Ace Davis' Weblog

I am no relation to Butch, Ernie, nor any of the 11 Davises to don the brown and orange, from Andra to Zola. In fact, Ace Davis is a pseudonym.

Behind the mask is an unassuming but ever-questing soul traveling in the compact body of a Michigan-based freelance broker of information and ideas. I’ve graduated from the corporate, public and non-profit sectors after various roles in journalism, social work, and middle management.

On to the important stuff. I believe I was born a Browns fan, but the awareness dawned on me at age 10, back in 1978, growing up in the Toledo area. My dad was and is a little dynamo, always on the go, even at home, with various projects, errands, and activities. But on Sunday afternoons, he’d always settle in to watch those brown-and-orange hulks from his hometown. Nothing else on TV held his attention like the Browns, and nothing drew more animated emotional reactions from him than their various missteps and successes. Over time I learned that, not unlike my dad’s emotions, the Browns were something I could not control, but together we could try to understand them and hope for the best.

Dad and I watched every possible game together for years. He took me to a pre-season scrimmage in Bowling Green the summer after the amazing Kardiac Kids season. He took me to playoff games during the Kosar era: the historic double-overtime win over the Jets in 1987, and the 38-21 drubbing of the Colts the next year. Though my passion for the Browns has certainly taken on a life of its own, it’s rooted in my love for my father, and his for me. I imagine this is true for many of the most loyal fans.

I’ll become a father myself in a few weeks, and this child will learn to make many, many decisions on his or her own. Few will receive clearer parental, shall we say, guidance than the choice of a pro football team to follow. May our most glorious moments of joy lie just ahead of us, and may we delight in sharing them together.

- Ace Davis 4/2004