Dear Dean Spanos,
Yesterday, when I went to eat lunch at the Fuddrucker's here in Orlando, I didn't even think that they would have ESPN on. Well, they did. I went from about to enjoy a good burger to seeing what the TV screens said and feeling absolutely crushed and sad and even a little pissed off. I'm 2435 miles away because I'm on an internship. But when you announced that, it felt like someone close to me had died.
I was born into a Chargers family. I was born in 1994, the one season we made the Super Bowl. The day of the Super Bowl was January 29th, 1995. I was just over 5 months old, so I don't remember a thing. But there is one thing that I do remember because we have it documented in a picture. It's me on my dad's lap as he cheers on his and my team. Were we finally going to be the first San Diego sports team to bring home a championship trophy? No. In my 17 years of being able to watch the team and actually understand what is going on and who is playing, I remember some of the greatest players this game has ever seen. Junior Seau, LaDanian Tomplinson, Darren Sproles, Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers are some of my favorites. I used to have a Gates jersey and now I have an LT jersey signed by King Dunlap, Hank Bauer, among others. Now I want you to ask yourself something. It might be emotional but it needs to be asked. "What would Junior say about this if he was still alive?" Junior grew up in San Diego, Played High School and College ball in San Diego. Then in 1990, his dream of playing for his hometown team came true. He was a great guy. Who loves San Diego. Just like me. Just like millions of your other fans. San Diego is the greatest city in the world. Don't you tell me otherwise. Los Angeles isn't bad either, besides the traffic. But the Chargers. Their colors, their legacy belongs in SD and nowhere else. I know the deal is done and there is no turning back now. Just like many of your fans, we can no longer call ourselves fans of the Chargers. It's not the team. It's not the staff. It's you. One selfish and greedy man singlehandedly messed it all up. And that man is you. I don't hate you, Mr. Spanos. I don't hate anyone. But at the moment, you have left a very bad taste in my mouth, as well as other people's mouths.
I will forever remember going to FanFest every year. And for the past 3 years there, I have proudly given blood. I've taken pictures with the beautiful Charger girls. And I've met some awesome people. September 18th, 2016 was my first and last Charger game. I had a fever and almost didn't go. But I went. Just in case you made the decision to leave SD. I'm glad I sat through the misery because it was an awesome game.
Thank you, Mr. Spanos for 22 years of memories that will live on forever in my heart. I wish you nothing but good luck in LA, but January 11th, 2017 was my last day as a Chargers fan.
Thank you for your time, Alex Vanderspek
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