The former Mrs. Rosenbloom
It's amazing how far back you have to go to know why the death of Georgia Frontiere earlier today has relevance in Baltimore. It pretty much illustrates the damage done by the Colts moving. But this isn't the time or place to rehash that story, especially on the day of her passing, and on one of the most significant days in Ravens history.
OK, maybe it is the time and place.
Georgia Frontiere owned the St. Louis Rams. She moved the Rams from Los Angeles in 1995. She became owner of the Rams in 1979 when her husband drowned. Her husband, Carroll Rosenbloom, who she married in 1966, became owner of the Rams in 1972 ...
... when Rosenbloom - original owner of the Colts team that became the legends, owner during the Unitas glory years, the '58 and '59 championship years, even the excruciating Super Bowl III year - traded franchises with Bob Irsay. You know the rest of the story.
It's convoluted, but Georgia Frontiere is part of the story. Check this out from 2005, from Tony Lombardi, creator of the Ravens 24x7 website, who threw out this theory, probably not the first to think of it: if that one act, Rosenbloom swapping with Irsay Colts-for-Rams, hadn't happened, the Colts might still be here, maybe playing in a different stadium, and owned by ... Georgia Frontiere.
Hmmmm.
Rest in peace.
Comments
How about...if Georgia does have Carroll Rosenbloom murdered then the Rams never move to St.Louis and maybe will a Super Bowl in Los Angeles and still be playing here.
Former LA Rams Season ticket holder (1986-1994)
Posted by: bj | January 19, 2008 12:34 AM
She was the reason Carroll Rosenbloom traded for the Rams. She wanted out of Baltimore.
Posted by: cheflovesbeer | January 19, 2008 12:39 AM
maybe georgia frontiere, the former exotic dancer, was behind the "murder" of carroll rosenbloom.
Posted by: fkterp | January 19, 2008 11:31 AM
Mr. Steele - most Baltimore football fans know pretty well why Georgia's death has relevance in Baltimore. No offense, but It kind of sounds like only you don't. Did you mean it to come across that way? One gets the feeling you are filling in people who don't need to be filled in.
Posted by: steve | January 19, 2008 1:02 PM
Is it really to much to note the reason Carroll Rosenbloom traded for the Rams is that his wife wanted to live in LA?
Posted by: cheflovesbeer | January 20, 2008 5:09 PM
As long as we're on the subject of a supposed "murder" of Carroll by Georgia, what do you make of this theory.
His death at sea was a murder, not orchestrated by her, but by gamblers he owed money to. That's not necessarily news, but how about this: He bet on the Jets in Super Bowl III to make enough to pay off a debt, and fixed the game so he'd win his bet? Shula didn't put Unitas in until the fourth quarter because Rosenbloom, without telling him the reason, urged him not to, so that the Colts would lose.
Other than that, Morral missing Jimmy Orr is the most tangible evidence I know of that it was fixed, if you subscribe to that theory.
Posted by: steve | January 29, 2008 2:26 AM
The reason Rosenbloom traded the team had nothing to do with the gold digger/murderess Georgia (Good Riddance) Frontiere. Rosenbloom traded the team to Irsay because Schaefer and the Baltimore City Council wouldn't let Rosenbloom out of his lease at Memorial Stadium. Rosenbloom wanted to build his own stadium with his own money (like Jack Kent Cook) and simply have the State pay for the roads to it. Schaefer is given all the credit for bringing NFL football back to Baltimore, but his lack of foresight in dealing with Rosenbloom led to the loss of the Colts and cost the State millions and millions of dollars with the publicly financed stadium. Thanks for nothing Don.
As for the comment about Mr. Steele not knowing his audience or his history, what do you expect? He's not from around here.
Posted by: CM | January 29, 2008 12:37 PM