It was very odd to experience an absence of mention of the regionally-historical sports significance of yesterday's date. No word was read in local papers; heard no word during a variety of local broadcasts, including at least three dedicated to the professional franchise involved.
December 27 marked Year 43 since last the city of Cleveland claimed a professional sports championship. On that day in 1964, the Browns shutout the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 27-0.
That this event was not commemorated may mean nothing to anyone. It could be all about how few survivors remain who actually witnessed it. It could be those deciding to overlook it couldn't stomach reminding themselves how pitifully pathetic it is to be associated with a locality that has been forced to wait so long to see another. It may be a simple oversight, though that is hard to comprehend, given a national network's mention that this year's Browns' club threatens to become the first ranked last in defense to participate in a post-season since, coincidentally, that '64 Browns outfit.
Nonetheless, it has been that long since Gary Collins caught three Frank Ryan scoring passes and an inspired, well-prepared and heady Browns defense rose up to silence an outstanding Johnny Unitas-led Baltimore offense in the cold and wind of Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
The region's largest newspaper, by contrast, today celebrated its franchise's last road playoff victory, a 1969 thrashing of the host Cowboys. But yesterday, the memory was of Archie Griffin's 1974 Heisman, his first, won as a junior, the only underclassman to garner the award prior to this year's Tim Tebow, the sophomore Florida QB.
That this oversight occurs in a week during which the paper is honoring the outstanding sports achievements in the area this calendar year is further cause for surprise, particularly since the Cavs' Eastern Conference Finals win was described in it as the city's first home title-clinching victory since that seemingly-dismissed Browns' upset of Baltimore.
Not even the organization's website commemorated the event's anniversary.
Maybe it's just me.
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Who among us did not suspect the blocked FG attempt by Phil Dawson in Oakland would haunt this year's Browns all season long, particularly once it became evident the squad was stronger than anyone had anticipated?
Forgive me if it seems unfair to mention the culprit's name here and now, but what makes it more annoying is it is the only play of significance involving Nat Dorsey all year long. Dorsey is the backup OT victimized by Raiders' DE Tommy Kelly (sideline with injury soon thereafter), the giant whose surge slapped down Dawson's potential game-winner.
As easily, one could cite the non-catch ruled in Arizona, when Kellen Winslow, Jr., seemingly exemplified the force-out scenario rules supposedly protect. Or the approximate five feet Dawson needed on his final-play kick in Pittsburgh.
These three plays equally explain why Cleveland currently needs the Colts (now of Indianapolis) to prevail over Tennessee's Titans if the Browns are to qualify for this season's playoffs. More accurately, it probably is the Oakland game most responsible---if it wasn't Sunday's disaster in the Jungle---because it is Tenn's superior mark versus common opponents that accounts for its slight advantage where AFC tie-breakers are concerned. The Titans' win over Oakland will essentially separate the two contestants, should it be Tenn wins over Indy Sunday evening.
The salient point is the local club had opportunities to secure for itself the post-season berth it understandably feels entitled to. But this team began as a young squad needing to learn how to compete and win with the big boys and what has transpired has all been evidence of that requisite learning process.
Veteran leadership manifested after that Opening Day display at home against the Steelers, commandeered the clubhouse, steadied the ship and charted the course of resurrection. Nine wins stunningly followed, enabled by a favorable last-place schedule, highlighted by a very winnable second half, and featuring the emergence of a remarkable passing game orchestrated by rookie O-C Rob Chudzinski.
With the Niners in town for Sunday's regular-season curtain-closer, this outfit can make team history as the first to go 7-1 at home and the first to 10 wins since '94. Ironically, it is SF who achieved the sport's longest streak with 14 successive double-digit win seasons. (Imagine such a run.)
It is also ironic that the defense seems to be righting itself just as the offense is showing signs of struggle. Of course, the colds of December and the quality of opponents factor as contributors to what may merely be illusionary progress defensively. The club no longer ranks last in the NFL defensively. They are 31st, second-to-the-last.
But, as that apparently-forgettable '64 squad demonstrated, it is not stats that matter so much as winning when it counts. Regrettably, thusfar, this year's team has repeatedly missed legitimate road invitations help themselves, such as when it conspired not to win Sunday in Cincinnati, much as it dropped the ball in Oakland, Phoenix and Pittsburgh earlier.
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Many weeks ago it was foreseen (and documented here) that the AFC wildcard entries would come down to two of these three: Jax, Tenn and Cleveland, with Houston the outside challenger. Similarly, it was noted that Winslow was the team's difference-maker and that defending the left seam seemed key to thwarting Anderson's rhythm.
With ample game tape to scout and critical eyes focused upon the Cleveland offense, such patterns, among others, were league-wide detected. Therefore, it was no surprise that Cleveland's ill-advised first-quarter attempt to convert fourth-and-one at the Cinn 19 was blown-up when former Brown DT Michael Myers exploded into Cleveland center Hank Fraley, sending the snapper into a backward sprawl at the legs of Cleveland rusher Jamal Lewis.
Fraley has been a quality leader and meaningful contributor to this team's successes, but he can be overpowered and does not always get the desired surge. That play serves as an ignominious suggestion that the organization is still building and not quite there yet. Only superior matchups can overcome predictability.
A healthy LeCharles Bentley would not figure to be so devastated. His 2008 impact, therefore, is as anticipated as long-awaited.
In the meantime, Hank deserves kudos for a very fine campaign on many levels. He personifies that it has been a season of meaningful contributions from a variety of unheralded sources eager to prove themselves and dedicated to re-establishing the Browns as a relevant entity in professional football. For them, we are all grateful.
Maybe it won't be long before 1964 can justifiably be forgotten for the city's last pro football championship.
Read the complete post at http://www.xanga.com/MALeonard/634573959/an-anniversary-ignored.html