Wolstein Dead at 77

[Crew14]

http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindealer/

[jmeissen0]

bummer

i'm assuming that is the end of the cleveland hopes?

[Crew14]

Unless Garafolo steps in. Don't think he's got the $$ for it though.

[Joe Stoker]

Stunning news. Condolences to Iris, son Scott, relatives and friends.

[NattyBo]

I think it would be safe to say that we wont be seeing a cleveland franchise now, at least not in the near future.

[Joe Stoker]

For details:

www.newsnet5.com/news/3314186/detail.html

www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=19029

[SYoshonis]

Not to get too cynical about this, but there's MLS's excuse for not expanding as announced at last year's All-Star Game.

[NattyBo]

Not to get too cynical about this, but there's MLS's excuse for not expanding as announced at last year's All-Star Game.


Yep, its a pretty ironclad excuse for giving chivas more time to find a location too.

[Sempuukyaku]

Very sad news and condolences to the Wolstein family and close friends. :(


On another note however, this is probably the end of Cleveland's expansion hopes. Their expansion hopes were already getting thin and I think this may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Joe Stoker]

... this is probably the end of Cleveland's expansion hopes. Their expansion hopes were already getting thin and I think this may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

...Unless Bert was enough of a soccer nut to make arrangements once he knew the worst. I really doubt anybody's mind was on MLS or even the fence as of late. Little wonder why things went quiet on all fronts.

Son Scott was involved with the original Force front office. If the story ends here with the Wolsteins, though, there remains the Browns, who were making concilatory noises to the city about getting more use out of their gift stadium. Also one Frank Stronach, the Canadian multi-millionaire owner of Thistledown racetrack, who also owns Vienna soccer club FK Austria. His name was bandied about by the local press when the MLS talk started up.

[OldFanatic]

Unbelievably shocking and sad. :(

I don't know if he had entrusted his son or other heirs to be able to do the transition. I don't think he expected not being around this soon. As they said in the news, the cancer remission was sudden and unexpected.

Rochester could take place of Cleveland.

[Crewmudgeon]

I too offer my sincere condolences to Iris and Scott Wolstein and everyone in the Wolstein family.

I have been both skeptical and critical of the Cleveland bid. But at a time like this I think its important to remember that Bert and his contributions to Cleveland will be missed.

[J-Justice]

I was desvastated when I heard the news. Bert was great in the community here, most recently donating $25 million to University Hospitals. He'll definitely be missed, and along with him go my hopes for a Cleveland MLS team

[mellon002]

Just when you thought the expansion process couldn't get any worse...

Condolences to his family.

[DaveBrett]

As they said in the news, the cancer remission was sudden and unexpected.
You mean cancer return, not cancer remission. Cancer remission is when the disease goes away.

[ButlerBob]

:( My condolences to his family and friends. I had a internship with the Force back in the late 80s. One of my first few days there he came over to my desk and welcomed me to organization and alwasy remembered my name. He would often stop and talk to us interns and ask how we were doing. He came across to me as a friendly and genuine person.

[Joe Stoker]

In this morning's PD:

www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/108487285947350.xml

Note Paul Garafolo's quote re MLS bid.

Certainly a full and interesting life with many accomplishments, regardless whether or not we agreed with his approach. He put me in mind of a Vince Lombardi quote... the one about joy being found in creating moreso than maintaining. "Bart Maverick" Wolstein. Adios, mensch (good gentleman).

[wandering soccerdog]

Is it true he'll only be dead for a year and then come back as Bert Crunchstein?

[VioletCrown]

Is it true he'll only be dead for a year and then come back as Bert Crunchstein?

Damn. A tasteless joke that perfectly reflects the history of soccer franchises in the us. Thumbs up.

[OldFanatic]

You mean cancer return, not cancer remission. Cancer remission is when the disease goes away.
Oh, sorry. That's exactly what I meant.