James Orthwein dead at 84

[pats1]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/kraft_statement_1.html

 

[Richter]

I always forget about him being the one that sold Kraft the team, and hired Parcells. My memory just seems to skip from Kiam to Kraft. Must be the Ks.

 

[signbabybrady]

thats sad to hear

 

[IcyPatriot]

RIP to James ... he was adamant that a buyer be found who would keep the team here.

 

[fgssand]

RIP to James ... he was adamant that a buyer be found who would keep the team here.

Are you kididng me, no he wasn't adamant that a local byer be found, not in the least. Orthwein was the guy trying to move the team from Foxboro to St Louis. It was only because Kraft owned the stadium and held the lease that bound them here through 2000 back in 1993 that prevented it from happening.

Orthwein tried to buy out Krafts lease for 75MM and Kraft refused, instead, turning the table and buying the team for an unheard record franchise purchase (at the time).

RIP James Orthwein, but you were not nice to New England at all, Kraft out foxed you was all and you took the money and ran back to ST louis to try agian to grab a franchise from somewhere else.

 

[RayClay]

In the tangled mess that was the post Sullivan era (after the sometimes good sometimes comic mess that was the Sullivan era) he hired Parcells and caused me to look at my radio like I had just heard some wild static that sounded like the words Bill Parcells.

If you were around in that era, I'm sure you felt the same astonishment.

It was the equivalent of going home and having your roomate say that Elisha Cuthbert was calling all day looking for you.

+1 James

 

[bobgeorge]

Orthwein's legacy in Foxborough is three-fold: rescuing the Patriots from the Kiam era, hiring Parcells and selling the Patriots to Kraft. I'd appreciate him more if the dalliance with St. Louis was not such an issue at the time. The Patriots moving to St. Louis was a distinct possibility for a while. But Kraft put all that to rest by buying the Patriots.

The hiring of Parcells remains a seminal moment in team history and, though Parcells' departure was messy, it signalled the beginning of the Patriots as we know them today. To some extent, it mirrors the 1967 Red Sox as that pennant run began the Sox as we know them today. For that, Orthwein deserves our gratitude and in the end did do right by the Patriot fans and did sell to an owner who was committed to keeping the team in New England.

Bob G

 

[godef]

After he's buried, they should threaten tomove his burial site to Foxboro, but instead of it end up in LA.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Orthwein's legacy in Foxborough is three-fold: rescuing the Patriots from the Kiam era, hiring Parcells and selling the Patriots to Kraft. I'd appreciate him more if the dalliance with St. Louis was not such an issue at the time. The Patriots moving to St. Louis was a distinct possibility for a while. But Kraft put all that to rest by buying the Patriots.

The hiring of Parcells remains a seminal moment in team history and, though Parcells' departure was messy, it signalled the beginning of the Patriots as we know them today. To some extent, it mirrors the 1967 Red Sox as that pennant run began the Sox as we know them today. For that, Orthwein deserves our gratitude and in the end did do right by the Patriot fans and did sell to an owner who was committed to keeping the team in New England.

Bob G

:agree:

What he said.

 

[PatsSox363804]

I remember Parcells being hired when I was 11 and me thinking "these things don't happen to the Patriots" so for that I'm eternally grateful. However, I also dreaded coming home and my dad telling me the Pats were moving, thank god Kraft owned the stadium.

RIP James: fortunately Kraft outfoxed you and we can remember you as the man that brought in Parcells and started the road we're on now instead of the guy that stole our team away.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Not sure Kraft outfoxed Orthwein. Kraft owned the stadium (and that's a compliment to call it that) and the iron clad lease prior to Orthwein buying the team. The lease did not have a buy out clause, it required the leasee, the Patriots, to pay the lease until its end date. All Kraft did, was hold firm on that clause. Because of that clause, there were very few individuals in a position to buy the Pats......

But, Mr. Orthwein, RIP, you gave us, Bill Parcells and with that new hope.

 

[italian pat patriot]

riposa in pace

 

[Aldogg]

Even though I was younger when Parcells was brought it, I figured Orthwein brought in Parcells to have him rebuild the team, make it a team that would compete so if he did get out of the lease he could bring a winner right to St. Louis.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Even though I was younger when Parcells was brought it, I figured Orthwein brought in Parcells to have him rebuild the team, make it a team that would compete so if he did get out of the lease he could bring a winner right to St. Louis.

I think that Orthweins lack of football knowledge is what saved us. He was brilliant enough to realize Parcells would make him $$$ as you say above. If Orthwein was a Jerry Jones type where would we be now???

 

[fgssand]

I think that Orthweins lack of football knowledge is what saved us. He was brilliant enough to realize Parcells would make him $$$ as you say above. If Orthwein was a Jerry Jones type where would we be now???

I would not be in Foxboro and neither would our New England Patiots, they would be the St. Louis Patriots and the greatest show on turf would have three rings and not one.

I do thank him for hiring Parcells though (even if the creep Parcells did pull his traitor act during the week leading up to our second Superbowl).....

 

[PromisedLand]

Are you kididng me, no he wasn't adamant that a local byer be found, not in the least. Orthwein was the guy trying to move the team from Foxboro to St Louis. It was only because Kraft owned the stadium and held the lease that bound them here through 2000 back in 1993 that prevented it from happening.

Orthwein tried to buy out Krafts lease for 75MM and Kraft refused, instead, turning the table and buying the team for an unheard record franchise purchase (at the time).

RIP James Orthwein, but you were not nice to New England at all, Kraft out foxed you was all and you took the money and ran back to ST louis to try agian to grab a franchise from somewhere else.

Right, and the whole time JO was privately trying to move the team he was publicly pronouncing that he would never take the team out of New England. As someone said about similar scoundrel Art Modell, "James Orthwein should be buried, not praised."

 

[fgssand]

Right, and the whole time JO was privately trying to move the team he was publicly pronouncing that he would never take the team out of New England. As someone said about similar scoundrel Art Modell, "James Orthwein should be buried, not praised."

Do you rememember the Budweiser beer protests - when we had petitions signed threatening to boycott Bud if Orthwein moved them away?

 

[IcyPatriot]

I do thank him for hiring Parcells though (even if the creep Parcells did pull his traitor act during the week leading up to our second Superbowl).....

I still wonder if we could have played better that day ... we'll never know.

 

[OhExaulted1]

He also gave us Bledsoe IIRC. Parcells was rumored to be higher on Rick Mirer and Orthwein convinced (or overruled, I'm not sure which) Parcells Drew had a better upside.

He did indulge very heavily in trying to move the team to St. Louis. I remember Zolak talking about getting a hat with the St. Louis Zephyrs logo on it and his "are you kidding me?" reaction.