It's Finally Over

Finally, no more anguish. No more frustration. No more deep depressions on Sunday and Monday about how pathetic the team played. I feel a weird sense of relief today, as I know that there are no more games this season to further tarnish the image of the Orange and Brown. I never thought I would be excited to see the end of a Browns season, but I am. I'm glad that it's over and I can start getting excited about next season, about how we are going to be next year's Miami Dolphins, next year's Baltimore Ravens, next year's turn around team that will take the NFL by surprise.

And thank you Randy for getting the ball rolling on what I am hoping will be massive firings with the canning of Savage. Romeo, you should be next.

For now we can look forward to speculating about head coaches and a top 5 draft pick.....

How Much More Can We Handle?

Every time I check the news, there seems to be a new story about our beloved Browns, making them look more ridiculous that they already did. Yep, I thought we had pretty much already hit rock bottom, but I guess not. Now we have players punching one another. Where will it end?

One Week and Counting

I don't think that there are any words that I can possibly write that would accurately reflect my feelings on the horrendous game that I forced myself to sit through yesterday. I've decided to just forget about it and move on. At this point, it's not worth getting worked up.

Instead, I'm just counting down the days until it is over, when we can put this miserably disappointing season behind us and Randy can fire the NFL's most incompetent coach.

Dear Braylon,

Despite being frustrated by your increased tendency to drop passes this season, I've still remained a loyal fan, anxiously hoping that you would snap out of the slump. And since I'm used to supporting the Browns throughout all the hard times, I wasn't afraid or embarrassed to still don my #17 jersey with pride. Until now. After reading your most recent comments, I feel truly disappointed. As for now, the #17 jersey may just have to join my other "retired" jerseys in the back of my closest.

I'm not sure how, as a professional player, you cannot be frustrated anymore. You stated,

It's not even frustrating anymore...I mean it's been that way, we haven't
scored a touchdown in four games..which is pretty embarrassing..so for me it's
not even frustrating anymore.

Really? You can just let that slide and not be frustrated and go out there and have fun? These games aren't high school games or backyard pick-up games. This is your career, your profession. And yes, you should have fun doing your job, but you have to take it serious. The team playing the way they are playing should not be fun. Being embarrassed should not be fun.

And you really feel underapreciated? I really hope this was just your emotions getting the best of you and that you truly don't feel that way. Like I said previously, many fans are frustrated with the dropped passes this season, but they still appreciate your talent. We recognize that you are a Pro-bowl caliber player. I think that's why this season stings even more. It isn't you. It isn't what you are capable of. And as for being a "marked man coming from Michigan," give Cleveland fans a little more credit than that. Orange and Brown is what matters most to true Browns fans. Once you join the team and start wearing those sacred colors, that's it. Look at Jamal Lewis. Do we hold it against him that he used to be a Raven? No. Cowher led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win and we still want him as our coach. Like I said, once you put on the Cleveland Browns uniform, you are part of us. (I even know fans who have named their kids Braylon. That should be the ultimate form of appreciation!)

And I am truly sorry if you and your family have been ridiculed while you have been out in public. Yes, there are some jerks out there. You have that everywhere you go. And yes, they can take things too far. But they really are a small minority. As for "people in this town believ[ing] they are entitled to too much," we just believe that we are entitled to a football team that does everything in their power to try and produce a victory, a winning season, a run at a championship and that isn't happening. Browns fans, and Cleveland sports fans in general, are some of the most loyal fans out there. We continue to pour money into organizations that continually let us down. We continue to root for and support teams that don't produce. Why do we stick around? Why don't we we find a new team to support? Because we are loyal to our teams. We are die-hard fans that will continue to support our teams. All we want is something to get excited about, players that seem like they are giving it their all, coaches that care about their job. I don't think that is too much to ask, since it is your job and all.

I'm glad that you are showing some emotion, showing that you care, but it isn't coming across too well. You are sounding like a spolied brat. You said that your "biggest problem is that [you] actually give a damn." Then show it. Use that to motivate the rest of the team to go out and play. Use this so-called passion to become the leader of a team that so desperately needs one. Running your mouth to the media isn't going to do anything to help the team that you suppossedly give a damn about. All you are doing is alienating the city of Cleveland, but maybe that's what you want. Maybe you want to play for Detroit, since that is where all of your "charity efforts will be for now on?"

Like I said, I've been a fan up until you started running your mouth. And I'm not disowning you, just waiting for a different Braylon to show up.

For Your Enjoyment . . .

Check out the link below. The writers over at No Logo Needed have come up with a great list of presents to buy for some of the Browns players this year. Great stuff.

http://www.nologoneeded.com/no_logo_needed/2008/12/professor-z-hands-out-christmas-gifts.html

Enjoy!

Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse

I never thought that I would get to this point, but I can barely stomach watching the Browns. That doesn't mean that I'm going to abandon them the final two games of the season, but it will be hard to watch. Yes, I know that my passion for the team does make me a little disillusioned at times, but I really never thought, going into this season, that the team would look this bad.


What makes it hard to watch is that it just appears that everyone has given up. This becomes a major problem when we have no head coach to help motivate them to play. (Attention Romeo - this is the NFL. If nothing else, convince these guys to play for pride. They are quickly becoming the laughing stocks of the NFL and further tarnishing the image of the Browns organization!)

And now we approach the Cincinnati game, a game that should be an easy win, and easy win if the Browns were playing as the team they were supposed to be. Mike Brown has turned the Bengals into one of the biggest jokes of a football team in the NFL and the antics of players like Chad Ocho-Cinco Johnson and Chris Henry, have only helped to secure their joke punchline status. I had been looking forward to this game, certain that it would secure us another victory. Now, I am dreading it.

Just think about how bad it is going to look if we lose, at home, to a team that is as terrible as the Bengals. And as game day is approaching, it keeps looking more and more like something that is going to happen. What a way to end the season of the most disappointing team in the NFL!

I bet the Lions are upset that they don't have us on their schedule the last two weeks of the season.

10 in a Row . . . .

Even though it wasn't by double digits like their previous nine victories, the Cavs kept their win streak alive last night with an eight point victory over Philly. Finally, Cleveland has a sports team that is giving us something to cheer about and showing us some consistency. Both the Browns and Indians have provided us with good seasons here and there, but not season after season. Actually, they have both been pretty good at having a great season, getting us fans all hyped up about the next season, then tanking. The Cavs, thankfully, are not following this trend, and are giving us fans something to be excited about, a team we can watch and cheer for without being depressed about the final outcome of the game.

19-3, 12-0 at home, winning by an average of over 13 . . . Keep it up guys!

Looking Forward to . . .

The season that was supposed to be full of wins and a potential playoff run is finally nearing its end. Four more games to suffer through and then we can start watching to see what, if anything, that Lerner decides to do with the crumbling organization, we can start contemplating draft picks, and we can start making predictions about next year. But like I said, we have to make it through four more games first, hopefully that last four games of the Crennel-era Browns.

So what do these last four games have in store for us? If the rest of the season is an indicator, it will be probably be disappointment, but I'm trying to be optimistic here. I'm hoping for some Christmas miracles. Here's what I'm looking forward to in the remaining games of the season...

Browns @ Titans: Josh Cribbs
Cribbs is, by far, one of my favorite players right now. No matter how dismal the game may be, I still get excited every time he catches the ball and begins a punt return/kick return. And now, with our current quarterback situation, we will hopefully see more of Cribbs. According to Cribbs, he's "been taking a lot of snaps and going over a lot of plays." He went on to say, "Yeah, to spice things up and keep things going, there will be more opportunities for me. The coaches are going to call it at their discretion, so it's not like a definite thing, but I will have a significant role in this game." I like the sound of that.

Browns @ Eagles: Monday Night Football
In the regular season this year, we are 2-0 on MNF. Hopefully this trend will continue. And if the same Eagles team shows up that showed up in Cincinnati, we just might have a chance.

Browns vs. Bengals: Battle of Ohio
How can you not get excited about this game? Two absolutely terrible teams, playing for bragging rights, with absolutely nothing to lose. I think this game could end up being a pretty exciting match up. Back-up quarterbacks, cold weather, teams desperate for a win - it could be a shoot-out like we saw in Cleveland last year!

Browns @ Steelers: Romeo's Last Game
So maybe there really isn't a whole lot about about the actual game itself to look forward to. Maybe we'll be able to pull off the big upset, beating the Steelers on their home turf? Maybe the game will be a must win situation for the Steelers and we can beat them and ruin their season? But hopefully, fingers crossed, this will be our last game dealing with Romeo and crew.

Big East Champions and BCS Bound

"Defensive end Connor Barwin raised the gold-topped trophy above his head, then walked through hundreds of Cincinnati fans who got on their tiptoes and reached as high as they could, hoping to touch the keepsake with their fingertips. There's never been a day quite like this in Cincinnati. The 16th-ranked Bearcats beat Syracuse 30-10 Saturday, then gathered in the end zone amid tightly-packed fans to hoist the trophy that represents their first Big East title during their fourth season in the league."

How about those Bearcats? Yes, the game on Saturday didn't really make a difference (Thank you Pitt!) But, it was still important for the Cats to pull off the victory. The media would have eaten them alive for losing to Syracuse, fueling the fire that Big East isn't strong enough to win an automatic BCS bid. Whatever the media may think, the Bearcats have gone from not being ranked in the preseason, to being ranked #13 in the nation. They have gone from being pretty much nonexistent in the world of college football to playing in a BCS bowl game. Not too bad. The victory also ensured Brian Kelly of his second straight 10-win season. Congrats Brian Kelly, players, and fellow Bearcat fans.

And in case anyone is interested, I now know what I would like for Christmas - a round trip plane ticket and a ticket to the game. I've been good; I think I deserve it.

Giving Thanks . . .

For us Browns fans, the past few days (ok, really the past season) has been a little rough. I've complained and whined about it, felt sorry for myself and my fellow fans, and finally become apathetic to the whole situation. I'm ready to move on. I didn't say ready to give up being a Browns fan, just ready to focus on some positives.

So in honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to just mention a few sports related items that I'm thankful for . . .

* Lebron James and the Rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers: 12-3 overall record, 8-0 at home. A 2 1/2 game lead over the Pistons. LBJ leading the NBA in ppg with an impressive 28.9 average.

* Cincinnati Bearcat Football: On their way to earning their first ever conference title in football. On their way to playing in their first BCS bowl game.

* Kurt Warner, Clinton Portis, Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Turner, the Buccaneers Defense, Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, Tony Gonzalez, Phil Dawson, and my various other backup fantasy players: Yes, this is actually my fantasy football team this year. Pretty dominating, huh? Especially since I'm the only girl in the league. I'm pretty sure that they aren't inviting me to join next year, so I better enjoy it while I can.

* Cincinnati Bearcat Basketball: Off to a 4-0 start. And yes, I do know that they haven't played anyone that matters and that they aren't going to be able to remain undefeated and that they will probably struggle in the Big East, but it's a great start, so I'm still thankful for them right now.

* OSU Beating Michigan: This one really doesn't need any explanation.

* The Browns are NOT in Last Place in the AFC North: There isn't much to be thankful for with the Browns, but we are not as bad as the Bengals, so that has to count for something.

* Kenny Mayne's Mayne Street: If this guy doesn't make you laugh, then something is wrong with you.

* Warren Sapp Coming in Second on DWTS: He may not have been the best dancer, but he was pretty entertaining. I can't stand the show, but I did DVR it each week so I could fast forward to his dance. Great stuff.

* Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore: Cy Young awards, Golden Gloves, hopefully a strong season next year.....

* USC is NOT Ranked #1 or #2 in the BCS Standings, LSU is NOT Ranked at all: I don't really have a good reason why I'm thankful for this - I just don't like these teams. Sorry.

* Bill Cohwer Becoming the Next Coach of the Cleveland Browns: Ok, I know this hasn't happened, but a girl has to remain optimistic.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where is the Passion in this Organization?

I'm just not sure how much more of this season I can take. It seems that as each day passes, the situation just gets worse and worse. As Browns fans, we have experienced hard times and disappointment before, but this time is different. I can't remember a time, other than the city losing the franchise and the years without the Browns, where I felt so discouraged and disgusted. As each day passes, it seems like the Browns organization that I fell in love with as a young girl, is fading, crumbling, becoming a distant memory. I feel like the Browns Organization has forgotten what it means to be the Cleveland Browns.

The entity known as the Cleveland Browns has always been known as a strong entity, as an organization full of passion, of fighters. They have been an organization with a rich history that extends beyond the city of Cleveland. They have been an organization of hope and an organization of pride. What happened to those Cleveland Browns?

Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns, rarely speaks in public. But today, he felt the need. He felt that the Cleveland's most recent performance was "sickening." He felt that things were so out of hand that he finally needed to step in, speak to the public. That should be a good thing, right? The owner stepping in to lay down the law? Well, it would be a good thing if that owner was passionate. It would be a good thing if the owner didn't feel that "rash moves is not in the job description."

Rash move? He really feels like firing Romeo would be a "rash move?" Really? I understand that firing a coach midseason is not an ideal move, but I wouldn't call it a rash move. Romeo has had plenty of opportunities to prove that he deserves to be a coach in the National Football Leauge. And as each week of the season withers away, he continues to show, time and time again, why hiring him as a head coach in the National Football Leauge was a poor decision. At this point, I would feel more confident with the St. Ignatius coaching staff taking over the reins, than with Romeo and crew. Seriously Randy, nobody would criticize you for making a "rash move" if you would just fire him. I know that you want to wait until January and look at everyone's strengths and weaknesses and all, but waiting until January is just showing that you have given up, that you have written this season off. Is that the attitude that you want to be attached to your team? This is the organization of the famous Kardiac Kids, an organization that historically has never gone down without a fight. Please show the fans, the city of Cleveland, and the team that you care about this organization half as much as we do. Show us that there is something worth supporting. Show us that the tradition of the Browns is still alive.

(And to you Romeo - there still is the opportunity to resign before you are fired. You know the pink slip is coming. Just think how much better it is to say you resigned from a position than to say you were fired. Think about it.)

Romeo - I Wrote Your Resignation Letter For You

Hey Romeo! I know that it can't be easy for you right now, coaching in a city that is in an uproar, trying to get you fired, anxiously hoping that you will be replaced by Bill Cowher. But I also think that you have to be a good guy, wanting to do the right thing. And the right thing to do, if you care about the Browns at all, is to just resign. For some reason, they won't fire you. They just keep you around, no matter how horrible of job you do coaching. If you care about the Browns at all, please resign. It will be a good move all around. It would save you some dignity too. You will eventually be fired, so just quit before that happens. I know that you are a busy man, so I thought I'd help you out. I've written your resignation letter for you. All you have to do it cut and paste it into an email or a Word document and send it off. Trust me; it's for the best.

Dear Browns Organization:

I regret to inform you, that effective immediately, I am resigning as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. I know that it is an inconvenience to the team and the organization that I am choosing to leave my post midseason, but it is actually for the best. It seems that I just do not have what it takes to coach in the National Football League. My heart is no longer in it and my presence will just continue to drag the team down.

I am extremely thankful for the confidence that you showed in me, hiring me to coach in such a sacred organization. Unfortunately, I just don't have what it takes. I can't seem to provide the players with the motivation that they need to give 100% each week. I can't seem to ever call the right plays. I just can't seem to get the job done. I realize that I am not the right fit here, and out of respect for the organization, I need to step aside so that the right fit can be found.

Again, I thank you for the opportunity that you have provided me and I am truly sorry that I did not live up to the expectations. I wish the organization and the team the best in the future. There is talent here and I'm sure that the team will be successful with the right leaders in charge of them.

Sincerely,
Romeo Crennel

How Sad . . .

Where do I even start? I'm just sitting here in a daze, trying to find some words to describe the horrible performance that I forced myself to sit through for the past three hours, but nothing. I just feel lost, sad, disappointed, confused, anguished. I think that I may have just witnessed one of the worst performances by the Cleveland Browns. I'm just hoping that since it wasn't a nationally televised game, most people will only look at the box score and not realize how terrible the game actually was. I'm just not feeling up to all the ridiculing emails that will be sent courtesy of those who don't understand what it means to be a Browns fan.

But this was just bad. There is a difference between the games where they blew leads in the fourth quarter and games where they just don't show up. Today they just didn't show up. Quarterbacks that couldn't get anything done. Receivers that couldn't hold onto the ball. Even JLewis, the one who always gives it his all, fumbling.

At least the defense showed up for the second half. That was somewhat encouraging, but when the offense is that terrible, it doesn't really matter. The only way we would have stood a chance is if the defense would have scored, because the offense, sure as hell, couldn't.

So who is to blame for this one? I guess the better question is, who isn't to blame for this loss? Of course, we have to start with Romeo and the rest of the coaching staff. If this game wasn't enough to get Romeo fired, then I don't think that anything will ever get him fired. And then the quarterbacks! After Brady's horrendous performance, I thought maybe DA would come in and rally. Show everyone that he really deserves to be the starter, really shine. But no. They both looked like that should not be starting on any team. And DA should've been ready. It was no secret that Quinn had a broken finger, so DA should have been ready in case the whole playing with a broken finger thing didn't work out. And if Quinn's broken finger was affecting him that much, he should have never been in the game to begin with. Terrible. And can Braylon Edwards please figure out how to catch a ball!!!

It is just an embarrassment. How much more are us fans going to have to endure before the organization actually does something to salvage what little is left?

***Updated at 5:51 pm, 11/24/08***
I apologize for calling Brady's performance horrendous and saying that he looked like a backup quarterback. It wasn't a great performance at all, but my post-game rant made it seem like I wanted DA in the game, and that is far from the truth. I feel bad for BQ and the fact that he was only given three quarters compared to DA's half a season. He didn't deserve that. We obviously know who Romeo favors. At least Quinn is getting the start next week, but what is it going to take for Romeo to lose his 'starting position'?

Hang in there BQ. Hopefully you won't have to put up with Romeo's biased and poor coaching much longer.

It's a Great Day to be a Bearcats Fan!

What a great day it was yesterday for college sports in Ohio. After spending the afternoon watching Ohio State dominate the Wolverines, I spent my evening at my alma mater - drinking beer at Nippert Stadium, watching the Cincinnati Bearcats beat the Pitt Panters, for the first time, becoming one game closer to a BSC bowl game. (Come on OSU fans. You have to be excited about this too!)

I know that until two seasons ago, when UC spoiled Rutgers chances of having a perfect season, many people had forgotten that UC even had a football season. And I'm sure that during that timespan, if it wasn't for the stadium being one of the few college stadiums left that still serves beer, the fan base would have probably been smaller and they probably wouldn't have had anyone in attendance. But the tides have turned and the Bearcats are looking good and strong. As long as we don't follow in the footsteps of most Ohio sport's teams and choke next week against Syracuse, the Bearcat football team will have earned their first ever conference title and their first ever BCS bid.

Plagued with injuries, the Bearcats have continued to rally. Besides a loss to an extremely talented Oklahoma team and a loss in a unBearcat-like performance at UConn, the team has continued to do what they have needed to do each week. Because of injuries at the quarterback position, they have had to play with 4 different quarterbacks, with their current quarterback, Tony Pike, playing with a broken arm. And the quarterbacks aren't the only ones dealing with injuries. But it speaks to the quality of the team; not too many teams out there could sustain injuries like that and continue to win.

Now we just wait until next week and hope that Syracuse doesn't spoil our success like we did to Rutgers in 2006. We wait until next week and hope that we earn our BCS bowl game.

Congrats OSU on Five in a Row!

I think Laurinaitis summed it up pretty well after the game . . .

"As we get older, we'll look back on our career and realize to be a part of the first team to win five times in a row is something that is very special. To be able to say that you're a part of this team is something that I'll remember for the rest of my life."

In a series that has so much history and emotion, it's unbelievable to think that over a five year span, one team could dominate as much as Ohio State has these past 5 years. And even though the talent levels were lopsided in favor of OSU this year, that hasn't always been the case. It just seems that Jim Tressel knows how to beat Michigan, something Michigan fans and Rich Rodriguez.

Rich Rodriguez sold his soul and took the job at Michigan and Michigan had one real expectation for him - beat Ohio State. He has had a miserable debut. (I like to to think it's karma for the way that he screwed over West Virginia.) But the abysmal season could have been forgiven and forgotten. All he would have to do is procure a win against Ohio State. After the game, Rodriguez hoped that this season would just be "a blip on the screen, a one-time happening." But I'm not sure how many chances Rich is going to get. He was supposed to be the savior of Michigan, yet he commanded the Wolverines to their first losing season in 41 years. Michigan will not make a trip to a bowl game for the first time in 34 years. He led Michigan to their worst season ever, losing the most games in one season in school season. He also became the first coach in Michigan history to lose his debut game against Ohio State. Again, it has to be karma.

Congratulations to the team, coaches, and fans. Enjoy the victory; it was a beautiful.

Seriously, Can't a Good Story about the Browns Make the Headlines?

How many more negative headlines can we seriously take? My inbox keeps getting bombarded on a daily basis with emails from my non-Browns friends, loving to ridicule the team that for some reason, I continue to defend time and time again. And I know that I am not the only fan in this situation. Out of all the fans of professional sports teams, Browns fans tend to be some of the most loyal, and I will always remain that way. But lately, I find myself asking WHY? Why do I continue to support an organization that doesn't want to give back to the fans that support them no matter what? Why do I support an organization that doesn't seem to want to win?

Think about it . . .

• The Kellen Winslow Staph Infection Fiasco
• Jamal Calls the Browns Quitters
• The DA vs. Brady Quinn Quarterback Controversy
• Phil Savage's Recent Email Outburst
• Romeo Crennel's Lack of Emotion and Lack of Coaching Talent
• Brady Breaks a Finger, Kellen Needs an MRI

And this is really just the tip of the iceberg. Overall, this has to be one of the most disappointing seasons in all of Browns history. The ushering in of the Brady Quinn era has been a nice change, but at this point, it just isn't enough. We need change. Massive Change. We need change from the top down. We have talented players. We just need a leader now, someone who can take the offensive talent we have, reshape the defense, and take the organization to the next level.

It's time for change.

My Apology to Tony Romo

For some reason, I've just never been a Tony Romo fan. There has always been something about him that just irks me. I'm not sure if it's his celebrity status or all the publicity about dating Jessica Simpson or maybe it's just the fact that he plays for the Cowboys. Whatever it is, I just couldn't stand the guy and wanted him him to have terrible games.

But then I read an article on ESPN.com about how Tony Romo took a homeless man to a movie which then led me to an old article that talked about how Romo stopped and helped a couple fix a flat tire. I read these articles, and now I genuinely felt bad about hating him. How is it possible to dislike someone like that?

Lessons Learned in San Antonio

I spent the past week in San Antonio for a business trip. It was the first time that I had ever spent an extended period of time in the Lone Star State. And anytime I go anywhere over a big sports weekend, I get nervous that I might miss a game that I want to watch, but I figured with Texas being a big sports state, I wouldn't really have a problem. I was both right and wrong about this. Below are the a few of the lessons that I learned while attempting to watch the games that I wanted to watch in Texas.

Friday night I was faced with a big dilemma: tickets to the Spurs-Rockets game or watching the Cincinnati Bearcats-Louisville Cardinals game at a local sports bar. This was a tough one. I love NBA basketball, but haven't always been a big fan of either the Spurs or the Rockets. The Bearcats, on the other hand, I love them and it was the big Louisville rivalry. (And just so you all know, I am not a Bearcats bandwagon fan that jumped on once Brian Kelly jumpstarted the program. I have been attending Bearcat games since I was a little girl, and I'm a UC alum). After much deliberation, I took the tickets to the Spurs game, and even though I did miss a great Bearcat victory, it was well worth it. Watching a Spurs game in San Antonio was almost as much fun as watching the Cavs play at the Q. It wasn't quite as exciting since both Manu and Tony Parker were benched with injuries, but there is something magical about watching Tim Duncan play live. As I was sitting there, cheering for them to win, I almost forgot that I really prefer the Phoenix Suns over them. The environment and the fans made me feel like I was part of them, that I was a San Antonio fan. It was really a great environment. It wasn't Lebron at the Q, but Duncan at the AT&T Center may just be a close second.

That brought me to Saturday, when it came time to watch some college football. I know that it is sacrilegious to be an Ohioan and say this, but I'm just not a big Ohio State fan. I don't hate them and I don't usually root for them to lose or anything like that, but I don't follow them religiously either. There are, however, three OSU games that I always look forward to watching - Michigan, Penn State, and Illinois. Of course I always want them to beat Michigan, the Penn State game is always a little iffy (I just love Joe Pa), and with Illinois, there is just something recently about the fighting Illini that draws me in. (I think it might go back to the basketball seasons with Dee Brown and Deron Williams). So I was excited to watch the game. I figured that I wouldn't have a problem finding a sports bar to watch the game seeing as it was a Big 10 conference rivalry, but I was wrong. You get out of Big 10 territory and people hate the Big 10. They had just about every game on, except the OSU-Illinois game. When I asked if they could switch to the OSU game, they looked at me like I was crazy. So I finally had to settle for the hotel bar, where I was pretty much the only person in there and had to put up with the bartender trying to make small talk, not understanding that I really just wanted to eat my quesadilla and watch the game.

Then we had NFL Sunday. Luckily the Browns had the MNF game, so I knew that I wouldn't have to fight people to get that game on a television and the Cowboys had the Sunday night game, so I wouldn't have to put up with the Romo jersey wearing obsessed Cowboy fans. I figured I'd be able to go to a place that would have plenty of televisions on various games so that I could monitor the performances of my fantasy players. There were two games I was really interested in - Arizona (I have to support my new hero, Kurt Warner) and Houston (I had to make sure that benching Kevin Walter was the right decision). This time, I had no problem having all these games at my disposal, but I was surprised by something - the lack of Texan fans. The Cowboys didn't even play until the evening, but there were Romo jersey everywhere. What did I not see - one Texan jersey. Not a single jersey. No one watching them on the big screen. No one cheering for them. I felt sorry for them. No love in their own state. I'm sure that if I was in Houston, the story would be different, but it was still quite sad.

The best experience, however, came during MNF. I had contacted the San Antonio Brown Backers, thinking that I would watch the game with them, but it wasn't close to my hotel and I had a meeting first thing in the morning, so I figured I would just try one of the sports bar along the San Antonio River Walk. I walked in, wearing my Eric Metcalf throwback, thinking that I would get all sorts of odd stares, but was amazed. There were nearly as many Browns jersey on Monday night as there had been Cowboy jerseys on Sunday night. It was beautiful. There really are Browns fans everywhere.

How Can You Not Love This Guy?

I've always been a Phil Dawson fan - wearing a number 4 jersey on some game days, drafting him on my fantasy teams, always getting excited when he takes the field. As a Cleveland fan, we have to truly appreciate this guy since he has been in many (really too many) games, the backbone of our scoring abilities. Think of how terrible our record would be since 1999 if we didn't have all those Phil Dawson field goals!!! And Monday night against the Bills was no different.

I know; he's not perfect. There are those instances, like the Washington game, where a Phil Dawson missed field goal cost us the game. But overall, he is the most consistent player that we have and should really be praised more, especially for his latest MNF performance: 5-5 on the night with a career-long 56 yard field goal that ended up winning the game. Amazing. I hope that Romeo realizes that he still has a job this week because of Phil!

In honor of Phil's big night, I've put together a list of my Top Phil Dawson Moments . . .

1. Putting us on the score board for the first time in the 1999 season with 3 field goals against the Titans.
2. Scoring a touchdown against Cincinnati on a fake field goal attempt.
3. Kicking the game-winning field goal, as time was expiring in Three Rivers that gave the Browns their 2nd win of the 1999 season, but more importantly, beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
4. Kicking two game winning field goals against Tennessee, at the end of the 2001 season and then at the beginning of the 2002 season.
5. Making a field goal, as time expired, to beat the Raiders 9-7 in 2005.
6. Setting a personal / franchise record with 6 field goals against San Diego in 2006.
7. Kicking the winning field goal in OT to beat the Chiefs in 2006.
8. The infamous Baltimore crossbar field goal of 2007.
9. Hitting the crossbar again in snowy conditions against the Bills in 2007.
10. Making a career-long 56 yard field goal that gave the Browns a victory over the Bills on MNF.

And these are just a few. There are still the 100 point seasons that he has had and his accuracy ratings. And on top of that, he is a good guy with the cutest family that has had a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Keep doing what you are doing Phil. The Browns wouldn't be winning without you.

We Can Win Awards . . .

Even though it really didn't come as a surprise, Cliff Lee was awarded the American League Cy Young award, the second year in a row that it was awarded to a Cleveland Indian. I may be a little biased, but Cliff Lee's story was one of the best stories MLB stories of 2008 and his stat line was truly remarkable. (I mean seriously, who were the 4 guys that didn't cast a 1st place ballot for him!!) As many of you will remember, Cliff Lee was unable to overcome a preseason injury and ended up being demoted to the minor leagues. He then showed up at Spring Training, fighting for a spot as the Indians fifth starting pitcher. What a difference a year can make! He went from the minor leagues to fighting for a job to the most prestigious pitching award in baseball.

As a lifelong Indians fan, as hard as it was at times, I followed the inconsistent team all season long. For the most part, I never knew what to expect - never knowing if I was going to see them rally late for an amazing win or crumble at the last minute for a heartbreaking loss. The exception to this was about everything fifth game, when Cliff Lee would step onto the mound.
I would wait for those games, knowing that I would get to see a game that wouldn't disappoint. And I hope that continues. Congrats Cliff! Enjoy this moment; you definitely deserve it.

And of course, we can't talk about awards being handed out to Cleveland Indians without mentioning every one's favorite outfielder, Grady Sizemore. His second Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger - not too bad.

Now if we could just win a championship.

Impressive!!

While reading news online this morning, I came across this article that Bob Fortuna wrote on Glenville benching 29 of it's players before their big game against St. Ignatius. The article, and the whole benching scenario, gave me hope for the future of high school sports.

I used to coach a competitive cheerleading squad for a large high school. I felt that it was my job to teach these kids about responsibility and about being role-models. I felt that it was my job to show these kids that we have to not only have skills important to our sport, but also to be upstanding citizens. I found though, that I was in the minority among coaches. That even at the high school level, many coaches were willing to sacrifice these life lessons for the big win.

My last season coaching, I had an amazing squad that was going to be extremely hard for any other squad to beat. Our school also had a basketball team that had a great shot of making it to the state playoffs. Our school was bringing in some of the best gates sales they had ever seen as the community wanted to come and support two groups that could win state titles. In the middle of the season, however, it was brought to my attention that a large number of individuals on my cheer squad and the basketball team were doing poorly in class. They weren't technically ineligible by the state standards, but they were putting everything else before school. The basketball coach just shrugged it off and ignored the many complaints that were coming from his players' teachers. The AD also just wanted the whole thing swept under the rug. I, however, attempted to take action.

I called a meeting for the members of my cheer squad, letting them know that if grades and attendance didn't improve, they wouldn't be competing in the state championship. That I would fill their spots with members on the JV squad. This was a hard decision to make as I had put in so much time and effort to create a squad of this caliber. But at the same time, I always preached to them about responsibility and being role-models, and I wasn't about to be a hypocrite. They understood, signed an agreement, and promised to make some changes.

The week before the state championship, I did a grade check. Some of the girls had taken the talk to heart and changed their attendance habits and raised their grades, others didn't. At practice, I posted the list of girls that I would be bringing to the state championship, a list that excluded three of the best squad members that I had. They were outraged. They didn't think it was fair. They AD even got involved, calling me into his office. Come on, are you really willing to give up a state championship just to prove a small life lesson to these kids? This is a state championship we are talking about!

I walked out of his office, letting him know that I was willing to give it up. There are somethings that are just more important. Like Glenville, we didn't end up winning, but they learned an important lesson. And I think that at the high school level, that is what really matters.

My New Hero

Rewind to the beginning of football season, when I was staring at my computer, pouring over fantasy stats, trying to draft the best fantasy team possible. And I had to draft the best fantasy team possible, because this is a pretty competitive fantasy league with my guy friends from high school and there is nothing better than giving them shit that they got beat by a girl. So there I am, pouring over numbers, trying to amass an arsenal of talent, when I realized that every else had taken quarterbacks and there were none left that interested me. Good ole DA was there, but I wasn't going to fall for that one. I let someone else make that mistake. But back to my problem, I needed a quarterback. And after much reluctence, I settled on one: Kurt Warner. As soon as I clicked on his name, I had regrets. I thought that my chances of domination were ruined.

But as we all know, that has not been the case. How can you not love this guy? I know that I am indebted to him as he has single-handedly won my weekly fantasy matchup on more than one occasion. Best quarterback rating in the league, highest scoring fantasy player - and the man is 37!! What is there not to be excited about? I am acutally ashamed of myself for thinking that he was going to be the demise of my fantasy status.

Keep it up Kurt!

At Least Something Right Happened This Weekend . . .

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger walks off the field after the Steelers' 24-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Another Ohio Team Nearly Chokes

And us Browns fans thought that the past two 4th quarter meltdowns were bad! Well the Cincinnati Bearcats took choking in the 4th quarter to a whole new level tonight. When you are up 20-7 at halftime, that's pretty good. Something to be excited about. Especially when you are playing a ranked conference rival on the road. When you maintain that 20-7 lead up until 1:15 remaining in the game, especially when you are playing a ranked conference rival on the road, even better. That's where the Cincinnati Bearcats were tonight. Then the unthinkable happened.

With 1:11 remaining, the Bearcats punter goes out of the endzone. Safety, 20-9

Cincinnati's defense allows WVU to go 72 yards in 53 seconds, giving up the 2 point conversion, 20-17

WVU kicks off the ball with :18 left. Onside kick. WVU recovers. 52 yard field goal as time is expiring, 20-20

Really? I didn't realize something like that could happen to a team other than the Browns. Here, however, was the difference. The Bearcats managed to overcome their piss-poor end of the 4th quarter, scoring a touchdown in overtime to top the Mountaineers, 26-23. Wow! What a crazy ending to a game.

As One Campaign Ends, Another Begins: Cowher '09

Now that Obama has been elected as the next President of the United States, it is time that people turn their time and energy elsewhere, to another campaign that needs some support - bringing Bill Cowher back to the Cleveland Browns. Visit the link below to support the movement.

www.cowher09.com

Hey Browns, Do We Have a Double Standard Here?

I want to start by saying that I agree wholeheartedly with Jamal Lewis and his criticism that "some people called it quits" in the Thursday night loss to the Broncos. This seems to be a problem of the Browns - they just can't finish. I'm not sure how many times I've been watching the Browns and friends will say something about how it looks like the Browns have it locked up. I always cast a look at them, letting them know that true Browns fans have learned that you don't celebrate until the very end; you just never know what will happen. That's a terrible attitude to have, right? But in recent history, that's what has happened - it seems like they quit before the time has clicked off the clock. So I'm glad that Jamal voiced his opinion on this issue, since the coaching staff seems to not care.

But what I find interesting, is that it's alright for Jamal to call out his fellow teammates publicly for a poor performance. I would think that something like that would cause friction among the team and the organization. That should be something that results in a suspension or fine or something, right? I mean, it happened to Kellen. Kellen was seen as a disruption for voicing his opinion. So it's alright for Jamal to call out his teammates, but not alright for Kellen to call out the organization? Interesting. Jamal, I guess you should feel pretty lucky that you only criticized your teammates and not the coaching staff or organization. If you had gone there, you might just be spending your week filing an appeal to make sure that you can play next week.

A Belated Congratulations . . .

Even though the game itself was a heart-breaking disappointment, I still want to say congrats to Brady on his first NFL start. Like most fans, I have anxiously been awaiting the beginning of the Quinn-Era, and though the game itself ended in a loss, I was not disappointed with Brady. The 239 yard, two touchdown performance, as well as the zero sacks allowed by the o-line, has given me hope for the future. Keep it up Brady!

It Started at an Early Age

Yes, it can be painful. Yes, it can be heartbreaking. Yes, it can be discouraging. But for some strange, inexplicable reason, I will always be a Browns fan. I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't obsessed with the Browns. There is something magical about the orange and brown that became part of my life as a young girl, and it has never left. I will admit, most of the time it has been rather difficult, but I prefer this difficulty over not having them in my life at all. And when I say have them in my life, that is probably an understatement. My love for the Browns really is an obsession; an obsession that my family and friends have always been really good about tolerating, even though they secretly have to be annoyed since they just don't understand, since they have never experienced the draw of the Browns. That's why I'm starting this blog - so that I have a place of my own to vent about the bad times and to celebrate the good times, saving those around me from having to listen to me ramble on about my one true love, the Cleveland Browns.