How do we poor Browns fans do it?
by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Oct 15, 2010 11:26 AM EDT
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After reading the ill-advised fanpost this week from a misguided Steeler fan asking the members of DBN something to the effect of “How Do We Do It? Support the Browns Day In Day Out?”—and subsequently becoming so incensed that I had no choice but to stumble to my local and douse the flames with copious amounts of lager—I felt compelled to try and answer this question with a fanpost of my own. Sitting on the F train this morning, somewhere beneath the East River, two words came to mind as to why I do, year in year out, support the Cleveland Browns. Faith and character.
Faith, as the Danish existentialist Soren Kierkegaard saw it, is the act of believing in or accepting something that cannot be proven and has no tangible evidence. As Browns fans each year we listen to whatever GM/Head Coach that currently runs the team as he subtly pushes us to go out and buy tickets, to buy a jersey, get the DirecTV Sunday Ticket and we do it. We do it because we have faith that they have a plan and that our team will bring us joy on Sunday afternoons. We take the proverbial “leap of faith” even though there is no proof that we will be any better or win many games besides the empty words of a few men, a few positive scouting reports on new players and maybe even Sterling Sharpe picking us as his upset of the week (like this week) . My wife—a native New Yorker—cannot fathom why it is that I continue to take this hazardous leap but each and every Sunday I throw my “lucky” Browns shirt on and sit in front my TV full of faith and hope. And one day, one day soon I hope, some elegant celestial power (or just a fleet footed wide receiver who catches the ball and a strong armed QB who can get it to him) will swoop down like God did to Abraham as he was about to kill his son and grant me a winning team to support. You cannot really explain faith, it is beyond comprehension—totally ineffable. You just have it. My faith was borne from the halcyon days of my youth in suburban Akron watching Slaughter, Kosar, Matthews, Byner and Brennan. And it is solid as a rock.
As far as character goes, thats what is formed within us as Browns fans along the way. Watching victory after victory cruelly stolen away (or, more often than not, given away) we learn to deal with disappointment like few other fan bases . . .to not punch holes in the closet door after your wife has the guts to laugh about a loss . . . to not start doing shots of Fernet Branca one after another to dull the pain. We become stronger and better fans who are—whether or not they want to admit it—the envy of the rest of the league. How would most Steeler fans react to a string of losing seasons? Most would probably stick with their team but a good amount would run to the comforting arms of the Pats or Cowboys or Eagles. This is the truth.
But Browns fans, how do we do it? How do we keep coming back behind the woodshed for another beating?
Faith and character.
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Because it goes beyond wins and losses. It’s part of everyday life to be a Browns fan and, for me, the same thing goes for the Tribe and Cavs.
I don’t necessarily WANT to go to work everyday, but I don’t really see it as a choice at this point in my life. Same goes for my loyalty to Cleveland professional sports teams.
by fivekmd on Oct 15, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
And I would stop watching the sport altogether before I would give my allegiance to another team.
by fivekmd on Oct 15, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d also.
How do we do it?
Simple.
The same way you see your kids off to school each day,that’s how we do it.
And if you really think about that for a minute,that is the only answer you’d need.
Simple.
Cleveland is my home, and Cleveland has an NFL team. The Browns will be the only team I watch because I live in Cleveland, and even if we lose every game for the next 50 years, I’ll still be at the games rooting for my dawgs no matter what. My loyalty will never be broken!
The saga continues.
lol wow....
I’m so happy. I honestly wanted to gloat…and b a bigger dick. But after reading this article I actually feel like a douchebag. I’m not going to apologize because at heart I’m still an ungreatful jackass but I think I have a lot more respect for you. I hate the ravens, and I hate the bengals…but I dont hate the browns now. Actually I dont think I really ever did. But that doesnt matter.
I’m very surprised I got underneath your skin. But at the same time, I think that, if anything, shows how much loyalty you have for your team. well done.
This is the first time that, with my absolutely distasteful trash talk a fanpage has not gone medieval on me…and I’m surprised and humbled at the same time.
I hope the browns win every division game here on out. Except against the steelers. Peace.
by surag238 on Oct 15, 2010 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Born and raised
grew up in pittsburgh all my life, went to school there until high school then moved to NY for college. Now live in another state.
Then I still don’t see how you even questioned why we like the Browns. Not everybody is a bandwagoner for good teams, you know. We have our own boys to root for. And if they’re not playing well, so be it.
The saga continues.
because
I was genuinly surprised even though I know what its like to be fan of a team, losing or winning. But thats not to say that I was surprised at the years of mismanagement of the Browns and to me that really is the last straw. I cannot support a team where even the top brass dont care. I’m not saying that is the case right now about the Browns, but I certainly feel that has been the case for a while. To note, the success of the browns in the past went to the now Ravens…that ownership was great hands down. But its not the same ownership today. Obviously you guys all know that, I’m just trying to clarify my point.
I guess that doesnt make me a diehard fan but to be honest, I feel like if I’m investing something into a team etc. then at least some effort should be made.
I know a lot of pirates fans who love the pirates but hate the management so much they wont watch or go to any games. I dont think they’re bandwagoners.
It baffles me that people stop watching their favorite teams when they are not doing good or when the management is crap. Why would you ever stop loving your city’s teams? I have mad respect for Pirates fans, that shows the kind of loyalty which is very dear to my heart.
I also hate people who root for teams in cities they have no connection too. Everyone’s local city has a team, root for them. If your city or state doesn’t, watch as a general fan, damnit.
The saga continues.
I can understand why some people root for a team they have no connection to. Our mindset is that the Browns represent our community. Plenty of people believe that pro football is a business and the Browns are the team that plays in this market. They grew up feeling free to choose the team whose uniforms bore their favorite color. What I don’t understand is when someone grows up rooting for the Browns, lives in NE Ohio and switches allegiance.
I also hate people who root for teams in cities they have no connection too. Everyone’s local city has a team, root for them. If your city or state doesn’t, watch as a general fan, damnit.
and I hate people who think they are superior and better fans of a team just because they live in that city. I live in central PA and am basically surrounded by all things Steelers, yet I love the Browns. according to you, I’m wrong and should be a Steelers fan.
well, guess what? I’ll never be Steelers fan, I’ll always be a Browns fan, and you’re no more of a Browns fan than I am, nor will you ever be. Frankly, your comment pisses me off more than anything that any of the Steelers fans have said on any of these posts. stop trying to tell people what kind of fans they should be.
ReIax. I just never understood why people skip over their local area to root for another team. I was raised here in Ohio, and if I moved elsewhere, I wouldn’t abandon my allegiance to the Browns. I wouldn’t root for the Steelers. I’m not from Pittsburgh. I can’t relate to them. I can relate to my Browns, I live in Cleveland.
The saga continues.
so you can relate to 53 millionaires who come from all over the country, not just cleveland? good for you.
there are plenty of reasons to skip over teams in your local area and root for another team, many of which are very good reasons. mine is family tradition, which is all the reason I need.
<so you can relate to 53 millionaires who come from all over the country, not just cleveland?>
No?
Whatever floats your boat, buddy.
The saga continues.
I live approximately the same distance from Cleveland, Cincinnati, AND Pittsburgh. I have a hard time understanding people who connect their team to their city. I’ve been a Browns fan for nearly three decades, yet I have zero connection to the city, and can count on two hands the number of times I’ve even been to Cleveland.
"And the 2010 National League Central Division Champs are the Cincinnati Reds!" -- Marty Brennaman
To me, your allegiance makes more sense than, for example, someone born in San Francisco and who’s family is from San Franciso but they like the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The saga continues.
why? as I said, there are many reasons why someone may root for a certain team. just because you don’t agree doesn’t mean they aren’t valid reasons.
Effectively I live the same distance from all NFL teams (if you get a map out I guess New England is closest). But I’m just a couple of years behind you Golanbatrac (25 years, though I wasn’t actively following any NFL through the mid-late 90s).
And I’ve never been to Cleveland; I may have been through depending on the route the Greyhound bus took from NYC to Minneapolis… I remember a cigarette stop outside of pitsburgh though.
Welcome Joe!
Go Seneca!
we aren’t other fanbases so we don’t go medieval on you when you post something like this. in general, we try to have class here and faith and character
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
surag238
I hope you didn’t feel disrespect from my first post in this thread,that was the easiest way for me to explain my support so you’d understand,from my personal perspective at least.
Faith and character are a huge part of it. Well said. (Chris, can I- or you- make this a front page post?)
And character requires loyalty. Loyalty, not to a great player, i.e. LeBron. Loyalty, not to a a great team, i.e. 1995 Indians. Loyalty, not to a great coach, i.e. Ditka. Loyalty, not to a great owner, i.e. Rooneys.
No, what makes Browns fan-hood so remarkable, and any great fan in my opinion, is loyalty to the institution. As the City of Cleveland and the passionate fans of the Browns know, more personally than any other fan-base, the institution of the Cleveland Browns is bigger than Paul Brown or Jim Brown or Bernie Kosar or Art Modell or Al Lerner or Randy Lerner, Mike Holmgren or Eric Mangini. You cheer for the team, not the player, not the coach, not the owner. Sure, those things can draw you to a team. But that’s not why you stay with a team. That’s not what shows your character, your loyalty.
I cannot stress enough how incredible it is that through the fans, city leaders, and some good lawyering, we kept our team even though the players and owner went to Baltimore 15 years ago. There was a trust set up by the league, with the commissioner as trustee. But the city was the beneficiary. It was our team. We can say that in a way that probably only can be matched by Green Bay in all of professional sports.
It was a preposterous question: how do Browns fans do it? And realizing that every fan has their own story- grew up in NE Ohio, grew up in Ohio before the Bengals, passed on from father, fell in love with Jim Brown, Brian Sipe, or Peyton Hillis- the over-generalized issue is because we love the Browns.
Fandom is illogical and requires faith. Our circumstances have required loyalty and built character.
fka "DaytonDogg". Now a contributor to SBN's Dawgs By Nature. www.dawgsbynature.com
by Ryan Kelsey on Oct 15, 2010 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
very well said.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Oct 16, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Fandom is illogical and requires faith. Our circumstances have required loyalty and built character.
Cleveland Browns: It’s a religion!
"My mother always told me: ‘You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You’ll get a good sense of their character." - Ironic words from LeBron James
For the love of Joe Thomas.....
by North Coast Flea on Oct 16, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Hm, I think I’m about to change my facebook profile…
fka "DaytonDogg". Now a contributor to SBN's Dawgs By Nature. www.dawgsbynature.com
I actually just did in honor of your comment.
"My mother always told me: ‘You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You’ll get a good sense of their character." - Ironic words from LeBron James
For the love of Joe Thomas.....
by North Coast Flea on Oct 16, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Great post, I’m might be young (I’m turning18 in 3 days) but I will forever bleed seal brown and orange. Browns fans forever!!!!!
"We don't take no prisoners! I say we kill'em, every other team! That way we don't got to feed them or nothing!
-Coach Kevin Hockett
by brownsboy14 on Oct 15, 2010 11:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Seal brown? Is that the name of the brown in your uniforms? I’m being serious here.
"SteelFever gets #93. Just like Ron Artest. Great game just keep an eye on him that he doesn't go into the stands after a fan."
- 5020 on my making the BTSC active (riot) squad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC0NCHq4v3I
by Steel Spike on Oct 16, 2010 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah it is. Gotta be specific in these situations.
"We don't take no prisoners! I say we kill'em, every other team! That way we don't got to feed them or nothing!
-Coach Kevin Hockett
by brownsboy14 on Oct 16, 2010 4:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I approve this message. Great post and rec’d.
It’s not a lie if you believe it.
by Brownie's Year on Oct 15, 2010 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
Coming home from a great dinner here in Brooklyn with one of my best friends (who went to Walsh and now lives in SF) and a bit tipsy but so happy to feel the love. I have lived all around the world but I will always be Cleveland Browns to the bone .. . .
by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Oct 16, 2010 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions
He lives in Frisco? I feel bad for him.
It’s not a lie if you believe it.
by Brownie's Year on Oct 16, 2010 3:08 AM EDT up reply actions
After growing up in Cuyahoga Falls, I lived in SF for 9 years and they were the best days of my life. Granted I was single but now that I live in NYC and am married I miss it immensely .
by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Oct 16, 2010 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I always dreaded going there. Whether it be for parties, dinner, or even just rolling through to pick up my buddy to go golfing at Peacock (he lived up the street from the Presidio).I’ve been to the city a hundred times and never really got used to it. But it is pretty nice..
It’s not a lie if you believe it.
by Brownie's Year on Oct 16, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
it seems like Frisco is an acquired taste for some, though some absolutely love it.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
Yeah. I know rufio likes it too.
Try driving your SUV there and look for parking. One of the main reasons I hated going there. It seems like they only have parking for mini coopers on the streets.
It’s not a lie if you believe it.
by Brownie's Year on Oct 16, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Hahaha isn’t it that way in any major city? You gotta have bigtime skills if you want to park a bigtime car in the city. Or you can just be a big enough jerk and take up 2 spots.
Seriously though, you don’t even need to drive in SF.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
imo the browns have some of the best , most loyal fans in all of sports
I grew up in the Indianapolis area so naturally i grew up a Colts fan, let me just say this was way before Peyton got there I started watching the Colts in 1991 the Colts have had their ups and downs and recently a lot of ups , but i can remember when every one would make fun of me for being such a big colts fan and that they never win, fast forward to now I just moved to Cleveland , my wife is from Fairview Park, and watching the news and pregame shows etc has only confirmed what I always believed that the Browns have some of the best fans in football they are there in the down times and there in the good times I also think that with a couple of good drafts and off seasons the Browns can be contneding with the Steelers and Ravens in a couple years. Props to all Browns fans and the Browns have become my second team behind my Colts of course. GO Browns Beat the Rapist!
by leebomb10 on Oct 16, 2010 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Well, like anything we can´t choose, because it´s yours. Nice post.
by mooncamping on Oct 17, 2010 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Had 32 teams to choose from, but it was actually the Browns picked me. They drafted me as a fan in 2001. They needed my support and they always will have it.
by BuenosAires_Dawg on Oct 17, 2010 11:54 AM EDT reply actions
Well said
As I made my way out of Heinz field soaked in beer and lit cigarette burns while shaking peanut shells out of my hoodie again Sunday, I was approached by an Senior Citizen Steeler fan who said " I don’t know how you do it, I saw you sitting quietly not bothering anyone and the more we won, the worse they treated you. Yet you never let it bother you and I am sorry we treated you that way, Pittsburgh should be ashamed of itself today. How do you Browns fans do it and why? My response was simply, when you have lived your life being the national punchline to every joke and every box office movie and comedian makes a negative reference to you, caring became old a long time ago. We are Cleveland and in order to understand us, you have to understand the “Faith”. I will be back next year and the year after till I die, My Browns are my way of life!
Our only "Mistake by the lake" was caring what other bucktooth, inbred, unemployed, suicidal, uneducated, depressed, disloyal, rascist burnt out steel towns thought of us! We will rise from the ashes the way a true champion always does and when we do, there will not be room for bandwagoneers! Like the Muni lot, it will be over flowing with loyal Browns fans that not only love this city, but our Brown and Orange! Go Browns!!!!
by Sipeis17 on Oct 18, 2010 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I’m so glad I decided to support the best fans in the world.
I’m very likely to attend my first game Browns game which will be against the Steelers in January. Yes I travelled thousands of miles for this. I can’t freakin’ wait.
by skipkirk on Oct 18, 2010 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Nice. You should hold up an “I flew up from down under to see my Browns” sign so we can look for you in the stands. haha
"My mother always told me: ‘You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You’ll get a good sense of their character." - Ironic words from LeBron James
For the love of Joe Thomas.....
by North Coast Flea on Oct 18, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll give you one other suggestion as well. Get some of those little hand warmer packs that you break open right before the game. They are life savers for late games in this area.
"Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it."--Big Tom Callahan
or 3.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Oct 18, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Every fan loves their team
I give respect to Browns fans, but pretending that the success or failure of your team (whoever they may be) is in any way indicative of your own level of character is pretty annoying and dishonest.
Because of y’alls situation, I’ll let you get away with a lot. However, fans have to be honest and just agree that fandom doesn’t mean anything about your character. Watching TV is way easier than, say, helping people.
Because of y’alls situation, I’ll let you get away with a lot.
Well, by all means, Thank You. We are all so blessed that a Steeler fan allows us to get away with something.
by Bernie19Kosar on Oct 23, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what, Kosar? You bother me.
You “warned” me about saying “bitch”….when I don’t even remember saying it.
I generally have positive things to say…and only react when one of your Brownlings gets personal with me, for no other reason but being a Steelers fan. In fact, I was defending Alex Mack over at BTSC the last few days. On this board, shared in your excitement that you may have found your franchise QB of the future. The Browns becoming good again is a good thing.
But you lose sight of that. You just see black and gold and get pissy and as mature as a third grader on a sugar hugh.
Meanwhile, I looked back over your posts. You’re a pretty big dick. You’re pretty rude. Arrogant (for what reason, I have yet to figure out). A legitimate tool.
You allow your readers to call other people “tools” and all sorts of other derogatory names.
Know what? Ban my ass. Do it now. I’m telling you what to do, so do it. Obey me. I want you to.
You’re a mod on here? How did you get past the strict “Mod Application Testing” application?
Oh, that’s right…it’s the interweb. There are none.
Ban me, you tool. Go Browns. Win every game until we see you again in January. I’m serious. I want you guys to succeed. I’m excited to see the Browns “back.” It can’t happen soon enough. Your city has gone through enough, your fans have gone through enough.
But some of the tools on this site who don’t understand football, and more importantly don’t understand how to treat another person need to learn a lesson. I hope they do someday. Until then, their sorry little lives working at Radio Shack and Jamba Juice as minimum wage workers and blowing off steam in an interweb forum will have to be their apex in life.
Excitedly looking forward to my ban by Toolmaster McKosar,
A fan.
ps…dontcha love seeing Polamalu’s hair at the top of your blog every day? Oh…and Kosar, it was you who inferred Polamalu would beat his wife too…remember? Read through your old posts. Stay classy.
Tool.
I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. Please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com for more info.
1. I work at Smoothie King.
2. As I told you before, you are more than welcome to discuss football related topics on this site. We do not condone calling people “bitches” though. Save that stuff for sites that allow that kind of talk to other people. We don’t do it here. You were warned for the same reasons that you have been warned on other sites, not obeying rules.
You want to know why we have to be strict? Look at this thread at Cincy Jungle. You and some other clowns over ran it.
Have fun over at BTSC.
by Bernie19Kosar on Oct 25, 2010 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I love me some Strawberry banana.
I work at a pet factory, I can get anything for under $5. It’d be awesome if I had a pet though.
Peyton Hillis is my Hero.
by SpecialBrownie on Oct 26, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
We all know you have a gerbil
"Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it."--Big Tom Callahan
heh.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Oct 26, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh Ha. Ha…
Peyton Hillis is my Hero.
by SpecialBrownie on Oct 26, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
you work at a factory where they make pets?
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Oct 26, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Pet products*
Peyton Hillis is my Hero.
by SpecialBrownie on Oct 26, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
SB: The guy that makes dogs look good.
:)
"Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it."--Big Tom Callahan
by Kimble_79 on Oct 27, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And they wonder why we called them trolls… They even teamed up Ratbird fanns on that one.
his pick sexes put us over the top
by North Coast Flea on Oct 26, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
There is, in fact, a measure of character in how one conducts themselves as fans of any type of organization. Perhaps, to your point, not to the same degree as “helping people.” I will give you that. However, the inability to remain steadfast in standing behind a decision is, in my opinion, indicative of a lack of character (much like annoying attacks ad hominem such as those penned by your fellow Steeler fan fifty-eight).
by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Oct 26, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
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