Browns Bought by Republican Gasoline Magnate

JHPolitics.com ^ | 8/2/2012 | Justin Higgins

[RealTeen]

Now my favorite football team will be owned by the brother of a Republican Governor who also runs an incredibly successful business and donates to Republican candidates. Can it get any better? Pilot Flying J CEO James "Jimmy" Haslam is set to own the team, per ESPN:

NFL ownership is expected to approve Haslam's purchase at its October meeting. Commissioner Roger Goodell could expedite the process by calling a special meeting, although that is considered unlikely.

The NFL helped bring Haslam to Lerner so that a sale could be completed smoothly, efficiently and with a high probability of success. Haslam had informed the league how much he wanted to buy a team, and Lerner -- who is more interested in his soccer team (Aston Villa in England) -- was interested in selling the Browns.

Paperwork between the two sides was completed Thursday morning.

Haslam is president and CEO of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America with more than 550 retail locations. He is the older brother of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who also worked for the family business before he was elected mayor of Knoxville in 2003 and again in 2007, then governor in 2010.

The only downside of Jimmy Haslam is that he also owns a chunk of the Pittsburgh Steelers and referred to himself as a "1000% Steelers fan". I imagine that will be changing quite a bit with his purchase of the Steelers rival from Ohio, although recently my Browns haven't put up much of a fight. I'm pre-inclined to like the new ownership, so I'm sure Haslam will quickly do something stupid to sour me on him, as is tradition with Cleveland team owners.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Amen - too many outsiders have no clue about the depth of the relationship between Pittsburgh and their Steelers. I've never seen anything else to compare. It goes far beyond the politics of any one person, even if he is the owner. I'm a Bear fan myself, but that's more often than not an useless exercise. So once I find myself with nothing useful to cheer I always hope for the best with you guyz.

Congrats an the Tomlin extension, by the way.

[haircutter]

AND THAT DESERVED TWO POSTS EVEN IF IT WAS AN ERROR..NOW COMPLAIN SOME MORE...

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Besides - Rush is a Steeler fan! I love the “purer than thou” football fans who must believe they’re more conservative than Rush. It probably stems from extreme jealousy - they can’t stand those six rings y’all own.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“... Bengals are gonna destroy EVERYONE...”

Hah...your comment smells of balderdash...but enjoy it while you can! :)

[haircutter]

If you live in Pennsylvania you more than likely support the Steelers, but dang if you live in the area of the Burgh or the Burgh its self YOU LOVE those black and gold colors of the team and you will root and roar for them..

football is not my life,, it is my entertainment and I have fun following them...my daughter and son in law lived in the Burgh for a number of years, but four years ago do to job transfers they went to Atlanta, Georgia and believe me they took their Steelers fever with them and they have transformed their neigherhood into Steeler's Fans. they are die hard fans and we love them...

and we all pity Mr. Rooney for he is so confused he doesn't really understand what he is doing so he supports B.Hussein O...well most people who support him don't know why either..

[haircutter]

hey if the Bengals win the division believe me I’ll be right there rooting and roaring for them..
I spent 52 years as a Buckeye..will always have a special feeling for OHIO

[Dr. Sivana]

Steelers have aways owned the Browns.

Not at all. If we indulge the NFL's legal fiction that the current Browns own the historic Browns (Ravens) records, we will find that the lifetime streak of the Browns vs. the Steelers was 58-22 in the Browns favor, including a 51-0 shellacking on September 10, 1989. In fact, the Browns won the first eight matchups until finally getting defeated.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:oBsPil80gX4J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browns%E2%80%93Steelers_rivalry+browns+vs.+steelers+lifetime&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[Emperor Palpatine]

Doesn't matter who owns 'em....the Cleveland Clowns still suck.

[SeminoleCounty]

Interesting news

Pilot Travel Centers have been quite successful, even though the overall business has seen some biggies go down in recent years. He seems to have rejuvenated FlyingJ as well...keeping it alive under the Pilot banner.

I travel a lot, and have spent quite a few $$ at pilot over the years. Never thought I would be helping buy the Cleveland Browns ;)

[nascarnation]

Only on FR....

You can’t shop at Amazon because the head guy gave to the gay marriage initiative but you can support the Steelers where the head guy gives to Obama.

[jdsteel]

No, you have me mixed up with someone else. I’m not the dude that doesn’t shop at Amazon. I’m just a Steelers fan.

[E Rocc]

The Browns have always been a Republican team. Even modell was one (sort of) before he moved to Baltiless and became a Dim.

As for the new owner, he has some learning to do:

" I've taken off all of my black and gold and I'm putting on my orange and brown."

The Saints wear "black and gold". The Stoolers wear black and yellow.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

If it’s Brown, FLUSH IT DOWN!

[nascarnation]

Mike if you give a couple mil like Rooney did, we'll make you an ambassador too after you retire

[America_Right]

“... Bengals are gonna destroy EVERYONE...”

Hah...your comment smells of balderdash...but enjoy it while you can! :)

I have been waiting all season for this...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

I will message you again when we beat the Texans in a few hours. :)

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“I will message you again when we beat the Texans in a few hours. :)”

Been waitin’ for your message...hmmm...maybe ‘cause...

Houston beats Bengals 19-13 in wild-card playoff

Actually, I feel bad about that...Paul Brown was always a good guy...made one mistake...sold the Browns to Art Modell (one sorry ass POS). That mistake eventually resulted in you getting a team in SinCity. Glad you enjoy having them.