5 Questions with Mr. Mancuso

Michael+Mancuso%2C+Algebra+1B+and+2+instructor%2C+holds+Rams+logo+in+hands.+Mancuso+tells+about+his+25+years+of+experience+in+St.+Louis%2C+and+how+he+is+somewhat+saddened+about+the+transfer+of+the+Rams.+

Elyse Luecke

Michael Mancuso, Algebra 1B and 2 instructor, holds Rams’ logo in hands. Mancuso tells about his 25 years of experience in St. Louis, and how he is somewhat saddened about the transfer of the Rams.

Elyse Luecke, Assistant Web Editor-in-Chief

Q: What do you enjoy about the city of St. Louis?

A: I enjoy the diversity of the city of St. Louis. I enjoy that there is a lot of different places to go, especially free places, I think that’s rare; like Forest Park, and the Zoo. There are places in St. Louis that I still haven’t seen, and I’ve lived here 25 years. I think there’s just a lot going on with it, and I think there are positives and negatives of the city, like every major city. I think there is a lot of positives, and a lot of up and coming things.

 

Q: Having lived in St. Louis for a while, what is your opinion on the Rams leaving St. Louis and transferring to Los Angeles?

A: I think it’s upsetting, as a fan, that they’re leaving. I went to the first game ever at the Edward Jones Dome when I was five years old. I remember going to the Super Bowl parade, and watching all that. I really loved football growing up I played football, I loved watching it. But overall, even though I’m sad about them leaving, I think with the situation that happened, I’m kind of okay with it because of just how poorly the owner handled everything, and how bad he said St. Louis was. I’m kind of happy they’re gone.

 

Q: Is this a benefit or a loss for St. Louis?

A: I think at first it’s gonna be a loss, at least mentally, because I think a lot of people really got involved. People love sports, I’m one of them, and not everyone loves sports. But it is an emotional thing that we don’t have a team to root for anymore, you lose something emotionally. I think overall, mentally it might hurt, but I think in the long run it actually will help the St. Louis community by not having the strain of having an NFL team and paying for a stadium.

 

Q: How do you think this will affect the reputation of St. Louis?

A: I don’t think it will affect it that much, I think the things that were said in the report about the city and how it’s a negative place to be and how there’s a financial market that’s failing, I think is incorrect. I think theres enough feedback that would disregard those facts that nationally it doesn’t really affect us that much. We might have less tourism because there’s not going to be an NFL team. But I don’t think it will be not a negative or positive change, just a neutral.

 

Q: What do you think should replace the Rams?

A: I would love to see (I’m not huge in soccer,) but I think that a MLS team would be great and financially it would work, but I would love to see all the money that people were up in arms about being used for a stadium, to be used for the things that people were up in arms about. It would be great to put be put back into education, or to fight the homeless population, or just any kind of positive thing that can help the city, that people talked about, that’s what they wanted to use the money for anyway. So if we were able to put aside money for the NFL team, I think we should put aside that money and put it back into our community.