Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Poor Bastards Of The Moment: Cleveland Browns Fans

I think Minnesota sports fans have suffered enough, but there are moments like last night's ending to the game that jostles me out of my bubble and reminds me that the Cleveland Browns may have it a hell of a lot worse.

I was hearing the end of The Bastard Cleveland Browns-Cleveland Browns v.2.0. game last night driving home in the not-bad/snow showery weather.  Game was tied.  Baltimore QB Matt Schaub throws an interception to a Browns player in Ravens territory.  Cleveland did not gain a whole lot of yardage, but nevertheless they were in good-enough position to line up for a 51-yard Field Goal with three seconds left.  The Browns Kicker had yet to miss a FG this year.

You can guess what happened next, but probably only the first part.  If you've been a lifelong fan of this damned franchise, you know what happened next.  The kick gets blocked and deflects off to the side, where it's picked up by a Bastard Cleveland Browns player who runs the football back all the way for the game-winning Touchdown at the gun.

Man, to go from surprise good fortune to anticipation of getting only their third win of the year to absolute dejection over pulling defeat from the jaws of victory in what can only be described as the most Cleveland Browns-ian way possible.  And it's got to hurt that the team they lost to in such improbable fashion was the team that was taken from the city 20 years ago.  I am speculating that many Browns fans believe that the franchise, the fanbase, and even the city has been cursed, if not damned, ever since that relocation ... even though the Cleveland Browns v.1.0. had more than their share of notorious, inexplicable losing for half a century.  Simply put, the way that game ended ... sucks.

This tweeted video recorded on a smartphone by a Browns fan at the game encapsulates the range of humiliation and sadness at that moment.  There are three people seen, although you can hear two people (or is it the same person?) curse at their biblical misfortune.  Solemn resignation, complete disbelief, utter disgust ... yep, these are the times you question why you're a sports fan.



Poor Bastards.

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