Let's get Art Modell in the Hall Of Fame

[Sports Steve]

Hey guys,

Let's put the pressure on the Hall Of Fame selection committee. Please let's all put a strong campaign to get Art Modell in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Al Davis moved his team twice for no real reason and he's in the Hall Of Fame. I will be posting the names of all selection commitee members on my site by next week Show them what power Baltimore fans have.

sportststeve.com

Art should be in the Hall Of Fame and time is running out for him to be alive when he is selected. Please fly signs about getting Art in the Hall Of Fame at your tailgates let's get thier attention. :thumbup: :thumbup:

We wouldn't have this board or a team if Art didn't come her.
I have real faith in all of you that we can do this.

Sports Steve

[ravens138]

Sports Steve I'm behind you all the way. You're right we have to put pressure on them as they are just sitting back and doing nothing.

I like you idea about have signs up at our tailgates. Think how cool that would look to see hundreds of signs up each game.


Sports Steve you should be in the Hall of Fame also. You're a big Ravens fan who does a lot to promote out team.

Love your M&T Bank billboards. Real Cool :thumbup: :thumbup:

[AZRAVEN]

As much as I agree that Modell should be there I can't see it happening as long as elections are still controlled by media types. It isn't just Tony Grossi, there are a number of them who have stated they would never vote for him. Truth be told, the league probably would dread his induction as well. Can you imagine what those ceremonies would degenerate into? It wouldn't be safe for him to show up that's for sure.

[RAVENOUS52]

I've been known to fly a sign or two in the old stadium on Sundays...I will definitely fly one at the Steeler's game in December (my next home game).

Hell, maybe I'll even fly one in San Diego and Seattle too!

[Purpleguy]

Sorry but I can't support Modell in the HOF. It's pretty hypocritical to piss on Irsays grave and then want to enshrine Art Modell.

I'm thankful for the Ravens, but i'm not crazy with how we got them. I'm glad the NFL returned a team to Cleveland. In a perfect world the jax jaguars would be the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore is my home town. I love football. The Ravens play here. Is their any doubt as to why it was impossible not to support the team? I've just never been crazy about supporting the owner.

[festivus]

Two things.

One, in my opinion, Art deserves it. Partly for being one of the prominent owners in making the league what it is today, creation of MNF, bringing the NFL to tv, etc., and partly for raising awareness of substance abuse care needs of the NFL players. He set up some sort of organization, can't remember the names, to give the team members who needed it some support while coping with addiction. If I remember correctly. . .

Anyway for what he's done for the league he deserves it.

The other thing is, someone on NST, I think it was Drew, talked about this awhile back. Might have been as much as five or six months ago even. He said he'd spoken with at least one HOF voter, not associated with Cleveland, who said Art is not getting in. Not because of the move to Baltimore, just because, not every old owner gets in, and Art just doesn't deserve it.

That was just the opinion of one voter, but it *may be* that there's more then the move to Baltimore keeping him out.

[MikeinGlennDale]

ESPN once featured a "Five reasons you can't blame Art Modell".

This should be mandatory viewing for all Ravens Message Board posters.

Case in point...leaky plumbing above his executive office.

How can the 'average joe fan' help influence Modell's enshrinement.

[Sports Steve]

Sorry but I can't support Modell in the HOF. It's pretty hypocritical to piss on Irsays grave and then want to enshrine Art Modell.

I'm thankful for the Ravens, but i'm not crazy with how we got them. I'm glad the NFL returned a team to Cleveland. In a perfect world the jax jaguars would be the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore is my home town. I love football. The Ravens play here. Is their any doubt as to why it was impossible not to support the team? I've just never been crazy about supporting the owner.

Well Cleveland built a New stadium for the Indians, New arena for the Cavilers and a Rock N Roll hall of fame and shit on Art. Oh one important thing he didn't pull out in the middle of the night. Baltimore played the game but never got a team. Another thing Art gave Cleveland their Colors and History back. The man has been a pioneer on the NFL. He should be there and it's a crime he's not already there.

:jester: :jester:

[RAVENOUS52]

I'm sure if Purpleguy's girlfriend had shit on him the way Cleveland did Art Modell, he'd move on to some other babe a lot sooner than it took Art to leave town.

[highwater]

I'm all for Modell being in the Hall of Fame, but you can't really pressure that committee. They vote behind closed doors and don't even have to tell anyone who they voted for or against, or why. It's ridiculously secretive.

[camdenyard]

[QUOTE=Purpleguy;53942]Sorry but I can't support Modell in the HOF. It's pretty hypocritical to piss on Irsays grave and then want to enshrine Art Modell.[QUOTE]

Please...what the hell did Irsay ever do for the NFL? or for Baltimore? Educate yourself on what Modell has done to help make the league what it is today. Read up on what Modell did for the Cleveland community all those years. Do those things before spouting off uninformed.

And from everything I've read, it definitely is Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer who is instrumental in squashing the Modell enshrinement. Every time.

[festivus]

And from everything I've read, it definitely is Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer who is instrumental in squashing the Modell enshrinement. Every time.

I hope you're right. Because if you are, then that gives me hope one day he'll get it. He certainly deserves it.

[Purpleguy]

I'm sorry, but i really don't support putting any sports team owners in the HOF. If you want to make a seperate "old rich guy hall of fame" then I'll be the first to nominate Modell, Rooney, and Hunt.

Sure he did great things for the league in working out the TV deal. That was a smart business move for a man that owned a piece of the league. As for his charitable work in Cleveland, it's called a tax write off, and if you do the right charitable work your business can benefit.

Art Modell seems like a nice enough guy. He was a solid owner while he was here because he stayed out of the process. He made a brilliant business move by bringing his team here and then cashing in 5 years later. It just seems silly to put owners in the HOF. Budweiser does alot for the league as well and we won't be enshrining them.

[Greg]

Sure he did great things for the league in working out the TV deal. That was a smart business move for a man that owned a piece of the league. As for his charitable work in Cleveland, it's called a tax write off, and if you do the right charitable work your business can benefit.
Actually, most people aren't smart enough to see that the TV deal he did for the NFL was a good move for himself. You see, Modell had one of the top 2 or 3 local deals for TV in the NFL, he gave that advantage up to revenue share to make the network deals happen. Compare that to Steinbrenner in NY.

As for charitable tax deductions, getting back 28% of your money is not a reason to do something and unless a person is doing it for the right reasons they won't. Charity is not done for business reasons very often as regular advertising is much more effective for the dollar, even at a 28% discount.


Budweiser does alot for the league as well and we won't be enshrining them.
Budweiser just pays the league money, they don't create revenue sharing deals, work out deals the with NFLPA or come up with the idea of prime time football.

Modell helped, heck, was one of the main architects of a league that allows every team an equal chance. Revenue in all manner is shared to ensure that talent, not market power, determines winners.

The HOF is about who has helped make the game great and includes announcers, players, executives and owners. Modell has helped and should be in.

[Rochardrik]

Sorry but I can't support Modell in the HOF. It's pretty hypocritical to piss on Irsays grave and then want to enshrine Art Modell.

I'm thankful for the Ravens, but i'm not crazy with how we got them. I'm glad the NFL returned a team to Cleveland. In a perfect world the jax jaguars would be the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore is my home town. I love football. The Ravens play here. Is their any doubt as to why it was impossible not to support the team? I've just never been crazy about supporting the owner.I don't know if I've EVER heard(read) anything so hypocritical! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!The Irsay deal, and the Modell deal have NOTHING in common. Modell was largely responsible for Monday Night football, and the move to Balto. was not predicated by bad ownership, but by bad government, on Cleveland's part, proven out by the fact that the town refused to build a stadium for the browns, but built one just as soon as they got an expansion team! I'm sorry, but your post is sooo wrong, I should just have ignored it! Modell deserves to be in the Hall of fame for many reasons. He IS, WAS, one of the best owners of all time!! :hammer:

[Purpleguy]

I don't know if I've EVER heard(read) anything so hypocritical! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!The Irsay deal, and the Modell deal have NOTHING in common. Modell was largely responsible for Monday Night football, and the move to Balto. was not predicated by bad ownership, but by bad government, on Cleveland's part, proven out by the fact that the town refused to build a stadium for the browns, but built one just as soon as they got an expansion team! I'm sorry, but your post is sooo wrong, I should just have ignored it! Modell deserves to be in the Hall of fame for many reasons. He IS, WAS, one of the best owners of all time!! :hammer:

So we were willing to build Irsay a new stadium? Sorry but they moved for largely the same reasons. The difference being that Cleveland had far better attendance before the Browns moved than we did. I know that's a tough cookie to swallow, but it's the truth. Were there differences? Sure. Irsay fielded a rotten team and continued to do so after moving. Modell stayed competetive in Cleveland despite the stadium issues. Irsay moved in the middle of the night, but it isn't like we didn't know the colts were going to skip town without a stadium. Modell moved the browns relatively quickly as well. Don't you folks remember how shocked we all were to find out the browns were moving here? People thought Viviano was a moron for reporting the deal. We were expecting the Bucs or Raiders.

As for giving back the colors, noble indeed, but not his original intent. I specifically remember one of his first pressers after announcing the move where he said he was going to keep the name and colors. He only flinched to stop a lawsuit.

Moving a team sucks. It may have become part of the nature of the revenue sharing beast, since stadium deals are now where owners make their bread and butter, but it still sucks none the less. I'm not going to praise one guys move and condemn another one.

[Purpleguy]

Actually, most people aren't smart enough to see that the TV deal he did for the NFL was a good move for himself. You see, Modell had one of the top 2 or 3 local deals for TV in the NFL, he gave that advantage up to revenue share to make the network deals happen. Compare that to Steinbrenner in NY.

As for charitable tax deductions, getting back 28% of your money is not a reason to do something and unless a person is doing it for the right reasons they won't. Charity is not done for business reasons very often as regular advertising is much more effective for the dollar, even at a 28% discount.


Budweiser just pays the league money, they don't create revenue sharing deals, work out deals the with NFLPA or come up with the idea of prime time football.

Modell helped, heck, was one of the main architects of a league that allows every team an equal chance. Revenue in all manner is shared to ensure that talent, not market power, determines winners.

The HOF is about who has helped make the game great and includes announcers, players, executives and owners. Modell has helped and should be in.

Greg, don't you think Modell stood to make far more money with a network deal split 28 ways as opposed to a local Cuyahoga cable deal? I know he may lose a competitive edge as far as revenue compared to other teams, but he would be bringing in more revenue overall. If baseball didn't play an obscene number of games and if it wasn't like watching paint dry then they would do the same thing and Steinbrenner would sign off, but Networks aren't going to pay big bucks for baseball. More people will watch a Monday Night Football game between the Dolphins and the Rams than they will game 7 of the World Series.

BTW, budweiser gave us the Bud Bowl, and they have a huge responsibility in how loud and roudy the fans get.

[RAVENOUS52]

Nobody is saying what Modell did wasn't a betrayal to the Cleveland fanbase, PG. What we're saying is that Modell's contributions to the NFL go far beyond one misstep and as an overall body of work, merits him induction into the Hall of Fame based on FACTS, not EMOTIONS.

And for the record, the Bud Bowl SUCKED after Bud Bowl II.

[flraven]

Nobody is saying what Modell did wasn't a betrayal to the Cleveland fanbase, PG. What we're saying is that Modell's contributions to the NFL go far beyond one misstep and as an overall body of work, merits him induction into the Hall of Fame based on FACTS, not EMOTIONS.

And for the record, the Bud Bowl SUCKED after Bud Bowl II.

Absotively! :thumbup:

[esizzle]

He belongs there, let's do whatever we can to help him get a bust!!

[ravenwoman]

Art Modell should be in the Hall of Fame, period. He has done as much or more than Pete Rozelle, Lamar Hunt, etc. Art is a visionary, and turned football from a plain old game into Hollywood entertainment. How many women use to be interested in football, prior to MNF, the Super Bowl, and the glitz and glamour football brings today? Players would make 1/10 of today's salary if it weren't for the television contracts and other endorsements that Art Modell promoted. Art Modell knew how to market this league. The Hall of Fame should at least recognize that accomplishment.

[Greg]

As for giving back the colors, noble indeed, but not his original intent. I specifically remember one of his first pressers after announcing the move where he said he was going to keep the name and colors. He only flinched to stop a lawsuit.
Not true at all. Modell was immediately going to do it but one of his advisors (can't recall which) told him to hold it as a bargaining chip to use when the inevitable legal stuff started. And that is exactly what happened. Modell could have won the legal battles if he REALLY wanted the Browns crap to come with the team.


Greg, don't you think Modell stood to make far more money with a network deal split 28 ways as opposed to a local Cuyahoga cable deal?
Actually, there was a Browns network throughout western PA northern and central OH and southern MI that was getting him $5 mil per year. That was, if not the highest, one of the top 2 or 3 in the NFL. His share of the network deal cut that down. He initially lost money on the deal. Again, compare that to Steinbrenner who will never share his revenue and is killing off half of MLB who just never have a chance.

[HoustonRaven]

Not true at all. Modell was immediately going to do it but one of his advisors (can't recall which) told him to hold it as a bargaining chip to use when the inevitable legal stuff started. And that is exactly what happened. Modell could have won the legal battles if he REALLY wanted the Browns crap to come with the team.


Actually, there was a Browns network throughout western PA northern and central OH and southern MI that was getting him $5 mil per year. That was, if not the highest, one of the top 2 or 3 in the NFL. His share of the network deal cut that down. He initially lost money on the deal. Again, compare that to Steinbrenner who will never share his revenue and is killing off half of MLB who just never have a chance.

Amen Greg!

I cant believe some of the people in here and their utter lack of facts. Thank you for keeping it in the realm of reality and not some sort of Cleveland spin.

Modell was getting the screws put to him by the city. They did a masterful job of distorting facts and making him out to be the boogy man. Football, in the final analysis, is a business first. He was losing money hand over fist and the city didnt want anything to do with him (partly for political reason at the time -- Modell was a GOP donor and the Mayor was Michael White and a long-time partisan Dem with a history of hostility towards GOPers). Mayor White got money from ever sorts team owner in Cleveland except Modell.