Jason Whitlock Nails the NFL Labor Dispute
February 8, 2011The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/8/11
February 8, 2011Before the 1987 season I had been to 2 Cleveland Browns games. I remember that one of them was against the Broncos. That was before Elway and The Drive. I can’t remember the other opponent, but I was pretty young. In ’87 though we were positive the Browns were going to the Super Bowl. My dad had the opportunity to buy a couple of tickets for the division playoff game against the Colts, and I was on my way to my first playoff game.
A couple things stand out about that game. First, it was really cold. We had worn our snowsuits to the game, but I had only worn tennis shoes with 2 pairs of socks. Not a good choice. My toes went through the numb stage, followed by the stinging pain every time you take a step phase. The snowsuits also kept us from wearing our Browns gear, at least Browns gear that you could see. Fortunately, dad bought me a playoffs t-shirt that fit over the snowsuit. It was about 2 sizes too big for me to wear in public after the game, so I think it became a night shirt.
That game also marked my first real experience in tailgating. We didn’t actually go and set up a tailgate, but we parked and walked through the muni-lot. I had never seen anything like it before. People had painted their cars and vans in Browns colors. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen, and I began to realize that while dad loved the Browns and would be affected by each Sunday’s game for a couple days afterward, there may actually be people out there that were a little more, oh let’s say committed to the team. That’s a nice way to put it.
The muni-lot was amazing. Food was being cooked on charcoal grills, and people were playing football in the aisles. It made me wish we were season ticket holders. I asked my dad a couple times why he didn’t have season tickets, and I was told that a cop from Akron didn’t make that kind of money. I grew up thinking that you had to be rich to have season tickets. It never dawned on me that really it was more about priorities. You could be a season ticket holder, if you made sacrifices in other areas of your life.
Walking to the gate I saw a stuffed Eric Dickerson dummy being hung from a makeshift gallows. Then they set the dummy and wood on fire. I believe I walked a little quicker after that.
Once inside our seats were, well pretty much behind a steal beam. I could see about half the field. It was kind of like this, except without the television. And it was freezing.
The game was back and forth in the first half. We scored, they matched. We scored, they matched. Then in the fourth quarter we broke it open. Byner got the ground game going and Brian Brennan caught a TD pass to put the Browns up 31-14.
Then the unthinkable happened.
No, the Browns didn’t lose. My dad decided we were leaving. Ok, there only a few minutes left in the game, but come on, you don’t leave early!
By the time we made it to the car, the Colts had scored a touchdown and had the ball back. It was 31-21 and they were driving . We turned on the radio just in time to hear about Frank Minnifield’s interception return for a touchdown.
Ballgame.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh9CWQBuEVw]
I don’t really have to tell you what happened the following week. It took the luster off of going to that Colts game. My dad decided he would rather watch the games from home than see them in person. I’m not sure now if he ever went to another one. Not many if he did.
(photo:John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer)
6 Comments
My dad took me to that game too. The night before I made a sign with a colt made out of milkbones. I remember the stadium being so loud that we had to yell at each other to communicate. Good times.
My dad decided he would rather watch the games from home than see them in person. I’m not sure now if he ever went to another one. Not many if he did.
Well, if he left early, he’s not a real fan anyway… (j/k) (ish)
My first game was a 13-3 Browns season opening win against the Steelers – awesome. My first playoff game was also the last Browns’ home playoff game (and last playoff win), with Bill Belichik defeating the New England Patriots.
Funny what you said about your dad vs. other fans – I always found it funny that the same guy who would literally yell at the TV, go absolutely insane for days following a game, thought that the elderly grandmother a few houses down who would scream “KILL HIM!” at our D and who shattered her son’s TV by nailing it with a remote was normal, etc. would laugh at other fans as we walked from our car to the stadium as being a little crazy. Now, I totally get it.
Cool. I just watched this game on VHS this past Halloween. Love the green dirt field.
Dude…GREAT article! Thanks!!!
Looking at the end of the video, a little confused about the Browns offensive strategy. Shouldn’t they have fallen down a few times, used more clock and attempted a field goal?
Throwing into the end zone for a TD when you’re ahead – how quaint.
Thanks for the blast into the past. Loved watching the u-tube and the memories.