PANHANDLING FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM
Each time I read about the effort to bring back football to Southern California, or any other cities, I could not help but felt ashamed. Cities, municipalities, government agencies, and rich private parties shamelessly panhandled football owners for a slot within the industry.
One of the alleged justifications is that jobs would be created as a result of a present of a football franchise.
In addition to legitimate presentation of proposed plans for an expansion team, solicitors wined and dined current team owners, begging for approval. Yet, football is a business in which owners and investors have little or no reciprocal loyalty to local fans. I still remember being deeply hurt the day Al Davis' Raiders mercilessly left Los Angeles.