Worse Than Art

In Cleveland there are few people hated more than Art Modell. In 1995, Art Modell abruptly moved our beloved Browns to Baltimore. Modell turned his back on the Clevelanders that had supported his team for decades. While Modell's actions still cause indignation in the hearts of many a Clevelander, they come no where near the level of treachery displayed recently by Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, killing 1300 people and submerging large portions of the city, Benson went to work planning to permanently move the Saints to San Antonio, Texas.

"For them to be openly talking to other cities about moving is disrespectful to the citizens of New Orleans, disrespectful to the Saints fans who have hung in with this franchise through 30-something years under very trying times," New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said.

The Saints joined the NFL in 1967. In 1986, Benson was part of an ownership group that bought the team to ensure it would stay in Louisiana. Benson eventually bought out other members of the group.

The attempted move has been compared to Art Modell's move to Baltimore.

"I'm ready to go to the NFL and to (commissioner Paul) Tagliabue and say, 'Give us the Cleveland plan,'" Nagin added, referring to the league awarding Cleveland an expansion team almost immediately after the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

"Whatever the Saints want to do, you let them leave, but they can't take our logo, they can't take our name, and you give us a promise to give us a franchise when this city's back."

This happened last month, but now Tom Benson is back in the news, saying he will no longer attend Saints home games at LSU because he fears for his life. Apparently people in Louisiana are mad at him. Who would have thunk?

From Cleveland to New Orleans: Go to Hell Benson!