I feel your pain.

To our Charger, Raider, and Rams (I guess) commentists.

I feel for you, I really do.

I felt your pain 21 years ago.

I am originally from the small city Winnipeg, Mb. In the summers it is fucking ace but it the winter it is the coldest, most bleak place ever since a windowless Krokodil shack in Siberia. All life you are brought up, to be an Ice Bombers (Jets) fan. You learn to skate before you walk, always skate on outdoor ice; where the only solace in the winter is that the Jets are playing which would take your mind off being so cold. The Jets were ingrained inour community. Good or bad the Jets were the only show (sorry Bombers) in town and they made you feel like you actually lived in a city not a Podunk town like Regina!  From the Avco cup  win to the night that Teemu Selanne shot at his glove, they were what everyone associated with the cold, oh so cold prairie town. For the last 2 years the writing was on the wall and we all knew that they would be leaving. I went to every game in their last series against the Ice Lions. It was heartbreaking in Game 6 when they waived goodbye.

The last season that they played we were already aware they were leaving which obviously is unlike the situation in San Diego but eerily similar to Oakland. I have been to both NFL Stadiums and had a great time with the fans at the tailgates who all welcomed our group in to drink beer. In one case we were forcefed all the bbq we could handle from a very large man named Jerome. He was one of the funniest guys we met in Oakland.  I asked him about moving and a new stadium his reply was priceless. “They leaving because fans like us don’t pay the bills.”

In the stadiums I give 0 fucks about how great the amenities are, I am there for the experience whether it is shiny and new, or an old dump like the Kingdome was. Was it an experience? Yes. Could I buy beer? Yes. Did we still have stories about each game? Yes.

We in Winnipeg had very few concessions that didn’t sell Labatt Blue or Canadian Club which was just fine. It also included the largest portrait of the Queen, no urinals here friends, just the good old trough. Community.

Our owners did not display the douchebaggery that Spanos has shown; I commend that gentleman firing up the double birds at the press conference.

When it all happened in Winnipeg no one knew who to cheer for anymore and it sure as fuck wasn’t going to be the Coyotes. You sort of cruise in this limbo for a while and cheer for players and not teams and it is liberating. My Charger friends up here say that they sure as fuck will not cheer for the Lachargeres but will instead cheer for their fantasy players. I agree with this as as much as I am an Iggles fan, I have RedZone for fantasy football purposes.

In closing I feel your pain for losing your team and 8 fun days to tailgate out of your winter at Qualcomm/Alameda. However, enjoy your time now as a free agent supporter as maybe one day a new incarnation will move back to your towns AND INFURIATE YOU UNTIL THE BRINK OF MADNESS ALL OVER AGAIN!!