Judge a team's future by journalist's job?

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | It's not unusual for a newspaper to seek a sportswriter to report on NFL games, but when a Los Angeles paper looks for an NFL writer, that may indicate some sort of NFL franchise shift may be in offing.

The Los Angeles Daily News is seeking someone who will delve into the politics of bringing a team to L.A. by focusing on the city government aspect and the NFL's perspective. In other words, to report on what needs to take place for San Diego chargers owner Alex Spanos to move to L.A.

Spanos may be able to get out of his deal in San Diego after the upcoming season. Spanos is negotiating with San Diego but there hasn't been much movement on his proposal to build a new stadium with the Spanos family putting up some money and the city picking up the rest.

In L.A., the Coliseum is available but is unworkable and Rose Bowl officials have to renovate.

There is also another major obstacle for L.A. California didn't want to spend money on an L.A. expansion team in 1999 and four years later the state has a $10 billion budget gap which doesn't bode well for L.A., the NFL and Spanos.

Appreciate this writer's work? Why not sign-up for JWR's daily update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. Comment on this column by clicking here.

02/05/03: College Sports and priorities
02/04/03: While corporate America parties, one wonders about the world's largest communications company and its future
02/03/03: High schooler picked the wrong $port to excel at
01/31/03: Gaming and games
01/30/03: The NHL's game plan
01/29/03: The moral guardians of basketball need some schooling themselves
01/24/03: America's excuse for a party
01/22/03: Turning San Diego into an armed camp
01/22/03: Will San Diego lose on Sunday --- even if it wins?