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Master of Rodeo Drive?

Elway reportedly interested in L.A. expansion group

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Posted: Monday May 10, 1999 08:45 AM

California dreaming: Elway has expressed possible interest in being involved with the NFL's 32nd franchise. AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- John Elway is considering joining an effort to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Elway, 38, retired May 2 after 16 seasons in the NFL and capped his record-setting career with two Super Bowl championships. His Los Angeles-based attorney, Marvin Demoff, told the Times that Elway wanted to stay involved in football.

"It's clear John's interests are to be involved in the day-to-day operation of a football team, whether it's Denver, Los Angeles or someplace else in the future," Demoff said. "John made it known to me he does not want to be a passive celebrity investor; he's looking to make a contribution to a team on and off the field."

Billionaire developer Eli Broad and former Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz have separately contacted Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to ask for his blessing to approach Elway, the Times said. Broad and Ovitz head competing ownership groups vying for the NFL's 32nd franchise.

Elway will meet with Broad on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but he has no plans to talk with Ovitz, the paper said.

The league owners voted 29-2 in March to award the expansion team to the Los Angeles area, the nation's second-biggest TV market, on a conditional basis. They set a Sept. 15 deadline for reaching agreement with whatever site and group they chose for the team.

Houston is waiting if a deal can't be reached in Los Angeles, but comments by NFL officials and civic leaders have appeared to solidify prospects LA actually will get the team, which is expected to begin play in 2002.

Bowlen offered Elway a chance to own a piece of the Broncos. However, Bowlen told Broad and Ovitz that it's unlikely he would be able to fulfill Elway's desire to work in a meaningful management position, according to the Times.

NFL officials who recently learned of Elway's interest in Los Angeles believe he can be valuable to the Los Angeles expansion process. Bowlen is a key member of the league's expansion committee.

"Elway sounds very passionate about the prospects of becoming involved in this," an unidentified league official told the Times. "And that's something the Los Angeles process needs."

 

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