DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum David Modell Dead at 56

Wow, 56 is way too young to die. My condolences to his family and friends,

David Modell, son of Art Modell and former Baltimore Ravens president, dies at 56 | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss...art_river_index

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- David Modell, the adopted son of former Browns owner Art Modell who passionately defended his father's decision to move the Browns to Baltimore and eventually became the Ravens' president, died Friday of lung cancer. He was 56.

Modell was born David Orrick McDearmon, Jr., the son of Patricia Breslin and actor David Orrick McDearmon. When Breslin married Art Modell, David was adopted by his new father.

From The Baltimore Sun's story on David Modell's death:

"The 9-year-old became David Modell and bonded enthusiastically with his adoptive father, family members said.

"At 14, he started as a Cleveland Municipal Stadium grounds crew member. He also accompanied his father with the team on road trips.

"After Art Modell moved the NFL franchise to Baltimore, the younger Mr. Modell worked with the selection of the Ravens' team colors, its logo and the design of its uniforms. He also launched a campaign to hire a head coach."

David Modell was named by his father as the Ravens' president upon the father's retirement in 1999, and was credited for his role in steering the organization through its Super Bowl title in 2001.

According to The Sun, Modell is survived by his wife, Michel, three sons, Arthur Modell, David Modell Jr. and Bertram "Bertie" Modell; three daughters, Breslin Modell, Collier Modell and Aoife "Fee" Modell; and a brother, John Modell.

His mother, Patricia Modell, died in 2011. Art Modell died in 2012.

R.I.P. David.

Burn in hell with the rest of your family!

That's interesting. Fairly shocking.

Lung cancer at 56. I don't think he was a smoker.

You don't have to be a smoker to get lung cancer. Sometimes it just happens unpredictably.


In any case, I see this picture and am not saddened by his death.



Ask yourself if you think he'd have cared about you or your death.

56 is way too young to die. That's how old my pops was when he passed away from cancer.

Cancer not only kills individuals, but it devastates the family and friends of the individual who dies from that demonic disease.

That's how my mom went. Not pleasant.
Only a year older than me...RIP.

Go away man.

This is unacceptable. Like what his dad did or not this was a human being, with a family.

RIP

I remember him smoking cigars.

That said, it doesn't matter what he would think. What matters is what you think.

You disappoint me.

The thing about David Modell dying is that about 100 people died today in car accidents in the U.S.

And about 100 people will die tomorrow.

And another 100 people the day after that.

And every single day this year another 100 people will die.

The 100 people who will die tomorrow don't have a clue that today is their last day of life.

And it doesn't matter how old they are, what race they are or how much money they have in the bank.

I think their deaths are more noteworthy than David Modell's.

I most certainly do not consider David Modell as having been "a good guy".

I don't disagree with that. That said, he was a person with a connection to this city. These others you mention deserve their due in their circles.

My feeling is if you can't say a word of condolence, it's best to not say anything.


JMO



Don't worry, not that you would, you are still a board buddy.

All is well in whoville tonight.

While I hated what Art did, and I never liked David. My heart goes out to him and his family. My prayers also go out to his family and friends.

This is going to be a meaningful year for you. It was a strangely odd feeling as I approached and surpassed the age my mother was when she passed away from cancer at 51. I still haven't reached the stage of maturity and wisdom that she had.

That's the way I feel. Art, his wife, and now his son have all passed. I hayed whet they did to the fans of the Browns, but so many of those who were involved are now gone.

Art, his wife, David, and Al Lerner are all gone. It's time for me to forgive, as hard as that is.

I agree. I don't think Art knew the depth of misery he caused when he moved the Team. Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't he say years later that if he knew the fan's would be that upset that he would never have moved them? Didn't David also have a coke problem? Or was that just a rumor?

Forgive, never. Move on, I've done that.

Bill Wirtz, the former longtime owner of the Blackhawks, had a very long tumultuous relationship with the fans. He pulled the games off TV, was cheap and seemed to just be an ass. So many fans refused to support the team as long as he was the owner...and they backed it up.

He finally ended up dying and I was listening to popular radio sports show that day. I couldn't believe how happy they all were (fans and hosts). They were celebrating on air, literally. And not just because the jerk owner was dead, but because this meant they'll start winning because his son won't intentionally sabotage the team like his dad. I thought they were full of it. Guess what...EVERYTHING changed immediately. The games were televised, they hired the right guys in the front office, they got the right players and they won 3 Cups in 6 years. They're now the model NHL franchise.

The fans were right.

I have to disagree big time with you there...

Fans didn't like Wirtz, and yes, for good reason, he didn't dump a ton of money into the team, and refused to air home games because of the low attendance..

However, history will probably tell people 50 years from now that when he died, everything turned around, but the truth is, the turnaround was happening even before he died. He left that team in unbelievable shape. Kane, Toews were already drafted. Keith and Seabrook were already on the team and were the first defensive pairing. The wheels were in motion.

His biggest flaw was that he was entirely old school, and probably a bit senile toward the end. Everyone called him Dollar Bill, but nobody pointed out the fact that he was missing out on MILLIONS by not televising his home games. If anything, he was far too loyal to season ticket holders more than anything else.

It sounds harsh, and probably a bit crass, but he died at the right time, in terms of the organization being able to cash in on what was a sleeping giant. They had a 500% markup in terms of team value over a 2 or 3 year span, which is one of the great turnarounds in the history of professional sports.

But I just think it's completely wrong to think that he died, and then everything good happened. In the marketing way, yes I agree, but regardless, that great team was coming either way.

It is funny that despite the success of the Cubs, the Hawks are still the top ticket in this town, and it isn't even close.

As far as Modell goes, I'll say the same thing I said when his dad died. Sucks for the family, and you feel for them because that isn't about football and cities moving teams, but I myself don't care, because he isn't relevant to me.

Hopefully the league won't force us to have a minute of silence for him next year

One can never truly move on without forgiving.

I may have exaggerated when I said "everything"...and BOLDED it too.

We'll never know if they still win 3 Cups had Bill survived another five years. Just having Kane, Toews, Seabs and Keith on the roster meant the wheels were in motion, but I'm talking about all the other signings and trades that filled in around them. We all know in Cleveland that you can have a core group of talented players but you'll never get over the hump without the other guys on the roster (like Griffin is doing with the constant tinkering with the Cavs).

I'm speaking to the general mood or "culture" of the team and it's relationship with the city and fans. It seemed to change overnight with his passing, at least to me.

I think eventually he would have been forced to get with the times. If you ask me, they had that plan in place long before he passed away. By plan, I mean bringing in McDonough from the Cubs to handle the marketing plan, and TV deal.

I understand some of the angst towards Wirtz from long time Hawks fans, but I'll never believe that Wirtz didn't air home games for finance reasons. I just don't think he understood sports in the 2000's. He was a smart enough business man not to drop money in the 2000's as most owners knew that very ugly 2005 lockout was coming. Smart move if you ask me.

Like I said, he left that team in unbelievable hands, both with his brother who is one of the top owners in sports, and with a core of players that every fan base can be jealous of. I think fans should give him at least that.

I can only wish for a fraction of that kind of turnaround for our Browns.