Fumble : The Browns, Modell, & the Move

Rating:
Summary: I like inside stuff, but this book...
Review: ....it's just not that well written. I love pro football and especially the business side, but I just couldn't stay with this poorly written work.

Rating:
Summary: Satisfying.
Review: It's probably easier to read this book now that we have a new Browns team in place. It makes me a little more understanding of what Modell went through before his grievous decision.

It is fun to get an insider's look at some of the issues over the years: Kosar's release, Belicheck, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Very good for an accountant's tale of what happened
Review: This was one of the most interesting books that I've ever read. Poplar's inside info on the move of the Browns will keep any reader turning the pages as fast as they can! A must for any Browns fan, I believe Poplar didn't pull any punches, and told the readers what he really thought, even if it was something they didn't want to 'hear'.

The photos he selected were relevent to the text, and the cover design is outstanding. I'd probably rate the 'readability' a 4.5 if there was a rating. Some of the book is a tale told by an accountant, and some of the figures and background info he presents is hard to get through, but it's well worth your time by the end of the book, so don't skip it!


Rating:
Summary: More understanding of Modell, but proof for no Hall of Fame
Review: Though this book tended to get off track, was not tied together all that well and at times bogged down by numbers, it was a very interesting read and offered a lot of insight of how Modell lost control of his organization.

We learn that Modell depended too much on his image in the eyes of others and what ultimatelty lead to the teams demise on Cleveland. By taking on the dual roles of managing the Browns and StadiumCorp in the 70's, Modell eventually fell under a disadvantage as cities begin to pony up sweetheart deals for new stadiums. But the book outlines that most of his lack of success with Cleveland politicians and the business community was HIS OWN FAULT because he did not want to lose face or stature with them. The book outlines that although Modell was a crafty businessman, his own downfall was mixing the preservation of his own image into his business dealing for a new stadium. And as the Indians left as a tenant and eventually rose to prominence, he could not attract the same support because of new image of protecting his own self-worth and perceived greediness.

After relocating to Boston in late nineties, my disdain for Belicheck only grew more, but after this read you begin to see that other external forces that Modell entrusted ultimately came back to hurt the Browns the most. Personal finances, non-football people running the show (Bailey & Lombardi), and Modell's losing gambles chasing that one last dream of a Super Bowl while getting further in debt are what stole our team from Cleveland.