/sarcasm?

When I first started getting into football more than just casually, I bought Madden 2001 and started a Bears franchise because I didn’t want to seem like a Cleveland homer. Since then I developed a healthy like of the Bears for any neutral game. I’ve since started to dislike them a little ever since White Sox and Cubs fans became intolerable, but I was wondering if anyone else started to root for a team because of Madden. I know my friend is becoming a Vikings fan right now because of familiarity with the team.

*development. The ‘ment’ disappeared into the ether.

I disagree — it seems like there are quite a few people on this blog who aren’t from Ohio but picked up the Indians for other reasons so they’re not fans of other Cleveland/Ohio State teams. Also, many people here are diehard baseball fans which means they don’t care or don’t have time for other sports. I know many people here have said they never watch football or basketball, so I think this kind of site will get more baseball-obsessed people than a regular fan.

Just my thoughts, not sure if they’re accurate.

SCAB!

Fail. Evan I don’t root for the Steelers.

Same here, I grew up with the NE Ohio quadruple of Indians, Browns, Cavs, and Buckeyes. It always amuses me when I hear people on this blog make deragatory comments about Browns fans or Buckeyes fans because everyone was a fan of all four teams where I grew up (Norwalk) so to me there is no difference between fans of those teams.

i often wonder how my cleveland fandom will survive having kids (which i don’t yet) if i don’t end up back in cleveland (don’t live there now). my dad’s not a cleveland guy, but when i was growing up he essentially adopted the cleveland teams as i became a fan…going to games and rooting for the tribe/cavs/browns w/ dad and bro really sticks out in my childhood memories. will i become a nuggets, rockies, broncos (no way) fan if my kids grow up in, say, denver? hard to imagine, as much as i love these cleveland teams still.

At least you still root for the “Browns”

I don’t like when people pile on teams for not doing well, but then hop back on when they start winning (still waiting)

This should get rec’d like crazy.

This is basically where I stand. Most of my time in Cleveland was when the Browns were away. When the new franchise came around, it became somewhat difficult to get tickets because of the PSLs, high prices, and popularity of the new franchise. Or at least I remember it that way. Cavs tickets were very much available during that time, and I could get Indians tickets, even though they were very good and very popular.

I also don’t really like pro football. Dieahrd pro football fans I’ve observed (Browns, Lions, Chargers, and varied transplants) are a different breed than fans of other sports. I can’t put my finger on it, and I consider myself a really big college football fan. The fans, and the game, are just different, and I prefer college.

This is me. Different order, and more ohio-centric than cleveland-centric, but agree with the anything Cleveland is great by me:
- Indians
- Browns
- Buckeye Football
- Dayton Flyer Basketball
- Cavs

I’m the same way. I’d put the Indians before the Browns and then Chelsea and Xavier before the Cavs. That said, if it’s Cleveland, I’m in.

Not to get in a football discussion here, but I heartily disagree with that assessment. Quinn hasn’t had a chance to play in the NFL yet so I don’t know how you can say he’s average (and he certainly accomplished much more in college than Sanchez — Quinn took a ND team with almost no talent besides him to BCS games while Sanchez played on year on a team loaded with future NFL players). I think the Browns made a great trade to get more players for the No. 5 pick; they certainly didn’t need another QB.

I’ll go ahead and disagree also. We had a tough expansion era, and haven’t experienced any sustained success. I’ll give you a pass on that part. Sanchez IS Quinn with less experience, equal arm, and less, well ability. That’s just silly.

And to call the stadium lifeless? That’s a load too. It might not have the character of the old stadium, but it still provides one of THE best experiences in the NFL. Go to a Bengals game (even in their good year), a Dolphins game, a Rams game, or about 25 other cities and Cleveland Browns Stadium looks great.

yup, welcome to Ohio.

It’s not just pro football, obviously with Ohio St. I knew a lot of people that cared way more about high school football than the Indians

I resent it too, but I’m still a Browns fan.

In 2007, I wore my Tribe jersey tailgating close to the clinch and every time somebody tried to talk baseball I immediately realized that they weren’t really familiar with the baseball club. It started to really bother me, but then I realized that these same people couldn’t really hold a conversation about football either. Football is a very casual sport to follow (only 16 games to watch.) Most of the legion of Cleveland Browns fans are in it for the release and social aspect, hence the surprising turnout for a (lately) terrible team. I’m OK with it and realize that football culture is completely different (as is NBA.) I support my Cleveland teams, but can’t completely identify with NFL or NBA culture.

I attend Case, am regularly in the heart of Cleveland, and this is usually the standard reaction (with a few memorable and random exceptions of having fun conversations with some of Chuck’s buddies)

Well that would certainly explain it, then. I would call you an “outlier” (no offense).

Similar:
Don’t like the Browns.
REALLY don’t like Ohio Sate.
Like the Cavs, I guess. I am a new basketball fan and I picked them and the Bulls.
ADORE the Indians.

No connection with NE Ohio.

So how did you get into the Indians?

it’s easy to be a frontrunner

If the answer to that isn’t zero, I’m going to guess that dg isn’t more than 3 or 4 off.

I have a very good friend who is a huge fan of both… she now lives in Cleveland and tailgates the Browns 8 times a season, and still makes it to several Bucs games a year. But Erie makes funny pairings like that—I also know a lot of Indians/Steelers fans, and of course, I’m Tribe/Bills. A lot depends on parents and a lot depends on circumstance. When I was 6 and getting into football, I was a frontrunner. But at least I was a frontrunner with a local team (not to mention the one with broadcast rights).

SSS if you’re talking about die-hard Pirates fans.

You must have been thrilled when Illinois ran all over the Buckeyes last year. Or the year before. Whatever, I’m a casual Buckeyes fan.

Zippy the Kangaroo, your 2007 Capital One Mascot of the Year.

I’ll name the 53 man roster right here RIGHT NOW. Don’t make me do it!

I never hear this anymore.
It has its moments.

Do you own some Channel Locks?

I was born and raised in Sharpsville, PA. We played at Meadville once and lost 20-0, which was typical of our teams of that era.

Northern VA does have one good team. Unfortunately, it’s the 2008 Carolina League Champion Alexandria Dukes Prince William Pirates Prince William Yankees Prince William Cannons Potomac Cannons Potomac Nationals

One word of advice: click this:

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