Happy Monday, if there is such a thing.

Here are more thoughts on the potential sale of the Rams:

1. If I have one quibble about the way Chip Rosenbloom has handled this, it’s that he should have been more aggressive in making sure that the St. Louis business community and leadership understood that he wanted someone from this area to step forward and make a bid for the 60 percent of the team.  I have always understood initial Rosenbloom’s policy – he wasn’t shopping the team but would listen if the right person, a pro-St. Louis person, called. But I’m not a buyer. Potential buyers needed to hear that from the man directly, and in a business setting. 

(Update: a source close to Rosenbloom insists that he privately made his intentions clear to members of the St. Louis Civic Progress group and encouraged them to make an offer.)

Rosenbloom  took issue issue with any characterization that suggested that he was shopping the Rams, and often talked about wanting to hold onto the franchise for a long time. But then  he’d usually add that the Rams could be for sale to the right person, here in St. Louis. I could see why heavy hitters in the STL community would be uncertain. Were the Rams for sale, or not for sale? Does Chip really want to sell, or does he kind of want to sell, or is he sort of thinking about it? Should we call him or would it be a waste of time — because he seems awfully conflicted about what to do? Again, Chip’s associates say that’s simply not true, and that he privately commincated the desire to sell to St. Louis people in his private talks with St. Louis people.

Well, now we know: The Rams are for sale. Period.  

So I hope the STL business community reacts accordingly.

2. I believe Rosenbloom wanted to keep the team for 5 years, maybe 10, until the financial pressures (estate taxes) made that increasingly difficult. And if Rosenbloom has come to the realization that he cannot pull it off, then he has the right to change his mind. I don’t hold that against him. This has happened faster than I anticipated, but again, the man has the right to change his mind. He’s got the massive estate-tax bill to pay, not me. Owning the team is something that he wants to do. But wanting to do something and actually being able to do it are two different things.

3. Stan Kroenke is still the best hope for Rams fans who want the team to stay here. There are lots of reasons: (A) He already owns 40 percent of the team. (B) He has the inside track established. (C) He has a working relationship with the Rosenbloom and his sister, Lucia Rodriguez. They like him. They appreciate the way Kroenke worked as a minority partner with their  mother, the late Rams owner Georgia Frontiere.  (D) He is in the best position to make a direct offer that first 60 percent (E) He has the right of first refusal and can match any offer made to Rosenbloom for that 60 percent. (F) He has local ties and knows the political landscape here. (G) As a successful real-estate developer, Kroenke had done a considerable amount of business here, and so he knows the best way to go about getting things done on the stadium front. And these stadium issues are complex and difficult. (H) He has been to many NFL owners’ meetings and has cultivated relationship inside the league. (I) And Stan Kroenke is worth more than $3 billion, as is his wife, Ann Kroenke. That helps.

The problem, of course, is the NFL rules that prohibit cross-ownership. I don’t know if Kroenke is willing to sell the NBA Denver Nuggets and NHL Colorado Avalanche in order to purchase controlling interest of the Rams. I can, however, state with confidence that I believe Kroenke will lobby the NFL to get the rule change, so he can buy the Rams. He has some support among fellow owners. But if Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen wants to block a change of rules to play defense against Kroenke, he can probably line up enough votes to put up that obstacle.

4. I believe Dave Checketts will take a look at this. Last year the Blues chairman told me that he would be interested in buying the Rams should they come available. He’s had a conversation or two with Rosenbloom. The question with Checketts is capital. Can he raise enough money to pull this off? Can he find investors and credit? I think highly of Checketts. He’s been a terrific owner for the Blues, and an honorable man. But would this be too difficult a task for him?

5. What about Andy Taylor of Enterprise Rent-a-Car? The Taylor family, a longtime presence in the St. Louis community, has an estimated net worth of $9.5 billion according to Forbes magazine. Forbes listed the Taylors at No. 40 on the list of the wealthiest people in the world. That said, the auto industry is in terrible shape right now, and the economy is in recession, and the Taylors probably are more concerned about their family business. The Taylors have shown a strong devotion to charitable and community affairs. But are they sports fans? Do the Taylors want to own an NFL team? Or even if they didn’t want to own an NFL team, would they do it and step in and prevent the Rams from moving to another city?

6. What about Rush Limbaugh? In interviews last year, the prominent and influential talk-radio host has expressed a desire to purchase the Rams and a desire to keep them here. The Cape Girardeau, Mo. native has described St. Louis as a great sports town. There was even a rumor going around that he had met with August Busch IV to discuss a partnership in this quest. In summer 2008 Limbaugh signed an new eight-year, $400 million deal with Clear Channel. He has a lot of money, and, as he has said, no debt. But the NFL has become a billionaire’s club. (Some have estimated that Limbaugh is worth around $1 billion). Does Rush want to spend the money required to get it done? But remember, we’re only talking about buying 60 percent of the ownership shares, not 100 percent. 

7. What about Kroenke’s partner, Michael Staenberg? Alert readers have touted Staenberg, so I’m following their lead by mentioning his possible role here. Staenberg works closely with Kroenke in his role of president in THF Realty. Staenberg is highly regarded in the St. Louis community for his extensive efforts in enhancing arts-culture projects, and he’s been very generous with his involvement with charities. But again: I have no idea what the man is worth, and whether he could take this on. But Staenberg and Kroenke have been excellent partners in the real-estate development world, so the fit is there.

8. For those who are declaring that the sky is falling and the Rams will move … I understand the concern, the fear. But keep a few things in mind. (A) This community has five or six years to address the stadium issue and come up with a plan for the best way to proceed into the future.  (B) Given the condition of the economy, this isn’t the best time to be buying an NFL team. (C) Other NFL cities/teams are having stadium issues and problems. Minnesota, Jacksonville, San Diego (and you can never take Oakland off that list as long as Al Davis is around.) If Los Angeles can get a new stadium off the ground, it will ignite interest among several NFL owners. The league controls the market. If any team will be allowed to move to LA, there may be a few options. The Rams aren’t automatic for LA.  

Thanks for reading …

-Bernie