Say it ain’t so

In February, the San Diego Chargers dropped a bomb when they announced plans to build their own stadium in Carson, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. This, in the midst of ongoing negotiations with the hometown government to fund construction of a new stadium here. But if that wasn’t enough, the real kicker came when the team announced their choice of business partners: arch enemies the Oakland Raiders.

With all the media pundits and prognosticators mouthing off about what they think should or could happen, we wondered what other local entertainers think.

“The Raiders and the Chargers sharing a stadium in Carson,” says bassist John Osmon, “makes about as much sense as Sarah Palin moving in with Kim Kardashian.”

Jonathan Savage of the Red Not Chili Peppers feels like hometown fans are at the bottom of some kind of pyramid scheme. “San Diego has built the entity that is the Chargers through an emotional and financial investment that has lasted nearly half a century. To think that the Chargers could be sold without the people of San Diego having final word is what makes any deal most upsetting.”

Sam Lopez specializes in doom guitar and lives in the vicinity of the Chargers’ current stadium, Qualcomm. “It’s unfortunate that San Diegans will lose jobs because of this. Why are they moving? They want a better stadium? What’s wrong with the one we have?”

The Truckee Brothers’ Christopher Hoffee: “My memories of the Chargers are of tailgate parties with friends and family. Playing that awful ‘San Diego Super Chargers’ song all the way down from North County. We would play Nerf football in the lot, eat barbecue, and make frozen margaritas and bring them into the game in plastic water bottles. I can only remember the feelings, not the scores. The cannon that went off after every touchdown. The red-headed girl I met playing touch football. The nachos with double jalapeños. Wearing the Kellen Winslow jersey. The point I am making is that the Chargers are the Chargers because they are the ‘San Diego’ Chargers. Our town. Our people. Our family. They are nothing to me without that.”

“Oh man, it’s the end of an era,” says Tori Roze, who fronts soul-rock band the Hot Mess. “I could’ve told you I saw this coming. It’s just so sad that it’s even on the table for discussion.”

Blackout Party’s Brian Holwerda grew up in the Bay Area and follows the Niners. Not a Bolts fan. “But I feel bad for friends who have supported the Chargers over the years. I do think sharing a stadium with the Raiders would lead to some interesting parking-lot dynamics; i.e., stabbings.”

“It makes me sad to see so many of my pals who are lifelong, diehard fans feel so betrayed and irrelevant,” says jazz-radio deejay Claudia Russell. “Fandom is a thankless business.”