Somehow the NFL captures us. Sunday's story lines are fascinating, if not a public-relations windfall. The Raiders are run by Al Davis, who beat the NFL like a rug in court while moving from Oakland to Los Angeles back to Oakland. After Indianapolis stole the Colts, Baltimore stole the team belonging to Art Modell, the cur without conscience who left Cleveland. The New York Giants play in New Jersey, the Minnesota Vikings threaten to leave for San Antonio.
Baseball frowns on portable franchises, but stands perilously still on other issues.
One can only imagine what would be had Marvin Miller, who built the baseball union into a powerhouse, instead been hired by the football players, who routinely caved in when negotiations turned tough. Or if NFL owners were as narrow-minded about their industry as are baseball owners. Somehow the astute NFL even made it work in Cleveland, where bereaved fans got a new team, new stadium and new Browns in exchange for an established administration that had lost its way. Wonder if that could happen in another big city where passion for pro football is better than the product.