I was born about an hour outside of Cleveland and have been a fan all my life (47 years). One of the earliest memory I have in life is Brian Sipe throwing an interception in the endzone to lose in the playoffs to the Raiders at the end of the 80-81 "Kardiac Kids" season.
Bernie Kosar was my hero growing up. Cool story on him...Got to meet him in Titusville when I was in High School. He played in an invitational golf tourney put on by Chris Collingsworth. (Chris went to my high school and his dad was school superimtendant.) Bernie let my brother ride in his cart for a hole. The Browns played the Bucs that fall. We went to the game and stood outside the away team's locker room. When Bernie came out to get on the bus he recognized my brother. Didn't remember his name but yelled over to him "Hey, how's your golf game going?"
I "lived" through The Drive and The Fumble and The Third Strike 2 years late. Mr. Ed (I mean John Elway) is my 2nd most hated entity in sports.
I boycotted the NFL before it was cool to do so. Didn't watch a minute of it for 5 years after they moved the team to Baltimore...The Browns, one of the original AFL, then NFL teams, never has been to the Super Bowl. 2 years after moving, the Ravens win it...I heard a call in radio caller once say, "As a Brown's fan, I know I will never pee on Art Modell's grave because when I got out of the Army, I swore I would never stand in line to do anything again..."
I don't know if there is any sport's team who's fans hve had to go through more heartache than that of the Browns. Except for maybe the Cubs...oh wait, they beat the Tribe...
