Underdogs

I was a kid in the '70s. I LOVED my NEOhio teams, namely Cleveland. I'm from Ohio so Naturally I root for OHIO STATE. Being from Stark County and where Paul Brown started coaching, then to OSU and Great Lakes Navy Training Center, Ohio State, Cleveland Browns then the Cincinati Bengals I naturally rooted and still do a bit root for them. I cheered for the Minnesota Vikings because they couldn't win the Big One. For most of My life the Professional teams have not been good. For one reason or another they seem to blow it. Oddly enough the Bungles have had the best chance TWICE. The second time I really didn't root for them as much because they actually were better team by then. The Indians HAD it. The Cavs, well maybe if that high school coach would have let Michael Jordon play we might have won it in the '90s had there not been The Shot.

Now let's get to Cleveland. I was devastated losing to Oakland in '80. I was in Hawaii for the '86 season playoffs and watched the Brwons vs Jets 2OT thriller in my car on a 5" tv. Was Haze Grey and underway for The Drive. Got back into port and CRIED when I heard the result. The next year I was onboard the ship and 10 people rooting for Denver and me and a kid from Akron representing our Cleveland Browns to watch The Fumble
This is not to say they if someone else would have drafted them that they wouldn't have been superstars. It's all about the right place at the right time and we never seem to be either.

WHEN WILL IT VE NEXT YEAR!!!!

We keep hoping it will happen. People ask me How do I think The Tribe, Browns, Cavs, Buckeyes, My High School team, Minerva Lions will do. We are going to win it all I say fully believing we have a chance because it is finally next year.

I think our Browns need a direction and not sure if we are on it. Please let it be Next Year

Kardiac Kids revisited

Not much of a blogger here, but today in the mail i finally received my copy of  " The 1980 Kardiac Kids, Our Untold Stories".

Been waiting for over two years I think, can't really remember. Got the old song put to video of the Cleveland Browns Super Bowl team. Receiving this book took me back to high school. I LOVED the BROWNS but also liked the Bengals, but as I do now I DIED with the Browns and Indians.  We had teams and players that we loved and wanted to be. I mean i got a trophy for Rookie of the Year in my hot stove league same year Super Joe did, a story I got to relate to a HERO of mine this year on opening day.

 I have never lived in Cleveland or Cuyahoga County but wish I had after the USNavy. I grew up being my favorite players from the Browns, Indians and Cavs.  We had the shirt, "Cleveland ain't broke, we still have a QUARTERback". Going to the park and playing football and getting in trouble coming home with my version of the Greg Pruitt "Tearaway Jersey". We lived through the Ted Stepian years, but we loved them all because they were our teams.

I got to thinking about my most recent "Death on a Sunday" and comparing it to the 1980 season, only wish Sam would have ran instead of Red Right 88. Think about it.

I read some other blogs, Cleveland Chicks, TheDawgsDish pretty regularly and also the More Than a Fan website that all have really good writers. Hopefully I didn't drag on to much and you enjoyed. And I also hope to find time to do this more often and hopefully do it well, or at least passable.

Willard Clark

Here Come the Mummies