True to the bitter end

True to the bitter end
                        
How ironic that I’m writing this on Jan. 11.  It was 25 years ago on this very day that my heart stood still.  Those of you that love the Cleveland Browns will know – it’s the day we succumbed to the Denver Broncos and a much younger John Elway in that fateful AFC Championship game. 

Ninety-eight yards in five minutes.  The win in OT.  The day that could’ve swung my young heart away from football forever.

After Tim Tebow and the current crop of Broncos took down the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger in that wildcard match last Sunday, I found myself cheering on the Broncos.  And no, this isn’t a forum for bashing on Tebow’s quarterback skills.  He’s young and having his day – who are we to not let him have it?

But um, aren’t the Broncos on my “heavily dislike” list? They stole our Super Bowl dreams away, right? Then again, we are talking the Steelers.  A Cleveland Browns fan’s hatred for anything black and yellow usurps all the pain and bitterness we’ve held onto for a very long time. 

Maybe it doesn’t take ALL the pain away.  I stored a little bit away to wallow in on a snowy January day. And if I’m honest, I can’t really look at John Elway in the face.  I still see him celebrating.

What are we, if we aren’t loyal to our team?  Our coach? Our history?

That game 25 years ago and the one last Sunday did nothing if not cement my love for all things Cleveland.  One of these years, it will be our year.  Most people don't understand that kind of loyalty.  It’s a fever that burns down deep inside of you that doesn’t ever extinguish. 

I know quite a few ladies that have married and moved to the ranks of say, Garaway or West Holmes.  Their children cheer for their new team, they are involved heavily in all things to do with that school.  But if I would ask, I’m sure just a tiny flame still flickers for Hiland.  They may not admit it, but I would bet that it’s there.  That’s called loyalty, even if hidden. 

If you ask any Cleveland fan what should be done about the coaching staff, the management, etc. you would get about 100 hotly contested answers.  Fire that guy!  He’s not beneficial to us! We need to keep him!  We’re on the right track!  It would be a wild swing in all directions, because everyone has a different viewpoint.

It’s the same for high school sports.  We are loyal to a fault for the teams our children play on, or simply because we’ve gone to every high school game for the last 50 years.  It’s in our blood.  In our souls.  But when we’re disappointed with the way the seasons have been going, or we think our children are not being treated fairly on the court or off, do we go after the head honchos with an axe or a poison apple?

As parents, we are sometimes blinded. 

My high school volleyball career ended watching our team climb to the Regional final that fall of 1986. We had been there the year before also. We were good.  We were talented.  But when we got to that level, a new kind of volleyball was being played – every year.  A level of volleyball we had never attained.  ls there a blame to be placed?  Is it the coach’s fault? Did we just not try hard enough as a team?  Or was it just not our year, no matter how much talent was on the team? 

I think about those years and my coach.  She was a tough one.  I never really liked her until now. I went through hell and back with her, but I can see what she tried to do for us.  She was tough, but encouraging.  She made signs with Bible verses on them and tips for mentally preparing for those hard-fought games.  She may not have been a popular coach, but I can see now, through my hazy past, that she was a good coach.  She did for us what we needed.  Even though we never reached that level to put us through to the big game, we knew that she had coached us just the way we needed to be coached.  She was there several years after I graduated, then moved on to another state.  I wish I could get in contact with her today.

I believe the Cleveland Browns will prosper.  I believe in the coaching staff, just as I believe in the coaching staff at my children’s school.  We may not think everything they do is right, but they are people who are doing their jobs.  They take their time to spend hours with our children in season and off.  I don’t always agree with what they do. In fact, I may get downright mad.  I may get nitpicky and think good grief, why are they playing this lineup?  Why aren’t they doing this? Why aren’t they doing that? 

Just like we’ve said about the Cleveland Browns forever.  Let’s just be honest.
But still, I choose to support.  I choose to stay loyal even when the score is 100 to 0. 

Or when we’ve pulled together and banged out a win – I stay true to my team. 

When our kids have hustled their tails off and left it all on the field – I will stay true.
 
When you just can’t stand the coach because he might’ve said something that rubs you the wrong way – I will stay true.  Because in the real world, we can’t always have it our way.  As long as our kids are pounding away, loving what they do, and giving it their all in every aspect – then I will stay true.  If I think they are doing it halfway, then my kid will be talked to by me.

When the Browns win the Super Bowl – whether I’m 45 or 95 – I will be glad for all those years I stayed loyal.  I believe that.


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