A Browns Fan

It was an innocent question, asked of my brother, when I was a kid. “What’s your favorite football team?” His reply would set me on my course as a football fan, towards horizon after horizon of frustration and years of defeat and disappointment. I did not know his answer was a joke until several years later, when I realized he was a Raiders fan. “The Cleveland Browns,” he answered enthusiastically. Well, that was going to be my team, too! Becoming, and staying, a fan of the Browns over all the coming years was a trial that not many other sports fans can even imagine. While the early history of the team was full of success (including the greats Otto Graham and Jim Brown) that was all before my time. There were three AFC Championship games in the 1980’s, each one lost to the Broncos. During so many games through the years the Browns would lead for three quarters only to blow the game in the fourth. When asked what my football team was my reply would be met with, “Really?” and/or “I’ve never met a Browns fan before.” A coworker would occasionally announce before heading for the restroom, “Gonna take the Browns to the Super Bowl!” In the late 90’s when Model moved the team to Baltimore I went without a team for a few years. When the new Browns, in their new stadium, resumed play it was with the highest of hopes. I should have known better. As the years continued coaches and quarterbacks came and went and the team just could not find a formula for winning. In 2016 they went 1-15 and when I thought they hit bottom the next year saw them at 0-16. Finally, last season they made the playoffs, and this year they are fielding another strong team. Do I maybe, kind of, sorta get my hopes up? Yes, I can’t help it, I’m a Browns fan.