Comments on: LeBron’s Hat …

By: Greg Grant

Greg Grant — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:58:01 +0000

Sorry – the brawl was in 1972.

By: Greg Grant

Greg Grant — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:50:45 +0000

Another note about Bill Musselman – he was the coach at the University of Minnesota when Dave Winfield and company stomped the Buckeyes in an on-court brawl in 1968.

From the Wikipedia entry on Luke Witte:

“In the Ohio State-Minnesota game, played at Minnesota on January 25, 1972, Ohio State led 50-44 with 36 seconds to go. Witte went for a layup but was fouled hard. Immediately following the foul, Minnesota player Corky Taylor extended an arm to help Witte up, then kneed Witte in the groin and punched him in the head. While on the floor, he was also kicked and stomped by Minnesota player Ron Behagen, knocking him unconscious.

What followed was an extended brawl that included fans leaving the stands and joining in. Witte’s teammate, Dave Merchant, attempted to come to his aid, but was struck in the face several times by Gopher Jim Brewer. Another Buckeye, Mark Wagar (currently the President of Empire BlueCross BlueShield in New York), was attacked from behind by Minnesota player — and future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer — Dave Winfield, who landed five punches into Wagar’s face.

Officials stopped the game, and awarded the Buckeyes a 50-44 victory, prompting Minnesota fans to boo and throw objects as Witte was carried from the floor. Hospitalized for several days, including 24 hours in intensive care, Witte’s injuries, which included 29 facial stitches and a scarred cornea, in the views of many permanently affected his career. In all, three Ohio State players were taken to hospitals.”

That’s the guy that Stepien hired to coach the Cavs.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:03:28 +0000

Marvelous work, Joe.

Just one quick correction. Belichick did win a playoff game during his Cleveland years. I remember it well. It was after the 1994 season against my New England Patriots – 20-13. Bill stunning started Vinny Testeverde at Quarterback. We all laughed…until the end of the game.

By: Pete S.

Pete S. — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 01:14:19 +0000

Joe,
A friend of mine turned me on to the soul of baseball blog and I was an instant fan. Fast forward several months and he and I were talking about Wahoo, and he said I should read your other blog. Good story on Wahoo, I disagree, but your points are well-taken. However, this one really speaks to my heart. I have never, I repeat, never lived in Cleveland, but love them because my dad does. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I have never once been able to stick it to them because the Browns don’t often beat the Steelers, and well, AL v. NL doesn’t count til October if you ask me. Your blog here has shown me what my dad suffered through as a Cleveland fan since he was born in 1948. I didn’t come along to care about sports til about ‘88 or ‘89, so I got some good years, but got glimpses and I remember ‘95 and ‘97 like it was yesterday. I think one heartbreak you left out was the strike of ‘94 because the Indians were on an incredible pace, and that was arguably their best team.

When the Browns left, I mourned, and grudgingly became a Steelers fan, and I share your feeling of not feeling quite right about the new Browns. I was happy when the Steelers won the Super Bowl two years ago, but now I feel like a football fan without a team. As a Notre Dame grad, I’m inclined to root for “the heart-throb” Brady Quinn when he gets his chance, but I’m stuck not knowing who to root for. I think Quinn is a quintessential Clevelander. A kid from Ohio who loves the Browns; college phenom, but left sitting all alone at the draft to go in the 20’s. Who from Cleveland couldn’t love a down-trodden kid like that. I love my Browns of old, and Bernie Kosar, but I also love the new Steelers and Jerome Bettis. I think I might be the most confused NFL fan ever as my two teams couldn’t be more bitter rivals. I’d like to personally thank Art Modell for that one.

At the least though, we do have the Browns back, and maybe some time we will regain what we lost for 4 years.

I’ll tell you, the only thing getting me through this Notre Dame football season are my Cleveland Indians. Your blog has given me a new appreciation for our struggle, and for all those who have lived in Cleveland all these years, and for this young man who is looking to moving there for residency. I love the “mistake on the lake,” my second home, where my grandparents lived in bedford and akron, and where i spent my summers in Sandusky – near the “amazement park.”

Thanks for giving us Cleveland fans this outlet!

By: Bill G

Bill G — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:30:07 +0000

Excellent writing, Joe. Perfectly describes … well, pretty much everything about being a Cleveland fan during the last 30+ years. I was in the Dawg Pound for The Drive, and froze during Red Right 88, even though that was in our house in Akron (furnace broke, so we watched the game dressed like the fans at the game). My first Indians game (mid 70’s) had the Tribe down by one with 2 on in the ninth, only to have Joe Lis strike out to end it. I miss Municipal. Sort of. It was fun when there were 70,000+ fans. It was nice to be able to walk up to Gate A 5 minutes before game time and get lower box seats. And the hotdogs were out of this world. And it was nice sitting next to the third base dugout on May 15th, 1981. Easily my greatest baseball moment. (yes, I have the ticket stub).

Thank goodness for the Buckeyes in 2002. At least ONE team I root for actually won a championship!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:10:45 +0000

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article , but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

By: Mike K

Mike K — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:25:14 +0000

This article was the best. I can recall vividly each Browns debacle and I am much like the author with regard to the “new” Browns. I guess after all it isn’t just the laundry we root for. But I miss loving those Browns so much that even if they only won 1 game, if it was against Pittsburgh, it was a successful season. Perhaps in a future blog he can explain why I just can’t connect with the new team. The old Browns sucked too for long stretches….I just can’t figure it out.

By: ajnrules

ajnrules — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:28:33 +0000

“Sadly, though, the Cavs were swept by San Antonio and the Spurs were so dominating, so overwhelming, so much better than Cleveland, it sort of took some of the fun out of it.”

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:03:04 +0000

I finally set aside time (on my employer’s dime, of course) to read this entry, and I’m happy I did. The description of REAL Clevelanders is incredible. And I think I’m finally beginning to understand what it’s like for them.

I’m just a baseball fan. Growing up in northern California in the seventies and eighties meant one thing: you were a Niners fan, and your life was beautiful. I, however, couldn’t take to football – that was too easy. As a dedicated masochist, I must be a Giants fan. Maldonado’s catch. An earthquake. San Diego and Colorado teaming up to enable Atlanta’s epic 1993 drive. Florida’s two rent-a-championship teams. Willie Mays opening the bottle of champagne when we were still six outs away. Did you know that the Giants have led in each of their last nineteen postseason games?

So I think I understand the pain, just a little. I know I’m pulling for the Indians with all my might. You don’t want to know how that usually turns out.

By: Paul White

Paul White — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:46:24 +0000

Joe – As you know by now, I’m from Boston originally, and I can honestly say that your description of the difference between knowing that your teams suck and knowing that your teams are cursed was pretty much the most accurate thing I’ve ever read on the subject. I must admit that I never fully bought into the whole “Curse” foolishness, but those thoughts certainly cross your mind in the moments immediately following such seminal disaterous moments as Bill Buckner’s error, Bucky Dent’s home run, Len Bias’ death, and Tony Eason’s career, and wanting someone throw a brick at you is an extremely accurate representation of the emotions felt in those moments. Kudos.

Also, thanks for the bit of nostalgia about Cedar Point. I lived in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for about three years as a kid, and since there was nowhere really fun to go in Ft. Wayne, our 6th grade class outing was to Cedar Point. There’s nothing quite like your first “long” trip without your parents tagging along, especially when you combine it with riding your first roller coaster, eating too much, and falling asleep on the bus on the way home as your friends take pictures, hide your hat and mock your snoring. Good times.