"Hard Knocks" is a reality TV show that features an NFL team during the off season. This year has decided to take a look at the Los Angeles Rams, more specifically, their relocation. This relocation was met with mixed emotions. Many experienced excitement and elation while others (myself included) experienced outrage.
If you are (or were) a fan from Missouri, I imagine this brings up the feeling of reliving everything all over again. I grew up a fan of the Rams, but I had only been to one game ever and I remember the relocation as it happened, being glued to Twitter so I could follow the owners vote. When the Rams' relocation was ultimately approved, I was just sitting stymied and once it really sank in, I started to cry. In that moment, I knew how LA fans felt over twenty years ago, when the Rams left their city. But that feeling went away when I read a lot of the "Screw you St. Louis" tweets. I couldn't get over the "Suck it" mentality that the fans of Los Angeles have (see pic below) and I have been a firm believer that two wrongs never make a right. I get that it sucks for a city to lose their team; however the NFL handled this the wrong way.
But earlier this year, it was approved for the Rams for them to move to Inglewood and have the first year option for the Chargers to join them. For years, the Rams organization tried to avoid being on "Hard Knocks", allegedly going as far as making a deal with the NFL to be exempt provided they drafted Michael Sam (this is merely speculation). Jeff Fisher has even gone on record saying that “We are eligible, but I think it’s highly unlikely they’d ask us to do it. I think this organization has a right to go through training camp with some normalcy.” But it seems as though Jeff Fisher's tune has changed in that now that the Rams are in LA, he is all for "Hard Knocks" saying "'Hard Knocks' will be an outstanding way to bring our fans into our training camp and preseason, and give a glimpse of the hard work and dedication of our players, coaches and staff as we prepare for the 2016 season."
So why is this? I don't believe that his views changed so radically over a couple years, especially on this particular basis. Jeff Fisher didn't want the distraction of television cameras in training camp when they have the first openly gay NFL player on roster, but when they relocate, he finally welcomes the media. This is internally inconsistent. Wouldn't cameras in training camp provide the SAME distraction, regardless of the circumstances? Well congratulations Jeff! You get what you want. Stan Kroenke gets what he wants. And St. Louis gets to feel yours and the NFL's betrayal all over again.
You wanted LA. You get all the glitz and glamour that goes with it. I can only speculate how Hard Knocks will do ratings wise. Speaking for me, I will stick with watching the baseball Cardinals, an organization who ACTUALLY cares about their fans.
