They ranked the Browns second because, it seemed, their parents, grandparents and/or aunts and uncles really loved them so they know there’s something special about it. But they didn’t understand why because all they’ve known is losing, embarrassing football. They love to watch the NFL, but most of them root for other teams.
And, as far as the Indians, I’m convinced the younger generation just doesn’t like baseball all that much.
If the Cavs (as we all hope) win an NBA Championship within the next year or two, those kids will become adults and become die-hard Cavs fans. They will remember experiencing those wins and that emotional roller coaster, the thrill of an entire region waiting to party like it’s 1964. The Cavs will forever be first.
Within 15-20 years, Cleveland will cease becoming a football town and become a basketball town, I predict. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but Cleveland’s been a football town since the 1940s. It would be odd to witness that switch.
It will be the Cavs who dominate sports talk radio, not the Browns. The Wine and Gold colors will be more identifiable with Cleveland than the Brown and Orange colors. Fans will quit paying attention to the Browns once November rolls around, kind of like most of us quit paying attention to the Indians in July when training camp begins.
Are you prepared for this switch? I’m not, really.
Sixteen years of mediocre football with one playoff berth and two winning seasons can beat down a fanbase. Even watching a wild “Only in Cleveland” finish on Monday night can beat you down. Fans can only endure so many quarterback controversies or coach hirings or firings or draft picks getting squandered, but we keep coming back because we’ve put up with it for so long.
When you’re 42 and you’ve invested your entire life with a franchise, you don’t just walk away. It’s easier to walk away from relationship than it is a fan-dom.
There is still hope to salvage the younger generation, and that’s for the Browns to start winning and winning consistently. When the Browns flirted with playoff contention in 2014, you could feel the excitement brewing. Even though fans of Johnny Manziel continued to clamor for their guy to be the quarterback, the fever was beginning to spread. But, of course, a five-game losing streak and a disastrous switch of QBs derailed everything, and we’re back to square one.
The NFL has us conditioned that teams and franchises can make one-season turnarounds. It’s happened before. We’ve seen it in other locations. The Rams in 1999, the Patriots in 2001, the Saints in 2009, which all won Super Bowls after losing seasons – heck, even the Lions made the playoffs after going 0-16 a few seasons ago.
That’s why we’re so optimistic every single year that THIS year will be the year that the football gods smile on Cleveland and turn it around. They teased us in 2002, 2007 and last season. It’s because we remember growing up with the Kardiac Kids and the Kosar Era. Our parents remember Jim Brown and winning the 64 Championship. Our grandparents remember Paul Brown and the dynasty of the 1940s and 50s. They believe, so we believe.
That trait hasn’t been passed down to our kids or even our grandkids (there are people my age that are grandparents). They seek instant gratification, and the Cavs – especially since LeBron came back – give that to them. Heck, it seems like those four years without LeBron James didn’t even happen. I barely remember basketball during that time. It almost seems like 2010 went seamlessly into 2014, and that’s just odd.
But ask a Browns fan how 1996-98 was, and they barely remember that as well. I don’t, other than I got into fantasy football. It almost seems like 1995 bled right into 1999 and those three years didn’t happen. They remember those Indians teams during that time frame, but football? No clue.
With the Browns facing another regime change and another change in coaches, quarterbacks and offensive and defensive schemes, who knows when this thing will turn around, if it will EVER turn around. And, in order to keep their stranglehold on Cleveland, the Browns NEED to turn it around.
Because, in 2029 when the Browns’ lease is up and the team either wants a new stadium or a better lease, the young generation will be the generation in charge – and they are Cavs fans. Think about that for a second.
The clock is ticking, Jimmy Haslam, Alec Scheiner and everyone else associated with the Cleveland Browns. You guys better start winning, because a guy named LeBron is ready to steal your crown and hold on to it.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
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