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So another year has come and gone for our beloved BROWNIES yet things are certainly NOT THE SAME! If I could sum up the season with one picture it would be this one.  This game was the touchstone that propelled the 2007 BROWNS to go 10-6. 10-6!!!! The season started with a horrible loss to pissburgh.... I was walking down Hollywood Blvd. after that loss, proudly wearing my WIMBLEY jersey when some stooler fans heckled me from their passing car. I flipped 'em the bird not knowing this gesture would be the Cleveland Browns Fans official salute to all who doubted this team. (we shall never let the stoolers forget this guy!) 
After beating down the bengals... (that T.J. Whoesyourmamma catch WAS NOT A TOUCHDOWN... stupid refs) It was funny hearing Bengal fans explaining away the game. How the Browns wouldn't score more than twenty a game the rest of the season. 
For the Raiders game I rolled out of bed at 7:30 in the morning to venture to the brownsbacker bar of "jerseys" in Redondo Beach. Yes my Cleveland friends, that three hour time difference assures that a 1:00 p.m. game for you means Kegs and Eggs for me! The game began my obsession of wondering if Anderson needed to be on Cleveland Browns sacred field to accomplish maximum quarterbacking abilities. There was a hush across the bar when the dawson kick was blocked. SON OF A!!! The Redondo Beach Browns Backers are a surly bunch that know how to root for our TEAM, unfortunately they live entirely to far from my humble domain and this would be the only time this season I was able to bark with 'em.
At this point in the season my co-workers were making a point to laugh at my Browns helmet decal I had proudly placed on my new company truck. One, being a Rams fan, said he knew there was one game his team would win. I of course told him we'd watch together as my team beat the "worst show on turf".
On to game four. This was the only game I missed the opening kick off to. The bar I frequent the most for Browns games is down the street from me. I've been going there for over five years now. It's pretty cool, has over forty televisions throughout a remodeled warehouse that's been transformed into a billiards club. Los Angeles isn't a football town... for the natives... but half of us Los Angeleons are transplants from other cities, and this bar accommodates us all. I was ready to heckle the Ratbird fans whom relished in their sweep of us last year. Today was payback. When I arrived there was a sign stating a $20.00 cover for a buffet!! I couldn't believe it! Fourth game into the season and they pull this?! I quickly jumped back into my truck and headed to santa monica... there's a bar named 14 below and I arrived just in time to see the criminal ray lewis on screen... man I hate that guy. What a great game! The Ratbirds were never in it and the Browns got their second win!!
Who else thought the patriots were going down like a sweet muffin? I knew it was going to be a tough game but I was feeling pretty good that it wasn't going to be a blow out. I ventured to 14 below again 'cause the waitress looked like the hot blonde cheerleader in "American Beauty". How awesome was it to watch our D hold this explosive offense to field goals? I got a call from my sister-in-law who was six months pregnant at the time and decided to call and describe the joys of having a five pound baby kicking against her innards. Luckily I was able to duck in a back room and still be able to watch the game! I still believe if Winslow didn't lose that ball we'd have won that game.
After sending an e-mail to the hollywood billiards management, I finally got a response that they were canceling their buffet policy. I was back like a heart attack, I didn't want to miss what could be our best chance of a shut out all year!! I still had visions of ruben running down the sideline on the first play from scrimmage for a score in my head. This game turned out to be nothing of the sort. It was tough watching a sub par team stay in a game I was certain the Browns would dominate in. Sure it was an ugly win and I'll take it.... but I knew I was going to hear all week how we ONLY beat the dolphins by 10.
I worked on the BYE week, a commercial producer just moved into a new home and I made some $$ hanging pictures, shelves, drinking beer. Good Times! I'm pretty sure the entire AFCN lost their games that weekend.
Ahh... the rams game. I drove down to Garden Grove to watch this game with my boss. Man it didn't start out good. After downing some serious carne asada I was thinking I was going to have to eat some crow! I was also thinking it might be a good idea to sprinkle some dirt over Andersons feet from the divine turf of Cleveland Browns Stadium. They came back, and much to the chagrin of my boss, we came out triumphant!! TWO WINS IN A ROW!! I got to watch the Seahawks game from the comfort of my own couch. That was as sweet as the spot the refs gave hassel "we're going to score" the sliding quarterback. no first down, go for it, NOTHING!! D comes up big and another win!!!
Browns/Steelers... does any other game in the season make your blood pressure rise? Seriously. For the LOVE OF GOD!! I was the first guy at the bar and was amazed to see some Browns fans arriving. Usually I'm surrounded by goading piss colored jerseys... not so today... an even mix of fans. What a great first half huh? I thought maybe the coaching staff caught on to my sacred turf idea 'cause Anderson was rocking it!! To come out in the second half and drop an egg like that was rough. If the turf was in better condition Dawson might of tied, but instead we have to endure another sweep by this pitiful, one and done playoff team. A steeler fan proudly proclaimed "same 'ol browns". He can have that. This year may seem that way to him... we all of course know where the steelers will be sitting in the division come this time next year.
RAVEN GAME 2! This time I was happy to see the same ratbird fans who the year before brought their broom with them for game two. This year, I brought mine. The discussion got heated late in the fourth. One Browns fan was rehashing the evil Art and his taking our team away. The Ravens fan was recounting his anguish of the Colts being taken away. I hate to admit it, but there's a little shared pain there ... just a little. So we watch as the Dawsonator football goes through, the refs look at one another 'cause both must have been thinking about what they were doing for turkey day and forgot to watch the field goal, and then call a miss!! The ratbird fans started jumping up and down, one pointed at my broom as he dropped his plastic cup on the floor, "sweep this!" I was calmly proclaiming, It was good! It was good!! After the commotion died down and the ratbirds realized the refs were still talking the reality set in... the wonders of zoom.... the ball hit the "dawson bar" and bounced out. It broke the plain, the field goal was good!! Revenge is sweet ain't it? 
The stars at night, are big and bright!! Deep in the heart of Texas! This team came to ball. They had our number last year, and to be honest, after watching us almost lose to the dolphins at home I was worried. I had placed my faith in the sacred field our team was playing on. This team would not let the cows drop patties on holy ground! Man, I had forgotten what it was like to enjoy back to back wins. This was the second time it happened this season and it was AWESOME!
Leading up to the Cards game, there was a discussion with another browns friend about going to arizona... it didn't happen... just like the ref not calling the force out didn't happen. This was the game I thought the quarterback that is Anderson in Cleveland must not be allowed to travel. He's like the Silver Surfer, who was forever confined to earth, Good quarterback Anderson is forever confined to Cleveland.
Coming down the stretch 7-5 and pancake hopes in mind. So good quarterback Anderson can't travel. Luckily Jamal is impervious to such enchantments and luckily Chud caught on. Jamal carried more jets in that game then an aircraft carrier!! Our D has been showing improvement but certainly has to be addressed this offseason. Wow... pancakes... can it happen... can we actually win the division?
THE SHUT OUT!! Our sacred holy field would not allow a near extinct bovine do anything on her hallowed ground... not even allow 'em to see the hash marks. Our Defense decimated a running back tandem that the bills fans in my midst proclaimed "absolute domination today". That night, I had pancake visions in my head....  A new Browns Fan is born 12/21/07 @ 10:19 p.m. My nephew Gavin. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND..... as obscure as suggs may be.... paybacks a bitch.... This day, I was certain Anderson would finally pack his own patch of CBS turf in which he would kneel on before every offensive drive. That clearly was not the case. Chud should have known better. This was a dark day... a dark day indeed.
The Final game of the season AND I WAS THERE!!! I got great tickets in the dawg pound. I was in Cleveland and wasn't going to miss this game. I got there early to pay homage to the sacred turf. Cribbs took it to the house and the entire place was rocking. It was cold for this here californian, but i grew up in Cleveland and handled it the dawg pound way.... LOTS OF BEER!!! After the win I got the crowd to chant 10 and 6, 10 and 6... Awesome.  What a great season. Sure it was bittersweet. Sure, I wish I was going to San D right now to watch the Browns this afternoon... it was not meant to be.
10-6 guys.. that's what we all have to remember. 10-6 when every "expert" was saying we'd be lucky to get 3 wins. 10-6 and we're sitting on the couch just like the rams. If that's not enough incentive to come into next season hungry I don't know what is. I wont go into everything else quite yet.... i just want to proudly proclaim.....
10 AND 6.
And one last thing... for all the fools who think this year was a fluke...  |
