Art Modell, 1925-2012: grifter, traitor, model NFL owner.

[Atlanta Dan]

If you are looking for the flip side to the platitudes regarding Art Modell that are being issued from Goodell on down there is this

Now Art Modell is dead. Good. He didn't die friendless and in pain, like Robert Irsay did, but at least he's just as dead. I hope Irsay gave him a friendly wave, one thief to another, as Modell plunged past him to an even deeper level of Hell. ...

The AP assures us that Modell was "beloved in Baltimore." Do tell.

Here is what Arthur B. Modell did for the city of Baltimore and its faithful football fans: In 1993, when the NFL was taking expansion bids, Maryland governor William Donald Schaefer recruited Robert Tisch, the co-CEO of Loews, to lead Baltimore's effort. "I had it all set ... and I'm 99 percent sure that I would have been the owner," Tisch told reporters later.

And then Art Modell called Tisch up and talked him out of it, steering his friend into buying a share of the Giants instead. When it came time to vote on expansion, Modell cast his vote for Jacksonville—against Baltimore, and against his own best friend, Alfred Lerner, who was trying to get a team there.

So Baltimore remained without an NFL franchise—and its stadium offer stayed on the table, for Modell himself to scoop up when he needed it. Because he had no choice.

That was the con. But he was a better grifter than he was a businessman. Cleveland had made it impossible for him to do business, imprisoned as he was in its terrible old stadium. So he cadged a $200 million stadium out of the citizens of Maryland—only to eventually mismanage his money and be forced to sell the team anyway.

Still, he won a Super Bowl before he had to cash out. And now he slides off to the flames of eternity, celebrated as a model NFL owner. Grant him that. In his greed and dishonesty, he embodied a timeless truth for fans everywhere: The NFL hates you, and all it wants is to steal your money.


http://www.slate.com/articles/sports...fl_owner_.html

[tony hipchest]

the browns have already announced that at this point they have no intentions of offering a moment of silence to honor him before this sundays game, but you damn well know the city of cleveland has had a "victory" parade planned for years.

[GoFor7]

I've been reading tweets and forum postings from Browns fans hoping that Modell is in Hell.........


If Modell is in Hell, he won't be for long because he'll probably just relocate it.

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

I've been reading tweets and forum postings from Browns fans hoping that Modell is in Hell.........


If Modell is in Hell, he won't be for long because he'll probably just relocate it.

Maybe they will get a chance to share their sentiments if they go to Sunday's home opener in Cleveland

Browns to pay tribute to Modell before opener

Art Modell will be recognized Sunday by the team he moved to Baltimore.

The Cleveland Browns plan to have an "appropriate recognition" for the late Modell at the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Modell died Thursday at the age of 87 from natural causes. He remains a vilified figure in Ohio for moving the Browns to Maryland after the 1995 season.

Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said plans have not yet been finalized, but the team will acknowledge Modell's death. Any tribute will likely take place before the opening kickoff....

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has requested that all its teams observe a moment of silence or other appropriate gesture in memory of Modell this week

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...2_a4&eref=sihp

Sunday morning at 3 a.m. might be a good time before kickoff for an "appropriate" recognition - a "moment of silence" during pregame is going to bring down some noise

[GoFor7]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Maybe they will get a chance to share their sentiments if they go to Sunday's home opener in Cleveland

Browns to pay tribute to Modell before opener

Art Modell will be recognized Sunday by the team he moved to Baltimore.

The Cleveland Browns plan to have an "appropriate recognition" for the late Modell at the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Modell died Thursday at the age of 87 from natural causes. He remains a vilified figure in Ohio for moving the Browns to Maryland after the 1995 season.

Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said plans have not yet been finalized, but the team will acknowledge Modell's death. Any tribute will likely take place before the opening kickoff....

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has requested that all its teams observe a moment of silence or other appropriate gesture in memory of Modell this week

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...2_a4&eref=sihp

Sunday morning at 3 a.m. might be a good time before kickoff for an "appropriate" recognition - a "moment of silence" during pregame is going to bring down some noise

And I'm sure those classy Cleveland fans will be respectful.....