More on Modell

The obit for Art Modell from the New York Times that was reprinted in the Post-Gazette made interesting reading today.  ( I was amazed to see that Modell was a high school drop out.) Not surprisingly, for all of his accomplishments, and there were many, the obit led with the fact that he moved the Browns out of Cleveland to Baltimore in 1995, forever earning him the enmity of the the community that he was so much a part of for the previous 35 years or so.

I lived in the Cleveland area from 1974-78 at a time when the City of Cleveland was pretty much a national joke.  The Cuyahoga River caught on fire and the Mayor, Ralph Perk, set his hair on fire while using a blow torch at some trade show (you can look it up!).  Amidst all of that, there was no stronger booster of Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region that Art Modell.  In addition to owning the Browns, Modell was a staunch supporter of the the Cleveland Symphony and all of the Arts in the area, as well as serving on various civic boards and charities.  He was a true pillar of the community.  Once he took the Browns away, though, he was poison and he was never able to return to Cleveland again.  I get the anger of the City over having "their" team (but let's face it; teams belong to the owners, not the fans. See Dodgers, Brooklyn), but the whole episode is kind of sad, when you think about it.  Almost Shakespearean. 

And I know that no Cleveland Brown fan will agree with that, and I get that.

Pheasant Ridge, Pitt, An Absent Friend

Three quickies:

I had a most enjoyable round of golf today at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Gibsonia.  It was the first time that I had played at Pheasant Ridge, and I really liked the course.  It is one that i would definitely like to play again.  I played fairly well (103) by my standards, but the best part of the day was playing once again, for the first time in several years, with former co-worker and long time golf partner Bill H.  A truly fun day.

As an aside, one drawback to Pheasant Ridge was that there were no water coolers on the course.  This is not unique to Pheasant Ridge, as I have noticed that water jugs on golf courses this summer have gone the way of metal spikes.  You just don't see them anymore, and I think that this is not-so-nice treatment of the paying customers.

I am looking forward to watching Pitt play the Cincy Bearcats tonight.  An important game for the Panthers after that very poor showing against Youngstown State last week.  

Absent Friend:  Art Modell died today at the age of 87.  Once he bought the Cleveland Browns from Paul Brown back in the 1960's, Modell became one of the movers and shakers in the NFL, but for all of that, he will be remembered foremost for moving the Browns out of Cleveland to Baltimore.  The City of Cleveland never has and no doubt never will forgive that sin.