Writers note: Due to Cleveland’s embarrassing 24-14 loss to Buffalo today, I’ve decided not to relive the memory of the game. Therefore, I’m going to answer an infamous question: “Why in the world do I choose to root for the Browns?”

I always find it amusing how many non-Browns fans ask me why I’m such a diehard fan of the only team I’ve ever rooted for. Is it really that hard to understand a fan being loyal to their team, no matter how bad things get? In my opinion, that’s what sports are all about. You root for your team, whether they’re winning or losing. A true fan will never jump on another team’s bandwagon, no matter how ugly things may get.

It’s funny how people always refer to Cleveland as the Mistake by the Lake. The Browns are widely remembered for their disappointments, most notably “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” and “The Move.” It seems that people often forget about all the legends that have donned the orange and brown. People tend to forget about the days where we had Jim Brown, Ozzie Newsome, Otto Graham, Bernie Kosar, and Brian Sipe. Sure, we’ve never won a Super Bowl, but the Browns did win four NFL Championships. I know a lot of you are probably reading this, scratching your head and thinking, “Does she realize how long ago those wins were?” Trust me, considering I wasn’t alive during these times, I do realize how long it’s been since the Browns were winners.

So, why root for the Browns? There’s many reasons, which I’m going to outline.

• I know I’m a bit biased, but Cleveland Browns fans are the best in the league, and it’s an amazing thing to be a part of. Since the Browns returned in 1999, the team’s record has been 68-143, for a stellar 32% winning percentage. Since 1999, we’ve had six different head coaches and 17 different starting quarterbacks. In what other city would you find so many fans stick with a team through this madness? True Browns fans are as loyal as they come, and I’m proud to be a part of such a great group.
• Wherever you are at, if you’re with true fans watching the Browns, it’s always a party, win or lose. It’s a joke with Browns fans, that no matter how the Browns play, all the fans are winners. You can either drink your beer while celebrating a Browns win, or drink away your sorrows. If that’s your cup of tea, either way you leave the bar, stadium, or party, with a buzz.

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Written by Terra Carlson

I graduated from Hiram College where I earned a B.A. in communication, while focusing on journalism. It’s been a dream of mine since I was young to be a sports journalist. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been involved in sports in some capacity. I’ve played sports all of my life, and been a die-hard Cleveland sports fan for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was given strict warnings that if I didn’t root for the Browns, there would be a good possibility my dad would disown me. I hadn’t really watched the Browns prior to them returning in 1999, and I can remember my excitement when they took the field again for the first time. It’s never been easy to be a Cleveland fan, but I’ll never turn my back on my team. Every Sunday, I can be found in my brown and orange rooting on my hometown team that I love dearly.

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