If you live in northeastern Ohio, you have to be impressed with the press conference introducing the Browns’ new owner, Jimmy Haslam on Friday.
Haslam showed enthusiasm and a love of the game, promised the Browns were not moving anywhere (a nod to the paranoid fans), and that he wanted to restore Cleveland’s football team back to our of the elite franchises in the NFL.
He even said a few things that had to make the ticket buyers smile.
First, he never mentioned the name “Steelers”. He referred to the team he had owned a minority interest in as “the team in the east” or “that other team”. A cool thing, reminiscent of Ohio State fans never saying the actual name of their rival.
He also talked about how he was glad rookie running back Trent Richardson was on his side now, as Haslam is a Tennessee grad and supporter.
He said in his statement what a class act Randy Lerner was, saying that we know how Randy is, but there’s a major difference already. Haslam said more in ten minutes than Lerner said in ten years as owner.
Lerner would talk to print reporters, but not the electronic media, so the fans, the people who buy tickets to the games, never got to hear any passion about the Cleveland Browns. Reporters said he has it, but the public didn’t know that first hand.
They know it after a few minutes of hearing Haslam speak.
It only took those few moments to make the Indians’ ownership the least dynamic of the three professional sports owners in town.
There are a few disturbing things heard on sports talk radio, however, from the people of this area.
It is true that Jimmy Haslam is not from Cleveland, he’s not a lifelong Browns fan. However, Dan Gilbert was a Pistons’ fan growing up in the Detroit, and no one can doubt the passion he has for this area, and also in making the Cavaliers a winner.
Besides, Larry Dolan said he loved the Indians as a kid, and look at how that is turning out.
Another thing that bothers us is the portrayal of Haslam as a “hillbilly” simply because he is from Tennessee. People from this area don’t like when folks from New York or Los Angeles make fun of Cleveland, yet they can poke fun at a man because he’s from the south?
You’re better than that, Cleveland. This man is a billionaire! He knows how to run a successful business, and one that is based on customer service. He has learned what people like, and to be sure, he will apply some of those things in marketing his football team.
He’s also honest in saying he has things to learn, and he is going to talk to Robert Kraft to get a tutorial on the NFL. Based on the Patriots’ success over the last decade, there isn’t anyone better to learn from. And Haslam was also involved in the Steelers, another well run franchise.
It’s kind of full circle in regards to the Steelers. When Pittsburgh wanted a fresh start for a horrible franchise (that’s right Steeler Nation, your team was once a complete joke), they hired a former Brown and a native Clevelander in Chuck Noll.
Now with the Browns looking for a similar reversal, they turn to a Steelers’ minority owner.
Jimmy Haslam won the press conference, now he has to have his new football team win games.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 