40 replies to this topic

[ChaosLex]

Passed away early this morning at Johns Hopkins. He was 87.

[DuffMan]

Passed away early this morning at Johns Hopkins. He was 87.

Did something change? On the way into work this morning (about 5:20 a.m.) WBAL said that he was at the hospital and wasn't doing well. I haven't seen any kind of update since then that says otherwise.

[ChaosLex]

Did something change? On the way into work this morning (about 5:20 a.m.) WBAL said that he was at the hospital and wasn't doing well. I haven't seen any kind of update since then that says otherwise.

http://www.baltimore...0,1985687.story

[BSLChrisStoner]

The coverage Nationally of Model's passing will focus on the move from Cleveland, more should be made of his impact on the NFL, particularly TV. Here locally, he changed Baltimore. Beyond having a team on the field to root for, the corresponding impact of having a team can be tied to other improvements within Charm City. Best to his family.

[MKlein76]

Wow. Such a shame. RIP Art.

[ChaosLex]

Gotta think the Ravens will be wearing patches all season.

[MKlein76]

Former Ravens president David Modell issued this statement:

“Sadly, I can confirm that my father died peacefully of natural causes at 4 a.m. this morning. My brother John Modell and I were with him when he finally rejoined the absolute love of his life, my mother Pat Modell, who passed away last October.

“’Poppy’ was a special man who was loved by his sons, his daughter-in-law Michel, and his six grandchildren. Moreover, he was adored by the entire Baltimore community for his kindness and generosity. And, he loved Baltimore. He made an important and indelible contribution to the lives of his children, grandchildren and his entire community. We will miss him.”

EDIT: This quote was from the article on Baltimore Ravens website. It has some of his football history and career highlights.
http://www.baltimore... ... cf1e25eb89

[Mike B]

RIP Art. A truly fine man. He was a gentleman from day 1 here. He should have been in the HOF years ago, as other owners who have contributed less are. Because of a flawed process he was not elected. A real shame.
The sports fans of Baltimore owe Art a debt of gratitude. Good Bless Art, RIP.

[Mike B]

I read in the paper last week that the Maryland HOF has just made a rules change that will allow an adopted Marylander to now be eligible. John Unitas was the reason behind the change.

Art should be enshrined.

[Zwolfe0]

I grew up in a family that supported the Cleveland Browns. I understand why Baltimore loves this man and what he did for the NFL to make it the powerhouse it is today. However, I don't agree with him being held in such high regard because of what he did to Cleveland. Much like the Colts, the Browns were a foundation of the NFL and had a fan base that was passionate and supported the team in the cold and rain. I know the Browns did not have to wait as long as Baltimore and were lucky enough to regain their history and name. But it has never been the same since the team left. But hey, maybe the two towns will come together when John Elway dies since he dealt hard blows to the history of both teams.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I grew up in a family that supported the Cleveland Browns. I understand why Baltimore loves this man and what he did for the NFL to make it the powerhouse it is today. However, I don't agree with him being held in such high regard because of what he did to Cleveland. Much like the Colts, the Browns were a foundation of the NFL and had a fan base that was passionate and supported the team in the cold and rain. I know the Browns did not have to wait as long as Baltimore and were lucky enough to regain their history and name. But it has never been the same since the team left. But hey, maybe the two towns will come together when John Elway dies since he dealt hard blows to the history of both teams.

I can't blame anyone with Cleveland ties feeling this way. Many Baltimore fans will never be able to part with their animosity regarding Irsay.

For several reasons, I don't believe the situations directly compare though. (Primarily that I believe Model attempted to negotiate in good faith with Cleveland, did leave the colors / records, and wasn't a degenerate drunk like Irsay was; who systematically crippled the Colts franchise on his own.)

OTOH, the ultimate truth is that both franchises were moved away from cities that loved them. It is hard to get past that, and I understand why Cleveland maintains their disdain.

[Zwolfe0]

I will give Modell credit, he did try and leave in the best way possible. However, it would be hard to move a franchise to another state that was named for an Ohio legend that founded the team.

[Mark Carver]

Maybe now Art Model will finally get the recognition he deserves and get inducted into the Pro Football HOF. He was a pioneer owner that helped make the NFL what it is today. Afterall, Al Davis is in and he had moving vans stored on the teams parking lot ready to move the Raiders whenever he felt like it.

[SportsGuy]

I will give Modell credit, he did try and leave in the best way possible. However, it would be hard to move a franchise to another state that was named for an Ohio legend that founded the team.

Sure..it sucks for Cle fans, no matter how you look at it. As Chris said, he left the records, colors, etc..and that means something to a lot of people.

Cle was only without football for a few years and had they been willing to give Modell the new stadium that the new Browns got and supported the team better back then, he never would have left.

End of the day, fans will be pissed...and they should be. To have your team ripped from you is terrible but at some point, you realize that you got a new franchise quickly, got a new stadium and a fresh start. There is some value to all of those things.

[Oriole85]

Maybe now Art Model will finally get the recognition he deserves and get inducted into the Pro Football HOF. He was a pioneer owner that helped make the NFL what it is today. Afterall, Al Davis is in and he had moving vans stored on the teams parking lot ready to move the Raiders whenever he felt like it.

First off, let me start by saying I think Modell deserves to be in the HOF. However, Al Davis has contributed more though and got in the HOF I believe before he moved the Raiders the 2nd time around. I think Modell should've been in the HOF before he moved the Browns to Baltimore. Moving a signature franchise was going to do ever-lasting damage to his reputation outside of Baltimore, there's just no two-ways about it. I recall reading a few years ago that Bob Dole wanted his endorsement in 1996 and he told him (paraphrasing), "You don't want it, I'm about to do something that's going to make me incredibly unpopular."

I also think he didn't give the records/team color to Cleveland as willingly as some are making it seem, wasn't it part of the court settlement guaranteeing the return of football to that city? I wish some would get off their high horse and about how classless Cleveland is in all this. I get annoyed when people slander Baltimore because of a few and I'll bet some were celebrating when Irsay died. Every place has their bad apples.

Nonetheless, sports is a business not a charity and Baltimore greatly benefitted from his decision to bring the Ravens here. I can't imagine what Sundays would be like from October through December(and usually into January) without the Ravens here. And on top of that he built the Ravens into a model franchise and consistent winner that has served as a source of civic pride.

More importantly the reason he should be in the HOF is his contributions to the game as a whole, not specifically to his teams (Browns&Ravens). Revenue sharing is a stape of the league and has allowed the league as a whole to prosper. One quote I remember from him is "Were (number of NFL owners) Republicans and we vote socialist," in terms of that. His role in creating Monday Night Football, along with his other work on the broadcasting committee, has turned football into a event. Also, helping to usher the AFL in the merger allowed the league to evolve into what it is today. These accomplishments are in addition to other committees he served on, the CBAs he helped negotiate, and other work he did on behalf of the NFL.

[DJ MC]

First off, let me start by saying I think Modell deserves to be in the HOF. However, Al Davis has contributed more though and got in the HOF I believe before he moved the Raiders the 2nd time around. I think Modell should've been in the HOF before he moved the Browns to Baltimore. Moving a signature franchise was going to do ever-lasting damage to his reputation outside of Baltimore, there's just no two-ways about it. I recall reading a few years ago that Bob Dole wanted his endorsement in 1996 and he told him (paraphrasing), "You don't want it, I'm about to do something that's going to make me incredibly unpopular."

I also think he didn't give the records/team color to Cleveland as willingly as some are making it seem, wasn't it part of the court settlement guaranteeing the return of football to that city? I wish some would get off their high horse and about how classless Cleveland is in all this. I get annoyed when people slander Baltimore because of a few and I'll bet some were celebrating when Irsay died. Every place has their bad apples.

Nonetheless, sports is a business not a charity and Baltimore greatly benefitted from his decision to bring the Ravens here. I can't imagine what Sundays would be like from October through December(and usually into January) without the Ravens here. And on top of that he built the Ravens into a model franchise and consistent winner that has served as a source of civic pride.

More importantly the reason he should be in the HOF is his contributions to the game as a whole, not specifically to his teams (Browns&Ravens). Revenue sharing is a stape of the league and has allowed the league as a whole to prosper. One quote I remember from him is "Were (number of NFL owners) Republicans and we vote socialist," in terms of that. His role in creating Monday Night Football, along with his other work on the broadcasting committee, has turned football into a event. Also, helping to usher the AFL in the merger allowed the league to evolve into what it is today. These accomplishments are in addition to other committees he served on, the CBAs he helped negotiate, and other work he did on behalf of the NFL.

You're right about the colors and name and everything. They weren't "willingly" offered up, but were part of the settlement allowing the team to leave. However, wouldn't Modell and the franchise--and the league in general--have fought to keep them if they believed they were important enough to keep with the club? There was a recognition that all of that had any real meaning because they were associated with the city and fan base of Cleveland.

Other than both situations involved a beloved sports franchise moving to a new city, there is very little that is similar between the Colts and the Browns. That may sound like a, "Other than that, how'd you like the play, Ms. Lincoln," situation, but it really is not.

Baltimore never had the opportunity that Cleveland did to keep their team. Irsay was dead-set on leaving and lied repeatedly about that fact despite public dalliances with other cities. The city was never offered an opportunity to build a new stadium or show some other form of support. He left like he did, famously in the middle of the night, because the state was debating eminent domain procedures and likely would have attempted to seize the assets of the franchise as essentially the only chance they had. And, of course, the league had a strong faction led by Jack Kent Cooke that was more than happy to leave Baltimore to the Redskins and as a place for use to threaten a move.

Cleveland had multiple opportunities to change the outcome. They decided that the Indians and the Cavaliers deserved new homes while the soul of their city remained in a broken-down building called by all the Mistake. Some of that was probably hubris, that there was no way the Browns would or could leave. The city and state refused to listen to Modell and his money problems, which would eventually force the sale in Baltimore, and continued to do so when he said that he would have to leave. So he left.

Maybe he could have sold the team, but that might not have made a difference. Who would have bought the team then, deep in debt and with no plans for a new stadium in sight? Even if a buyer could be found, would it have been a local buyer? Al Lerner, who owned the expansion franchise, actually flew Modell to Baltimore on his own private plane. A buyer from elsewhere would have had no connection to the city whatsoever and likely would have been on the first fleet of Mayflower trucks out of Cleveland anyway. Then Modell ends up vilified anyway for being the man who sold the team to a new city (like Howard Schultz in Seattle).

It was a terrible situation, and really a no-win situation for anyone. Cleveland gets their heart ripped out, and the one brought in to replace it never fits quite right. Modell becomes the poster-child for the terrible owner in sports, forced to head a column of Irsays which nothing else he ever did with the league or the franchise or the city of Cleveland suggests he deserves that company. Baltimore gets saddled with the original sin of gaining a team the "wrong" way on top of the pain of losing the Colts. Yet, in the end, this might have been the best possible situation for all involved because both Baltimore and Cleveland have teams and new stadia, Modell won his Super Bowl and solved his money troubles through the generous and deep pockets of Steve Bisciotti, and the league has two strong fan bases and franchises where seventeen years ago there was only one.

If Modell is in Hell right now, it certainly isn't for anything he did in moving the Browns, and he isn't anywhere close to the circle where Irsay remains for eternity.

[BSLZackKiesel]

I was too young to remember the move of the Ravens. The first year I really started following football (at around age 7) was the Super Bowl year. But the image of Art Modell was implanted into my head from an early age by my father. I could see the admiration from every Ravens fan I met of this amazing man. He brought that family atmosphere with him from Cleveland to Baltimore, and even as fans I believe that we can feel a bit of that family relationship with the team. Baltimore lost a great man today, but heaven gained a great one.

[Oriole85]

You're right about the colors and name and everything. They weren't "willingly" offered up, but were part of the settlement allowing the team to leave. However, wouldn't Modell and the franchise--and the league in general--have fought to keep them if they believed they were important enough to keep with the club? There was a recognition that all of that had any real meaning because they were associated with the city and fan base of Cleveland.

My point in all of this is it's revisionist history like it's being told that Modell was this great guy for allowing the Browns to have this. It's not like he decided this on his own, he/the NFL/city of Cleveland agreed to it to prevent further litigation. Sure he didn't "challenge" it, but it was a small price for him to pay to get out of Cleveland. Even if they were declared two seperate franchises by the NFL, it's not like all the stuff in Cleveland he didn't accomplish.

Maybe he could have sold the team, but that might not have made a difference. Who would have bought the team then, deep in debt and with no plans for a new stadium in sight? Even if a buyer could be found, would it have been a local buyer? Al Lerner, who owned the expansion franchise, actually flew Modell to Baltimore on his own private plane. A buyer from elsewhere would have had no connection to the city whatsoever and likely would have been on the first fleet of Mayflower trucks out of Cleveland anyway. Then Modell ends up vilified anyway for being the man who sold the team to a new city (like Howard Schultz in Seattle).

Well Cleveland did get a new stadium eventually after having to sit out some seasons. So this all worked out for all parties in the end, a lot sooner than it did for Baltimore.

Since many people view professional sports teams as "public trusts" instead of private businesses, Modell was bound to get blamed. And honestly, I don't blame Clevelanders for having animosity towards him to an extent (it's wrong to be "celebrating" his death). Moving a sports team never ends well and everyone likes to think their fans are "loyal" and got "screwed."

[ravens8589]

It is absolutely sickening listening to what some Cleveland fans say about Art Modell. Since when did football become bigger than life? Modell was a great man and did a lot for the sport itself. He was a pioneer in getting football televised. I understand Cleveland fans were hurt when he moved them to Baltimore but show some class. A man died. He was a great man. he will be missed. RIP Art. Hopefully the Ravens wear some sort of patch on their uniforms and take the trophy home this year for him.

[Oriole85]

It is absolutely sickening listening to what some Cleveland fans say about Art Modell. Since when did football become bigger than life? Modell was a great man and did a lot for the sport itself. He was a pioneer in getting football televised. I understand Cleveland fans were hurt when he moved them to Baltimore but show some class. A man died. He was a great man. he will be missed. RIP Art. Hopefully the Ravens wear some sort of patch on their uniforms and take the trophy home this year for him.

That's to be expected, people take sports too seriously. I would've been more surprised if they were actually respectful today. Every city has bad apples. I'm sure if there was Twitter back in the late 70s and message boards were more prevelant, you'd see people "celebrating" Irsay's death. (Yes, I get that they are somewhat different situations and Irsay was a coward+Cleveland got their team back sooner with the history and all, but in the end it's the same thing, seeing your beloved team leave)

Ravens already announced they were wearing a patch this season in his honor.