Halfway Through This Scheduled 16-Rounder or Rain Schmain
Well...the Browns almost found a way to make me think that this 0-8 start is not my fault, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. The analysts are looking for someone to blame from coaching to the players and it's only a matter of time before they find out about how I've been to every game so far.
This was a special game because the brought back the 1986 Cleveland Browns team at halftime and throughout the game.
Here we have Marty Schottenheimer in the Dawg Pound getting the crowd pumped up.
We are Cleveland...
...and apparently I was sitting in the "g PoDawund".
photo courtesy of SI.com
They brought out the players to stand in front of (and sign) giant versions of their Topps 1986 Football cards.
Amid all of the nostalgia and first half team effort, we were still unable to find our first win of the season and again made the long somber walk back to our vehicles.
I've told the story of my adventures to just about everyone with whom I've made contact and they are either jealous, happy for me, or playfully upset at the fact that it's probably my fault why we're 0-8. Some are so excited about the idea of going to every game in a full season that they share it with someone almost immediately. If I could only parlay this into a somewhat substantial income generating venture, I'd be set.
Superstitions aside, with half of the season complete, I have no choice but to continue on. I feel that the Browns are close to a W and I hope it happens soon, for my sake as well as the team's. We can afford to win a few games and still come out with a high draft pick and I think [the team] should continue to strive for those victories so this young club can learn how to win as one unit. When the young guys start winning and they add a little more youth from the draft with a few veteran free agent pieces, this team could be exciting to watch for years to come. I may grab a ticket package now while they're cheap so I'll have first opportunity for playoff tickets when we eventually make it.
Speaking of playoffs, I learned two things about sports organizations and the city of Cleveland during the recent Indians postseason run. First, organizations reward loyalty. If you were one of the few that had a season ticket package of any amount of games for the Cleveland Indians, you were awarded early access to playoff tickets. Second, although Cleveland is on the rise in many facets, money is still a driving force in the good citizens of my hometown. It may be that they're just greedy, but I'd like to think that selling Indians playoff tickets to Cubs fans for 10 times face value was out of necessity over desire. I give Clevelanders credit for knowing when to take advantage of a good opportunity, unfortunately it came at the cost of our team's advantage of having a home field crowd. With the high demand in Cleveland alone, I'd like to think that I would've found Indians fan friends to whom I would have sold extra tickets at a modest price had I procured some, but I won't know for sure until I'm faced with that decision.
The same thing has been happening with Browns tickets as they have been marked up more on the resale market for certain games like the New England Patriots in Week 5 and this upcoming game against Dallas. The New England game was disappointing because of the amount of Patriots fans in the stands; it might as well have been played at Gillette Stadium. This game against Dallas marks the return of Ezekiel Elliott to the state of Ohio for the first time in almost a year when he played his last game as a Buckeye at The Horseshoe in Columbus. I imagine that non-Cleveland fans attending will be more interested in seeing him play than cheering for the Cowboys, but we'll find out. The problem is that there aren't enough Browns fans willing to pay these prices to watch their team lose* (*probably, according to trends) I dream of a day when the stadium is packed almost entirely with fans wearing Brown and Orange, completely overshadowing the existence of any of the opposing team's supporters.
Rants aside, it has been a great adventure so far. I have eight more games to attend with a few more trips to take before it is completed and it's great knowing that I have the support of friends, family, and strangers alike.
(Side note: I got this in the mail today from my buddy, Dave, in Salt Lake City. He sent it to me just in time to bring a little luck to me and the Browns before we played his wife's favorite team...lol. Is that a good friend or what?)
Special shout out goes to my boy Timmy who made in time to watch half of the game with me. Next time bring some of that Jameson you drank at pre-game to share with your boy...lol. Much love, brah.
Stay tuned as we try to take a win at home against Dallas in this weekend's adventure titled Ezekiel 36:26 or Browns 27-Dallas 24.
This sign says it all. I can't stop now.
The Browns are going to have to find a way to win with me in the stands. Plain and simple.
This game was a tough one to attend, but easy one to find a cheap ticket, mainly because of the inclement weather. With proper preparation though, you can brave the elements no matter how severe. I was meeting a friend up there and as I pulled up to where he and his group was camped out, I see this rig...
Unfortunately for us all, this was the setup. (you see the lawn chairs and card table in the foreground with NO coverage? that was it.)
Fortunately though, someone from across the way noticed how wet we were getting and offered up one of their pop-up canopies for a modest $20 rental fee which we gladly accepted.
With that, my buddy was able to fire up the grill and serve up some sustenance which him and his group graciously shared with me.
With that, my buddy was able to fire up the grill and serve up some sustenance which him and his group graciously shared with me.
The lesson? The $10 Marc's Camping Special is not a viable option for tailgating (or for camping in general.)
Arriving just in time for the game was my membership gift from the Philadelphia Browns Backers Club. Unbeknownst to me, a $50 Club Membership was included with the purchase of my Week 1 ticket, but at least I got a t-shirt out of it.
With the all day rain, I decided to dress as a member of the fictional hacking collective, DedSec, from the game Watch Dogs for max coverage.
Here we have Marty Schottenheimer in the Dawg Pound getting the crowd pumped up.
We are Cleveland...
...and apparently I was sitting in the "g PoDawund".
photo courtesy of SI.com
They brought out the players to stand in front of (and sign) giant versions of their Topps 1986 Football cards.
Amid all of the nostalgia and first half team effort, we were still unable to find our first win of the season and again made the long somber walk back to our vehicles.
I've told the story of my adventures to just about everyone with whom I've made contact and they are either jealous, happy for me, or playfully upset at the fact that it's probably my fault why we're 0-8. Some are so excited about the idea of going to every game in a full season that they share it with someone almost immediately. If I could only parlay this into a somewhat substantial income generating venture, I'd be set.
Superstitions aside, with half of the season complete, I have no choice but to continue on. I feel that the Browns are close to a W and I hope it happens soon, for my sake as well as the team's. We can afford to win a few games and still come out with a high draft pick and I think [the team] should continue to strive for those victories so this young club can learn how to win as one unit. When the young guys start winning and they add a little more youth from the draft with a few veteran free agent pieces, this team could be exciting to watch for years to come. I may grab a ticket package now while they're cheap so I'll have first opportunity for playoff tickets when we eventually make it.
Speaking of playoffs, I learned two things about sports organizations and the city of Cleveland during the recent Indians postseason run. First, organizations reward loyalty. If you were one of the few that had a season ticket package of any amount of games for the Cleveland Indians, you were awarded early access to playoff tickets. Second, although Cleveland is on the rise in many facets, money is still a driving force in the good citizens of my hometown. It may be that they're just greedy, but I'd like to think that selling Indians playoff tickets to Cubs fans for 10 times face value was out of necessity over desire. I give Clevelanders credit for knowing when to take advantage of a good opportunity, unfortunately it came at the cost of our team's advantage of having a home field crowd. With the high demand in Cleveland alone, I'd like to think that I would've found Indians fan friends to whom I would have sold extra tickets at a modest price had I procured some, but I won't know for sure until I'm faced with that decision.
The same thing has been happening with Browns tickets as they have been marked up more on the resale market for certain games like the New England Patriots in Week 5 and this upcoming game against Dallas. The New England game was disappointing because of the amount of Patriots fans in the stands; it might as well have been played at Gillette Stadium. This game against Dallas marks the return of Ezekiel Elliott to the state of Ohio for the first time in almost a year when he played his last game as a Buckeye at The Horseshoe in Columbus. I imagine that non-Cleveland fans attending will be more interested in seeing him play than cheering for the Cowboys, but we'll find out. The problem is that there aren't enough Browns fans willing to pay these prices to watch their team lose* (*probably, according to trends) I dream of a day when the stadium is packed almost entirely with fans wearing Brown and Orange, completely overshadowing the existence of any of the opposing team's supporters.
Rants aside, it has been a great adventure so far. I have eight more games to attend with a few more trips to take before it is completed and it's great knowing that I have the support of friends, family, and strangers alike.
(Side note: I got this in the mail today from my buddy, Dave, in Salt Lake City. He sent it to me just in time to bring a little luck to me and the Browns before we played his wife's favorite team...lol. Is that a good friend or what?)
Special shout out goes to my boy Timmy who made in time to watch half of the game with me. Next time bring some of that Jameson you drank at pre-game to share with your boy...lol. Much love, brah.
Stay tuned as we try to take a win at home against Dallas in this weekend's adventure titled Ezekiel 36:26 or Browns 27-Dallas 24.
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