FanHouse BernardParks

Why did the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission reject USC's offer on Wednesday to conditionally accept an agreement to allow the Trojans to play in the Coliseum?

When we first heard of USC's "put up or shut up proposal," we thought it was brilliant, because to reject the plan would require that the Coliseum Commission admit that not even its members had faith in their ability to deliver on their promises to the University.

Many observers say that the Coliseum Commission is reluctant to hand over the keys to the building to the University.

"It's not only about money," Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch told the LA Times. "It's about everything."

Does "everything" include a plan to bring the Minnesota Vikings to Los Angeles?

If the Los Angeles City Council is taking USC's threat to move to the Rose Bowl seriously, they certainly are not showing it. Last week, Councilmmbers Jack Weiss--who represents UCLA territory--and Greig Smith, who attended USC, introduced an emergency non-binding resolution to encourage the University and Coliseum Commission to come to a deal, and asking for the State to restructure the historically inept body which oversees the venue.

Under the so-called "Rule 16", the Council shall hear emergency motions at their next meeting, whch would have been last Friday--as was suggested in a press release from Weiss' office. But only the Council President can decide what falls under that rule. City Hall insiders tell FanHouse that City Council President Eric Garcetti refused to agendize the motion, sending it to committee where it will die a slow death, for fear of alienating Councilman Bernard Parks, whom FanHouse has identified as the biggest obstacle to reaching a deal between USC and the Coliseum Commission.