CLEVELAND — Nick Mileti, who during the 1970s was perhaps the most powerful man in Cleveland sports, has died at the age of 93.
Mileti, a Cleveland native and lawyer by trade, at one time owned at least a portion of most of the city's sports franchises. Most notably, he led a group that brought the NBA to Northeast Ohio, becoming recognized as the founder of the Cavaliers when the team made its debut in the fall of 1970.
"The Cleveland Cavaliers are saddened to learn of the passing of Nick Mileti, the beloved founder whose passion and vision ignited the spirit of Cavaliers basketball in our great city," the Cavs said in a statement. "A true pioneer in the world of sports, Nick was not just a leader; he was a dreamer who transformed that dream into reality for countless fans in Cleveland."
A graduate of Bowling Green State University and the Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law, Mileti first burst onto the athletic scene in 1968, when he purchased the American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons and their primary venue of Cleveland Arena. Just two years later, he made what would turn out to be his biggest splash, putting to together a group of investors to buy an NBA expansion club for $3.7 million. Of course, you know that team as the Cavaliers.
Things got off to a rough start for Cleveland's basketball brethren, with just 15 wins in that inaugural season. Realizing that Cleveland Arena was past its expiration date, Mileti sought to build a brand new home within the city. When those efforts failed, however, he instead found a plot of land some say was in the "middle of nowhere," and Richfield Coliseum was born in 1974.
"For 20 unforgettable years, the Coliseum was home to the Cavaliers, a place where memories were made, and dreams were realized," the Cavs wrote Thursday.
The team's fortunes would soon turn around under Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch, culminating with an unforgettable 1976 Eastern Conference Semifinal victory over the powerful Washington Bullets. Though an injury to star center Jim Chones would derail Cleveland's chances in the East Finals against the Boston Celtics, the group forever lives on in the hearts and minds of fans as the group that brought on the "Miracle of Richfield."
"I have often heard people say, 'It's not how long you live, but what you live for,'" Chones, now a radio broadcaster for the Cavaliers, said of his former boss. "Nick was rewarded with longevity because he touched many in his mission to make Cleveland great again."
But basketball wasn't Mileti's only forte. In 1972, he made another big investment, taking control of the Cleveland Indians from the much-maligned Vernon Stauffer. Though the Tribe could never quite break out of mediocrity during his tenure, he did succeed in keeping the club in Northeast Ohio, and the team also made history by hiring Frank Robinson to break baseball's managerial color barrier.
Mileti also fronted the Cleveland Crusaders of the upstart World Hockey Association, though they were not included in the league's eventual merger with the NHL. On the media front, he purchased what was then known as WKYC radio and rebranded it as WWWE, with a signal said to reach "over 38 states and half of Canada." Both the Indians and Cavaliers began broadcasting their games on the station, where they remain on what is now WTAM 1100.
By the end of the decade, Mileti had sold his stakes in both the Cavs and Tribe, but his impact on the Cleveland sports landscape was cemented forever. He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and in 2019, the Cavaliers celebrated him as a member of their inaugural Wall of Honor class. He was also gifted a special 2016 NBA championship ring in commemoration of his status as team founder.
"Nick Mileti changed the course of Cleveland sports history, and his passion and commitment will be deeply missed," the team said of his legacy. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. His spirit will continue to inspire us, and we will forever honor his memory and the indelible mark he left on our franchise and community."
"Dry your eyes; Nick is in a better place," Chones added "I know he's telling the Angels about 'The Miracle of Richfield.' Miss you, Nick."