03/11 Morning Minute: Baby Got Back Problems
March 11, 200803/12 Morning Minute: Phil ‘Er Up
March 12, 2008Welcome all of you friends of the feather to another edition of teepee talk….
We’re gonna try something new here at WFNY. Approximately whenever I feel like it, we’re going to introduce you to regular reader/commenter here at the site. (Makes you wish you didn’t use that bogus email when you signed up huh?)
You know today’s participant by the commenter name patrick eaton. My personal favorite comment of his was in response to Andy Varejao–
notice to andy..it’s ok to dunk the ball..doubt u’ll hurt the rim. i mean seriously, if i wanted lazy attempts at second chance points, i could play forward for a couple games..i could use the money
Without any more delay, here’s Patrick’s responses to our questionnaire-
1. Favorite sport to watch in person
Without question, baseball. It’s actually funny u ask this question, a friend and myself were just discussing how going to a baseball game is almost like the perfect sports excursion for friends. You can go, have some beers with some friends and the home fans, and share some memories of past games and your history of the game. Plus, I think the truly appreciate the talent of the players, you have to be at the ballpark. The only thing my father told me before my first game at the muni was, wait till you see how far these guys throw the ball. And he was right. To truly appreciate how far the right fielder has to throw the ball to try and gun a guy down at the plate, you have to be there.
2. Favorite sport to watch on tv
Football. I love going to the games too, but I absolutely CANNOT DEAL WITH TV TIMEOUTS!!! Plus, Cleveland Browns Stadium is now filled with uppity jerks that get upset when you cheer to loud. What happened to the fans from “The Real Stadium”? I’ve been to games at the old muni where i actually got harassed for sitting…now that’s a football game!
3. Sports or hobbies you play
I love to play softball, though I just recently moved to Columbus and I’m not quite sure where I’m gonna play this year. I like to say that I golf, but in all fairness, I go out on the course, drive the cart, have some beers, and occasionally get out of the cart and swing some clubs. I’m a 180 bowler, also bowled in a league up in Cleveland, not quite sure if I’m gonna find anywhere to do that down here.
4. Favorite Cleveland sports memory
Was at game 5 of the ’97 series on the Homerun Porch. Still get goosebumps thinking about being there.
5. Most heartbreaking loss
It’s a tie. ’97 World Series and “the drive”. Would love to separate and give a definitive answer, but honestly, there’s no separation between the two. And one more thing on each game…the overtime field goal was no good…and Cleveland fans, please, PLEASE stop blaming Jose Mesa for ’97. I get it, it’s the easy thing to do, but let’s not forget that without a Tony Fernandez error, it may never get to the point it did.
6. Which team do you most want a title for (Browns, Tribe, Cavs)
And vote for the hardest question to answer goes toooo…..We’re a football town, so for the love of all of my fellow true Cleveland fans, the Browns.
7. Your dream piece of Cleveland sports memorabilia
I have a baseball signed by Bob Feller and Herb Score. If you’re asking what I would LOVE to have…I’d have to say an authentic, autographed jersey from Bernie Kosar baby…gotta love Bernie.
8. Any superstitions
Tried to be superstitious for the ’95 Series, didn’t work, so never again.
9. Top of the ninth, Indians up one, and you get the call to come from the mound…what’s your entrance music– A little AC/DC
10. Why Cleveland teams?
Well why not? I lived in Cleveland my entire life until this past November and it was just hand fed to me when I was younger. But as you get older and live through the heartaches of the great Browns teams of the mid to late ’80’s, the absolute horror that was the Indians until the ’94 season, the heartbreak of the tragedy during spring training ’93, the devil (Art) taking our Brownies away only to have the Indians cover the slack for 4 or 5 years, etc…you start to realize that you love every emotion that comes with the losses and the wins. You realize that even though the Indians couldn’t win a championship in the mid-’90’s, we got to see some possible hall of famers playing first hand, in our backyard, in “Man-Ram” Manny Ramirez & though it pains me to say it, Jim Thome. You start to realize that as much as girlfriends and wives don’t want to hear it, being a Cleveland fan is a way of life.
We live and die with every win and loss. Our Monday’s attitude is completely determined by Sunday’s outcome, and I LOVE IT. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love knowing that my roommate is a Bungles fan, and he can’t deal with the fact that the Browns have passed them as the team to beat in Ohio. I love that it’s only Spring Training and I will watch every pitch to see the future of my Tribe in Trevor Crowe and Brad Snyder and Ben Francisco and so on. And even though I haven’t mentioned the Cavs once in this entire e-mail to you, if they were the first team to win a Championship in my life, I would cheer till I lost my voice because it’s a championship for Cleveland which is all I really want. So, why Cleveland teams? My answer is because it’s who I am, and who I will be for the rest of my life.
11 Comments
This is a great feature Rick. And you picked a good first test subject. Patrick is the ultimate Cleveland sports fan, and he and I have spent many hours at bars in Cleveland and Columbus talking about the Browns and Indians. Great work to both of you.
And to reiterate something Patrick brings up…..that FG was absolutely no good. I swear it to this day. He missed that FG.
That FG was no good, and to make matters worse, in Youngstown, the video signal dropped out for like half a second as the kick was going up. I think my saddest memory of “The Drive” is that we were so sure the Browns were going to win, we popped a tape into the VCR and taped the end of the game to have it on tape…We must’ve watched that kick 1000 times.
I wholeheartedly agree with Patrick about why. In spite of all my trying to convert her, I married a Stooler fan, and she has asked me that question many times with focus really on the Browns. He put it perfectly…it’s who we are to our core.
Great idea, by the way, turning the spotlight on your readers.
thanks to effing espn classic, i have also watched that damn kick a thousand times…this week.
i had no idea there was a FG attempt to win the game.
i usually black out after that horse-faced mofo threw that TD pass.
deep breaths rock, deep breaths
quick note all, there is a great write up about phil savage on cbssportsline.com
Watching the ’97 World Series, I knew when Charlie Nagy came in we were done. I had the worst feeling of dread come over me. It was like a slow stabbing pain…
agreed…but again, we never shoulda been to that point…
How about this (as I mentioned before I am in the Navy). Being 19 years old, reporting to my first ship, on a Friday night, not a friend in the world. Saturday night, Game 7, WE LOSE!
Monday, we go out to sea, pull in next Friday, my girlfriend (at an un-named Ohio college) dumps me in my first port the next Saturday OVER THE PHONE. Worst week ever.
Would I have some choice words for that girl…
I was at the midges game in the Yankees series last year – that was amazing. My first playoff game in person (I remember all those 90’s wins only as TV memories), and they win in extra innings. I felt about 8 years old again. After Pronk hit that single I stood in the aisle and high-fived everyone walking out. Simply sublime.