Views: 2611
Comments: 15

09:13 AM ET 03.16 | What Philip Anschutz did Thursday was say he'd had enough. No more sucking up to the NFL. No more nicey-nice. He has spent his money, $45 million of it, and is done with game-playing and endless chatter. The gauntlet is down. The cocktail-party schmoozing is over. The NFL is now playing directly with an equal. It may not like that, but it will like his cash. Ego-clashing often best ends with check-writing. There are still reasons for this not to end well for Los Angeles. But if it doesn't, at least we should know sooner rather than later. Anschutz is done with the dawdling. In the past, the NFL has talked and darted, agreed and rescinded. What was today is never tomorrow. Its favorite ploy was to ask for $20 and, at pay time, to say, oh, we meant $120. The content and tone of everything Anschutz said Thursday was clear. The summary quote: "The NFL should come to L.A... Ultimately, it's my view they will... Not only am I optimistic, but I'm willing to back it with considerable money." Here's guessing the NFL read that.

Philip Anschutz, Harry How/Getty Images

Comments (15) Add A Comment

March 16, 2013 09:20 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Don't Come To LA, Bros.

I Love LA

Total Comments (5564)

March 16, 2013 09:26 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Much ado about nothing.

Daffy Duck

Total Comments (1188)

March 16, 2013 09:29 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Cajones. The whole league could use a few more of them.

SteveDallas

Amarillo, TX

Total Comments (2428)

March 16, 2013 09:34 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:26 AM ET 03.16 by Daffy Duck

Much ado about nothing.

I agree. It is just about a 73 old multi billionaire who found something he could not buy because the other side of the table has 32 billionaires who do not need his money....no sympathy for him. And the league is making record profits every year without LA.

50yearfan

Total Comments (11131)

March 16, 2013 09:53 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:34 AM ET 03.16 by 50yearfan

It is just about a 73 old multi billionaire who found something he could not buy because the other side of the table has 32 billionaires who do not need his money....no sympathy for him. And the league is making record profits every year without LA.

This.

Melman

Total Comments (17541)

March 16, 2013 09:57 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:20 AM ET 03.16 by I Love LA

Don't Come To LA, Bros.

As long as Phil thinks he can bully the NFL around - they won't.

Otis B. Driftwood

Total Comments (30449)

March 16, 2013 09:59 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

And - like it or not - Phil Anschutz does not equal NFL.

Otis B. Driftwood

Total Comments (30449)

March 16, 2013 10:38 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Sorry Phillip get in Line of NFL haters!!!!!!!

Not4Nutten

Total Comments (9815)

March 16, 2013 11:08 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 10:38 AM ET 03.16 by Not4Nutten

Sorry Phillip get in Line of NFL haters!!!!!!!

NFL haters = spurned, potential owners, on the outside looking in.

Melman

Total Comments (17541)

March 16, 2013 11:11 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:59 AM ET 03.16 by Otis B. Driftwood

And - like it or not - Phil Anschutz does not equal NFL.

L.A. doesn't equal NFL right now. No top-shelf team is going to risk a move (and alienation of their fanbase, at the very least), and it would be hard to imagine any football fans in L.A. getting worked-up over a perennial bottom-feeder coming to town.

Melman

Total Comments (17541)

March 16, 2013 11:21 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:11 AM ET 03.16 by Melman

L.A. doesn't equal NFL right now. No top-shelf team is going to risk a move (and alienation of their fanbase, at the very least), and it would be hard to imagine any football fans in L.A. getting worked-up over a perennial bottom-feeder coming to town.

Add in that I truly believe the last thing the NFL wants is a team in LA. It is the last place they can threaten to move a team to if they do not get their new stadium and lease deal. Their last trump card, there is no place else to go.

50yearfan

Total Comments (11131)

March 16, 2013 11:34 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:11 AM ET 03.16 by Melman

L.A. doesn't equal NFL right now. No top-shelf team is going to risk a move (and alienation of their fanbase, at the very least), and it would be hard to imagine any football fans in L.A. getting worked-up over a perennial bottom-feeder coming to town.

Bottom line here - as long as AEG and LA are in bed together on a new downtown stadium, there is absolutely no way in hell the NFL plants a team there.

No way in hell!

Otis B. Driftwood

Total Comments (30449)

March 16, 2013 12:30 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

More importantly Phillip, will there be any big Easter sales at the home depot this year?

50yearfan

Total Comments (11131)

March 16, 2013 12:31 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

There's no reason to believe the NFL would survive in cash-strapped LA. They lost three teams already if you include the AFL Chargers. I wish Jolly Roger and his band of pirates would stop looking for money where people don't want the NFL, like LA and Europe.