OPINION —
AS I PULLED up to the drive-thru window of a local fast-food restaurant Friday afternoon, I was wearing a Browns shirt.
The young man at the window took my money and said: “Browns fan, huh?”
I wanted to say, “What gave you that idea?” but then I replied, “Yes I am.”
So he pulled out a long, brown and orange cord hooked to his keys which proclaimed “Cleveland Browns.” He said, “I’m a Browns fan all the way.”
I said, “Let me give you some advice. I’ve been a Browns fan for 60 years. Get a new team.”
Of course it could be worse. I could be a Pirates fan too. While I do root for the Buccos, my heart lies with the Indians which are only slightly better. Still, when you have 20 straight losing seasons like the Pirates, it doesn’t get much worse than that. (Until next year, that is.)
Being a Browns fan is about as frustrating as it gets. NFL Network this past week carried a one-hour show entitled “Cleveland ’95” that showed the behind-the-scenes stuff that went into Art Modell moving the club to Baltimore.
That was bad news for Browns fans. Then the news got worse. Cleveland got a new Browns team.
It’s pretty much been anguish ever since the return. Yet every year we think the Browns will turn the corner. And they don’t. And this year we’re relying on a rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to do well.
Hey, there’s always next year. And hey, there’s always 2050!
My wife and my brother Paul’s wife once said that if the Browns ever make it to the Super Bowl, they would buy us tickets. Obviously they knew they would never have to fork out that money.
In other words, the Browns will lose their fifth straight game of the season today to the New York Giants, 23-13.
Meanwhile, the “Battle of Pa.” will be one of the headline games today as Philadelphia visits Pittsburgh. This normally would be a tough one to call.
The Eagles have been sliding through with some close wins and actually should have lost to the Browns. What’s that tell you?
And Pittsburgh is well-rested after a bye week and they will supposedly welcome back James Harrison and Troy Polamalu to bolster the defense. And running back Mendenhall should be ready to go to help a horrible running attack.
Therefore, there’s only one way to call this game:
Philadelphia will win, 17-16.
Last week my picks went 11-4 for a season mark of 38-20. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
Cincy (-31⁄2) over Miami
Washington (plus 3) over Atlanta
New England (-61⁄2) over Denver
New Orleans (-31⁄2) over San Diego
Houston (-8) over NY Jets
Jacksonville (plus 51⁄2) over Chicago
Green Bay (-7) over Indy
Baltimore (-5) over Kansas City
Tenn. (plus 51⁄2) over Minnesota
Seattle (plus 3) over Carolina
San Fran (-91⁄2) over Buffalo
Lynn Saternow is sports editor of The Herald. He can be reached at lsaternow@sharonherald.com.
Sports
SPORTVIEW: Advice to young Browns fans — get a new team!
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Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. - More Sports Headlines
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