AREA FANS EXPLORE OPTION OF PSLs

The saying goes, "never say never."

But it appears safe to say that luxury boxes will never be installed at Houck Stadium to usher in an era of professional football in Cape Girardeau.

Even a city of St. Louis' size encountered a fight to the finish to be called the home of the St. Louis Rams. And apparently, the fight is not yet finished.

Football talk has gravitated more to PSL rather than NFL.

PSL stands for personal seat licenses and it looms as the biggest obstacle, or biggest opportunity, facing football fans in St. Louis.

And since St. Louis is the closest NFL city to Cape, which has no luxury box plans for Houck, the issue hits close to home for many.

If FANS, Inc., the group which negotiated the move for St. Louis, does not sell 46,000 PSLs by the first game, the Rams have the option to stay in Anaheim.

A PSL gives a party ownership of a particular seat and entitles them to buy a season ticket. Cost of a PSL ranges from $250 to $4,500.

"I think it's a good thing for St. Louis and the area," said Bruce Bader of Cape. "Without promising things like the PSLs they couldn't have got the money and the team."

Bader, a football Cardinals fan before they left after the 1987 season, said the PSLs are a reflection of the money in today's sports and the price to pay if you're going to be in the game.

"It's interesting but awfully expensive," said Bader. "I don't think I'd do it."

Kelly Waller of Cape was also of a similar mind.

"I'm all for it and happy about it," said Waller. "It's another option. But I don't think I'll be able to afford a PSL this year."

Tom Mirgeaux and David Keele, both of Cape, are season ticket holders to Southeast Missouri State University basketball, but both are reluctant to buy PSLs.

"If I lived in St. Louis and could afford them, I'd buy them," said Keele.

"I think they're too expensive for me," said Darrin Bruendermann, out with friend Mitch Kinder. "I'd rather go to a basketball game."

Both have season tickets to Southeast basketball.

"I wouldn't want to have to buy tickets and go every week," said Kinder. "I wouldn't mind going to one or two games a year."

Season ticket holders are always among the minority ways and Joe Birk, owner of Crites Tavern in Jackson, wants to be counted in that number.

Birk had season tickets to the Cardinals before they left. He realizes the ante is quite a bit higher than the $30 range he paid for midfield tickets back then.

"I'm pretty sure we're going to do it," said Birk of plans of purchasing four with friends.

Price nor a 4-12 Ram record last season is a deterrent to Birk.

"They're pretty bad," he acknowledged, "but they've got a lot of young ballplayers and they'll have a new coaching staff. We watched the Cardinals and they were losers for years."

Jay Sheets, D.D.S., is among a group which plans to buy six PSLs. Sheets used to attend some Cardinal games with his father.

"I signed up for tickets for the expansion team and they didn't come through," said Sheets. "When the Rams came through that was my plan from the start."

Sheets said he feels it's better St. Louis acquired an established team rather than an expansion team, which would require a longer road to respectability.

"I'm hoping the Rams will bounce back," said Sheets.

For others, the uncertainties of a 4-12 team are a stumbling block.

"If they just didn't put a deadline on when you have to buy these when they haven't set a deadline on signing free agents or who they'll sign as coach," said Brad Elfrink of Jackson.

Elfrink's friends, Waller and Ron Cook of Delta, were also receptive but hesitant.

"I'm kind of thinking about it but I'm not sure," said Cook. "I'd like to. I'd probably have to go for the $500 level. To really get a decent seat it cost at least $2,000. That's kind of outlandish for the first year."

Elfrink said he is a partial season ticket holder for the St. Louis Blues. He's confident enough PSLs will be sold with or without his help.

"There will be enough companies up there to take the high prices on and enough individuals to take the low ones," he said.

"With the PSLs, you're not going to lose money," said Cook. "It's not a bad investment."

But he doesn't think that will deter others.

"I think a lot of people will buy them, if not for the Rams, for the investment," he said.

All three agreed a big name quarterback would be a boon for the young team.

Still, days of the last-gasp days of the football Cardinals linger in the back of many minds. Cook offered a comical, but true, story about the waning days in St. Louis. Cook said a guy's friends were unable to attend, or didn't want to go, to a Cardinals' game. Rather than get stuck with the tickets the man decided to go to the game and put the remaining two under his wiper blade on his windshield.

"He went back after the game and there were eight tickets there," said Cook.

Since the departure of the Cardinals, Cook and Waller both have adopted the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I've been a Chiefs fan for sure," said Cook, "but more or less the reason for me is Joe Montana."

"I picked up the Chiefs," said Waller. "They're the only team in Missouri."

While Waller has no plans to buy a PSL, his loyalty may shift north.

"They're the closest thing we have," said Waller. "I'm all for the Rams."