Plaschke & Zelasco, jist pizzin me off

[Loyal]

I decided that in the new Los Angeles Ram era, I would switch from the mourning and anger of Bernie M on St Louis radio and go to the station of record covering the LA relocation drama, the Beast 980..Before this, I read an article on the LA Times website that happened to be written by Plaschke, trying to tell the Rams (paraphrase) "Welcome, but we didn't need you..and you better win or else"..

Some of that is justified. But Plaschke, and to a lesser extent Zelasco, the assume this Rams team just sucks because of their last 10 years or so. Yes, thats a true statement but also misleading. We HAVE sucked, but that doesn't mean that with the right moves, the Rams don't go to the playoffs this year. It's just the same ham handed, lack of knowledge analysis you expect from the ESPN morons. They then had D'Marco Farr, current 101ESPN Rams coverage guy in ST Louis, and former LA/St. Louis Ram, on as a guest. His excitement about the team was infectious. It changed me from being pissed about Plaschke's cr@p, excited about the Rams playoff level defense, improving young Oline, and Todd Freaking Gurley. We are one QB away essentially from being a dangerous team. I maybe more optimistic than most, but that's who I am.

All I know, is that if Farr ends up on LA Sports Talk Radio, I am tuning into that station. Eff the too cool for school know-it-alls, that do not yet know anything about the team.

PS: Farr is getting pressure from many California family members to come on out to LA. He is twisted because St Louis is his home now. He has had children born in Missouri and feels a real connection to the town. But really, he is employed as the football knowledge guy in ST Louis, although he has educated himself on all things St Louis sports. Anyway, they are replaying his comments every so often on 980, and it's a pretty nice audition "tape" if anything.

 

[LACHAMP46]

We HAVE sucked, but that doesn't mean that with the right moves, the Rams don't go to the playoffs this year.

In LA, the Rams have usually won....not a SB, but pretty much mainstays in the playoffs. I'd expect as much in 2016. So will most fans......

 

[Loyal]

In LA, the Rams have usually won....not a SB, but pretty much mainstays in the playoffs. I'd expect as much in 2016. So will most fans......

Yes, but it irks me when a no-knowledge asshat talks like he knows the team (Plaschke)....He was cowed somewhat after Farr and Ian Rapaport spoke truly about who/what the Rams are NOW.

 

[Young Ram]

I feel like the players will be excited to play for LA and wanting to prove that this is actually a solid football team that just needs consistent QB play and with that will give us a playoff birth.

 

[Psycho_X]

I feel like the players will be excited to play for LA and wanting to prove that this is actually a solid football team that just needs consistent QB play and with that will give us a playoff birth.

So basically the same thing that the Rams have put on the field for the last four years now. Maybe the QB thing will happen one of these days.

 

[Akrasian]

I don't live in either city, but know both cities sports writing thanks to being a Dodger, Laker and Rams fan. Plaschke is one of the biggest reasons I wanted the Rams to stay in SL. He is horrendous 99% of the time - I mean, he makes Bernie look good.

 

[RAMBUSH]

Ii been saying it all year! " tis the year of the Ram!

 

[Merlin]

I really hope Demarco follows the team. He's a great RAMS personality and I'll miss him if he doesn't.

 

[rdlkgliders]

"Truth" There will be a tremendous amount of pressure on the Rams more than most teams and more than an expansion team. As you all know they were here once and left for a mini move South to the Big A while doing so the majority of Fans were apathetic and less than supporting of what grew into a losing team. By the time the Rams left Anaheim support was very low Angelino's and those behind the Orange curtain alike would visit the big A when there team was in town. The pressure is on and the window of opportunity is small The Rams will need to win and win early to garnish support by those fans that have either given up and moved on or never supported in the first place. Yes 24 years have passed so we have a new generation of fans however these fans have most likely staked claim to there own teams or the teams of their parents. In the age of easy access having a team in your home town while still great has never been less important to the majority of fans.
If the Rams stumble out of the gate and another team comes to LA the Rams will find themselves speeding toward insignificance like they did before and fans will fill the new stadium with the opposing teams colors. You see you can call LA finicky, Fair weather or..... But the Rams have in most eyes not established a legacy of giving back to the Fan here in LA. The Dodgers and Lakers with their Championships and mostly great ownership have connected and can afford a period of rebuilding or even less than stellar success. The Clippers as an Example after many losing seasons here and poor ownership have never until recently with the ownership change and the team having some success garnered any support.
I am very cautious in my expectations for the Rams fanbase here and hope the hierarchy is very clear that more than any team they will be scrutinized and watched and will need to find success to find support. I will be at the Stadium either way I just hope when I look acrossed it I see Blue and Gold

 

[Loyal]

"Truth" There will be a tremendous amount of pressure on the Rams more than most teams and more than an expansion team. As you all know they were here once and left for a mini move South to the Big A while doing so the majority of Fans were apathetic and less than supporting of what grew into a losing team. By the time the Rams left Anaheim support was very low Angelino's and those behind the Orange curtain alike would visit the big A when there team was in town. The pressure is on and the window of opportunity is small The Rams will need to win and win early to garnish support by those fans that have either given up and moved on or never supported in the first place. Yes 24 years have passed so we have a new generation of fans however these fans have most likely staked claim to there own teams or the teams of their parents. In the age of easy access having a team in your home town while still great has never been less important to the majority of fans.
If the Rams stumble out of the gate and another team comes to LA the Rams will find themselves speeding toward insignificance like they did before and fans will fill the new stadium with the opposing teams colors. You see you can call LA finicky, Fair weather or..... But the Rams have in most eyes not established a legacy of giving back to the Fan here in LA. The Dodgers and Lakers with their Championships and mostly great ownership have connected and can afford a period of rebuilding or even less than stellar success. The Clippers as an Example after many losing seasons here and poor ownership have never until recently with the ownership change and the team having some success garnered any support.
I am very cautious in my expectations for the Rams fanbase here and hope the hierarchy is very clear that more than any team they will be scrutinized and watched and will need to find success to find support. I will be at the Stadium either way I just hope when I look acrossed it I see Blue and Gold

Yeah, but the other team will most likely be the Chargers.....I have never respected them and don't care about them..and I wasn't the only one when I lived in LA that felt that way....The Raiders, they are not.

 

[DaveFan'51]

I'm looking forward to being able to go to Rams Home games when-ever I want!! And pre-game Fun with other ROD members, both local ones and out-of-town visitors!!!!!illowfight:

 

[DR RAM]

FYI, Plaschke is Bernie, don't give him one second of your time. Guys think that they are hard hitting journalists, but mostly these old guys are just assholes. Hopefully, they will find someone young, and someone who loves the Rams to cover them.

 

[Boston Ram]

"Truth" There will be a tremendous amount of pressure on the Rams more than most teams and more than an expansion team. As you all know they were here once and left for a mini move South to the Big A while doing so the majority of Fans were apathetic and less than supporting of what grew into a losing team. By the time the Rams left Anaheim support was very low Angelino's and those behind the Orange curtain alike would visit the big A when there team was in town. The pressure is on and the window of opportunity is small The Rams will need to win and win early to garnish support by those fans that have either given up and moved on or never supported in the first place. Yes 24 years have passed so we have a new generation of fans however these fans have most likely staked claim to there own teams or the teams of their parents. In the age of easy access having a team in your home town while still great has never been less important to the majority of fans.
If the Rams stumble out of the gate and another team comes to LA the Rams will find themselves speeding toward insignificance like they did before and fans will fill the new stadium with the opposing teams colors. You see you can call LA finicky, Fair weather or..... But the Rams have in most eyes not established a legacy of giving back to the Fan here in LA. The Dodgers and Lakers with their Championships and mostly great ownership have connected and can afford a period of rebuilding or even less than stellar success. The Clippers as an Example after many losing seasons here and poor ownership have never until recently with the ownership change and the team having some success garnered any support.
I am very cautious in my expectations for the Rams fanbase here and hope the hierarchy is very clear that more than any team they will be scrutinized and watched and will need to find success to find support. I will be at the Stadium either way I just hope when I look acrossed it I see Blue and Gold

Truth is its very difficult to build a fan base when you keep switching cities.

 

[Ramhusker]

How long before Ram's players start showing up in Hollywood movies roles?

 

[rdlkgliders]

Aaron Donald as "The Terminator" in "Bagged and Buried"

 

[RAMBUSH]

I will be driving from scenic minersville Pennsylvania to Los Angeles to see the horns.
As the infamous Eric Dickerson said " welcome home"

 

[WestCoastRam]

I haven't read a ton of Sam Farmer but he's seems decent, hopefully he can be good on the beat.

 

[Young Ram]

So basically the same thing that the Rams have put on the field for the last four years now. Maybe the QB thing will happen one of these days.

Yea maybe if we had a QB who played all 16 games instead of flip flopping through the season...

Plus we have more talent than we did 4 years ago. Another solid draft will put us over the hump IMO.

 

[RamzFanz]

Holy shit the arrogance! Just so laughably shallow and narcissistic! His entire argument is we are fairweather bandwagon fans and couldn't care less about a team if you don't win?!

LA needs to run this douche off.

Bill Plasckhe

Welcome back, NFL. Welcome home, Rams. Welcome, maybe, Chargers.

Now get to work, all of you.

Certainly, it's worth celebrating Tuesday's vote by the NFL owners to approve the return of this country's national pastime to Los Angeles after a 21-year absence.



It's interesting that the Chargers, born here, have the approval to possibly become a second team in the proposed Inglewood sports palace.

But, dear football folks, this town doesn't throw parades for just showing up.

The sports landscape around here has changed dramatically in the last two decades, and there are some things you should know.

First, we didn't ask you to come back. Oh, we may have whined occasionally during Super Bowl weeks, but we didn't hold giant rallies or send emotional letters or really miss you that much. We play fantasy football, we watch DirecTV, we drive to Las Vegas for a three-team parlay. We've had our fill of the NFL without actually having a team.

Lakers on Sunday nights in the winter.

Second, we're not paying for you to come back. Every place else you've gone, the grateful locals have slipped you a few bucks to show up, but not here, not even close, which is probably why it took 21 years for you to return.

We didn't pry open civic pocketbooks or agree to any special taxes like some of those other smaller towns. We're sophisticated enough to understand that you're not a hospital or firehouse, that billionaires shouldn't need handouts to bankroll their pigskin parties.



So understand first that you're here because you want to be here and because you think you can make money here, not because anybody was dying to see you again. Consider yourself lucky to be back on our turf. And while you're here, you'll have to play by our three simple rules:

You must win. You must entertain. You must do both with the sort of decency and integrity that makes us feel comfortable enduring long lines of traffic, long lines at bathrooms, and mosh pits in parking lots for a chance to watch you play.

We've done that at Dodger Stadium and the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum, and we'll do that for you. But you have to earn it.

You must learn from Frank McCourt. The former Dodgers owner tried to cheat us and we ran him out of town.



You must learn from Donald Sterling. The former Clippers owner embarrassed us so we ignored him for years, until the NBA finally ran him out of town.

The NFL has made plenty of money off a tribal mentality among its fans, but we don't think like that. Sports is not our obligation, it's our entertainment, and when the fun stops, we stop showing up. You lose, we're gone. You take us for granted, we're gone.

We don't owe you cheers — even Kobe Bryant has been booed here. We don't owe you unconditional love — even with three consecutive division titles, the Dodgers brand has been splintered by an ownership group that refuses to fix a contact that has left more than half their fans unable to watch on television.

Watching the NFL march back through our door is like watching the return of a quiet, beloved relative who left home to become rich and famous. Now that he's back and wants everyone to join his party, well, hmmm.



When the Rams left town, they were viewed as a sweet neighborhood operation whose players weren't too proud to participate in an infamously corny music video — "Let's Ram It!" — and whose most ardent fans wore watermelons on their heads. But these Rams are coming back as an ATM for the reticent Stan Kroenke, and are a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 11 years.

The Rams' evolution has mirrored that of its league. The NFL has become the biggest and coldest of businesses, run by owners who have trivialized domestic abuse, covered up the effect of concussions, and mishandled legitimate cheating allegations against its most celebrated player, all in the last couple of seasons.

But there is much potential here, because the NFL is also about community. Just ask those purple-bundled fans sitting in below-zero temperatures in Minnesota last weekend, or the roaring sea of orange that can be found in Denver this weekend, or the thousands of screaming "12s" who show up all season in Seattle.

The NFL has become a shared experience like none other in sports, with a unique ability to connect even the most diverse neighborhoods in a weekly experience that for its most ardent fans has become sacred habit. Because it is as powerful on television as it is in person, because it owns every Sunday between September and February, and because its players represent helmeted superheroes unlike those found in any other league, the NFL owns the sports landscape in nearly every community it exists.

At least, everywhere else. And maybe here one day. But it's not going to be easy.

The Rams and Chargers can't just untie a bag of footballs, roll them across the Coliseum floor, and expect everyone to bow and pay $150 for the privilege.

The Lakers and Dodgers run this joint, and college football teams are giants, and nobody wins like the Kings, and nobody has more drama than the Clippers, and in 21 years Los Angeles has become arguably the nation's most interesting sports town — without the national pastime's help.

Welcome back, NFL. Now make us glad we missed you.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-la-plaschke-20160113-column.html

 

[RamzFanz]

We're sophisticated enough to understand that you're not a hospital or firehouse, that billionaires shouldn't need handouts to bankroll their pigskin parties.

No dude, you're just large, you idiot. If LA were small, they too would have to dish out money for a team, you dimwit! Sophisticated enough?! Sophisticated enough?! What an asshat!

My god, this Bernie on steroids!