I’ve had season tickets to Browns games since 1974. Some may think of that as masochism but until 1995 it was great. Some good teams and memorable playoff battles. Unfortunately, no Super Bowl appearances, but still it was fun to tailgate, cheer and hope for the best.
Since 1999 it has been different. The new stadium lacks the character of Municipal Stadium (think troughs in the men’s room, mud in front of the baseball dugouts, no advertisements every five feet and very knowledgeable and passionate fans). The team has been awful (and that might be kind) and 5-11 is a decent season. This makes the season less fun and the playoffs painful. It turns out your main entertainment is to root for your arch-rivals to lose. And then hope for an entertaining Super Bowl as a back drop for an afternoon of fun, frivolity and overindulgence.
That means this year is off to a great start with Denver’s victory over Pittsburgh. Denver is associated with some painful memories from the Elway years but nothing like the misery the Steelers have delivered over the years. So when the Browns aren’t in the playoffs (which apparently is always) you have to root against the Terrible Towels. So far, so good.
Next up is the Ravens. I don’t have quite the venom as others in town do but it does hurt that our team goes to Baltimore and then wins a Super Bowl. So let’s see Houston win next week and then I can just sit back and watch the games with a certain emotional detachment. That means the last two weeks of football this year can be enjoyed with friends and without tears. In fact it will make for a perfect Super Bowl party (or at least as perfect as it can be without the Browns).
By the way, if you want to know how bad it’s gotten on the Cleveland sports scene the highlights of the Browns season is watching Pittsburgh lose in the playoffs and the highlight of last year’s Cavs season was watching the Heat lose in the NBA Finals. Yikes!
Thank goodness my friends are great, the food is excellent and the beer is cold at our football parties. And wait until next year.
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