CincyBrownsFan aka Cleveland Sports Madman

To whom it may concern. As of today, March 1st, I have morphed from CincyBrownsFan into Cleveland Sports Madman. Just in case, any of you did not realize this trivial point, for I am a certifiable madman, as deemed by my buddies in Ctown, for the Big 3 major league sports; Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. I am also a big Reds Fan, especially Jr. Griffey fan; and heresy to most Browns fans, I root for the Cincinnati Bengals, as long as they aren't playing the Browns.

I root for the Cincinnati Reds because growing up; the Indians only had flashes of brilliance with players like Buddy Bell, Rick Manning, Dennis Eckersley and Duane Kuiper and earlier years with Gaylord Perry, Sam McDowell, Ray Fosse and many others that will go down in infamy in Indians Major League history. Bottom line, the Big Red Machine of the mid '70s caught my attention with their All Star Hall of Fame lineup; Rose, Morgan, Geronimo, Foster, Bench, Perez, Griffey Sr., Gullett, etc. This team had so many stars that Manager, Sparky Anderson was tasked to get all the talent maximized in each and every game.
Major league baseball nearly did not exist growing up in Cleveland so moving here in '85 made it easy to embrace the Reds as my baseball team to follow.

I root for the Bengals for an eclectic set of reasons. First , I respect and admire Marvin Lewis, despite his need to exercise discipline on players like Chad Johnson. Marvin brought class back to the Bengals and removed a decade of doormat performances. Secondly, those Bengals fans that badmouth Browns fans don't respect the rivalry and the rich history of the meld of both teams;i.e.Bengals commentator Dave Lapham's ignorance of asking Marvin Lewis in a pregame press interview... "Coach, if its Brown, flush it down?...Right?", to which Marvin answered the need to move on and ask an original question that was pertinent to the game. Third, without the Cleveland Browns, who legend has it was named after their first coach Paul Brown, there may not be a Cincinnati Bengals franchise.

For those that care, current owner Mike Brown is the son 0f Paul Brown. Paul Brown, perhaps the greatest coach of pro football in NFL history with his decades of excellence leading the Cleveland Browns in their infancy and perrenial success as the model of success in the 50's and 60's winning several AAFC (the old All America Football Conference)and NFL championships(now known as SuperBowl). The Cleveland Browns, in that era, were the current day Patriots, winning virtually everything. Paul Brown, was fired by Art Modell, then Cleveland owner, and Brown then was motivated to start his own pro football team here in Cincinnati. Soooo, when ignorant fans like Lapham say,"...if its Brown, flush it down" they are saying, in effect, flush Paul Brown down. Paul being the original founder of the Bengals and namesake of the Cleveland Browns is a paradox for all Ohio NFL fans to admire.

Finally, the most important reason I root for the Bengals when they aren't playing the Browns is because the woman I admire the most in this world;the lovely, intelligent and super talented neuro nurse named Mary Ellen, whom I am honored to call my wife, is a Bengals fan. For you guys reading this, that would be all the reason I would need; just a little unsolicited advice to take or leave.

I know I went into "Sweets like" detail here but these are things of which I am passionate and love. Must have been Tommy's passions were activated upon on his last blog, keep it up my freind! For if we gain nothing else out of this cyberspace place, it is just that, an opportunity to share part of ourselves via print. It is truely a modern day forum for communication. A Council of The Group. Thank you one and all for allowing to be a small part of this journey.
Keep On Bloggin',
Tom(aka Dad) Eardley