IT'S OFFICIAL - RAMS RETURN TO L.A.

Well, folks. . .it's happening. The Rams are returning to Los Angeles! After a grueling 10 hour meeting in Houston, the NFL owner's voted to allow the Rams to leave St. Louis and build a stadium in Inglewood. They will begin play in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum next season (2016) and their new home is scheduled for completion in 2019. The man responsible for this incredible situation is Rams owner Stan Kroenke. It's still somewhat surreal because if someone had told me 20 years ago that the Rams would come home, I would have laughed. WELCOME BACK, RAMS!

BRING 'EM HOME!

Well, it's been quite awhile since I posted here, but this is important news to Rams fans in Los Angeles. After all the rumors and speculation, the intent of the Rams to return to L.A. was made official by this statement on the team's website: "The St. Louis Rams informed the National Football League today that the Rams propose to relocate to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The relocation would be effective for the 2016 NFL League Year."

REMEMBERING THE FINAL GAME IN L.A.

Last month, I was interviewed by Emily Kaplan of Sports Illustrated for a story about the Rams final game in L.A. in 1994. The story is now online at The MMQB (Monday Morning Quarterback), along with a couple of my photographs, including the "cover shot" of the game program & ticket. It's an interesting read. Check it out at the link here:
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/06/04/nfl-history-in-95-objects-last-day-of-football-in-los-angeles/

MIKE LANSFORD

Mike Lansford was the kicker for the L.A. Rams for 9 seasons beginning in 1982. He was one of only a handful of kickers in NFL history who kicked barefoot. It's hard to imagine how painful that would be, but he was good at it. Not known for long field goals (over 50 yards), he was however a very clutch kicker and made several game-winning kicks in his career.

DICK "NIGHT TRAIN" LANE

Dick "Night Train" Lane was a defensive back for the L.A. Rams in 1952-1953. In his rookie season, he intercepted 14 passes (in a 12-game season!), a record that has never been broken. During his career, he was selected to several All-NFL and All-Pro teams. He was a tough hitter who liked to tackle opponents by their necks, which was legal at that time. In 1969, he was named the best cornerback of the first 50 years of pro football, later chosen by The Sporting News as one of the top 100 football players of all time, and then voted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 74.

KEVIN GREENE

It was difficult not to like Kevin Greene for his hustle and enthusiasm as an outside linebacker. He played for the L.A. Rams from 1985-1992. Across the three-year stretch of '88-'90, he had 46 sacks, more than any other player in the NFL during that period. The guy just never stopped moving, even when he was on the sidelines. He was later traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and finished his career with the Carolina Panthers in 1999.

ALVIN HAYMOND

Even though defensive back Alvin Haymond only played 3 seasons for the L.A. Rams, I remember him for his kick returning skills. He actually led the league in punt returns in 1969, and had over 1000 kickoff return yards in 1970. He was an exciting player and a precursor to some of the big-name, flashy return men who would come along later in the NFL.