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Steelers', Browns' fans gladly swap nice weather for team passion
By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
THERE ARE Steelers’ and Browns’ fans and then there are ... other! I found that out last Sunday at the Browns game in Jacksonville.
My wife LaVon and I had flown to Tampa to visit our son Joel and his wife Kim. On Sunday we made the 3-hour trek to Jacksonville where we hooked up with my brother Ralph and his wife Mandy, who live north of West Palm Beach.
We were all dressed in our Browns attire and we tailgated in a stadium lot. The Jaguars fans were actually nice to us. Not one person gave us a thumbs-down or a one-finger-up salute. No need for expletives deleted. (What fun is that?)
Then after the game, as we left, Jags fans were actually congratulating us on the win by the Browns. Yikes! Could you image Steelers’ or Browns’ fans doing that to opponents’ fans?
During the game, Jags fans are somewhat docile. In our section, it was probably half Browns backers. At one time in the third quarter on a crucial third-down play for his team, a Jags fan stood up and yelled up to the fans: “Come on get up!”
The Jags fans didn’t even move, but we Browns fans immediately jumped up and started barking and woofing. The guy was shocked. Welcome to the world of real fans, buddy! The Dawg Pound travels well.
OK, maybe Florida people have a lot more to do than worry about their sports teams. But while we enjoyed the sunshine, I’ll take the passion of Steelers and Browns fans any day even if it means living through snow and cold.
I predicted that the Browns would lose if Brady Quinn didn’t play, but I was wrong. The Browns won despite quarterback Derek Anderson. In the second half, he was miserable. On one play he threw a pass into the ground and Jags fan behind us said, “This looks like my son’s high school games.”
But obviously, because of the loyalty of the Browns administration to D.A., it looks like we are stuck with him. He will be good enough today to beat the former Browns (Ravens). Look for a 20-9 Cleveland victory.
The Steelers are hoping to avoid a tailspin on Monday night when they visit Washington. But unless they shore up the offensive line, they are in trouble. Ben Roethlisberger has been folded, bent and spindled this season and he’s not going to last. The beating he’s taken is going to shorten his career — shoulders, legs and hips can only take so much.
Look for the Redskins to continue the pounding on Big Ben and Washington to win, 27-23.
Last week my picks went 9-5 for a season mark of 59-56. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
NY Giants (-81/2) over Dallas
New England (plus 6) at Indy
Buffalo (-51/2) over NY Jets
Denver (-3) over Miami
Philly (-61/2) over Seattle
Green Bay (plus 41/2) over Tennessee
Minnesota (-41/2) over Houston
St. Louis (plus 3) over Arizona
Oakland (plus 3) ovr Atlanta
Tampa (-81/2) over Kansas City
Chicago (-131/2) over Detroit
Jacksonville (-71/2) over Cincy
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WM sweeps team titles at Hornet Harrier Invite
Coach Bob Morris’ West Middlesex High girls’ and boys’ cross country contingents swept team titles during the 12th annual Hickory Hornet Harrier Invitational.
On Saturday at the 3.1-mile Delahunty Middle School course, Hickory’s Morgan Richards (19:29) and Wilmington’s Luke Gilliland (17:14) copped individual crowns. It was a personal-best time for Richards on the course. -
SPORTVIEW: New Hickory High field brings pride to whole community
AS I LOOKED out over the new turf field at Hickory High Stadium Friday night at the football season opener against West Middlesex, I couldn’t help but think: “What a difference.”
In past years, the heavy rains Friday afternoon would have made that field a mess. But it was in beautiful shape with new artificial turf and great drainage. It brought back some not-so-great memories of the old field and the old stadium. -
Outdoors: Fireside Philosophers meet again
The Ninth Annual Fireside Philosophers event began last weekend with five Pennsylvania outdoors writers congregating at Camp F-Troop for a four-hour evening campfire featuring corn-on-the-cob, venison teriyaki, a taste of Kentucky bourbon and lots of semi-brilliant conversation over the pinewood flames. Late at night, Post-Gazette columnist Ben Moyer demonstrated the laws of Isaac Newton physics by falling near the campfire ring and rolling downhill all the way to the camp back door.
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Bowling: Article on high scoring very interesting
After what seemed an eternity of “status quo,” it appears as though the Mercer County Men’s Bowling Association may be heading in a new and different direction. The elections that were held at the annual meeting in May brought new faces to the board. However, perhaps the most important change occurred Aug. 1 when Jim Faylo became the association manager.
Let’s hope these changes transform our association into a positive and progressive one whose main goals are listening to the concerns of the local bowlers and enhancing the sport. -
Brodie, Farrell top Sharon in Steel Bowl
How do you explain it?
Without the benefit of a first down, Farrell High football team led Sharon 12-0 at halftime Friday night.
Excluding a 2nd half-opening 90-yard scoring drive, the Steelers amassed more yards in penalties than they did from scrimmage.
No back rushed for as many as 50 yards and Farrell finished with just 1 completed pass. Farrell failed on 4 conversion attempts, too. -
New coach, new turf, 1st win for Hickory
Hickory High’s new head football coach Bill Brest stood almost in awe as he accepted congratuations on his first victory Friday night, a victory that christened the new turf field in Hermitage.
“Personally it feels great,” said an elated Brest, shortly after a resounding 40-12 triumph over West Middlesex that began his head coaching career at Hickory. “But it’s not about me, it’s about the kids. I’m happy for the kids. They worked so hard in summer and in camp and we even started school early.” -
Roundup: Lakeview, Wilmington, Brookfield notch wins
Lakeview, Wilmington and Brookfield earned wins in opening up the 2010 season on Friday night.
Wilmington routed Slippery Rock, 40-12; Lakeview posted a 20-6 victory over Union City; Brookfield snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 19-14 win over Western Reserve Academy; North East beat Greenville, 17-7, and Kennedy Catholic dropped a tough 28-20 loss to Maplewood.
ä Lakeview 20, Union City 6 — At Union City, seniors Alex Patterson rushed for 143 yards and Jake Novak rumbled for 122 as the Sailors opened the season with a victory over the Bears. -
It's kickoff time! Steel Bowl highlights week 1
Losing its 2009 lidlifter to Shenango Valley foil Farrell was difficult enough. But the ultimate reality probably was tougher on the teeth than a $2 steak for Tigers’ taskmaster Bob Fromm.
With the Steelers’ Jarrett Samuels doing his best Michael Buffer barotone in beginning post-game remarks at midfield, the Sharon skipper swallowed that season-opening setback. But as the campaign’s weeks unfolded, he grudgingly would have to admit it may have benefitted his Bengals. -
HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: KC golfers stay unbeaten; GC netters top Hickory
Kennedy Catholic golf team edged Mercer, 157-159, in a battle of unbeatens Tuesday at Spring Valley Golf Course. KC's Dante Vetica nailed an eagle 2 on the 6th hole en route to medalist honors (35).
In tennis action, Grove City defeated Hickory, 4-1, while other local winners were Sharon, Wilmington and Kennedy.
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Volleyball tourney set to help youngster
A volleyball/cornhole tournament will be held Saturday at Splitz Bar and Grille Hermitage to help 6-year-old burn victim Alexander Zuschlag.
Alexander was burned in a campfire accident and requires skin grafts and other treatments in Pittsburgh hosptials.
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