Imagine if you will a dimly lit room decorated in nothing but orange and brown.
In the middle of the room is a group of lonely, pathetic losers.
An older, larger, and most pathetic loser of them all stands up and starts to speak:
"Hi, my name is Mike and I'm a Cleveland Browns fan".
"Hi Mike"
Yes, we're looking in at the latest Brownaholics Anonymous. This group consists of those of us who do not (currently) live in the Buckeye State and still profess loyalty to the team that...let's just say...has had more "L's" than "W's" in it's recent past.
The basis for this blog...those of you (and yes there are many) who are fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now that we're getting ready for the new NFL season, I'm girding my loins waiting to see the rash of "Let's Go Steelers, Brownies Suck" rants that quite frankly, I tend to ignore. Consider it my revenge on Steeler fans for not showing any reaction...even though I (may) agree with them.
Let me backtrack for those who say "Hey, you're a New Yorker! Where's the loyalty to the Giants...or the Jets...or even the Bills if you're so hard up?"
Truth be told, the Empire State is in my blood, and I will always root for any and all NY teams, JUST because they are ALL my home teams.
Blame my broadcasting career.
When I was a younger, thinner, and gullible rookie, I was told to latch onto EVERYTHING local and make it appear "you're one of them, they will adapt to you better"
That's why over the years I have shown interest in sports teams from not only NY, but Ohio, Indiana, and New England (that covers time in Vermont and Massachusetts).
But the Browns....I don't know why...but I came to appreciate them more.
They're not EVEN the Cleveland Browns I loved as a younger man; THAT team is now the Baltimore Ravens.
Even the STADIUM where I saw Browns games, the SAME stadium where, for charity, I sat in EVERY seat (79,201 to be exact), has been replaced.
It's not like I even follow the team THAT closely; but once a fan, ALWAYS a fan.
A Cubs fan will tell you the same thing...so will a Red Sox fan....especially BEFORE the "Curse" was broken.
If I have to admit it, YES, the Steelers ARE a great team, and they have proven it over the years.
Doesn't mean I have to like it.
My best friend in the world is also named Mike. He first told me of the glories of the Browns with people like Jim Brown. I didn't know a bigger Browns fan.
He married a very lovely lady also named Nancy (like MY wife), who is not ONLY a Steelers fan, she's FROM Pittsburgh.
My back still aches from the knife wound in my back.
This morning I read something she put on Facebook knocking the Browns.
It was actually kind of funny.
I posted simply "Nice".
I think I irritated her, since as a Steelers fan she wanted a bigger reaction.
I PURPOSELY kept it simple.
This time, Cleveland wins.
Finally, and Browns fans will appreciate this, the Denver Broncos suck too...no matter how many rings they get.
Mike Patrick
