Running great makes a pitch
Jim Brown endorses Browns' bid from Cleveland developer
Posted: Monday July 20, 1998 05:40 PM
AURORA, Ohio (AP) -- Jim Brown publicly endorsed Cleveland developer Bart
Wolstein's bid to buy the new Browns franchise Monday and said he would act
as a consultant if Wolstein owns the team.
"When I talk to Bart, we talk about winning. We talk about getting after
it. We talk about work ethics," said Brown, arguably the greatest player to
ever wear a Cleveland uniform.
"We talk about overcoming. We're two of a kind. We'll put our blood,
sweat and tears into this."
While the Hall of Fame running back has been known to support Wolstein's
bid, Monday was the first time Brown stumped for the local businessman, one
of five known candidates to buy the new Browns.
Wolstein, 71, chairman emeritus of Developers Diversified Realty Corp.,
said he leads a group of seven investors trying to buy the Browns. Wolstein
would own 30 percent of the team. The only other investor in the group who
has come forward is Alan Spitzer, chairman of Elyria, Ohio-based Spitzer
Management Co.
Another teammate of Brown's, Hall of Fame tackle and former Carolina Panthers
president Mike McCormack, would serve as general manager and be charged
with putting together the Browns organization.
Dick Schafrath, a former offensive tackle turned state senator, and
Brown, who got Wolstein interested in the new Browns several months ago,
would act as consultants but would not have a financial stake in the team.
Brown said he would have a voice in on-the-field decisions and would help
individual players adjust to life in the NFL.
"How I look at it, this is history," said Brown, who gained 12,312 yards
in nine years with Cleveland and helped lead the Browns to their last title
in 1964. It was also the city's last championship in a major sport.
"Imagine being able to bring football back to the greatest franchise in
history," he said.
NFL owners are expected to settle on a buyer for the team by September
with estimates of the price mostly ranging between $300 million and $350
million. The Browns will begin play in 1999.
Art Modell moved the old Cleveland franchise to Baltimore after the 1995
season. Brown also worked as a consultant for the old team.
Other groups seeking ownership of the Browns are:
-- Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan and his brother, Larry Dolan, a
lawyer in the Cleveland area. They have been joined by entertainer Bill
Cosby and former Miami
Dolphins coach Don Shula.
-- New York financier and real estate owner Howard Milstein, who is
partners with at least six Cleveland-area corporate executives and former
NFL stars Paul Warfield and Calvin Hill.
-- Tom Murdough, founder and president of Step2 Co., based in
Streetsboro, Ohio. Murdough has not identified his partners.
--Cleveland Indians owner Dick Jacobs, who earned more than $60 million
from an Indians stock sale earlier this year.
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