Hey Browns Fans - Modell hinted at who told him to move out in 95!

And I was almost able to convince Mrs. ZBDent that it would turn out to be - Democratic Mayor (at the time) Michael White.

(Hold on, some of you Browns fans will recall that I am the enemy - a Steelers Fan. But hold your nose while you read this).

Newschannel 5's Ted Henry had "an exclusive interview" with Modell on the past two nights.

Modell, on Thursday night, said that "loyalty" was high in his values.

That said, he hinted at the "two high people" who told him to move the Browns out of Cleveland in 1995. One was high up in the sports business, the other was high up in politics.

Watching the tape of the Wednesday segment (on Thursday afternoon), I told Mrs. ZBDent that the "high up in politics/government" official would end up being Mike White. Modell has hinted for quite some time that it was politicians who forced him to move - that politics held up the chance for him to "get a new stadium" in Cleveland, and forcing him into near-bankruptcy. (boo fucking hoo. Can you say $8 Million for a wide receiver?)

So, this afternoon, Mrs. ZBDent and I are watching the segment from Thursday night. After all the hinting that Modell was going to name names, the interviewer said that Modell wouldn't tell on camera what he told off camera.

But the interviewer hinted that the politician who told him to move was "about as high up in politics as you can go". I thought, "Oh, God. Now he's going to blame BILL CLINTON?????"

My jaw dropped when Modell stated that the politician who told him that "The city that you love has betrayed you. Move the team." (not exactly those words) was about the highest level you could get in OHIO politics.

I checked my references. Modell announced the move 11/6/1995. The highest office you could obtain in Ohio politics was GOVERNOR. The governor at that date was none other than GEORGE VOINOVICH. Another reason to hate that jerk (don't buy his "leftist conversion" that the Repukes try to tag him with).

Chew on that one. Oh, and remember, there were only two team owners who voted against Art Modell's move to Baltimore - the owners of the Buffalo Bills, and your most hated enemies, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

this is really the first I've heard of it. It isn't making sense. why would you think Mayor White would tell him to go? I can't understand why anyone would want losing the Browns to be their legacy.

And - why Voinovich? What would he have to gain?