swallowed Spanos," the latest "indignity in a week of challenges for the Chargers." Meanwhile, Goodell "praised" Rams Owner Stan Kroenke, and he twice mentioned Kroenke before "referencing Spanos and the Chargers." Goodell said, "It's all about the vision of Stan Kroenke." He added two teams playing in L.A. is a "really special thing for the NFL." Demoff said, "This is a market that can absolutely succeed with two teams. Let’s go tackle this together." Fenno notes the "most enthusiastic reception might have been saved" for Chargers QB Philip Rivers (L.A. TIMES, 1/19).

HOUSEWARMING PARTY: Goodell said, "We have millions of fans here, and we've had two teams in the market before, and we're building an extraordinary stadium. ... These teams will transition into this market." ESPN.com's Eric Williams wrote by going with the motto of "all publicity is good publicity, the Chargers fared well in their first week" in L.A. (ESPN.com, 1/18). Williams noted while many Chargers fans have "vented their frustrations on social media" regarding the team's move, others "remain committed to the team." There "appeared to be San Diegans that made their way two hours north on I-5" for yesterday's event (ESPN.com, 1/18). In L.A., Vincent Bonsignore writes under the header, "Reception At Welcome Rally A Pleasant Surprise For Chargers." The number of L.A.-based Chargers fans that showed up gives the team a "foundation to build on." The Chargers were "relieved to see the door wasn't exactly slammed in their face as Twitter and other outlets led them to believe" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/19).

KEEPING IT FOR NOW: A Chargers team official this week said that "no immediate changes will be made to the Chargers’ game-day attire." In San Diego, Michael Gehlken noted over the next two seasons, the same uniforms "donned in San Diego will be worn at the StubHub Center in Carson." However, there "appears chance of a uniform change thereafter" (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 1/18).

FEELING USED: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic reported the Chargers are moving to L.A. without radio broadcaster and former player Nick Hardwick. Hardwick yesterday said that he "lost interest in the job once the Spanos family pulled the team from San Diego." Hardwick: "I have no interest in the Los Angeles Chargers." Hardwick last year "joined the Chargers’ radio broadcast team on a one-year contract as the partner to play-by-play man Josh Lewin." He said, "The moment they left town, I’m no longer a Chargers fan." He has "criticized how the Spanoses handled the team’s departure from San Diego." Hardwick said that he also has "hard feelings about a lack of support he received from team operatives when he campaigned for the team’s stadium initiative." Hardwick: "I was essentially the mascot to try to get a stadium done here. Every time they wanted somebody to speak, because they weren’t willing to do it themselves, I was the guy they paraded out there to speak and try to rally their support. At the end of the day, I felt like a used item" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/19).

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