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- Jun 20, 2010
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- The Dude
Jeff Gordon
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/see-st-louis----kroenke-really-does-care/article_4930632e-3e29-11e1-9d1f-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1jNsinq2b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1jNsinq2b</a>
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/07/d078b8b8-3c49-11e1-8734-001a4bcf6878/4f0d7671615fc.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]Rams fans wondered if Stan Kroenke would be a savior or a failure once he gained full control of the franchise.
The doubts intensified as the bumbling Rams staggered to a 2-14 finish during his first full season as majority owner.
Fans wanted Kroenke to fire failed coach Steve Spagnuolo in midseason, but Stan wanted to give him every opportunity to overcome the tough schedule and ugly injuries that made life difficult for the Rams.
Fans wanted Kroenke to comment publicly after each exasperating loss, but that is not Stan’s style. He paid close attention while remaining in the background, deliberately out of sight.
Fans wondered if Kroenke was intentionally losing to make it easier to move the team to Los Angeles once he gets out of his current stadium lease.
Unrest in Ram Nation built toward a crescendo -- then Kroenke took swift action. He fired Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney the morning after the season’s final loss.
Kroenke articulated his distaste for losing and described his desire to build an organization that emulated the uncanny success of the New England Patriots.
He immediately made his play for Jeff Fisher, the best available head coaching candidate on the market. The Dolphins also made a splashy bid for him, but Kroenke won the marathon bidding war.
When Fisher asked the tough questions, Kroenke had the right answers. They clicked off the items on Jeff’s checklist:
Salary commensurate with his experience and success? Kroenke was willing to pay that, even if he didn't put those numbers in formal offer form right away.
Coaching budget sufficient to hire top-of-the-line coordinators and assistant coaches? Stan was willing to do that, too.
Select a compatible personnel expert to man the general manager’s chair? Kroenke assured Fisher he could tailor the football operation to his liking. He was willing to hire his coach, then fill in the blanks on the personnel side. The Dolphins would not go there.
Fisher met with Sam Bradford to make sure the lad was prepared to lead this team forward. Fisher allowed Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to persist with his pitch – out of courtesy and his natural desire to maximize negotiating leverage – and then finally committed to the Rams.
This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams' future success, but it gives the franchise its best opportunity to reverse its downward course. Fisher simply will not indulge the habitual failure that marked the Spagnuolo Regime.
This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams will remain in St. Louis forever and ever. Kroenke will use that escape clause in his stadium lease to strike favorable deals going forward.
If he can’t strike those deals going forward, then, sure, he would be willing to explore options. Business is business.
But this hiring will energize the long-suffering Rams fans base, keep the revenue stream flowing and create a healthier business environment for the franchise.
From this corner of cyberspace, we’re betting that Kroenke strikes an interim deal to stay in an upgraded Edward Jones Dome while he explores new stadium options in this region. But if government officials don't won't to play ball . . . well, let's not dwell on that today.
By hiring Fisher, Kroenke answered all the immediate concerns about his commitment to succeeding in St. Louis.
Yes, he cares. Yes, he hates to lose.
Yes, he is willing to dig into his very deep pockets to hire a top head coach and elite assistants.
Yes, he is willing to allow a strong football man to create the new blueprint for his football operation.
After the nightmarish season ended, Kroenke expressed his desire to win and then backed it up with his vast resources.
Will the hiring pay off? We shall see in the years ahead.
In the meantime fans can rest assured that the owner of their franchise is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/see-st-louis----kroenke-really-does-care/article_4930632e-3e29-11e1-9d1f-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1jNsinq2b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1jNsinq2b</a>
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/07/d078b8b8-3c49-11e1-8734-001a4bcf6878/4f0d7671615fc.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]Rams fans wondered if Stan Kroenke would be a savior or a failure once he gained full control of the franchise.
The doubts intensified as the bumbling Rams staggered to a 2-14 finish during his first full season as majority owner.
Fans wanted Kroenke to fire failed coach Steve Spagnuolo in midseason, but Stan wanted to give him every opportunity to overcome the tough schedule and ugly injuries that made life difficult for the Rams.
Fans wanted Kroenke to comment publicly after each exasperating loss, but that is not Stan’s style. He paid close attention while remaining in the background, deliberately out of sight.
Fans wondered if Kroenke was intentionally losing to make it easier to move the team to Los Angeles once he gets out of his current stadium lease.
Unrest in Ram Nation built toward a crescendo -- then Kroenke took swift action. He fired Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney the morning after the season’s final loss.
Kroenke articulated his distaste for losing and described his desire to build an organization that emulated the uncanny success of the New England Patriots.
He immediately made his play for Jeff Fisher, the best available head coaching candidate on the market. The Dolphins also made a splashy bid for him, but Kroenke won the marathon bidding war.
When Fisher asked the tough questions, Kroenke had the right answers. They clicked off the items on Jeff’s checklist:
Salary commensurate with his experience and success? Kroenke was willing to pay that, even if he didn't put those numbers in formal offer form right away.
Coaching budget sufficient to hire top-of-the-line coordinators and assistant coaches? Stan was willing to do that, too.
Select a compatible personnel expert to man the general manager’s chair? Kroenke assured Fisher he could tailor the football operation to his liking. He was willing to hire his coach, then fill in the blanks on the personnel side. The Dolphins would not go there.
Fisher met with Sam Bradford to make sure the lad was prepared to lead this team forward. Fisher allowed Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to persist with his pitch – out of courtesy and his natural desire to maximize negotiating leverage – and then finally committed to the Rams.
This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams' future success, but it gives the franchise its best opportunity to reverse its downward course. Fisher simply will not indulge the habitual failure that marked the Spagnuolo Regime.
This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams will remain in St. Louis forever and ever. Kroenke will use that escape clause in his stadium lease to strike favorable deals going forward.
If he can’t strike those deals going forward, then, sure, he would be willing to explore options. Business is business.
But this hiring will energize the long-suffering Rams fans base, keep the revenue stream flowing and create a healthier business environment for the franchise.
From this corner of cyberspace, we’re betting that Kroenke strikes an interim deal to stay in an upgraded Edward Jones Dome while he explores new stadium options in this region. But if government officials don't won't to play ball . . . well, let's not dwell on that today.
By hiring Fisher, Kroenke answered all the immediate concerns about his commitment to succeeding in St. Louis.
Yes, he cares. Yes, he hates to lose.
Yes, he is willing to dig into his very deep pockets to hire a top head coach and elite assistants.
Yes, he is willing to allow a strong football man to create the new blueprint for his football operation.
After the nightmarish season ended, Kroenke expressed his desire to win and then backed it up with his vast resources.
Will the hiring pay off? We shall see in the years ahead.
In the meantime fans can rest assured that the owner of their franchise is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.