[Elvis]

[Stranger]

Is anyone from the Forum able to attend. I'd love to hear about the Rally from an insider.

[Elvis]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/howardcole/ ... -coliseum/

L.A. Rams Advocacy Group Poised For Team's Return, To Hold Rally at Coliseum Saturday

Howard Cole

Final game as Los Angeles Rams: Saturday, December 24, 1994. Redskins 24, Rams 21.

Final game within city limits of Los Angeles: Sunday, October 20, 1991. Raiders 20, Rams 17.

Final game as the home team within city limits of LA: Sunday, December 16, 1979. Saints 29, Rams 14.

It’s been a long time for Los Angeles Rams fans. Longer for some — who didn’t like the move to Anaheim much either — than others, but the pain is shared equally, as the NFL has just concluded its 21st regular season without a team in the nation’s second biggest market.



Some fans followed the Rams travails through two decades of football in Missouri — which included the club’s only Super Bowl victory in 1980 — while others swore off (hurling a few profanities at Georgia Frontiere for good measure).

And now, with the NFL as close as it has ever been to returning a team (or teams) to the Los Angeles area, one interest group leans forward with keen anticipation.

“Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams” was launched as a Facebook page first, by student and Orange County native Andrew Hogan, on November 13, 2009. Twin brothers Tom and Dennis Batemen, who hail from Anaheim, joined the team soon after. A Twitter account was formed, and eventually a website.

With an assist from popular local sports radio personality, Steve Mason, and some close work with existing booster clubs (Southern California Rams Booster Club, Rams Central Orange County and Rams World Order), the advocacy group’s efforts gained traction, false starts such as Farmers Field notwithstanding.

Fan sign-ups on the website hit 3000 in June of 2011, and after the group hosted a couple of book signings with Jack Youngblood, reached 4000 by the end of the year. They’re pushing 57,000 now.

Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams has increased its efforts with each passing football season, and off-season for that matter. They’re in your face, essentially, with a tenacity more than a bit reminiscent of a lineman rushing the quarterback. Or better yet, four linemen rushing the QB.



In this Dec. 17, 1967 photo provided by NFL Photos, Los Angeles Rams defensive David "Deacon" Jones (75) and defensive tackles Merlin Olsen (74) and Roger Brown (78) battle the Baltimore Colts in Los Angeles. Jones, the original sackmaster, has died. The Hall of Fame defensive end credited with terming the word sack for how he knocked down quarterbacks, was 74. The Washington Redskins said that Jones died of natural causes at his home in Southern California on Monday night, June 3, 2013. (AP Photo/NFL Photos) (NFL) Via San Jose Mercury News

They hold rallies, they get together in sports bars to watch football, they show up at Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Ducks games. They follow the team to training camp in Oxnard. And they carry a Stan Kroenke giant head with them everywhere they go.

More importantly, they are this close to seeing their team return home. The fate of three franchises hangs in the balance. Only one is of any real interest to most people I know, including 57,000 of my closest new friends. It’ll be decided next week.

Rally Saturday, January 9: Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams will host one last rally before the NFL owners meeting begins on Tuesday. And where else but the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3939 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, 90039. Peristyle end. 9:00 a.m. to noon. Street parking as available and for $12 at the California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive.

Promised are former Rams players, cheerleaders and a fair degree of hollering. And Kroenke’s giant head.

Howard Cole has been blogging about sports since Y2K. Follow him on Twitter.

[Hacksaw]

Were playing tomorrow, but it would be great if they have a solid turn out.

[LoyalRam]

The Coliseum is such a HUGE venue...Ijust hope a massive turnout isn't dwarfed by that cavern of a stadium! Unless, of course, Rams fans pack it out, which i would love.

[snackdaddy]

The Coliseum is such a HUGE venue...Ijust hope a massive turnout isn't dwarfed by that cavern of a stadium! Unless, of course, Rams fans pack it out, which i would love.

Yes, that would be a great show for the NFL to see. Tens of thousands of Rams fans packed in the coliseum. Bring em back Stan!

[Elvis]

Thought i might go, but didn't make it. I'm pretty sure they were outside of the Coliseum, not inside.

Look at all those Barry Redden fans:

[Elvis]

A video:

[Elvis]

I knew Mike Lansford would be there:

[Hacksaw]

Looks like a good crowd.