[Elvis]

VIDEO: Ex-LA Ram Dickerson says playing at LA Coliseum instead of Anaheim would’ve made significant difference

Eric Geller
June 23, 2015 7:44 PM

With the inevitable return of the NFL to the City of Angels after two decades and, ironically, the Rams being the odds on favorite team that kicks off in Los Angeles as soon as 2016, what if the Rams had never left the City of Los Angeles for Orange County in 1980?

The Rams called the L.A. Memorial Coliseum home for 34 years prior to moving to Anaheim where they played in “The Big A” 15 more years before heading east to St. Louis after the 1994 season.

In the late 1970s, late Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom wanted to stay at the Coliseum and offered to pay half the renovation cost making the stadium – which was built in 1923 – as state-of-the-art as possible with luxury boxes being part of the landmark’s sprucing up. The Coliseum Commission declined Rosenbloom’s offer because they were seeking to secure the 1984 Summer Olympics, which they were successful in doing.

The Rams and the NFL were basically sacrificed for 16 days of athletic events in the Summer of ‘84 which included the steeplechase. Rosenbloom took his Rams to Anaheim which welcomed them and the NFL with open arms.

The season before the move south, Rosenbloom died in a drowning accident off the coast of Florida. That would change the Rams’ fortunes in Southern California because his widow, Georgia — who took ownership of the franchise and was a St. Louis native, wasn’t in favor of the move to Anaheim.

Eventual Hall-of-Fame running back Eric Dickerson was drafted by the Rams in 1983 with the second overall pick and was an immediate sensation, rushing for a rookie record 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning him rookie of the year honors.

The following season, Dickerson set a new single-season rushing record surpassing the 2003 yard mark set by O.J. Simpson in 1973 tallying 2,105 yards.

With quarterback Jim Everett, some sleek wide receivers, an offensive line built to open holes for Dickerson and a defense littered with all-pros at every position, the Rams seemed ready to go after a Super Bowl title.

Contract issues with management derailed Dickerson and the Rams the next couple of seasons and he was subsequently dealt to Indianapolis on Halloween 1987.

What if the Rams had never left the Coliseum? There’s always the possibility that the Rams 1983 draft position might’ve been different and Dickerson wouldn’t have been selected. But what if the Rams had stayed in the City of Los Angeles and Dickerson set those records at the Coliseum? Would he have gotten a pay raise and never requested a trade?

Would the Rams have won a Super Bowl and never have left for St. Louis?

Dickerson couldn’t control the Rams move to the Midwest after the ’94 season but I asked him if his career would’ve been different if he played for the Rams at the L.A. Coliseum, instead of 35 miles south at Anaheim Stadium.

[Hacksaw]

And the Raiders probably wouldn't have even come to LA if the Rams stayed in the coliseum. The Rams would have never left. CR set up the move, he dies and she moves? That is really on CR.

1984. Wasn't that when the world was supposed to end? 1984 Olympics huh? That kinda frosts me,,,, again.

Anyway, I missed why former LA pro football stars are together signing things together? NFL promo? charity?

[Elvis]

Yeah, moving to Anaheim was a mistake. The Rams were rockstars/movie stars in L.A. They threw that away. And that one isn't on Georgia.

I think both the videos were shot here: