Well, That's a Load Off My Mind

So you're worried about Georgia's kids selling your St. Louis Rams to owners who will hold the city hostage for a sweetheart new stadium deal, or a sweetheart new stadium, or move the team to parts unknown? You say you can't go through the heartbreak, not to mention the humiliation, of losing another NFL franchise? Well, don't you worry your pretty little head about it. Let Uncle Bernie make it all better:

— OK, so what are Chip and Lucia looking for in a potential owner? Answer: They would like a St. Louis-based buyer to emerge. They want someone who cares deeply about this community, someone who can network the politicians and the corporate bosses, navigate through stadium issues and keep the franchise in St. Louis. . . .

Chip Rosenbloom will try his best to find that happy ending. He'll try to do it to honor the memory of his mother and father, and he'll try to do it for the St. Louis fans. But sooner or later, Chip and Lucia will also have to take care of their own interests.

Oh, I see. Bernie has seen into Chip Rosenbloom's soul, and discovered he's a good guy. Excellent--those sorts of gut level calls always work out well. As far as I'm concerned, all Bernie has demonstrated here is that the new owners will do what's best for them--ie, take the largest offer. It's easy to spout all sorts of inanities about appreciation for what the city meant to his mother; about respecting her wishes; about blah, blah, blah--when you always add the caveat: "Of course, we will have to do what's best for us." That's essentially what's happening here.

Whether Chip is a decent fellow or not is irrelevant. If the best offer keeps the team in St. Louis, fine. If the best offer moves the team elsewhere, he might shed a tear or two, but he'll still take it.

I feel like, as a football city, we've just been given the dreaded vote of confidence. "St. Louis has my full support, for now"; Or how about, "St. Louis is our current football home and will remain so for the foreseeable future."

Such reassurances aren't worth the columns they're parroted in.