A Brief History
On September 6, 2012, former owner of the Cleveland Browns and former owner of the Baltimore Ravens, Arthur B. “Art” Modell died at the age of 87 in Baltimore. Once the toast of the town in Cleveland, Ohio, Modell became a pariah and perhaps the most hated sports figure in Cleveland History when he moved the Browns NFL franchise to Baltimore in 1995. Here we list 5 sports figures that fans in Cleveland can’t stand, hate, don’t like, or hold a grudge against.
Digging Deeper
1. Art Modell.
Modell bought a controlling interest in the Cleveland Browns in 1961, only putting up $250,000 of his own money, the rest coming in loans and partners stakes. At the time, the Browns were the darlings of Cleveland, and were the best team in the NFL from their entry into the league in 1950 up to the time Modell bought the team. Hall of famers such as Otto Graham, Jim Brown, and Lou Groza were legends in Cleveland and in the NFL. Modell fired Paul Brown, the only head coach the team had ever had up to that point in 1963, a highly unpopular move. Lucky for Modell, the Browns won the NFL Championship in 1964, but have never again won the Championship or even played in a Super Bowl in the Super Bowl Era. Modell was instrumental in negotiations to merge the NFL and AFL, create the Super Bowl, create Monday Night Football, and gain lucrative television contracts for the NFL, profiting all teams. Still, since 1964 Clevelanders became critical of Modell despite his civic charity work, the decline of the team being paramount to football fans. When Modell suddenly decided to move the team to Baltimore in 1995, a stunned Cleveland and Cleveland City Hall wondered why they didn’t even get a chance to negotiate for the team to stay. Lawsuits allowed Modell to take all the team employees to Baltimore for 1996 as the NFL Ravens, and Cleveland got to keep the name and franchise rights to the Browns. A new Browns team was introduced for the 1999 season, with an abysmal record since then, reaching a low of 1 win and 15 losses in the 2016 season. Modell’s perceived tight fisted nature with the team and players was magnified when he claimed the team was losing money, when in fact they were 2nd in the league in television ratings and 5th in the league in attendance.
2. John Elway.
The Hall of Fame quarterback and horsey smile face player for the Denver Bronco’s became the absolute bane of the Cleveland Browns, beating the Browns with last minute heroics in the 1986, 1987, and 1989 American Conference Championship Games, preventing the Browns from their closest chances of appearing in a Super Bowl. The Broncos have appeared in 8 Super Bowls, winning 3, including the 1997 Super Bowl quarterbacked by John Elway himself, an event that turned the collective stomachs of Clevelanders. Of the 28 times the Browns and Broncos have met during the regular and post season, the hated Broncos have won 23, the Browns winning only 5. Elway was 10-2 against the Browns.
3. Carlos Boozer.
An outstanding college basketball player, Boozer was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002 where he could play with future ALL Universe player, Lebron James. Boozer had a solid rookie year, and a better second year, scoring 15.5 ppg and grabbing 11.4 rebounds. Earning “only” $695,000 (Note: This is more than I ever made in a year.), the Cavaliers wanted to give the budding star a raise to a more star worthy salary of $39 million over 6 years. Since the league contract rules were such that the Cavs could not just give him the raise, they would have to release Boozer as a free agent and then re-sign him. This was all worked out with Boozer and his agent, or so the Cavs thought. When the Cavs released Boozer in order to give him the big raise, Boozer absconded off to Utah Jazz for $70 million over 6 years. The Cavs could have matched the contract, but did not have the salary cap room to do so. The Cavs front office cried “Foul!” to no avail, and in the eyes of Cleveland basketball fans Carlos Boozer became the biggest turncoat in Cleveland Basketball history, at least until Lebron James took off for Miami. (Of course, after coming back to the Cavs and winning the first NBA Championship in Cleveland History, Lebron is no longer hated and is once again loved dearly. At least until he leaves again!) Boozer is currently out of the NBA and playing in China. (Finally, far enough away!)
4. Michael Jordan.
His Airness broke the hearts of Cleveland Cavaliers fans in 1989 when he launched a last minute game winning throw at the hoop over Craig Ehlo, making what is known in Cleveland as “The Shot,” one of the saddest sports moments in Cleveland History. The Shot won the deciding Game 5 (it was best of 5 then) in the first round of the playoffs, a series Clevelanders thought the Cavs would win, due to sweeping the Bulls during the regular season, including the last game of the regular season. What was worse, was the Bulls had also beaten the Cavs 3-2 in the playoffs in 1988 as well, led of course by Jordan. The bitter taste of unexpected defeat ranks among the worst moments in Cleveland Sports History (including “Red Right 88,” “The Fumble,” “The Catch,” “The Drive,” “The Move,” “The Decision,” and of course, “The Trade” of Rocky Colavito. You can add to that the blown 7th games of the 1997 and 2016 World Series.)
5. Tony Fernandez.
One of the best fielding shortstops in Major League History, Fernandez was 35 years old and a 14 year Major League veteran when he came to a powerful Cleveland Indians team in 1997. Fernandez helped the Tribe get to the World Series with his bat and glove during the American League Championship Series, but blew what would have, should have, been an easy game ending double play in the 9th inning muffing a ground ball and allowing the game to go into extra innings, which Cleveland ended up losing to the Marlins. So Close! Cleveland had not had a major sport championship since 1964, and because of Fernandez’ error would have to wait another 18 years until the Cavs won the NBA Championship behind Lebron James. Cleveland Indians would not make it back to the World Series until 2016, when they played the Cubs even 3 games to 3 games, until losing the 7th game 8-7 in the 10th inning when they were outscored 2-1.
Question for students (and subscribers): Who would you add to the list? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
“Art Modell – Cleveland Browns – The Battle for the Browns.” Sports Illustrated, December 4, 1995.