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Rod Woodson states the obvious: Art Modell belongs in Canton

Posted 6 months, 4 days ago
by Nestor Aparicio

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9:34 p.m. –Rod Woodson just talked about Baltimore and about Art Modell.

“Without Art Modell, old school owner. And I hope the voters get this right — by putting Art Modell in the Hall of Fame, he belongs there.”

With that came the usual cascade of classless “boos” from the Cleveland fans in Canton.

Woodson shook his head and responded visecerally:

“You can boo him because you disagree with him moving them but you can’t disagree with he did as an owner.”

He then said: “We had fun in Baltimore in 2000.” He thanked Marvin Lewis, Steve Bisciotti, Ray Lewis and Shannon Sharpe but left Brian Billick out of the speech.

This is my column from earlier in the evening:

9:05 p.m. — I sat down to the watch the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies tonight and really expected to be moved by great speeches made by great football players.

But before Rod Woodson even got a nanosecond of face time, I was watching Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson having the ultimate honor wearing the gold jacket and entering the hallowed halls of Canton. And as his family rose to his feet and Chris Berman “circled the wagons” it makes me sad and sick to think that Arthur B. Modell will never have a night like tonight, which he so richly deserves.

Wilson is talking about the AFL. He is talking about the legend of Lamar Hunt. He is talking about the merger. His is waxing on about Carroll Rosenbloom. He is talking about Buffalo and the players and the fans and the induction committee. He thanked the usual cast of thousands.

His speech just ended and he did not say the words “Art Modell” in a rambling 15-minute speech.

What a shame and what a cowardly act. Wilson, more than anyone, should’ve made a stand or statement regarding Modell’s significance to the NFL.

The sick truth: the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL doesn’t really to see Modell inducted while he’s alive. They don’t really want to hear his name uttered anyone near the shrine.

The real truth: They wouldn’t want the trouble the Browns fans would bring 40 miles south to Canton and the bad blood. It’s sad, but this is the truth. That, and the biased small group of men and women who control this vote make a decision each February that has cheated Modell while rewarding his contemporaries like Al Davis, and tonight, Ralph Wilson.

In my opinion, both of those men deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because the story of the NFL couldn’t be written without them. But the same goes for Art Modell, who is now being held hostage in part because of the proximity to the Hall of Fame to Cleveland.

Modell is now 84 years of age. He doesn’t have a lot of time left. Last year, I went nuts distributing signs with a relatively luke-warm effect inside the stadium on the frigid night the Ravens beat the Redskins.

I’ve written tomes on why Modell should be in the Hall.You read everything I think by simply using my blog roll under ART MODELL.

I don’t vote for Baltimore. Scott Garceau does.

It’s HIS responsibility to get Art’s name into the room and create a lobby for Modell. I’ve grabbed several of the voters myself and have implored them to ignore the internal “pressure” of Canton and do the right thing.

I’m not the only one. Washington Post editor Len Shapiro has also publicly stumped for Modell. Several other members of the cabinet are aligned with the reality of Modell’s achievements and contributions to the NFL.

We don’t harp on this issue because of mere sentimentality. I think it’s a pretty cut and dried case and the track record is well documented.

It’s insane that Modell isn’t in the Hall of Fame. It cheapens the entire institution in my opinion and I’m a football nut and true historian. (Not to mention the goofy fact that every Baltimore NFL record lives under a sign that says Indianapolis down the hallway!)

There is no legitimate case to keep Modell out of the Hall of Fame, especially when you consider that he truly birthed the NFL in TWO cities. He created a sound franchise brand in Cleveland over 35 years and left the city its dignity and legacy. He brought Baltimore back its civic identity and pride.

He should be rewarded for that. And any self-respecting Ravens fan should fight for Art Modell’s good name in Canton, Ohio.

I’ll keep this one brief tonight – because I’m emotional about this. I’ve also been reading John Steadman’s book “From Colts to Ravens” over the past two weeks and the stories and vivid images of our time without a team is a daily reality in my reading.

Art Modell should’ve been on that stage tonight next to Wilson.

The truth: the NFL doesn’t want Modell in the Hall.

Just think about the scene the Browns fans would create. They’d organize and do everything in their power to wreck the event.

I know it. The NFL knows it. The Browns fans know it.

And, I think that’s the real story.

And it’s very, very sad that politics are keeping a man like Modell out of the Hall of Fame.

Watching Ralph Wilson go into the Hall of Fame tonight only reminded me of how wrong it is that Art Modell might never live to see his summer night in Canton.

Tags:

afl, al, canton, davis, hall of fame, ohio, owner, ralph, rod, wilson, woodson

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11 Responses to “Rod Woodson states the obvious: Art Modell belongs in Canton”

1. 
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   John in Westminster Says:
   August 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
   

   The truth: The NFL is a business first. They don’t want to deal with the negative national press and the impact to the bottom line.

   
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   Steve Sharono Says:
   August 9th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
   

   Art Modell should be recognized for his work in moving the NFL toward Monday Night Football, its other changes which made it the dominating sport of the country, HOWEVER, I do not think he is worthy of Hall Of Fame status. The person I believe absolutely needs to be in the Hall OF Fame who was not a player or coach??? Ed Sabol. This man should not only be put in the Hall Of Fame immediately, he should absolutely be lionized. Ralph Wilson does NOT belong in the Hall Of Fame.

   
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   unitastoberry Says:
   August 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
   

   From what I hear as soon as Ralph Wilson passes on the Bills are moving to Toronto with his blessings. If true not good. I agree on the Sabols both of them.
   And Mike Curtis!

   
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   katkatraine105 Says:
   August 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
   

   When a Hall of Fame refuses to admit someone who has over his fifty plus year career helped to makes his league the number one sport in the nation, then it is truly a “Hall of Shame” ~Derek in Parkville~

   
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   15-7-0 | Glenn Clark’s Blog | WNST Says:
   August 10th, 2009 at 1:23 am
   

   [...] 5-Rod Woodson [...]

   
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   Johnny Rocket Says:
   August 10th, 2009 at 10:06 am
   

   If you think Art Modell should be in the Hall, then you also need to put Robert Irsay in as well. Let’s face it, they are both very similar. They both screwed one city and made another city very happy, they both won a Super Bowl (well Jimmy Irsay did) and they are both scum-bags! Art Modell was terrible business-man who had to hose the city of Cleveland just to keep his team. He then fleeced the city of Baltimore when he “moved” his team here and then 10 years after the move he still couldn’t keep his team. Art Modell is lower than whale **** and we all know that whale **** is at the bottom of the sea!

   
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   FRANCHISE Says:
   August 10th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
   

   Nstor,

   I have an idea on how Raven Fans can unite to get Art Modell into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

   First, contact all the living 11 BALTIMORE COLT players and coaches who are enshrined under the Indianapolis IRSAY display and have them boycott Canton immediately by threatening to remove all of their records, memorabelia and busts from the putrid IRSAY display until they elect Art Modell!!!!

   Second, once Art Modell is elected have WNST.net sponsor a convey of MAYFLOWER vans with Raven Fans inside to counter-act the classless Browns fans who will attempt to sabotage the induction ceremony!!!

   Third, make a deal with the devil….If Robert Irsay is elected then Art Modell is elected….Ask your close friend and pal Jimmy Irsay to sponsor this deal with the voters in Canton!!!!

   Regards,

   FRANCHISE

   
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   FRANCHISE Says:
   August 10th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
   

   Nestor,

   One other thing that might help Art Modell.

   Copy my blog comment over to Scott Garceau at 105.7FM!!!

   Thanks,

   FRANCHISE

   
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   TruthTeller Says:
   August 10th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
   

   The fact is that this column is ridiculous.

   Modell not being in the HOF has nothing to do with the Hall’s proximity to Cleveland. It has to do with his mismanagement of a franchise for decades prior to moving to Baltimore, and then having to sell out his interests due to further mismanagement.

   And Ralph Wilson being “cowardly” and it being a “shame” for his not calling for Modell’s being in the HOF in his speech? Seriously? Do you really know so little about the NFL and its history? There were two owners who voted against the Browns’ move to Baltimore . . . Steelers’ owner Dan Rooney and . . . you guessed it, Bills’ owner Ralph Wilson. Why would he call for Modell to be in the HOF if he himself voted against the atrocious decision that forever defined Modell’s future legacy in the NFL?

   If the various “insiders” you’ve lobbied to put Modell in the HOF have to date still not voted him in, maybe that’s why they’re the “insiders.” They understand and respect the history of the NFL and who truly deserves to be in Canton’s hallowed halls.

   
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    F Brice Says:
    August 11th, 2009 at 5:11 am
    

    Will Pete Rose make it in the baseball’s Hall of Fame? Will Bruno Samartino make it to wresling’s Hall of Fame? Will Art Modell make it to football’s Hall of Fame? It would be nice while they are walking around on planet earth. All three men put their ‘sport’ on the map. They were also ‘ca$h cow$’ Make a hit and play ball with Rose. Bodies slam the foes and allow Bruno to raise his arm in victory. Finally, allow Mr. Modell his peace and make a touch down into the Hall. Mervo High School (Mergenthaler) did right by naming their football field after the him. The Hall of Fame folks should take note.

    
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    BernieKosarRules Says:
    August 18th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
    

    *Modell* is being cheated? Oh please, cry me a river! What about what he did to his loyal fans, people who filled his stadium every damn week? Oh how quickly you Baltimorians forget. Would you like to see Robert Irsay in the hall? Have you forgotten what it felt like to have your team stolen away? He cut our hearts out!

    The Move aside (and dont think for one moment it is not important), let’s look at Art’s record in Cleveland. He fired Paul Brown. He discouraged Jim Brown. He cut “he’s like a son” Bernie Kosar. He fired Bill Belichick. He fired Marty Schottenheimer. Is this some great football genius? What is it about him, other than *one* Super Bowl trophy that makes him so deserving of standing next to the greats–other than he brought football back to your city of course, at the expense of another.

    If they establish a “Rogue’s Gallery” then perhaps Art should receive a prominent place, along someone like OJ Simpson. Or perhaps his face could be enshrined on the toilet paper in the men’s room. That is the only way any Cleveland fan would want his presence there. And yes, Cleveland fans would damn well protest. I would fly all the way from Los Angeles to do my part, and would consider it my duty!

    And BTW, Modell did NOT create the NFL in Cleveland. We had a longstanding team there–that is of course, until he drove it off in the dark of night.