When Ex-L.A. Teams Played, Few Cared, Even Fewer Saw It

In the year 2000, Los Angeles is flattened by a large earthquake, drops into the Pacific, and is converted into a prison island serving as home to murderers, thieves and other unsavory types. Such is the premise of the 1996 film, “Escape From L.A.,” and it may provide some overlooked insight into why owners Georgia Frontiere and Al Davis moved the Rams and Raiders after the 1995 season. (They were scared). Come to think of it, the lead character in the movie, Snake Plissken (played by the John Gielgud of grunt-and-groan celluloid, Kurt Russell), is a one-eyed loner who bears more than a faint resemblance to the Raiders’ logo.

In any event, L.A.’s two former teams met again for the first time since departing the doomed Southland, with the Raiders winning 35-17.

We are pleased to report that the game had as low a profile as any played Sunday. The game was not a sellout, drawing 42,506 to the Oakland Coliseum. That means it was two-thirds full, or as we prefer to look at it, one-third empty.

And it was televised only in St. Louis, meaning only 4 percent of the country received the game on an afternoon when only four other games were taking place at the same time.

Frontiere and Davis filled their wallets by moving, and probably have never looked back since departing L.A. And who knows? The earth may indeed shake one of these days, depositing us into the sea with no Snake Plissken to save us.

But until then, we will take great pleasure in the little things: empty seats in Oakland, 2-3 records for the Rams and Raiders, and the knowledge we are doing just fine here without them.

Burying the hatchet

It was time for everyone to kiss and make up after the Broncos beat the Falcons 29-21.

How boring.

We longed to hear Broncos QB John Elway continue his steady stream of criticism of Dan Reeves, his former coach, who now is in charge of the Falcons (0-5). We wanted Reeves to again call Elway “immature.” We wanted Reeves and former friend Mike Shanahan, the Broncos’ coach, to exchange barbs.

Instead, all we heard was everyone praising everyone else. Instead, Reeves told Shanahan how great the Broncos are. Shanahan told Reeves how great Reeves will make the Falcons. And Elway said he was certain Reeves will turn the Falcons around.

“If anyone can do it,” Elway purred, “he can do it.”

Into the breach, fortunately, stepped Broncos RB Terrell Davis, who on his visit to Atlanta was asked about his former coach at Georgia, Ray Goff. Davis, who also played at Long Beach State, called Goff “clueless.”

Mirer still the man

Rick Mirer’s quarterback rating is 43.5. He’s thrown four interceptions and no touchdown passes and the Chicago Bears have failed to reach the end zone in either of his two starts.

Mirer, however, will remain the winless team’s starter for Sunday’s game against New Orleans and perhaps for the rest of the season - if he can show improvement - coach Dave Wannstedt said Monday.

“The intent is he will be the starter the entire season. That doesn’t rule out the possibility if he’s struggling and we don’t get something going on offense that Erik (Kramer) wouldn’t go in the game or that Steve (Stenstrom) wouldn’t go in the game,” Wannstedt said.

News around the league

The Miami Dolphins added to their extensive list of players out with injuries, placing linebacker Ronnie Ward on injured reserve with a broken leg. The Dolphins also waived offensive tackle Andre Johnson… . Safety Tremain Mack, a fourth-round draft choice who has started all four games for the Cincinnati Bengals, will be out for at least two weeks with an injured left foot.

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Roger Phillips Long Beach Press-Telegram The Associated Press contributed to this report