Tag: Dee Haslam

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway accuses Jimmy Haslam of offering bribes to Pilot executives

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway accused Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam of bribing multiple Pilot Flying J executives to improve company profits.

Berkshire Hathaway has accused the Haslam family, including Jimmy and his brother – who’s the former Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam – of offering bribes to multiple Pilot Flying J executives to inflate company profits to force Berkshire Hathaway to pay a higher price for the Haslam family’s remaining 20% of ownership in the company. This report is from Reuters.com.

The Haslam family and Berkshire Hathaway have been fighting for the past few months over the Haslam family’s remaining 20% stake in Pilot. In late October, the Haslam family sued Berkshire Hathaway, accusing Hathaway of changing their accounting rules to devalue the family’s 20% stake.

In 2017, Berkshire Hathaway and the Haslam family agreed to an arrangement where Hathaway would buy 80% of the company by 2023 and allow the Haslams an option to sell the remaining 20% share to Hathaway at the end of 2023. It’s reported that the 20% share is worth nearly $3 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway’s countersue alleges Jimmy Haslam of offering bribes to 15 Pilot executives to inflate company profits, promising the executives excessive end-year bonuses.

The Haslams have been struck by allegations of financial irregularities before. Soon after Jimmy Haslam bought the Cleveland Browns, Pilot Flying J was investigated over a rebate scam that resulted in a $92 million fine.

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Haslams make statement on Deshaun Watson’s suspension

The Haslams’ statement is short and is similar to their earlier statements about Watson:

The Cleveland Browns hope that they have some certainty with QB Deshaun Watson now that Judge Sue Robinson has rendered her decision. The six-game suspension could be appealed by the NFL leading to a stronger punishment.

For now, Watson will miss the first six games of the 2022 season returning to practice with the team in Week 4 of the season. QB Jacoby Brissett will run the show until Watson returns.

While the NFLPA, in conjunction with Watson, released a statement last night that they would not appeal Robinson’s decision, we have not heard from the quarterback in a month and a half. It has been even longer since we heard from ownership. Monday, Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement:

The Haslams’ statement is in line with the last time they spoke shortly after Watson’s arrival in Cleveland.

While the Haslams’ statement notes Watson is “remorseful,” the quarterback has denied that he has done anything wrong in the situation:

Outside of the completion of the investigation, nothing has changed since the Browns acquired Watson. The organization was behind the move and the player at that time and, seemingly, will continue to be moving forward.

Fans, on the other hand, have not been in lockstep with the organization with many opposing Watson as a member of the team.

According to the public relations department, we will hear from both the Haslams and GM Andrew Berry after the appeals process, if the NFL decides to appeal.

Haslams comfortable with Deshaun Watson, trust legal system

The Haslams made it clear that they feel comfortable with both Watson and the legal system in answering questions to the media Friday:

The Cleveland Browns organization and Deshaun Watson finally spoke to the media following the trade that shocked the world that was initiated a week ago. Last Friday, Watson informed the Browns and Houston Texans that he had chosen Cleveland from among the other teams vying for his services.

The Texans announced the trade Friday night with the Browns following up with their announcement on Sunday.

Watson arrived in Berea on Thursday before taking a moment to step foot on the field at FirstEnergy Stadium with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Greg Newsome II.

Friday afternoon, GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski joined Watson in front of the media in Berea. The quarterback made it clear that he never assaulted or disrespected any women in answering questions during the press conference.

Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam had their time with the media over a Zoom conference call. The Haslams reported they were out of the country Friday.

During their time with the media, both of the owners made it very clear that they became comfortable with acquiring Watson and that they trust the legal process.

Both owners spent time validating the concerns of fans but repeated their comfort with both Watson as a person and the legal system. The team is also “comfortable” with Watson’s legal team deciding how to proceed with the 22 civil lawsuits.

With the press conferences complete, but the Watson addition far from settled for some fans, the team will continue to look toward improving their team in free agency as they prepare for the NFL draft.

Browns owners Dee Haslam and Whitney Johnson invest in WNBA

Dee Haslam and Whitney Haslam Johnson are a part of the biggest investment in “women’s sports property” history:

Cleveland Browns owners Dee Haslam and Whitney Haslam Johnson will be a part of the $75 million investment made into the WNBA recently. The women’s basketball league had a capital campaign to strengthen its revenue base and allow for the growth of the league.

The WNBA was founded in 1996 and started play in 1997. The league started with eight teams and has grown to 12 as of the 2021 season. The league has seen stars like Sheryl Swoopes, Lissa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and many others excel during their time there.

With the “largest-ever capital raised for a women’s sports property,” the league is hoping to continue its growth. The Browns announced their ownership’s involvement in a press release:

“We are thrilled to be a part of the WNBA and supporting the continued growth of women’s sports,” Whitney Johnson said on behalf of Haslam Sports Group. “Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s vision for the league is strategic and impressive, and we are excited about what the future holds for the WNBA. Representation can play such an important role in inspiring people to reach their full potential, and the profound impact sports can have on individuals and community is something our family and the Haslam Sports Group will always value and look to support.”

The release also notes the ownership group’s investment in local communities including young women’s flag football.

Browns owner Dee Haslam, GM Andrew Berry featured at NFL’s Women’s Careers in Football forum

The Browns have been trailblazers at providing opportunities for women in the NFL

Cleveland Browns owner Dee Haslam and GM Andrew Berry are among the featured speakers at the fifth annual Women’s Careers in Football forum, sponsored by the NFL. It’s an appropriate choice to highlight Haslam, who owns the team with her husband, Jimmy, and Berry in their efforts to create real potential for women in football.

The Browns have been at the forefront of providing capable women opportunities in roles traditionally reserved for men. The team hired Callie Brownson as head coach Kevin Stefanski’s chief of staff last offseason, and Brownson became the first woman to actively coach a position group in an NFL game when she filled in for TE coach Drew Petzing in Week 12. Brownson also coached the wide receivers in Week 17.

From the NFL’s press release,

The NFL will host the fifth annual Women’s Careers in Football Forum virtually Feb. 24-25 as part of its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Forum will connect 40 women, 75% of whom are women of color, with leaders in professional football to help those women network and build relationships in the areas of coaching, scouting and football operations.

This year’s conference will be held online only due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Odell Beckham Jr.’s growth and comfort with the Browns paying dividends

Browns WR is healthy and a lot more at home at the start of his second season in Cleveland

Odell Beckham Jr.’s first season in Cleveland was a crazy whirlwind. Traded by surprise from the Giants in March of 2019, the talented wideout battled through learning a new offense with a new QB, a coaching staff that flopped, and Beckham did all that battling a painful core muscle injury that slowed him and required surgery after the season ended.

Now Beckham enters Year 2 in Cleveland with a healthy body and a fresher mind. Beckham has talked about how much better he feels in various interviews, but there’s always a necessary grain of salt with anything the mercurial Beckham says.

Instead, it’s better to trust those around him. And those folks see a new and improved Beckham embracing being in Cleveland.

Longtime friend, college teammate and fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry notes the difference in Beckham.

“He’s continuing to grow each and every day, each and every week,” Landry said in a Zoom session on Friday. “That’s something that being here and being around the guys over time that gives you. You begin to get comfortable. You begin to be where your feet are. I think that he’s really making this place home and accepting that. That’s something that, I know for me personally, I’m happy that he’s here and hopefully can continue to be here for the rest of his career.”

Browns owner Dee Haslam noted much the same in her Zoom session with the media around Sunday’s practice. Haslam spent a few minutes during the practice chatting with Beckham and felt very good about it.

“I had a great conversation with him today,’’ Dee Haslam said  “[He’s] excited to be back in his house, and that has made a big difference to him. We did an exercise with the team Friday night: the four H’s, which is your history, heartbreak, heroes and hopes. Odell texted me and told me that he really related to a lot of the stuff. We had a great conversation about that.”

Haslam continued,

“I just feel like he’s just so much more comfortable here, and he said that. He says ‘I’m in my home. I’m more comfortable.’ I think it was a transition, but I think he’s doing really well and love the fact that he’s talking about how happy he is to be here and how comfortable he is. I think it is a great improvement so we’re really excited that he feels that way.”

Beckham has looked great through the first two days of camp, making some highlight-reel catches and enthusiastically attacking every rep.

Browns release a statement supporting the fight against racism

Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam and several team executives released a statement on the ongoing protests for racial equality and harmony

In response to the ongoing protests stemming from the death of unarmed African-American man George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis last week, the Cleveland Browns released a statement supporting the quest to end racism.

The statement, signed by Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, VP Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski and others in the executive office, aims to build the spirit of community and cooperation to overcome the racial and political divides. It was also signed by the Columbus Crew management, which is also owned by the Haslam’s.

From the press release:

Sports can be a great unifier in our communities for what teams do on the field and we must work together to elevate our efforts and our actions to ensure that we can be a positive and productive change agent off the field.

With yet more tragic deaths, we, as a nation and as individuals, must truly create meaningful dialogue, have difficult conversation, demonstrate real empathy and take productive and non-violent action to address injustices.

These are complex issues that no sports team can solve on its own. We can only help create change by working together with our community, our players and our entire region to find solutions.

We take great pride in our city and in our region and recognize the suffering in the African American community throughout the country. Although, we, like many others have worked to advocate for social justice, now more than ever, we must do even more to work collectively to end racism and bond together for justice and equality.

Several Browns players have spoken out supporting the same cause on their own social media outlets.

The new Browns uniforms are finally here

The new Browns uniforms are finally here

The new Cleveland Browns uniforms are here! After several months of design and revamping, the franchise revealed the newest combination of jerseys, pants and accessories.

The new uniforms aren’t a radical change. The colors remain the same: orange, brown and white. The helmet remains the iconic orange with no logo on the sides, too.

The changes appear subtle. Most notable is the added emphasis on the striping on the sleeves and the removal of any lettering on the jersey front and pants.

From the Browns’ social media feed:

All proceeds from sales of the new jerseys are being donated by the team to the Hats Off For Heroes fund, which helps COVID-19 frontline workers.

Dee Haslam announced the Browns new uniforms will be unleashed on Wednesday

Browns new uniforms will be unleashed on Wednesday, with Dee Haslam announcing the new jersey sales will help COVID-19 heroes

Over a year in the making, the long-awaited new Cleveland Browns uniforms will be officially unveiled on Wednesday. Browns owner Dee Haslam, who has been integrally involved in the design process, revealed the official date. Mrs. Haslam also revealed the team will dedicate proceeds from the sales of the new jerseys to help heroes who have fought against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The entire Cleveland Browns organization is inspired by the significant sacrifices being made by those heroes every day, and now it’s our turn to do our part,” Haslam said. “We want the fabric of these jerseys that have always united us as one team to symbolize our coming together as one community. Let’s unite together and help the true heroes.”

The full video from Dee Haslam, courtesy of the Browns’ YouTube channel:

Several teases have been carefully leaked out by the Browns social media. The clues add up to a more traditional look than the new direction taken by the Atlanta Falcons with their new uniforms.

Here’s hoping for at least one primary combination with orange pants!