A Letter to San Diego from Joe Foss

Los Angeles to San Diego to Carson: same topic, different matter: Qualcomm Stadium nee Jack Murphy Stadium nee San Diego Stadium.

2015, Chargers apparently on their last legs San Diego, Raiders farther north Oakland same, AFL originals on the verge moving elsewhere, the process bidding adieu two – my opinion – great stadiums… or at least they were.

Are they really in such disrepair now or is it moreso ol ‘keeping up with the NFL Jone$’ mindset? Why settle for X million $ result amenities & naming rights when starting from scratch and building a ‘brand new’ cathedral could bring XX more millions fans and $?

I visited San Diego Stadium when it opened 1967, and Oakland Alameda same its debut 1966, both cases my Chiefs playing @SD and @OAK regular season games. While I have not been to either in years (have driven past each since), find it hard to believe one/both is today considered passe & among the worst in pro football, which is what I’ve read – guess that makes me a non-progressive old fart. The deux were beautiful at the time their inception, and on reflection I immediately think of Arrowhead Stadium in KC.

Built 1972, Arrowhead is almost as old as SD & OAK’s stadium’s, but in lieu wrecking ball taken to it, was refurbished a couple of years ago. Shy greed (what, the NFL greedy?) why the same tack couldn’t be considered/implemented SD/OAK, bewildering. Lambeau Field Green Bay was renovated/updated & Wrigley Field Chicago MLB Cubs same recently, Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, etc. Of course logistics any venue vary, is that really what the problem is?

What do I know: still pine for Municipal Stadium where my Chiefs ruled supreme 1963-1971. Seriously, feel for Chargers/Raiders fans should they lose their teams & if the only way to legitimately’ entice younger fans today is with bells & whistles ad nauseam, am happy that I came of age same decade that the AFL did, and still get warm fuzzies returning in memory ‘those thrilling days yesteryear.’
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BEGIN RANT

That too often ‘fans’ today appear more interested in making their own entertainment, sad.

I always found the game itself the entertainment, not what was happening up in the stands, or via the self-aggrandizing tack some – too many, in fact the modern day players, and for the most routine of matters: a first down gained early in the game, an pass defensed, punt inside the 20 – ‘thump that chest, point skyward & beat your gums at the opponent!’

There was passion in the game yesteryear too, we just didn’t need to be reminded of it via showy demonstratives every play or at minimum every series all game long. The ‘action’ was the show, not the exhibitionists who proliferate ad nauseam, today. Really, imagine Dawson or Alworth or Daniels, Ladd or Buoniconti or Saimes et al dancin’ & prancin’ and generally making an *** out of themselves. As Dawson once said, ‘there’s a time and a place to fool, but the playing field is neither the time nor the place.” Len also said upon throwing a td pass to a wide receiver, post game comment: “We got the ball to him” – WE – not me, myself and I.

Guess that’s what fans today want… the ‘I’ndividualism of the game; seems like being at the zoo, circus or theater to me, watching all these thespian’s at work, afield. The fans are no better: interfering with a ball the field of play (yes, I recall that Texans game in Boston 1961 when a Patriots fan batted down a ball the endzone… guess the Pats were cheating a long time before they got caught at it ad nauseam, more recently 🙂

Today, things are epidemic: it has almost become expected, baseball especially, to reach onto/into the field of play over a wall etc. and interfere with the ball. Swatting beach balls around (Dodger Stadium), partaking ear-piercing noise (they call it music the same stadium) and watching grown men preen, machinate, grab crotch, thump chest, sky point to the sky, wear hats askew, flip bats & celebrate each success no matter how minute: first down or even a touchdown scored when their own team is down by only, oh, say 35 points.

Yes, by all means NFL, build that new multi-million – check that – an expected $2 BILLION nod to excess/avarice in Carson, California. Mr. concessionaire to a family at checkout: “Alright lets see: that’s 3 hotdogs, 3 drinks, pack of peanuts, a candy bar & one cotton candy: that’ll be $100.” (this in addition to what what you paid for parking, of course.)

🙁