From www.examiner.com/cleveland, Cleveland Browns Examiner
Update: The Akron Beacon Journal reports former Toledo Rockets quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was signed by the Cleveland Browns today. He will most likely be the third string QB.
This news seems to be secondary on the minds of Cleveland fans. There is still a lot of talk about the "Derek Anderson Incident".
In my last article "Cleveland Browns fans hate Derek Anderson'" I explored the episode of Derek Anderson being booed by some fans at Cleveland Stadium after he went down with a knee injury against the Colts.
Of course it was not "right"' for those few fans to boo an injury, but that's assuming that fans were cheering Anderson being hurt. Could it be a possibility that his injury was just the climax to one of the biggest "let down" seasons in Browns history? Could it be that fans were disgusted with the effort from a team that has the talent to compete for an AFC title? These are just a few ideas to think about before the media and sports fans turn this into a "Cleveland Witch-hunt".
After reading Terry Pluto's most recent article, I was surprised that he didn't ask any of these questions. I'm surprised he didn't question the reason for the fans apparent anger at Anderson. He did, however, publish an e-mail from a fan condemning the actions of the booing fans. The comment validates the "nice guy" attitude that Cleveland strives to be known for. Unfortunately, it could be this very same attitude among the organization, city, and fans that perpetuates a losing culture.
I have my theory on the social and cultural foundation that drives Cleveland fans, but reading some of the comments made on Pluto's' online page I found something interesting. A radically critical but honest illustration of the parallel between the city of Cleveland and its' sports teams.
This particular comment was made by "The Lifer", and whether you agree with it or not, you can't ignore the truthful anger and honesty that it exudes. I'm publishing his/her comment because I wanted to illustrate a different and possibly more realistic vision of the Cleveland sport identity.
I feel bad for DA but seriously, who cares. The NATION laughs at our fair city and it has been "injured" for 30 years. We have no jobs, no economic backbone, or hope to fix it. All we have are our lousy sports teams that do little for us but take our money and break our hearts. So, sorry DA I don't care what you think or how you feel. Take your money, get the he|| out and don't forget to tell everyone how awful it was and how badly you were treated when you go.
Yes it is wrong to boo an injury, but until these fool players/coaches/fans acknowledge this is about something bigger than them, bigger than the money and bigger than the coach (I know that's hard), it's about pride. The pride our Browns used to give us when there is nothing to cheer for.
We don't have socal weather or Florida weather. We don't have jobs like the Carolina's or baseball, football and basketball champs like New England. We don't have factories that run like Philly or Pittsburgh. Matter of fact, sometimes it seems like the Browns are all we do have, and I don't know if we even have that anymore.
That was our team, it was woven into the fabric of our existence. I say was because it isn't our team anymore. It belongs to corporate thugs that only care about entertaining a client, it belongs to overpaid immature thugs interested only in pillaging the city for their own glory and gain, it belongs to personnel managers that don't know what they're doing, coaches that don't coach, fans that go only for the booze...and so on
So, sorry if I don't shed a tear for you DA, but I very seriously doubt you'll shed any for the city you stole from, for the fans and kids that believed in you, from the teammates that actually try (Sean Rogers-I appreciate you greatly), and I doubt you'll cry for the opportunity YOU lost last year by costing us the playoffs.
Do everyone a favor and fade quietly into obscurity.
This may be written out of anger, but it seems to capture a certain universal frusteration amongst Cleveland fans. Many fans seem to be measuring their actions against other cities or comparing themselves to other cities. I think we need to just worry about winning football games.
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