Art Modell, vindicated

As someone wise pointed out “You learn a lot about people in times of adversity.”  What we have learned in the wake of the LeBron James circus is this:  Cleveland cannot lose gracefully.  It has been 46 years since any Cleveland franchise has won a title.  The way Cleveland fans acted Thursday night proves they deserve a few more years in purgatory.

And somewhere in Maryland, one Art Modell can sympathize with LeBron James.

You remember Art Modell… The most hated man in Cleveland for moving the Browns to Baltimore.  Cleveland fans wanted to kill Art, Art was a traitor, blah, blah, blah.  First off, Cleveland fans, get a grip.  You want to talk about traitorous owners.  Robert Irsay made Art Modell look like a saint in comparison.  The only reason history makes Modell look worse is because ESPN was still an infant when Robert lied to the people of Baltimore, then snuck out the Colts in the middle of the night during an ice storm.  What did Baltimore get from the NFL after the Colts left town?  Pretty much the cold shoulder.  They even thought Jacksonville was a better NFL town than Baltimore.  Shows you what the NFL knows… 

When the first Browns left, the NFL was ready to bend over backwards to ensure Cleveland was not teamless for long.  They made sure the Browns kept their records, colors, and nickname.  Cleveland even built a new stadium for the Browns… something Art Modell had wanted just to keep the original Browns in Cleveland.  But no, Cleveland wanted to build a new stadium for the Indians and Cavaliers instead of their most successful sports franchise.  The Browns could stay in that hell hole that was Cleveland municipal stadium and like it.  No wonder Art always wanted to keep Baltimore as an option.  He knew he couldn’t trust Cleveland to help him out of a bad stadium.

Which brings me to LeBron.  LeBron had taken the Cavs about as far as he could.  He provided Cleveland with memorable moments, and made Cleveland a destination spot.  He wanted to win for Cleveland.  And how did Cleveland treat him?  They expected him to be Bernie Kosar, Bob Feller, and Jim Brown all rolled into one… at all times.  If he struggled, he was hot dogging.  If he didn’t hit a game-winner, he was the reason they lost.  They wanted him to win the title for Cleveland and go undefeated in the process.  When he moved on, his former owner and fans trashed him in such a way that no free agent will touch the Cavs for years to come. 

This is the ugly side of Cleveland.  It has shown itself again.  Maybe this time people will understand that it is the people that make owners and players want to leave it.  Art Modell, you have been officially vindicated.