Reiter des Sturms
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22.03.2019 02:46
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ST. LOUIS - A former Anheuser-Busch executive and a prominent lawyer, both experienced in dealing with the NFL, have been tapped by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to consider options that will ensure the future of pro football in St. Louis.Nixon announced the appointment Wednesday of former A-B president David Peacock and suburban St. Louis attorney Robert Blitz to analyze the troublesome stadium issue that is threatening to send the St. Louis Rams packing, and to present options within 60 days.We are prepared to look at serious options to remain an NFL city, Nixon said.Rams coach Jeff Fisher was staying out of it, saying after practice Wednesday the team needed to prepare for this weeks game at Arizona. Fisher said the issue hadnt been discussed with players.Their focus, as well as the staffs focus, is on Arizona, Fisher said.Fisher had no reaction on a personal level, either.Again, Im focused on the game, OK? Fisher said. Again, Im in no place to comment. Im coaching this team, this teams playing the Cardinals, and thats where we are with that.Most players said they were powerless, that the decision was out of their hands, although one player said, not for attribution: Rams aint going nowhere.Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said the news was exciting for a phenomenal fan base that deserves a winning football team and a first-class stadium.But we have no say in it, Laurinaitis said. Its a start, but our bigger concern is the Arizona Cardinals. They have one loss.The organization issued a non-committal statement Wednesday night that read, We have spoken with the Governors office and we will meet with the task force.Nixon said Peacock worked directly with the league on advertising and marketing while with A-B, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame advisory board. Blitz was part of the legal team that helped bring the Rams to St. Louis and is legal counsel to the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority.The Rams moved to St. Louis from Los Angeles in 1995. Early that season, what is now known as the Edward Jones Dome opened. The stadium was built with tax money and is operated by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission.The 30-year lease between the convention commission and the Rams requires that the stadium be among the top quarter of NFL stadiums, and it clearly isnt. As a result, the team can break the lease after this season — and potentially move. Rumours of a return to Los Angeles have swirled.I let the guys upstairs take care of it, guard Rodger Saffold said. This is all I know, St. Louis is all I know, so it doesnt matter whether its here or there I play for the Rams.Negotiations about upgrades began in early 2012. The commission proposed a new glass addition, outdoor terraces and a huge new scoreboard — improvements of less than $200 million. It proposed that the Rams pick up half the cost.The Rams countered with a far more elaborate plan that included a sliding roof, reconfigured seating and other amenities. The Rams didnt estimate the cost, but city officials said it would be at least $700 million. The convention commission informed the Rams last year that the dome would not get the upgrades that the team requested.Recent speculation, including on TV and radio talk shows and in newspaper columns, has focused on a potential new stadium either in the city or St. Louis County.Its not clear how construction of either dome improvements or a new stadium would be funded. One option would be to extend the funding mechanism for the dome. Repayment for the 30-year bonds that financed it will total $720 million. The state of Missouri pays $12 million annually toward that debt; the city and St. Louis County pay $6 million each.We have funding streams that folks have gotten very used to, Nixon said.Michael Rathbone, policy researcher for the St. Louis-based think-tank Show-Me Institute, said additional public funding would be a mistake.Theres no justification on an economic basis to do so, Rathbone said. It wouldnt generate any economic benefit either through personal income growth or job creation.Nixon said the economic impact of having an NFL team extends long beyond Sunday afternoon, and sends a clear signal that this city is a worldwide player. He said the 60-day deadline for the analysis is important because he wants to communicate options to the Rams before Jan. 28 — the deadline the team set to provide notice of their intent to convert the dome lease to year to year.___Salter reported from Kansas City, Missouri.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Ryan Giggs says there is no excuse for Manchester Uniteds poor start to the season and insists the players, not manager David Moyes, are to blame. United has won only two of its opening six matches in the English Premier League - its worst start to a season in 24 years - and is 12th in the standings. Much of the spotlight has fallen on Moyes, Alex Fergusons hand-picked replacement, but Giggs believes the team should take responsibility. "Sir Alex was a great manager and a great influence on the team and the club. You are going to miss someone like that," Giggs said. "But I dont think that is an excuse when individuals arent playing as well as they can. We are not playing well as a team. "We havent got injury problems as we have had in the past. There is no excuse." United was held to 1-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday in the Champions League and Giggs came off the substitutes bench to make his 145th appearance in the competition, a tournament record. Accolades for the 39-year-old however, were in contrast to Uniteds form, which has seen the team win only one of its last four games overall. A shock 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion at home in the Premier League last weekend came six days after a galling 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Manchester City, meaning United trails league leader Arsenal by eight points. ";It hasnt been a great start to the season but the good thing about that is we have plenty of time to turn it round," Giggs said.dddddddddddd "We know what this club is like, it is ups and downs and we dont get carried away if we are flying and we dont get carried away when we are not playing well." Ferguson famously endured a difficult start to his tenure at Old Trafford and after finishing 11th in his third season in charge, many supporters called for him to be sacked. Uniteds hierarchy stood firm and Ferguson went on to lift 38 trophies in 27 years. Moyes is counting on the club to show similar patience for him and is adamant he is the right man to lead United forward. "Manchester United is a good club, I am sure they know they picked the right man for the job. Sir Alex was part of that process as well," Moyes said on Friday. "Its a long season. Well hang in there and get ourselves as close to the top as soon as we can." On Saturday, United play bottom club Sunderland, which recently sacked manager Paolo Di Canio but showed signs of revival last weekend against Liverpool. Kevin Ball has taken temporary stewardship of Sunderland. "Whether he gets the job or not nobody knows," Moyes said, "but Sunderland look as if they played quite well in the last couple of games." ' ' ' |
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