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One on One
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St.
Louis Commerce Magazine takes time out with Rams majority owner,
Georgia Frontiere.
As
the Rams begin the defense of their Super Bowl Championship, St.
Louis Commerce Magazine had the opportunity to get majority owner,
Georgia Frontiere’s perspective on the Rams, St. Louis and other
topics.
It gives me the opportunity to help make an impact on this community
like few enterprises can. I was confident that my decision to
move my team to St. Louis was the right one. Not only for the
obvious reasons, but it was my heart that told me the city I’ve
always loved deserved to have my most prized possession.
Bringing an NFL team to St. Louis was a dream come true for me
and this great city and I believe that winning the Super Bowl
has been instrumental in helping this community gain the recognition
that it deserves. Our fans never stopped believing in us and I
believe they have been an integral part of the progress that this
team has made. Each and every fan has contributed to our success.
They never gave up and their support has helped to boost us over
the top!
I have many wonderful memories of playing sports at Hamilton School
while growing up in St. Louis. We mostly played softball and I
was a pretty good outfielder and batter. I actually broke a couple
of windows while at bat. I can laugh now but it wasn’t so funny
being called to the principal’s office back then!
I loved ice skating and went nearly every afternoon to the Winter
Garden and paid only 25 cents provided that I help teach some
beginners during part of my practice. One day, I borrowed a friend’s
skis and went down Art Hill onto the frozen pond. Fortunately,
I didn’t get hurt but everyone was upset and I never had a chance
to try it again. (I was supposed to go down on a sled. Do they
still allow sleds there when it snows?)
I also played sandlot or gravel lot football until the boys got
too big. To this day, when I see a wide receiver catch the ball,
I remember and relate back to my childhood experiences. I feel
that most of our fans do too, don’t you think? One of my special
memories is playing catch with Johnny Unitas sometimes after regular
practice was over.
My Uncle Chauncey taught me to play golf when I was seven or eight.
I played with six clubs and I carried them myself (they were taller
than I was). Golf is still one of the games I play as often as
I can, in fact, I played in the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls
Club Tournament on August 28th in St. Louis.
My primary business focus is the Rams. I have several avocations
most of which are charitable endeavors. I enjoy writing poetry,
and some of my works have been printed in various charitable programs.
Other avocations of mine are music and languages. As far back
as I can remember, my main goal in life was to become a fabulous
opera singer and return to St. Louis in that capacity and make
them proud of their native daughter.
I now sing for charity concerts and have done so for many years.
Most recently, I was very thrilled to have been able to play a
part in helping to raise money with my concerts to build the American
Air Museum in Duxford, England. This museum commemorates the American
Airmen who gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedom
we have today. Also, the museum houses many of the planes used
in World War II and I am happy to say that the names of over 30,000
young men are permanently etched on the walls of the Georgia Frontiere
Gallery.
My association with the Metropolitan Opera and the Los Angeles
Opera has been an important part of my life for many years. I’m
also on the board of directors for the St. Louis Zoo, the Variety
Club, the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, the St. Louis Symphony
and the Laumeier Sculpture Park. Clearly, my charity work is an
important avocation.
Anything to do with children or animals and their well being is
my passion. I established the Rams Foundation that has given away
more than $600,000 to youth programs in the areas of education,
literacy, health, and recreation. My hands reach out to help whenever
I can, to those in need.
I am the CEO and majority owner. These responsibilities occupy
most of my time. I have a dedicated management team which includes
John Shaw, Jay Zygmunt, Charlie Armey, Bob Wallace, and others
who handle a myriad of things for me on a day to day basis. John
and I meet or speak on the phone daily.
I personally review the foundation requests with Allison Collinger
to whom I’ve entrusted many activities of the foundation. Her
input is most valuable to me.
He is the minority owner of the team but he is involved in many
business enterprises. He loves the Rams, also attends nearly every
game, and we share any important information with him. He is a
friend and I do enjoy having him at league meetings to discuss
the various issues that are brought up during these sessions.
Stan is a team player and he fits right into his role as a member
of our organization. We get along extremely well and I wish him
all the luck in the world with his new exciting endeavors in Denver.
It’s difficult to know just where to begin. I’ve always enjoyed
watching them play as any fan would. I share the team’s devastation
when we lose but the joy when we win is worth all the anguish!
The hardest part, I guess, is getting to know a player or coach
and becoming close to him and then seeing him leave us, whether
it’s a rookie being cut or a veteran leaving either by a trade
or through free agency. It’s hard to say good-bye to the players
and coaches. I have great empathy for the wives who have to move
their home to another city, and for their children who have to
leave their friends behind and start all over again in a new school
and neighborhood.
Jerome Bettis is a prime example. He was traded in the middle
of the draft and I was very unhappy about it but it wasn’t my
decision to make. If I had learned about it sooner, I would have
tried to change the coach’s mind but I gave him the power so I
had to live with it. Sometimes I have voiced my opinions and sometimes
it helps and in other instances I’m overruled. I was very fond
of Jerome. In fact, he still has my grandmother’s handkerchief
that I gave him for good luck. What can I say? Another example
that comes to mind is Sean Landeta. He was a player I regarded
very highly. Football has been a part of my life for over 40 years
and the list of players and coaches that I will always miss is
a mile long. I knew that when Trent Green went down we had to
have faith in Kurt Warner. I even said, “Lets not lose hope, he
could turn out to be another Johnny Unitas.”
There are many demands on my time and energies but it is in the
dressing room after a loss where I must draw upon all my inner
strength. I know that I have to remain strong for the team. Everyone
is angry, hurt, and upset but before long, the coach has gathered
us together to hold hands for the Lord’s prayer led by one of
the players. Ray Agnew is a philosopher of God’s word and reminds
us to be grateful for having suffered no serious injuries and
to pray for the opposing team to have a safe trip home.
This team is incredible. There’s an invisible thread that connects
them together not only with their athletic abilities but the great
depth of spirit that runs through each and every one of them.
My emotions are so involved with theirs that the hardest part
for me is to hold back the tears!
The Rams have been and always will be a part of my life. I have
poured my heart and soul into the team and have never been happier
or felt better about them than I do now here in St. Louis. I would
like everyone to know that I have always been very proud of my
hometown and I hope that it is proud of me!
PS. Even though I didn’t return as a Diva in the opera, I guess
that having a team that won the Super Bowl is something not many
Sopranos can do!
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