Reporting from atlanta — I needed to sit in the crowd, even for a moment, during the Super Bowl.
This wasn’t the kind of game or moment for the city you could take in solely within the sterile confines of a press box.
While the Rams played one of their worst games of the season in front of a crowd that was filled with far more Patriots fans, it was hard to feel the same emotional connection one has to a team they grew up with.
Georgia Frontiere, the late owner of the Rams, stole that from the city when she moved the Rams to St. Louis decades ago. Not only did Los Angeles not have an NFL team, we were used as a threat while 22 new stadiums were built for 23 teams during the 21 years we didn’t have a team.
So it wasn’t a shock to walk around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday and see Rams fans outnumbered 10-1 by Patriots fans. You hardly saw any Rams fans in the city during Super Bowl week. After Tom Brady won his sixth Super Bowl, he smiled as the crowd chanted his name and said, “The support here was like a home game. We could have been at Gillette Stadium.”
Is that a bad look for Los Angeles? Not really.
When you leave a market for a generation and play with their emotions along the way, it’s hard to capture their hearts the moment you walk through the door. Most of us moved on and picked other teams to cheer for on Sundays. It’s like someone breaking up with you and showing up at your door 21 years later after you’re married with two kids and a mortgage and expecting to pick things up where you left off.
Maybe other cities can do that without a problem. Maybe other cities can just blindly support a team that moves into their backyard to make an extra buck after leaving you, but not Los Angeles. Other cities might call us frontrunners, but we refuse to blindly support a team the moment they plant their flag in the ground here just because they can afford to buy the land and the flag. You have to earn our love, loyalty and money.
The Rams are on their way to becoming one of Los Angeles’ beloved teams again but it will take time. With Sean McVay, 33, Jared Goff, 24, Todd Gurley, 24, Aaron Donald, 27, Brandin Cooks, 25, Robert Woods, 26, Cooper Kupp, 25 and other talented 20-somethings littering the roster, the Rams will be back sooner or later and when they do return to the Super Bowl, they’ll likely have more support in the stadium and at home than they did on Sunday.
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The only thing worse than the Super Bowl halftime show are people who complain about the Super Bowl halftime show. There’s no excuse not to find other forms of entertainment for 30 minutes if you don’t like the performer. I’m not the biggest Maroon 5 fan so I watched a live WWE event they programmed against the halftime show. Maybe I’m in the minority here but I don’t watch a football game for the musical acts and I certainly don’t go to the NFL for guidance on what music I should listen to.
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Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth is one of the best players and people in the locker room and a go-to quote and he didn’t disappoint even after the most disappointing loss of his career. “I don’t give a crap if you have a hall of fame bust,” Whitworth said. “If you’re a Pro Bowler or win 20 Super Bowls. At the end of the day we’re all gonna die.”
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Who would have thought the Los Angeles Chargers and not the Rams would have the best performance on Super Bowl Sunday? Verizon’s commercial starring Chargers coach Anthony Lynn meeting first responders who saved his life was not only the best Super Bowl commercial this year but made anyone who watched a fan of Lynn and maybe, just maybe, a fan of the team he coaches.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates a touchdown by Sony Michel against the Rams inthe 4th quarter in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2/45
Rams quarterback Jared Goff watches after throwing an intereption in the fourth quarter as Patriots Adrian Clayton (94) and Duron Harmon celebrate.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 3/45
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks has his pass broken up by Patriots Duron Harmon (center) and Stephon Gilmore in the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 4/45
Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman hoists the Lombardi Trophy after New England beat the Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/45
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) sits on the bench behind his teammate after giving up a late game interception.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 6/45
Rams quarterback Jared Goff is hit by Patriots Dont’a Hightower in the end zone after an incomplete pass in the 3rd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/45
Rams losing head coach Sean McVay walks off the field after meeting with Patriots head coach BIll Belichick in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8/45
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) hugs New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) as the Patriots beat the Rams 13-3 in the Super Bow.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 9/45
Rams receiver Robert Woods walks off the field after losing to the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 10/45
Rams running back C.J. Anderson, left, and reeiver Josh Reynolds look at the scoreboard late in the 4th quarter in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 11/45
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski catches a pass in front of Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam in the 4th quarter in Super Bowl LIII.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12/45
Patriots running back Sony Michel breaks free from the Rams defense in the 3rd quarter in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13/45
Rams receiver Josh Reynolds makes a catch in front of Patriots Jason McCourty inthe 3rd quarter in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes Benz Satdium in Atlanta Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 14/45
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) was wide open in the end zone but couldn’t hang onto a pass while getting hit by New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty (30) in the second half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15/45
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) beats Los Angeles Rams linebacker Dante Fowler (56) for a reception in the Super Bowl.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 16/45
Patriots receiver Julian Edelman leans into Rams defensive back Aqib Talib during first half catch and run in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 17/45
Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers tips a pass that was ultimately completed to Rams receiver Josh Reynolds from Jared in Goff during the first half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 18/45
Rams quarterback Jared Goff is harrassed by Patriots defenders as he throws a second half pass in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 19/45
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks fails to haul in a pass after it is broken up by Patriots defenders Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon during the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20/45
Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore intercepts a pass intended for Rams receiver Brandin Cooks near the end zone during the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 21/45
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks can’t haul in a pass in the end zone as he is defended by Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty in the third quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 22/45
Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) barely gets a pass off under pressure from Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers (98) and outside linebacker John Simon (55) during the second half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 23/45
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski just misses a pass from Tom Brady as he is defended by Rams linebacker Cory Littleton.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24/45
Linebacker Brandon King (36) lies in the confetti on the field after the Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3 in the Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 25/45
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald drags down Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, forcing an incomplete pass during the first half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26/45
Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) celebrates with offensive lineman Ted Karras (75) after kicking a field goal late in the fourth quarter to give New England a 13-3 lead.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 27/45
Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore prevents Rams receiver Brandin Cooks from making a catch in the third quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28/45
Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) intercepts a pass intended for Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) to end a scoring threat late in the fourth quarter.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 29/45
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks walks away as Patriots defensive backs celebrate an interception by Stephon Gilmore to kill a fourth-quarter drive.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 30/45
Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore intercepts a Jared Goff pass in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 31/45
Patriots running back Sony Michel dives into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 32/45
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski hauls in a 29-yard pass to set up a Patriots touchdown.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 33/45
Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.
( Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 34/45
From fire to lights, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.
( Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 35/45
Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, before he peeled off his shirt, performs during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.
( Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 36/45
Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty tries to grab the ball after breaking up a pass intended for Rams receiver Josh Reynolds during the first half.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times ) 37/45
Rams defensive end John Franklin-Myers (94) and defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks sack Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and forces him to fumble in the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/45
Rams linebacker Cory Littleton intercepts a pass intended for Patriots receiver Chris Hogan in the first quarter.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times ) 39/45
Patriots middle linebacker Kyle Van Noy sacks Rams quarterback Jared Goff for a loss in the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/45
Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise takes down Rams running back C.J. Anderson for a loss in the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/45
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski can’t catch a pass while defended by Rams cornerback Aqib Talib during first-quarter action.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times ) 42/45
Patriots fans outnumber Rams fans at the Marta train stop near Mercedes-Benz Stadium before Super Bowl LIII.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 43/45
Rams tight ends Tyler Higbee (89), Johnny Mundt (82) and Gerald Everett (81) take the field to warm up for Super Bowl LIII.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 44/45
Rams running back Todd Gurley jogs around the field during warmups for Super Bowl LIII.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 45/45
Patriots fans yell for players during warmups before Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) --
The over-under for the Super Bowl was 56 points. Anyone who took the under should have been doing something more exciting with their time than watching the halftime show after both teams put America to sleep with a 3-0 score after the first two quarters. That was probably the easiest bet of the night along with Gladys Knight going over one minute, 50 seconds with the national anthem.
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There’s an annual competition for the best Super Bowl party of the weekend and arguably the two best parties took place Saturday at the College Football Hall of Fame with Fanatics throwing a party during the day and Sports Illustrated throwing a party at night. Patriots owner Robert Kraft danced with Cardi B on stage at the Fanatics party and USC athletic director Lynn Swann took a picture with Snoop Dogg, who was the DJ at the Sports Illustrated party. I’m sure disgruntled USC fans will be thrilled to hear that he’s burning the midnight oil trying to turn the program around.
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Danny Trejo wasn’t in a suite for the Super Bowl like many other celebrities. The actor, who brought his Trejo’s Tacos truck to Atlanta for the weekend, was sitting in the lower level with other Rams fans and said this was a dream of his. “I used to sneak into the Coliseum back in 1956 and watch the Rams,” he said. “I always dreamed of watching them win the Super Bowl. They’ll be back.”
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Los Angeles can now focus on the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, Feb. 7 and the Lakers’ pursuit of Anthony Davis and not feel guilty about ignoring the fact that they have a team playing in the Super Bowl.
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The only thing worse than seeing the Celtics beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, which is something we thankfully haven’t seen since 2008, is seeing the Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the World Series and the Patriots beat the Rams in the Super Bowl in a span of four months. The city is in need of another Lakers victory over the Celtics in the Finals to wash this bad taste out of our mouths.
