RIP Art Modell

Don't "underrespect" Interference. It's still one of the two best books on the league ever written . . . the other being "The League".
Everything else is running for third.

 

Did anyone operating in Cleveland in that era not have ties to organized crime?

 

Good point, sir.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_crime_family
http://www.clevelandmob.com/
http://www.americanmafia.com/Cities/Cleveland.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569800588/rickporrellosame/

 

I get pissed when I find out the local bar has the American Museum of Natural History on, and I am looking for the Louvre feed.

I also cannot believe I passed on Picasso in the first round.

 

...to see 5 miles of medieval fat chicks. What a scam that place has going.

 

Of course not, but what does that have to do with this topic? The market's ability to support had nothing to do with the Browns' departure, as Cleveland was known for loyally packing out its stadium, and passionately supporting the Browns, no matter what, through good times and bad, during the Modell years.

I'm virtually allergic to the notion of siding with oop, but I must say, there is an oddly condescending tone to your questions on this thread (and others), almost as if there's some greater point you want to make, but you think you need to guide us peons toward it through socratic method questioning. If you've got some overriding point, than just say it. If not, cut the bullshit.

 

Personne ne donne une merde sur votre équipe fantasy.

 

My apologies.

 

A little late to this.

During Bidwill's stadium demands, the baseball team was in the midst of Whitey Herzog's run. From 1982 to when the NFL left St. Louis, baseball had emerged from its lost decade in the 70's.

The eight seasons without the NFL in St. Louis were odd, watching Phoenix Cardinals games the first couple of years. But people found other things to do on Sunday. The Rams surprise title in 1999 put away any residual Bidwill Angst (mind you, his Cardinals won ZERO playoff games in 28 years in STL).

 

Ray Lewis, you wouldn't know "honor" if it stroked your balls.

 

Oh good -- the rage doesn't have to die even though Modell did. According to two people who were city officials at the time but are just speaking publicly about it now, the city DID offer Modell a stadium at the Gateway sports complex, right next to the Indians and Cavs, long before he left.

http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2012/09/art_modell_gateway_stadium.html

Forbes said he remained quiet for decades out of respect for Modell, whom he considered a friend.

"Art was my friend and a good man, and I didn't want to get into it," Forbes said. "I didn't want to pour hot water on a scalding dog."

But Forbes said he's long been bothered by the narrative that government failed Modell.

"I have thought about this meeting every time it was written or televised that no one made an offer to build a stadium," he said. "My words are to set the record straight about the governmental institutions and our involvement."