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Health & Fitness

Season's Beatings

Holmgren, Steelers are on author's mind as the year winds down.

Anything happen with the Browns since my last post?

Unless you've been under a rock, you know full well what's happened the last few weeks--which, when viewed against what's happened all year long, shouldn't be surprising.

In short, another miserable chapter in the Book of Browns.

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And as we head into tomorrow's season finale. I'm reminded of the words, or at least the sentiments of the Browns fearless leader Mike Holmgren (who, by the way, waited almost an entire week before addressing the Colt McCoy concussion).

While not an exact quote, Holmgren basically told all of Browns Nation, "You're either for us or against us."  Apparantly "The Big (No)Show" has bristled at the criticism his regime has had to absorb throughout the season from the media, the fans and frankly anyone with a pair of eyes. People in power--especially arrogant ones--don't appreciate it when their effort is questioned.  Even when, you know, it really should be.

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But instead of lashing out at the media, perhaps he should save that venom for internal candidates more deserving of it.  Start with your hand-picked head coach, who's latest debacle includes not knowing to stop the clock inside the red-zone at the end of a half.  In fact, Pat Shurmur is making at least one critical mistake each game that costs him team points. Enterprising Browns fans could probably invent a drinking game that has a participant taking a drink every time Shurmur makes a questionable call (a pass on third and one), shows terrible judgment or is generally alseep at the wheel.  Don't forget to have a designated driver.

In a nutshell, the first full year of the Homgren era has been an epic failure, and when asked about it, the guy in charge has basically killed the messenger.  If that's the way you work Mr. Holmgren, fine.  Building a winner is the surest way to make people forget you're a vindictive a-hole.  We'll accept that when we're purchasing playoff tickets.

So I guess, to answer your question, we're are for you, Mike.  Until we're not.  And once that happens no amount of whining can save your job. 

You still have the fans--barely.  But you lose us at your own peril.

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I'd be remiss if I didn't address the Steelers in this space.  Tomorrow's game is the latest entry into what should be the NFL equivalent of the Red Sox-Yankees.  I know, I know.  Lately the rivalry has been not unlike the rivalry between a hammer and nail, but there's plenty of mutual ill will between the fan bases of these two teams to make it matter.

As a Browns fan that grew up in another area of the country, I didn't have much of a hate towards the Steelers.  I mean my mom's a Steeler fan for christ-sakes.  I rooted against them when they played the Browns but didn't really think about them otherwise.

Fast-forward to 1995 and I'm living in Morgantown, West Virginia--virtual Steeler-country.  Of course, that year Art Modell announces he's moving the Browns to Baltimore and like many Browns fans, I'm trying to make any sense of it.  What was the reaction of the Steeler fans I encountered?

Glee. Joy. Unvarnished schadenfreunde.

They were overjoyed--"couldn't happen to a nicer fanbase"--was the general theme.  "Just another example of how Cleveland sucks." 

Basically, they laughed as my heart was being ripped out.

And I've never forgot.  Nor will I ever forgive.

From that point on, the Steelers--and especially their fans--have been Public Enemy #1 in my universe.  Their success, while commendable, has only fueled the fire.  Their army of bandwagon fans have made it a raging inferno.  If I had a nickel for every Steeler "fan" I've encountered who couldn't name any Steeler player besides Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu, I'd be writing this from Tahiti.  I hold my strongest contempt for Steelers fans from Northeast Ohio who switched alliegances because they wanted to root for a "winner."

Simply put, they are the Yankee fans of the NFL--loud, aggressive and obnoxious.  But at least, the Indians beat the Yankees semi-regularly.  The Browns have won just 2 games in the last 20 games against Pittsburgh.  And until the Browns change that, we'll just have to put up with their Terrible Towels, camouflage apparel and the western Pa.-accented taunts that come from their Skoal-filled mouths.

I know the Browns have virtually have no chance to win tomorrow.  But it's the Steelers.  And anytime you can beat the Steelers, it's a good day.

Happy New Year!  And Go Browns!

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