Letters

Only in the NFL can you mismanage your business and then relocate, all expenses paid.
ROBB TROMBLEY, TWINSBURG, OHIO

Barking Dawgs
Thanks for your article expressing the pain and sense of loss felt by the city of Cleveland and Brown fans everywhere (The Heart of a City, Dec. 4). While Cleveland's national reputation has improved of late (I haven't heard a "mistake on the lake" comment in months), that is little consolation for possibly losing the one thing that gave us a sense of pride and community during the Rust Belt years: the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland Browns who survived the Interception, the Drive and the Fumble will survive the Screw, and barking will again be heard in the Dawg Pound.
MARSHALL ESLER, Mason, Ohio

I can't be the only one who doesn't really find fault with Modell's decision to move his club. Bad timing aside, he follows a pro sports tradition, cherchez l'argent (look for the money). Most of the Dawgs are probably too young to remember the Cleveland Rams, who stopped over in Los Angeles for almost 50 years on their way to St. Louis, or the Chicago Cardinals, who passed through the same St. Louis on their journey to Arizona.

The truth is, nobody cares about the fans, who would be better off staying home or watching the game on a giant screen at a local pub. If Robert Irsay can sneak the Colts out of town, Modell can bring the Browns in.
STANLEY KUSHNER, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Your article on Art Modell was the most one-sided piece of trash that I have ever read. The fact is that Modell did more for Cleveland than many of its citizens. Modell waited for better than six years for the city of Cleveland to make an offer for the Browns, as they already had for the Indians and the Cavaliers. Cleveland suddenly realized there was a problem the day after he announced his move to Baltimore. Additionally, Modell and his troops were the constant target for disgruntled fans. Even when the Browns went 11-5 last year and made it to the playoffs, he and his coach continued to be blasted by these "great fans." Most fans went to the games to complain about the team or simply to cause damage.
J. ADAMOWITZ, Parma, Ohio

When are Brown fans going to wise up and realize that all they have been cheering for was a bunch of uniforms, hired guns who took the most money they could get and who would wear any uniform and play in any city if the price were right. The Browns you all loved died the day the free agent was born. Of course, if the Rangers ever left New York City, I would probably kill myself. But that will never happen ... right?
CRAIG ROBERTS, Fairfield, Conn.

Class Act
Mitch Richmond is part of a dying breed of class athletes who play every game with intensity (Prime Mime, Dec. 4). In a world in which whining, showboating, trash-talking athletes grab all the attention, it is nice to see someone recognized who walks the walk but doesn't talk the talk. Richmond has changed the Sacramento Kings from a bunch of sorry losers to potential champions with his outstanding play, great attitude and work ethic. It's time we start putting more players like Richmond in the spotlight.
JAMES TROY, Poway, Calif.

Marathon Man
Enough already! Austin Murphy's story about his week with DirecTV (Tell Laura I Love Her, Dec. 11) is the latest in a long line of tiresome first-person stories from your staffers. A much better story would have resulted from interviews with people who have become hooked on the satellite system.
DON WALKER, Milwaukee