It hurts to love football yet live in Ohio

[Fazor]

Well, it's the off-season. Arguably, for us Browns fans, it's been the off season for the past two months.

Anyway, I was glad to see Romio go. Was hoping for Cowher, but figured he'd be smart enough to not come out of retirement to inherit a team like Cleveland.

Well, looks like they're going with axed Jet's coach, Mangini. Apparently, the best way to fix a flailing franchise is hire the guy who's team took an 8-4 season, then dumped the last four games to miss the playoffs. Apparently, a coach of a team that fell appart is just the man to bring some disiplin and cohesion to the Browns. Blah.

And it's statements like these that really make me want to cry:

Despite the Jets' meltdown, Lerner, who is also looking for a new general manager, was enamored with Mangini's potential and believed he would bring discipline to the underachieving Browns, who went 4-12 during a disastrous season marked by injuries, ugly losses and a 1-7 home record. Lerner believed Mangini, who will be 38 on Jan. 19, learned from his mistakes in New York.

(my bold and underline)

*sigh* color me unconvinced.

[Swift]

Well, it's the off-season. Arguably, for us Browns fans, it's been the off season for the past two months.

Two months? I thought it was the past eight years.

Actually, the "learned from his mistakes" bit sounds reasonable to me, but I guess only time will tell.

He is supposely sort of the opposite of Romeo - tough on players, very long and hard practices. Might help to get some of the big, overpayed babies to really play some football.

[Fazor]

We'll see. I just don't get this insistance on gambling with someone who "had problems, but we think he's changed." rather than pursue someone with a bit more proven background.

Of course, a lot of it is just dissapointment that they weren't able to convince Cowher to take up an offer. That would have been awsome.

[Swift]

We'll see. I just don't get this insistance on gambling with someone who "had problems, but we think he's changed." rather than pursue someone with a bit more proven background.

$$$$$

Its like starting pitching for the Indians; unless one wants to shell out big bucks, you have to gamble that the guy is over his reconstructive surgery or has figured out how to run a football team. Proven winners either want more money and/or want to go to a team where they know they can continue their winning ways.

[Fazor]

I understand that, but every time I hear the phrases "It'll be different next year." or "This guy won't make that mistake again." or "We're in a rebuilding year." I cannot help but cringe. As my comment on the webpage for that local article linked in the OP says, I remain optimistic... but mostly because as a life-long Browns fan, hope for the future is kinda built into our DNA. I just wish they'd be realistic and instead just say, "Hell, we figured it can't get much worse, right? So why not."

[Fazor]

Proven winners either want more money and/or want to go to a team where they know they can continue their winning ways.

Oops, forgot to comment on this above. I'm guessing that's exactly what happened with Cowher. I don't blame him in the least. When you leave coaching as one of the NFL's most respected modern coaches, and a very sucessful one, why risk that reputation by coming back to a team that you think is just going to tank? As much as I had been saying Romeo needed to go over the last three years, the coach is just a part of the overall team. The world's greatest coach is still going to lose if the team itself is horrible. (I'm not saying I think the Browns cannot possibly be good, just that I see enough problems where someone like Bill may be reluctant to take the reigns. Besides, I think the other teams looking for a coach are able to bring him better offers.)

[NEOWatcher]

At this point, any change might be in order. Even if it's the Browns ball boy.
Oh...wait a minute...

[redshifter]

If you think it hurts in Ohio, try being a football fan (heck, ANY sport) here in the Seattle area: UW Huskies 0-12 and haven't even sniffed a bowl in years, Seahawks lousy as well.

Wait a sec, the UW womens X country team won the NCAA championship, so I guess all is not lost.

[Fazor]

Seattle was a major playoff threat in recent history though. Cleveland... eh. At least we got the Indians (who are playoff and end-of year choke artists themselves) but they give us hope.

And apparently the Cavs are "pretty good" (solong as they're still kick'n, I don't follow NBA).

[Swift]

And apparently the Cavs are "pretty good" (solong as they're still kick'n, I don't follow NBA).

Uh... "pretty good". They currently have the best record in the NBA and are probably Cleveland's best hope for a champion. But you are right, Ohio ranks sports with Football number one, baseball number 2, and basketball a distant third.

[redshifter]

Seattle was a major playoff threat in recent history though. Cleveland... eh. At least we got the Indians (who are playoff and end-of year choke artists themselves) but they give us hope.

And apparently the Cavs are "pretty good" (solong as they're still kick'n, I don't follow NBA).

At least you have an NBA team...though I much prefer college basketball myself. Much more team oriented.

True, the Seahawks had a few good seasons in the past (don't get me started on Super Bowl 40...). Now that Holmgren is leaving, I'm hoping we haven't seen the last of postseason appearances.

[LotusExcelle]

I'm in Rochester - which pretty much spitting (one hour) distance from Buffalo. I can hear the heartache from my poor Buffalo neighbors.

[Solfe]

I'm in Rochester - which pretty much spitting (one hour) distance from Buffalo. I can hear the heartache from my poor Buffalo neighbors.

Sorry, I will try to keep it down to a sob this season. : )

[Fazor]

That's why I put the "pretty good" in quotes.

(Plus, I wasn't sure if their dominance had continued over the recent past though, as last weeks Sports Illustraited mysteriously didn't come and this weeks doesn't come until this afternoon).

[Fazor]

Seattle has an NBA team...

...they're just playing in Utah.

[redshifter]

Seattle has an NBA team...

...they're just playing in Utah.

Don't you mean Oklahoma?

[Joe Boy]

You don't know what saddness is until you have lived your life in Minnesota Vikings Land--a lifetime of disappointments--jb

[Fazor]

You don't know what saddness is until you have lived your life in Minnesota Vikings Land--a lifetime of disappointments--jb

Well, in the 70's Minn went to the big show 4 times in 7 years... though they never did win.

You know how many times Cleveland's even made it to the Super Bowl? Hint: An amputee with no arms could count the number on his fingers.

[NEOWatcher]

No matter how depressing the numbers sound, when you combine all the stats from those 3 sports, I can understand why Detroit loves Hockey. That usually makes me feel better.

[Fazor]

err, yeah.

(I'm sure the Jazz players would love that slip up )

[mfumbesi]

I thought you were talking about real football (i.e soccer in your parts).

[chaboyax]

I thought you were talking about real football (i.e soccer in your parts).

i second that real footy is best except for liverpool fans at the min

[Swift]

Not to whine too much, but such stuff is why I'm somewhat unsympathetic of Cubs fans that complain about their World Series drought - they had all those years that the Bulls owned the NBA. Similarly, even when Boston fans had the right to complain about the lack of championships for the Red Sox or the Pats, they had the Celtics. Cleveland has had squat since the 1964, pre-NFL Browns, or the 1948 Indians.

[Fazor]

which is why I was trying to get a combined stat idea going.
Over the past two years, I've read/heard two or three different "Hardest cities to be a sports fan in" lists by various media (Local radio, ESPN, etc).

Cleveland is always up at like 8-10th worst, which floors me since not a single Cleveland team has won a championship since the Indians won the series in 1948? (Not sure about the Cavs). There's been 4 championship appearences by the tribe, one or two by the Cavs (that I can find) and none by the Browns since the introduction of the Super Bowl.

[Swift]

None by the Cavs. They have made several appearances in the playoffs.

[farmerjumperdon]

I'm always amused by the comments about not winning a championship for say . . . 15 years. With the number of teams around, if you win one every other decade you are at least on average, probably slightly better.

I mean, everybody can't win every year. More specifically, only one team can win each year. So unless a team has gone something like 25 years without one, no big deal.

[Fazor]

I mean, everybody can't win every year. More specifically, only one team can win each year. So unless a team has gone something like 25 years without one, no big deal.
Last year made 60 years without a Champion in Cleveland out of three major sports. So yeah.

[redshifter]

We've got a single pro sports championship: the 78-79 Sonics (who aren't here any more). None in football or baseball.

Guess it could be worse, 30 years is a lot less than 60...

[NEOWatcher]

I wasn't sure where I was going to categorize this one...

Eight successful people grateful they got canned
All sorts of things went through my mind, most notably is... "Sure! That's great if you have the talent or the money"

But; 8 examples in the nation and #8 just threw it in this thread.

After five years in Cleveland, Belichick ... Not bad for a guy even the Cleveland Browns didn't want

That just hurts.

[Fazor]

Ouch. Yes. But since he was part of the deserters, I'm still glad he's gone. There were some interesting signs at that last home game (the only Browns game I've ever been to). The best was an anti-Modell, a guy with a sign saying "Modell is a ->" with the arrow pointing to himself; wearing a giant foam costume shaped like a ... well, you get to use your imagination here, as it's not BAUT appropriate.

The sentiment towards Bill wasn't much different.