Icon re: the last day of the year
Avatar
MJG (view)

No, Not a fan since the NFL let Modell move to Baltimore. 

Let me back up and give context.  My parents were huge fans back in the Paul Brown era - Had season tickets - lower deck, 40 yard line.  I still have 8mm film of Jim Brown that my dad took during a game.  That ended when Modell fired Paul Brown and the team started down the path to oblivion.  My dad ended the season tickets and only occasionally watched televised games.  I distinctly remember him telling me after a loss to "Never trust that New York Bastard"  (Modell) and the look of betrayal on his face, even now.  I was about 8 or 9 at the time.  So, as a result I was never a big sports fan in general.  I did get sucked in during the Cardiac Kids seasons and kept up with the team after, but never got really emotionally invested.

Fast forward to Bill Belichick era - I was working in Boston and watching games at the bar the local Browns Backers met at.  This was the "Metcalf up the Middle" season.  I was keeping up with the stadium negotiations and all the bullshit the Browns organization was spewing back home.  A fan of the opposing  team was sitting at the table in front of me, turned and said "Dude, What's up with your team?".  I just shook my head and Told him it would take too long to explain but that Modell was sticking his finger in the play calling, alienating the fan base to gain leverage in the stadium negotiations.  Those who were paying attention knew how this was going to end - Art wanted out of CLE and nothing would change that.  The project I was in Boston to work ended and I was back in CLE shortly after Thanksgiving.

The shit show continued and the team was allowed to move - And the leagues largest , most devoted fan base got publicly shit on.   I could not decide what was more humiliating - The NFL's treatment of CLE, Or the fans debasing themselves on national TV.  I decided that It's all Filthy Lurcher and no sports team would get my money or attention going forward.   Have not watched a game or worn any merch since.  End of Rant.

Hope that wasn't too depressing... On to our current state of Politics - the really depressing stuff.  I do have hope for the New Year - The lower courts have held and we are making progress on the left while the right struggles to maintain their hold.  I do think '26 will mark an end of the oligarchy  - It's never going to go away, just mutate to a lower form.  Just remember governmental change moves at a glacial pace.  It's going to be messy and turbulent, lots of moving parts, but we will get through this.  Nothing is written in stone and the rebuilding is what I am concerned about.  Which faction gets what degree of control and what they do to effect change in '27 is the thing.  We shall see.

Happy New Year All!   Keep the faith and take care of yourselves and those you love!

–--
Where once We the People held capitalism’s leash, now we wear the collar.
[login] | [register]

you need to be logged in to post and reply to message board posts