Lombardi’s coming to the Rams

 


Lombardi’s coming to the Rams


    

 As long-time frustrated  Ram fans we searched for that magic pill that might get our team to the top of the NFL. We had come close with Gabe and the fearsome foursome and within a yard with Coach George Allen and his band of broken toys. By early 1970 Ram ownership had lost patience with the intransigent head man and he left to coach the Redskins after the blue and white failed to overtake the Vikings even with MVP Gabe under center. Los Angeles was looking up at the Minnesota Vikings (who were upset in the Super Bowl) and sought to hire the best coach in the land for the 1970 season. Consensus was that the greatest of all, Vince Lombardi was floundering in Washington for his one odd year away from his legendary Packers and might bolt if money talked to him. Jack had done a bit of day drinking at the Stardust in Downey and came  home full of beer and a story that the great Lombardi was set to sign with the Los Angeles club. We were sitting in the front room on McNerney when he burst in the door with a shout "Lombardi is coming to the Rams!" Truth was Lombardi was dying of cancer and left the gridiron forever in September of 1970. Coach Allen took over in Washington and coached for eigth years including a Super Bowl appearence in 1973.








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