Dear Stan,
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
A tired cliché, I know, but one very applicable to the current situation regarding the Rams’ future in St. Louis and the potential blaze burning behind your office door.
As bidders emerged for the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, you threw your name in among those listed as interested, although we know you did not put in an official bid for the team, according to the Los Angeles Times.
This news came on the heels of the Rams three year agreement to play one home game per season in London, home of your Arsenal FC and a testing ground for the potential of a full-time NFL team in the future.
With both moves, you exacerbated fears the team will take their leave of the Show Me State as soon as 2014 and move to greener pastures in sunny California or across the pond.
You could very well be leveraging those interests against St. Louis county for quick action on improving The Edward Jones Dome but L.A. and London are also realistic options.
So all I’m asking as a Rams fan is for you to be a little more straightforward. Don’t reveal all of the cards because we all understand you are a shrewd businessman, but also don’t leave us second-guessing and speculating on each public move.
Rams COO Kevin Demoff tried to stomp the rumors out on Twitter last week, but some kind of reassurance from the owner himself would be appreciated. We can’t help but believe some of this is a PR scheme, using Demoff as a puppet while the real dealings are made behind doors to possibly move the team.
The point is, Rams fans were excited with the Jeff Fisher hire, only to be undercut again by your forays into other sports markets.
We have suffered through some bad football and have every right to be paranoid and upset after years of disappointment.
But we understand you are a hands-off owner and will give you the benefit of the doubt in ongoing negotiations with St. Louis County.
A little reassurance would be nice though, now and then.
Maybe you could throw a little water on that fire.
Sincerely,
Rams Fans
