Been a long time since we've talked much about the ownership situation and the Rams "for sale" status, but I came across something worth mentioning from Miklasz in the Post Dispatch.
We've heard before, and this should be no surprise to anyone who's picked up a bankrupt or on-the-verge of bankruptcy newspaper lately, but the economy is making it very, very difficult to buy a football team. You know getting fronted somewhere close to a billion dollars just ain't all that easy nowadays, and if you had a billion to spare a year ago, you don't anymore.
...things are moving slowly on the Rams' sale front. The nation's severe economic problems have inflicted substantial damage to a couple of potential buyers. They backed off to regroup financially.
Of course, for St. Louis-based fans and the city fathers, locating an owner with at least ties to the region because that ups the odds for the team staying in the St. Louis market. One name falling in that category that's been batted around before is that of partisan talk radio maven Rush Limbaugh, but even the controversial media figure has backed off because of the steep hurdles to buying, for now. However, in his post today, Miklasz also offered a suggested partnership to purchase the Rams:
...could it be that August Busch IV and Rush Limbaugh are thinking about teaming together to make a pitch to purchase the Rams? Hmmm. As I said, just wondering.
Obviously, Busch doesn't have as much on his plate anymore, since handing over the reigns of the country's largest beer maker to the Belgian-owned InBev. His to do list may be shorter now, but Busch has a flatboat full of dollars (or Euros) to help make his free time a little more productive. As someone who remembers (fondly for some unknown reason) the glory days of the Cardinals (baseball) being owned by the Busch family, the full-circle aspect of Busch owning the Rams pulls a heart string or two. But Limbaugh...without turning this into a political debate, I'm ambivalent about having someone who's claim to fame and fortune is being a divisive personality (left or right is irrelevant to me in this case) owning a team that I root for. I guess that doesn't matter though, ultimately, but still, am I the only one who feels uncomfortable with the idea?
0 recs | 7 comments
You are not the only one.
I have been a Ram fan for many years but I would have to rethink my allegiance if a political-hate-radio personality became the owner. I’m not sure what I would decide.
WestCoastBuc - December 13, 2008
Why does it matter if it keeps the team in St. Louis?
Oh wait. I see you’re from the West Coast, so that probably doesn’t matter to you. But for those of us in the Heartland, it does. I don’t care who owns the team, as long as the right leadership is in place, they’re committed to winning and the team stays put.
Is it the right wing stuff? Are you afraid the team is going to replace the rams horns with a crucifix? The cheerleaders are going to wear full length dresses? Um…I’m sure I could come up with more, but it really doesn’t matter. The as long as the owner is committed to winning, I’m not sure why anyone would have a problem with him. You aren’t going to be forced to listen to his radio show and you aren’t going to be bashed over the head with politics at the game or during the broadcasts.
To be perfectly honest. Most of whoever is going to buy the teams probably has pretty strong political beliefs that sway strongly to one side or the other (probably to the right but that’s been changing lately), but you don’t know about it because that person isn’t on the radio everyday. Bottom line, Rush has a shitload of money (that’s a scientific term, btw) who net worth is believed to be a billion dollars. Combined with Busch and I think those of us who want the team in St. Louis could sleep a little easier at night knowing the constant rumors of moving the team back just got put to rest for the foreseeable future.
Tackle Box - December 13, 2008
If it resulted in Rush talking about football instead of talking about politics, it might be a good thing. Although, the last time he did that, it didn’t go over too well. Presumably, it would quash any speculation on the Rams trading for Donovan McNabb…
On a serious note, however, it would potentially change the meaning of wearing a Rams jersey or cap, as a fan, if it were synonymous with Limbaugh’s name. If you see any white guy wearing a Bears jersey, you immediately imagine him with a Chicago accent, and possibly Polish or German ancestry. Any black man in a Falcons jersey might make you think of dogfighting. Likewise, wearing a Rams jersey would equate you, in other people’s eyes, with the most infamous midwestern ultra-conservative in the country. And given how bitter he’s going to be in the next four to eight years of Obamatime, that might not be the most pleasant association.
Personally, I’d be thrilled if Augie Busch IV was a buyer. There’s no shame in acquiring an instant association with beer.
taiko - December 13, 2008
Right and Wrong
I would actually like to see the Rams move from StL, since the fans don’t support them there. I think the last Ram home game that was televised where I live was last season and the fans were all chanting “Brett, Brett, Brett”. I can’t imagine anything like that happening across the state where the team is almost as bad as the Rams. And when was the last time KC got a SB title? So yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing them go someplace where they’d be supported even when they are bad.
But no, it is not the right wing stuff. The team could play across the street from where I live but I’m not sure I’d support them if they were owned by a guy whose main message is one of hate, right or left.
WestCoastBuc - December 14, 2008
I think saying 'the fans don't support them there' is a pretty broad statement...
Yes, there were some games that didn’t sell out, but why should a team that plays poorly and without heart, be guaranteed unconditional fan support? I think in general,the fanbase supports this team probably better than they should, and the fact that team management jumped on both Jackson and Incognito when they made their anti-fan statements is proof that they understand…at least that is how I see it.
tbell61 - December 14, 2008
Maybe you are right
I don’t get a very good read on what is going on in St L out here but I get the impression that the only reason there are many fans at all at some of the games is because a lot of fans from the visiting team make the trip. Probably the stories I hear are exaggerated.
WestCoastBuc - December 14, 2008
I'll keep what I think about Limbaugh out of this forum...
because I agree with the “no politics” agreement we have here.
that said, if I can support the Cardinals knowing that Bill DeWitt is a major Republican supporter (remember that Bush has thrown out the first pitch on at least a couple of occasions for the Redbirds…I doubt Obama will be getting an invite anytime soon), and if I can support the Blues, know that their ownership leans to the right (e.g.,the Palin invite), I can support the Rams regardless of whomever the owner is. It’s hard to tell someone who owns the team to check his/her politics at the door, and the example I mentioned above are proof of that. What I care about as a fan and as a consumer are fair ticket prices for the existing market, a determination to put a competitive product on the field and respect for the fanbase.
tbell61 - December 14, 2008
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