RIP: Art Modell

[cartman]

The former NFL owner, who took football away from Cleveland, and brought it back to Baltimore, passed away at the age of 87.

Art Modell, former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns owner, dies at 87 - baltimoresun.com (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-art-modell-former-baltimore-ravens-and-cleveland-browns-owner-dies-at-92-20120905,0,1985687.story)

[BillJasper]

I wonder how many Browns fans will travel to Baltimore to piss on his grave?

RIP Mr. Modell.

[stevew]

Always will appreciate the facial he did on Browns fans.

I thought he was dead at least 4-5 years ago. May have been the sale of the Ravens.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Didn't he have a clue that his legacy would be that he is the Irsay of Cleveland?

Then, when he could have bought the "Colts" name from Irsay he balked at having to pay for it. Could have made Baltimore REALLY love him and made a ton on merchandising, but he didn't want to pay the money (I think it was $20mil)

[albionmoonlight]

I thought that the 30 for 30 on Baltimore's loss of the Colts was well done. But I also thought that it really ducked what, to me, was the most interesting aspect of the whole thing. You spend 45 minutes showing me how having an NFL team ripped away breaks the heart of a city. Then you have the people of Baltimore open their arms and allow Modell do the same thing to Cleveland. The documentary quoted a few Baltimore residents with a token "We were sorry that it had to happen to another city," but overall the whole issue was skirted.

I am not saying what Baltimore's reaction to the Browns coming should have been vis a vis Cleveland losing its team. It's a complex question with different reasonable answers. Which is why I would have really liked to see the documentary tackle it. The insight would have been pretty informative, I think.

[CleBrownsfan]

I'm usually sadden by a passing of a person but this one.... well...

[MacroGuru]

Anyone find it interesting Ralph Wilson at the age of 94 goes into the Hospital and comes out healthy and Modell passes...I think Ralphie boy is a Lich....sucked Modell's soul (what little one there was) to survive a bit longer...

[claphamsa]

grew up in cleveland, but never was a browns fan... still cant say im sad to see this.

[cuervo72]

I am not saying what Baltimore's reaction to the Browns coming should have been vis a vis Cleveland losing its team. It's a complex question with different reasonable answers. Which is why I would have really liked to see the documentary tackle it. The insight would have been pretty informative, I think.

Did they cover the '95 expansion at all (I assume they did - I only saw parts of that 30 for 30 I think, and should really try to view it sometime)? Following that, I think Baltimore was looking for a team by any means necessary. There was no guarantee of further expansion, and certainly no guarantee that the NFL wouldn't pass Baltimore over again.

[RendeR]

Modell was just smarmy. He pretty much stole the Browns out from under their creator (Paul Brown) then had the guts to claim "Hey you stole my uniform" When Paul brown started the BEngals Franchise.

Then he guts Cleveland by taking the Browns to Baltimore.

He's a repeat offender and frankly, I won't miss him.

The League probably won't either in the long run.

[RendeR]

I fear for the Bills when Ralph finally does keel over....

[johneh]

Listening to the radio today in Cleveland there is a lot of hate for Art. I've moved on and gotten over it... had no idea so few here had! (could just be the loudmouth minority, I guess). One station was taking callers who were talking about pissing on his grave how he is burning in hell.. dang people let it go..

[Bearcat729]

Listening to the radio today in Cleveland there is a lot of hate for Art. I've moved on and gotten over it... had no idea so few here had! (could just be the loudmouth minority, I guess). One station was taking callers who were talking about pissing on his grave how he is burning in hell.. dang people let it go..

As a Browns fan I am indifferent to his death, I am not sad but I will not cheer. I will find it interesting to see what happens in Cleveland when the NFL tries to do a moment of silence prior to the games this week in honor of Art Modell.

I've always wondered if the fact that the Browns and Cleveland teams in general have not won a championship in so long that we have trouble letting things go.

If I had seen Art Modell walking down the street yesterday I probably would have boo'd, and probably shouted something that I would not have shouted in public at anyone else, but I am not crazy enough to think that he is burning in hell nor am I planning a trip to his grave site to deface it in any way, but I do not forgive him for taking the players and staff to Baltimore and denying the fans the joy of seeing a championship.

[molson]

Is the anger because the Ravens succeeded? I mean, Cleveland got a really unique priority expansion setup a few years later, they got their name, colors, new ownership, the first pick in the draft. Or is that outfit just not considered the "real" Browns because of the break in between?

[Young Drachma]

I think the NFL handled the Browns thing really well, all things considered. I mean, especially with moves like Seattle and Montreal out there where they were basically corrupt fraudsters being corrupt. The Ravens are historically an expansion club. Only thing that would've worked better is if Modell had gotten the old name back. But I didn't even realize he'd had the option and just chose not to. Moron.

[RendeR]

Modell moved the team purely for the money. Baltimore and the citizens of Maryland flipped the bill for almost ll of the new stadium. He wasn't an idiot, he knew he had the beginnings of a quality franchise but wanted everyone else to flip for his arena. He got that and Cleveland got handed a shitpile in return.

There is nothing, for me, that will rationalize away the utter asshattery that went on when Modell made this move. He fucked over Cleveland and didn't even have the guts to come out and tell people how good it felt when he facialed them.

[ISiddiqui]

I've always wondered if the fact that the Browns and Cleveland teams in general have not won a championship in so long that we have trouble letting things go.

Probably a BIG part of it, especially since the Ravens won the Super Bowl not long after they left Cleveland. Probably a lot of Browns fans bitter thinking that was "our" Super Bowl that was denied them.

[Bearcat729]

Modell moved the team purely for the money. Baltimore and the citizens of Maryland flipped the bill for almost ll of the new stadium. He wasn't an idiot, he knew he had the beginnings of a quality franchise but wanted everyone else to flip for his arena. He got that and Cleveland got handed a shitpile in return.

There is nothing, for me, that will rationalize away the utter asshattery that went on when Modell made this move. He fucked over Cleveland and didn't even have the guts to come out and tell people how good it felt when he facialed them.

And the most annoying part of today is hearing everyone talk about how he was forced out, or the city of Cleveland refused to give him the stadium. He had an insane deal with the old Municipal Stadium, he wasn't going to get nearly the same deal with a new stadium in Cleveland and he was in so much debt that when Baltimore offered him the money he couldn't pass up the deal.

[stevew]

Municipal stadium was a pile of shit

New Browns Stadium is really nice, although it is a pain to get there.

[stevew]

Cleveland has 3 nice stadiums...I think ultimately Modell probably deserves credit for waking them up.