Reality stares at the Browns, and this week's entertainment
Posted January 3rd, 2009 by Pat McManamon
Here's an example of what the Browns face, based on a very unscientific study of one group of people at the Q, conducted by me and endorsed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (little joke there … ).
I took my daughters to Trans Siberian Orchestra Tuesday night - the last show of their four-show stint in Cleveland. I had never been to see them, but did notice that I fit in the general demographics of the crowd, which was largely handsome, suave, intelligent, refined and sophisticated.
Just kidding.
In truth, the crowd seemed to be middle to upper-middle class, the kind of people the Browns hope buy their tickets.
Prior to the show, the Orchestra donated a rather hefty check of nearly of $27,000 to the St. Augustine shelter that feeds the needy. Yes, it was a fraction of the proceeds, but no matter it was impressive. Apparently TSO does this for every show they do. The band chooses a local charity and donates part of the proceeds from their ticket sales to said charity. It's a kind gesture, a nice thing to do. The gentleman who ran the shelter nearly broke down saying thanks.
But just prior to that a DJ from WNCX talked about how Trans Siberian Orchestra had been coming to Cleveland for 10 years. Ten years ago, he pointed out, we had not experienced terrorism on our shores. And 10 years ago, Cleveland lacked professional football. "Well," he added. "We still do." The crowd roared.
During a break in the show - the first part is about a Christmas tale, the second a rock-it-out session; all told it was incredibly enjoyable - lead guitarist Chris Caffery came out to introduce the band wearing an Indians jersey. The crowd cheered. He took off the Indians jersey to reveal a Browns jersey. The crowd booed. Loudly. To the point that Caffery said: "Hey … that's not polite!" The crowd booed louder.
I was pretty shocked at the intensity. This was not fun booing; it was serious. And it came on a night when people just wanted to have fun. Eventually Caffery took off the Browns jersey to reveal an Ohio State jersey; the cheers returned. Then he took that off and had on a LeBron James/Cavs jersey. He got a standing ovation.
This unscientific study clearly showed the depth of the anger and frustration in the area about the football team that bears Cleveland's name. I've never been around a crowd in that kind of let's-have-a-good-time setting that turned so angry at a mere jersey. Two years ago when Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles wore a Browns jersey at a stadium show, she was cheered. This jersey was greeted with derision and anger.
I wasn't shocked. Who can be who's watched the Browns play recently? But it was eyebrow raising. And it should have the Browns very concerned as they ponder these hires they are pondering. In short, they have to ask: Will Eric Mangini (if he's the guy) turn these boos into cheers in the short term? If he doesn't in the short term, has he shown the capability to do it in the long term? Pretty important time right now for the team with the orange helmets. This jersey simply prompted too many boos at one otherwise festive show in downtown Cleveland the day before New Year's Eve.
Now … for this Saturday's entertainment, and you might have gotten TSO … except the holidays are winding down … and the other night I caught this guy on TV and realized he still has it. I saw him once in concert a few years ago and realized as he started playing that he could pick any song from decades of work and it would be a good song. It was a time when you realized you were in the presence of a greatness. Or, if you're not that big a fan, of verygoodness.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:17 am
I think the booing by the crowd was a representation of the passion for Cleveland Browns football. A couple of wins early next year and the fans will be chanting "Super Bowl, Super Bowl!" once again.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:58 am
Hey Pat, you should catch the interview Terry Gross did with Neil a while back[she's on NPR with a show called Fresh Air….I agree with Brian…we all love the Browns! All I want is for the team to play with the same intensity that the fans show.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
pat, i've seen neil around 10 times in the last 20 years. in the 80's when i was still a teen i thought he was an o.k. old guy but when i saw him do "rockin' in the free world" on snl he blew me away. i knew something was up with that guy. i checked him out on a whim at the richfield colosseum a couple years later and he practically made his electric guitar levitate on stage. that was his now infamous "smell the horse" tour in 1991. i was an instant convert. i've tried to go see him when possible over the years and last time was a few years ago in spokane. still great and proof that most of his generation with a few exceptions (bob dylan, lou reed) are nothing more than imitations of rock and roll these days.
if any of you had ever been to the record exchange in willoughby there used to be a big harvest promo of neil above the shelves. the owner gave that to me and it sits in a place of honor in my living room.
i'm glad people booed the browns at that concert. it is time for randy lerner to put up or shut up.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
The Browns have nothing to be concerned about, and I don't know why you would even say it. It's not like the Cavaliers without James, or the Indians without the 1990s. Media-generated nonsense. Apathy is a problem. Hostility isn't. Purported fan hostility or not, the franchise isn't going anywhere, the stadium will still sell out, and Son of Lerner & Family will still make a profit.
Here's my Saturday morning entertainment, which even a sober Bernie Kosar would find amusing:
http://littlurl.com/om4s0
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Whoever that guy is playin' on the youtube, I think maybe he could make it in the music biz.
Yeah, c'mon… presence of greatness? Hall of Famer, still vibrant and vital when most of his contemporaries are oldies acts or just plain forgotten. Up there with fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell among the most important and finest songwriters of their generation, right behind Dylan who stands alone.
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
What would the reaction be to a Steelers or Ravens jersey? That would be a totally different boo. There are boos (boo's?) for teams you hate with the passion of 1000 suns, then there are boos that say "That's my team and they screwed up big time and I'm MAD…" I wasn't there, but if I was, I would have booed as well - a loud, angry, ticked-off boo.
I was mad about this season, and that, after 30 years of 'wait till next year', I didn't see a desire or passion out of this team, and somebody has a huge job to do to turn this train around. Their biggest problem could be winning over a crowd of people ready to boo at any of the leading candidates! Read the posts and they're filled with passionate people screaming yes and no to each of the leading names… but what you see is passion!
January 4th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Anyone who watched the quality of play during the AFC wildcard games today realizes how mediocre we look in comparison. The Browns have humiliated the city, NE Ohio and their fans this year. It is also humiliating to have half of NE Ohio cheering for an out of state team from a town that absolutely hates Cleveland and NE Ohio in general. You will not find a Cavaliers or Indians jersey anywhere in or near that city, yet we line up at our local Walmarts to kiss their !@#$$ and wear their colors.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Extremely valid questions regarding Mangini, Pat.
And he IS the second coming of Crennel, you know. Why he is even involved in the search is beyond me!
Which available candidates would capture the imaginations of the greatest number of Browns fans, resulting in a degree of hope and patience?
1. Marty Schottenheimer.
2. Bill Cowher. Lerner needs to make it clear to Cowher that he is serious about pursuing a championship, and not just shrug his shoulders and walk away when told "not until next year".
3. Mike Shanahan. A big dropoff between the top two and number three here. Still, if Shanahan were to be HC only without personnel responsibilities, it may be workable.
4. There are no other valid candidates.
Parcells has announced that he is not leaving Miami. It is one of the three above, or another 3-5 years of booing the poor management and coaching of the Cleveland Browns. If one of the three above is not brought on board, I hope Quinn, Cribbs, Thomas, Steinbach, and Anderson are all traded. It would be a pity for them to lose their youth and skills while waiting for competent coaching and management to appear in Berea.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Hey Pat,
Just thought I should add that Neil's current North American tour is really smokin' hot as well. I saw the Thursday night show in Toronto about a month ago and it was great. He played a lot of the old classics like Cinnamon Girl, Ohio, Powderfinger, Cowgirl in the Sand, Heart of Gold … and the crowd was singing along word for word. He played a Beatles song for an encore (the one that starts.. "I read the news today, oh boy!") and got totally immersed into a guitar solo, with feet stomping and hair flying. At his age, he stills puts on a great show and brought the crowd to its feet several times.
As for the Browns, I think Marty has enough credibility with the fans that they wouldn't start calling for his head after a couple of losses. I suspect that someone like Mangini would have to have instant success right out of the gate and he might not have enough time or patience to deal with the fans or media pressure.