@@fantasticvoyage262 Well, as far as the Move was concerned. Art Modell was not upfront and would've had to admit that he was broke. So, I fault him for that. However, Al Lerner wanted to own an NFL franchise. So, he set up the meeting in Baltimore. As far as Mike White goes, he didn't think that the Browns organization could even move. Yes, as you and I both know the IP stayed in Cleveland. Therefore, he kept stringing Modell along and didn't build a new stadium. Instead, he built the Rock and Roll HOF and a science center next door. Which was a huge blow! Modell couldn't afford a new stadium and he didn't want to share it. However, Dick Jacobs (Cleveland Indians owner) didn't want that either. Gateway passed by a slim margin because they wanted the Cavaliers back downtown.
I miss the classic NFL on NBC and that awesome 1995-1997 theme music. I was 11 years old when this aired. Cleveland deserved better than this and I say this as someone born and bread in the Detroit suburbs all my life. I would be so upset if someone tried to move and take the name colors and history of any of our Detroit Pro sports teams with us. Art Modell was a traitor of epic proportions and only legal action saved the Browns name and colors in Cleveland.
Maybe Art Modell should have been granted an expansion team in Baltimore and been forced to sell the original Cleveland Browns to a local Cleveland ownership group.
To show you how times have changed....... Imagine if Drew Carey said the wreck your car line today. All sorts of feminists groups would try to cancel him
Model tried to arrange a new franchise for his friend Al Lerner in Baltimore. Model saw the sweetheart deal Lerner would get and decided to take it. And the mayor needed the Browns out of town so he could tear down the old stadium and build a new one, instead of building it down by the new baseball and basketball venues and develop the lake front. Both screwed the city and should have been
I agree. Art Modell should not have had to take the stadium off the city's hands in the first place. Also, it should have found a way to help keep the baseball team here. That was the mistake! Neither Art nor the city had the money to do it! A shared building for both baseball and football wasn't feasible.
Exactly !....Ditka said it well....But I would have added YES the owner owns the franchise BUT it's NOT HIS !...or hers so the trigger babies don't cry....Modell could've sold the team I understand he didn't want to BUT if money was his issue he could've still been a very rich man AND NOT die thought of as an A hole to most of the country and most football fans ....I don't think owners understand how ingrained these teams are into the communities it goes ALOT further than the city limits
I agree, but with the condition of the stadium it would've been a bad idea. Also, he should have never needed to take the stadium off the hands of the city.
@@ericlehman6841 No one ever said he had to take sole control of the stadium.....Actually he had major control of the stadium if I remember correctly he had leasing rights to the Indians....Either way ....I understand the city didn't work it in his favor BUT the city only had so much revenue to work with the Cavaliers and Indians play MANY more home games than the Browns so its understandable that the city would revamp the the venues for those two teams regardless Modell STILL could've sold the team instead of moving it .
@@user-wm2hv2mh9b To some extent that's true, but Mike White was still a moron because he was out there building a science center and the rock and roll HOF, instead of helping the Browns. No, technically Modell didn't have to be in control of the stadium. He stated that he did it stupidly and regretted from the beginning. Even his wife, Pat didn't want him to do that. The main reason why he did was because he understood that life was difficult and wanted to help. Ralph Perk was the mayor back in 1973 when it happened. So, yes, he's a fool for doing that, but we may have lost the Cleveland Indians to New Orleans or Miami if someone wouldn't have. Yes, he could've sold the team, become rich, and been much more welcome. Although he wanted his family to own it and didn't get to pass on the majority ownership to it. Actually, the decision haunted him for the rest of his life and he would've been in bankruptcy in 60-90 days if he didn't. So, yes, I wish that he would've sold it and kept a minority interest in the team. Like I told you before, the stadium would've still been a liability. He wasn't up front about things, but the politicians and Al Lerner weren't innocent here, either.
I agree with Mike Ditka on this one. It was really upsetting what happened, Art Modell, should have been more up front. As Mike White told Bob Costas, he did a lot of good in his lifetime, but this is the worst thing. Unfortunately, Mike White wasn’t a “white knight” in this whole mess! He should’ve been more proactive, instead of reactive. He was also very naive in thinking that the Browns team wouldn’t move! Yes, most of the blame falls on Art Modell’s shoulders! I heard that Mike Trivisanno was going to write a book about how the city was more at fault than him. I know that a lot of Clevelanders, will disagree with this, but, Triv spoke truth! It’s a shame now that he’s dead, because it would’ve been better. There was so much angst, hurt, miscommunication, and hypocrisy in this situation!
There is a ugly truth not talked about all the time that Art Modell started moving the Browns. The City of Cleveland had built the Gund arena and Progressive field with the taxpayers money that was supposed to be used for a domed stadium leaving out the NFL football team. No doubt the innocent looking men and women who set out lie about how three structures were built with the money.. The fans and the taxpayers were mad at Modell instead of the Mayor and City council who allowed the deal to happen.
Cleveland was going to benefit far more from 81 Indians home games a year than 8 Browns games a year. It's a shame both teams needed a new stadium at the same time.
I actually agree. The city should've bailed him out of debt and built his stadium first. At least before the science center and the rock-'n'-roll hof. 🏈 🎸 🧪
now if the city of cleveland wouldve built new stadium for the browns,b/c the old stadium had been around since 1931.if im not mistaken, the stadium was built for the 1931-32 olympics. modell wouldve gotten his wish. seemed like to ,at the time that the city of cleveland, the common council cared more about the indians who were a top notch baseball team at the time,and would be for awhile,and not a 5-10 football team
Indians ,got new stadium, cavaliers got new stadium, rock and roll hall of fame got new home, art asked several times, he got renovation, BROWNS GOT NAME COLORS, BALTIMORE COLTS LEFT IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT NEVER GOT ASKED FOR NEW STADIUM, NEVER GOT COLOR OF COLTS OR NAME, PEOPLE NEVER LOOK IF THE SHOE WAS ON OTHER FOOT
His opinion may not be powerful, but Mayor White is still partially to blame. I fault Modell more, but White and especially Al Lerner are still guilty!
I miss when commentators were allowed to share their honest opinions
I miss those days too.
You boomers sound so hilarious
@@TheHutchIsOn You kids sound like morons... lol. (And I'm not a 'boomer')
It broke my heart when the Rams left for St Louis & the only way I'd be an NFL fan is if the Rams returned...21 years later they returned.....
It a shame on what happen to the Cleveland Browns
Yes, it's a shame on what happened to the Original Cleveland Browns.
And Baltimore got two super bowls cause of this move which it deprived Cleveland of a championship
@@lonniestephens6254It’s a shame! The city, Al Lerner, and especially, Art Modell really hurt us. Unfortunately, Mayor White acted too late on things.
Where's your concern for Pittsburgh? The Steelers lost 2 automatic wins when the Browns moved
Kind of funny that when the team came back in 1999, their first win was against Mike Ditka’s Saints
Wow sometimes Costas can really connect.
Ditka not holding back ripping Modell apart.
No, he's not. However, Mayor White and Al Lerner should not get passes for the Browns exodus, either.
@@ericlehman6841 I don't remember what happened with them. Share whatever information you have.
@@fantasticvoyage262 Well, as far as the Move was concerned. Art Modell was not upfront and would've had to admit that he was broke. So, I fault him for that. However, Al Lerner wanted to own an NFL franchise. So, he set up the meeting in Baltimore. As far as Mike White goes, he didn't think that the Browns organization could even move. Yes, as you and I both know the IP stayed in Cleveland. Therefore, he kept stringing Modell along and didn't build a new stadium. Instead, he built the Rock and Roll HOF and a science center next door. Which was a huge blow! Modell couldn't afford a new stadium and he didn't want to share it. However, Dick Jacobs (Cleveland Indians owner) didn't want that either. Gateway passed by a slim margin because they wanted the Cavaliers back downtown.
This clip began with an ESPN "Sportscenter" segment.
I miss the classic NFL on NBC and that awesome 1995-1997 theme music. I was 11 years old when this aired. Cleveland deserved better than this and I say this as someone born and bread in the Detroit suburbs all my life. I would be so upset if someone tried to move and take the name colors and history of any of our Detroit Pro sports teams with us. Art Modell was a traitor of epic proportions and only legal action saved the Browns name and colors in Cleveland.
In an ideal world, the NFC package would still be on CBS and the AFC package would still be on NBC
Maybe Art Modell should have been granted an expansion team in Baltimore and been forced to sell the original Cleveland Browns to a local Cleveland ownership group.
It's almost impossible to force a sale.
Technically the Ravens are an expansion team. Cleveland just “Suspended” operations for 5 years, they kept the name, uniforms and records in Cleveland
@@johnfarr2738Yes, but the Browns were only deactivated for three seasons (1996-1998).
@@fantasticvoyage262That and with the condition of the stadium, I don't think that would be possible.
@@ericlehman6841 Did the league force Snyder to sell last year? Or did he bow out on his own?
25 years never forgot. F the Ravens.
Consider this a form of mercy. 4 years of non losing for Cleveland
To show you how times have changed....... Imagine if Drew Carey said the wreck your car line today. All sorts of feminists groups would try to cancel him
The city of Baltimore nearly literally died after the Colts left in 1984 !!!
Model tried to arrange a new franchise for his friend Al Lerner in Baltimore. Model saw the sweetheart deal Lerner would get and decided to take it. And the mayor needed the Browns out of town so he could tear down the old stadium and build a new one, instead of building it down by the new baseball and basketball venues and develop the lake front. Both screwed the city and should have been
That never should've happen in the first place.
I agree. Art Modell should not have had to take the stadium off the city's hands in the first place. Also, it should have found a way to help keep the baseball team here. That was the mistake! Neither Art nor the city had the money to do it! A shared building for both baseball and football wasn't feasible.
Exactly !....Ditka said it well....But I would have added YES the owner owns the franchise BUT it's NOT HIS !...or hers so the trigger babies don't cry....Modell could've sold the team I understand he didn't want to BUT if money was his issue he could've still been a very rich man AND NOT die thought of as an A hole to most of the country and most football fans ....I don't think owners understand how ingrained these teams are into the communities it goes ALOT further than the city limits
I agree, but with the condition of the stadium it would've been a bad idea. Also, he should have never needed to take the stadium off the hands of the city.
@@ericlehman6841 No one ever said he had to take sole control of the stadium.....Actually he had major control of the stadium if I remember correctly he had leasing rights to the Indians....Either way ....I understand the city didn't work it in his favor BUT the city only had so much revenue to work with the Cavaliers and Indians play MANY more home games than the Browns so its understandable that the city would revamp the the venues for those two teams regardless Modell STILL could've sold the team instead of moving it .
@@user-wm2hv2mh9b To some extent that's true, but Mike White was still a moron because he was out there building a science center and the rock and roll HOF, instead of helping the Browns. No, technically Modell didn't have to be in control of the stadium. He stated that he did it stupidly and regretted from the beginning. Even his wife, Pat didn't want him to do that. The main reason why he did was because he understood that life was difficult and wanted to help. Ralph Perk was the mayor back in 1973 when it happened. So, yes, he's a fool for doing that, but we may have lost the Cleveland Indians to New Orleans or Miami if someone wouldn't have. Yes, he could've sold the team, become rich, and been much more welcome. Although he wanted his family to own it and didn't get to pass on the majority ownership to it. Actually, the decision haunted him for the rest of his life and he would've been in bankruptcy in 60-90 days if he didn't. So, yes, I wish that he would've sold it and kept a minority interest in the team. Like I told you before, the stadium would've still been a liability. He wasn't up front about things, but the politicians and Al Lerner weren't innocent here, either.
Cleveland stadium is now in the lake
I agree with Mike Ditka on this one. It was really upsetting what happened, Art Modell, should have been more up front. As Mike White told Bob Costas, he did a lot of good in his lifetime, but this is the worst thing. Unfortunately, Mike White wasn’t a “white knight” in this whole mess! He should’ve been more proactive, instead of reactive. He was also very naive in thinking that the Browns team wouldn’t move! Yes, most of the blame falls on Art Modell’s shoulders! I heard that Mike Trivisanno was going to write a book about how the city was more at fault than him. I know that a lot of Clevelanders, will disagree with this, but, Triv spoke truth! It’s a shame now that he’s dead, because it would’ve been better. There was so much angst, hurt, miscommunication, and hypocrisy in this situation!
Why was there a football game going on behind them if it was halftime? Very distracting.
I was wondering that too. I don't know why NBC didn't record that segment before the game.
There is a ugly truth not talked about all the time that Art Modell started moving the Browns. The City of Cleveland had built the Gund arena and Progressive field with the taxpayers money that was supposed to be used for a domed stadium leaving out the NFL football team. No doubt the innocent looking men and women who set out lie about how three structures were built with the money.. The fans and the taxpayers were mad at Modell instead of the Mayor and City council who allowed the deal to happen.
1995 the day football name became the same.
Art moddell is burning in hell right now for doing this
If that's true, then Al Lerner and Mike White and all the others involved should do the same!
Cleveland should have renovated or gave Art a new stadium. Then the Indians got one after the Browns were the popular team in Cleveland.
Cleveland was going to benefit far more from 81 Indians home games a year than 8 Browns games a year. It's a shame both teams needed a new stadium at the same time.
@@fantasticvoyage262Yes, it was.
I actually agree. The city should've bailed him out of debt and built his stadium first. At least before the science center and the rock-'n'-roll hof. 🏈 🎸 🧪
Drew grue up just like me.
Ditka!
now if the city of cleveland wouldve built new stadium for the browns,b/c the old stadium had been around since 1931.if im not mistaken, the stadium was built for the 1931-32 olympics. modell wouldve gotten his wish. seemed like to ,at the time that the city of cleveland, the common council cared more about the indians who were a top notch baseball team at the time,and would be for awhile,and not a 5-10 football team
The current Cleveland Browns are The Cleveland Clowns. How sad the Cleveland fans have to put up with a sorry team.
They are 7-3
@@mikewack6778 10-3 tonight!
@@mikewack6778 This is their third season being good in like 25 years. Dude is right the Browns are a sorry team
Can’t stand Costa’s suffocating “eat your peas” lectures.
I’ll bet you disagreed with your teachers a lot, too. Just so you know, they were always right.
@@DanStrayer Your comment wasn't the brilliant response you thought it was you pretentious dumbass.
Bob Costas is awesome!
@@whataboutrob442I love Bob Costas!
Indians ,got new stadium, cavaliers got new stadium, rock and roll hall of fame got new home, art asked several times, he got renovation, BROWNS GOT NAME COLORS, BALTIMORE COLTS LEFT IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT NEVER GOT ASKED FOR NEW STADIUM, NEVER GOT COLOR OF COLTS OR NAME, PEOPLE NEVER LOOK IF THE SHOE WAS ON OTHER FOOT
Boob Costas thinks his opinion is powerful. He’s not.
His opinion may not be powerful, but Mayor White is still partially to blame. I fault Modell more, but White and especially Al Lerner are still guilty!