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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... ae78f.html

Hochman: Goodell, NFL twist the knife

By Benjamin Hochman



In a statement Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: “We are very supportive of the decision by Dean Spanos to continue his efforts in San Diego and work with local leaders to develop a permanent stadium solution. NFL ownership has committed $300 million to assist in the cost of building a new stadium in San Diego. I have pledged the league’s full support in helping Dean to fulfill his goal.”

Asked about St. Louis, Goodell replied: “St. Who-is?”

That’s what it feels like, right?

The disingenuous and disgraceful Goodell cares about St. Louis as much as a Cubs fan whose wife left him for Jon Hamm. I know, it’s over, St. Louis lost the Rams. But seeing this news is infuriating on two fronts. First, that Goodell so gleefully cares for one beleaguered NFL city, but so clearly didn’t care for another (Goodell didn’t even have the courtesy to say much to the fans of St. Louis on the night his league stole their team). And second, because Goodell is a liar.

In December, on the eve of the Board of Aldermen approving the stadium-finance package, Goodell wrote a letter to Gov. Jay Nixon and the task force. It felt like a slap. See, the task force anticipated $300 million from the league to help build the stadium. But the NFL provides a maximum of $200 million to help teams build new stadiums, Goodell wrote. The premise that the league has committed $300 million to the Mississippi River stadium proposal “is fundamentally inconsistent with the NFL’s program of stadium financing,” Goodell said.

So, Rog, apparently giving $300 million to San Diego is thus fundamentally inconsistent with the NFL’s program of stadium financing, right?

As it is, Goodell will help make the NFL work in San Diego, where the Chargers will play in 2016.

It just stinks so much that Goodell didn’t support St. Louis’ efforts to preserve the NFL, and then that he disregarded all of our loyal fans on the fateful night, and that he’s now taking the certain finger he stuck at St. Louis and replacing it with a thumbs up for San Diego. ...

The part Hochman doesn't get, or at least isn't saying, is the NFL supports its owners.

Kroenke wanted out of St. Louis.

Spanos is clearly willing to stay in San Diego.

But yeah, the Goodell letter about helping SD has to sting a little in St. Louis...

The St. Louis Media and powers that be never understood that about the scenario. Enos Stanley Kroenke wanted out of St. Louis and as soon the CVC did not own up to their end of the lease agreement, the Rams had the right to relocate. Hey Hochman, it's not the NFL, it was the CVC that is who you need to go after. They should've agreed to the 700 million in upgrades and I don't care if they would have had to shut the convention center down for a year, but they just never will understand that.

Isnt 100 mill of the 300 mill to which he speaks coming from the decision to allow the Rams to relocate to Los Angeles? IE, "Home"

dieterbrock wrote:Isnt 100 mill of the 300 mill to which he speaks coming from the decision to allow the Rams to relocate to Los Angeles? IE, "Home"

Yes and the other 200 is from the G4, not sure if it's discussed in the article since I didn't read it.

den-the-coach wrote:The St. Louis Media and powers that be never understood that about the scenario. Enos Stanley Kroenke wanted out of St. Louis and as soon the CVC did not own up to their end of the lease agreement, the Rams had the right to relocate. Hey Hochman, it's not the NFL, it was the CVC that is who you need to go after. They should've agreed to the 700 million in upgrades and I don't care if they would have had to shut the convention center down for a year, but they just never will understand that.

But that would be admitting that St. Louis is at least a little to blame for losing the Rams. Those guys ain't gonna admit that. In reality, St. Louis is the only one crying foul. The rest of the country could care less about their plight.

OldSchool wrote:

dieterbrock wrote:Isnt 100 mill of the 300 mill to which he speaks coming from the decision to allow the Rams to relocate to Los Angeles? IE, "Home"

Yes and the other 200 is from the G4, not sure if it's discussed in the article since I didn't read it.

The article is implying that Goodell told St Louis there was no way they could get 300 mill and now he is rolling out 300 mill on a red carpet for San Diego.
But clearly he isn't doing any research because the "extra" 100 mill is part of the Rams move to LA. Both San Diego and Oakland were going to get additional funds (100 mill) to work on a new stadium

So its apples to oranges

We've seen years of mis-reporting out of StL. Why should thing change. Let them live in their bubble. I'm no longer interested.

And St. Louis wanted to count that $100 mil as public money whereas the SD $100 mil is for Spanos.

The NFL is the owners so naturally it looks out for the owners.

The players have their union looking our for them.

Mayb the NFL cities need to form some kind of group to represent them and look out for their interests because the NFL certainly isn't going to do it...

It all comes back to separating emotion from facts. Unfortunately a lot of people on one side of this relocation aren't able to separate them and look at the facts honestly.