EL SEGUNDO HERALD December 22, 2016 Page 5 Rams Send Jeff Fishing By Adam Serrao It was only a matter of time. How many seasons could one coach last losing his way through the NFL? Once the St. Louis Rams relocated to Los Angeles, pressure was immediately on head coach Jeff Fisher and his staff to put together a string of winning seasons. Maybe it was having had the first pick in the NFL draft. Maybe it was having a defense as strong as the one that currently takes the field for the Rams. Maybe it was being so close to Hollywood and “La La Land,” where expectations of winning are bigger than perhaps any other city in the world. No matter what the reason was, though, Jeff Fisher is now gone. After a 42-14 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, the Rams’ ownership decided that they had finally had enough and fired a coach of 22 NFL years. On November 14, 1994, Jeff Fisher got his first shot as a head coach in the National Football League. At that time, he was taking over 10 games into the season to replace the fired Jack Pardee of the Houston Oilers. Fast forward more than 20 years later and now it’s Fisher being replaced 14 games into the season as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. At the moment, there aren’t any candidates to take over the position, but special teams coordinator John Fassel will carry on as the interim head coach for the final games of the regular season. Fassel’s father, Jim, previously was head coach of the New York Giants from 1997- 2003. Though John never had aspirations of becoming a head coach like his father, Rams’ COO Kevin Demoff believes that Fassel has what it takes to lead the team down the stretch. “I think Coach Fassel carries tremendous respect from our players and carries tremendous respect from our coaches,” Demoff explained. “He’ll bring tremendous energy. And this is about getting the most out of our group for the last few games.” Fisher seemed to carry tremendous respect from his players and coaches, as well as many other players and coaches from around the league, as well. One thing he could not do, however, was get the most out of the group of players that he was putting out there on the field. The Rams began this football season with a 3-1 record and, at the time, everyone was perfectly fine with the standing of Fisher and the direction in which it seemed the team was headed. Since that time, however, the team has gone 1-8, including two four-game losing streaks, a 28-point loss to the New Orleans Saints, a 16-point loss to the New England Patriots, and most recently a 28 point-loss to the Falcons before last week’s game against Seattle without Fisher. The team’s loss to the Falcons was its third consecutive blowout, putting the Rams at 4-9 for the season and giving Fisher his 165th career loss to tie Dan Reeves for most all-time. “This is the right time to make a change,” Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke said. “Our performance has not lived up to my or our fans’ expectations. We all are focused on improving as an organization and building a team that makes Los Angeles proud.” The performance of the Rams has been subpar for some time now. The team has now clinched its 10th consecutive losing season. As bad as that sounds for the Rams, however, Fisher’s performance as a head coach may be even worse. The recently fired ex-head coach notched his sixth consecutive losing season as a leader and has only experienced six winning seasons in his entire 22-year coaching career. Even still, he was respected by his players. “A hard pill to swallow,” starting middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said of Fisher’s firing. Starting quarterback Jared Goff chimed in too. “I think I speak for the whole team when I say he was very well-liked and very giving,” he said. When it comes down to it, being a head coach in the NFL isn’t about being well-liked by your players. It’s about results. That’s why the firing of Fisher was well overdue. The firing of the head coach may come as a relief to some fans of the team, who just eight days prior heard news of his two-year contract extension. That extension, however, was agreed to over the summer and yet not announced until just recently. The Rams gave Fisher the extension not with the intention of retaining him as their head coach, but as a thank you for uprooting his family from St. Louis and going through the relocation process with the team. Now that the Rams are here, expectations are higher--especially with a new stadium on the way. The time for a change in the locker room has come, whether Fisher gets paid next year or not. Fisher’s firing has left a very desirable position open in the National Football League. To be the coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who are on the verge of moving into what should be the greatest stadium to ever exist in NFL history, would be a dream job for which anyone who loves football should immediately sign up. Unfortunately, the play of the Rams since they’ve arrived in L.A. has made that dream job a little less desirable. Ultimately, the Rams will find a new head coach and eventually Fisher will be all but forgotten. His message has already been lost in the locker room. Once the Rams find themselves a new voice, they can then begin their journey back towards an attempted takeover of the NFC West. – Asixlion@earthlink.net Five Affordable Ways to Connect With Family Without Breaking the Bank (BPT) - Ready or not, the holidays are fast approaching. While it’s a season known for celebrating family and friends, the stress of gift-giving and holiday planning can make people lose sight of what’s really important. Here are five ways you can easily connect with your family without breaking the bank. Take a family “staycation” Making time for your family during the holidays doesn’t have to mean splurging on a trip across the world. Instead, opt for a cheaper alternative and spend time in your area. Take time to explore neighborhoods or attractions nearby. You never know - you might find a new favorite place right in your own hometown. Simplify communication Not everyone can celebrate with family in-person over the holidays. Not to worry: a simple and affordable way to stay in touch with loved ones is just what you need. TracFone has you covered with amazing smartphone and feature phone deals, to help you connect for moments that matter this season. Trac- Fone now offers a 30-day smartphone-only plan with talk, text and data for just $15 on America’s largest and most dependable networks with 4G LTE nationwide coverage - so you can easily share photos, videos and more. For more great deals and information on affordable, no-contract plans, visit www. TracFoneSwitch.com. Repurpose a recipe The holiday season means lots of meals and entertaining - and one of the best parts of this time of year is also leftovers! Rather than simply re-heating, look up some recipes you and your family can make to spice up extras from your holiday meal. This way, you can not only spend time in the kitchen together, but enjoy the meal you made around the table. DIY decorate This year, instead of buying generic (and expensive) decorations, get creative by making your own! Get the entire family involved and create decorations that will forever have a special meaning in your home. You can also get help thinking outside the box by turning to Pinterest, craft bloggers or YouTube tutorials for inspiration. Give back It can be easy to forget that the holidays are a time to remember to give to those in need. Take some time with your family to volunteer for an organization you feel strongly about. Volunteering is a great way to not only remind your family of what the holidays are all about, but a way for you to bond over an unforgettable experience. • Business credit lines. Cash management services. Commercial RE, construction and equipment loans. Tiffany Clyne Senior Vice President 310.321.3282 tclyne@grandpointbank.com 1960 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 1200 El Segundo, CA 90245 grandpointbank.com Five-Star Superior Rating by Bauer Financial Finance “While it’s a season known for celebrating family and friends, the stress of gift-giving and holiday planning can make people lose sight of what’s really important.”
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