THE LITTLE WOMAN WHO ROARED
By STEVE KING
My mom, God rest her soul, was the best mother ever.
To be sure, she checked all the motherhood boxes in that she was loving, kind, selfless, patient, understanding and fair.
She was not a sports person, though. She supported me in my love for such, but she had no real interest in the games that people play.
Did I mention that she was also tough – as nails? Yes, indeed, her word was law, if she wanted it to be. And, as the story was told by my parents, especially my mom, who laughed every time that it came up, she showed her toughness a few days after Christmas 59½ years ago, on Dec. 29, 1957, a significant day in Browns history.
There were only three TV channels in any market back then, and everybody had just one TV set. So the amount of different shows available was limited, as was the means by which to watch them. If the favorite programs of two people in a household were on at the same time, some negotiations had to take place. My mom didn’t have a dog in the fight, per se, that afternoon, but she had no problem doing all the negotiations as to what show was going to be on our big Zenith.
I was happily watching cartoons at 1:30 when my dad abruptly flipped the channel to watch the start of the telecast of the Browns vs. the Detroit Lions in the 1957 NFL Championship Game.
Being much more of a cartoon fan than I was a football fan at that young age of 2, I screamed bloody murder. How could he do such a thing?
Well, that’s what my mom thought, too. Though a little woman of just 110 pounds, she stood up to her husband and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that his viewing of the game would not begin until the cartoon show was over. So the station was changed back, and he was forced to follow the first half-hour of the game by listening to it on the radio.
It was better that way – for both parties involved – because the Browns ended up getting thumped. 59-14.
My suggestion for Sunday, which is, of course, Mother’s Day? No matter what show or game is on whatever channel, or when, turn off the TV, ladies and gentlemen, and pay attention to Mom. It is her day, so give her your undivided attention. She deserves it.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT MOM TODAY? I DIDN’T THINK SO
We bill brownsdailydose.com as a place where you’ll see stories – and viewpoints – that won’t appear anywhere else.
This post is a great example of that.
Yes, you’ll see plenty of Browns stuff here going forward, but there’s not a whole lot going on, relatively speaking, right now so today we’re going to talk about Mother’s Day – again — but in a manner you’ve never read. Why more Mother’s Day? Because it – and your mom – are that important.
The early Browns stood the test of time when it came to success. They played in a league championship game in each of their first 10 seasons of existence from 1946-55, winning seven titles. That’s unprecedented.
They didn’t get to the title game once and then go away. They stayed there at the top. Despite the coming and going of players and even some coaches, some arch rivals and even leagues, they were consistent.
And if you want to be good at this – this treating Mom the right way thing – you’ve got to be consistent, too. You’ve got to do it more than just one day a year.
Yes, of course, you did it on Sunday, Mother’s Day, but people, in all honesty, it doesn’t take much to do that. It’s nothing, really, to do it, in fact.
But what are you doing today, and tomorrow, and the next day, the day after that, the next week, the next month, two months after that and so on and so forth?
I hate to say this, but for many of you – and that’s way, way too many of you – it’s probably nothing, absolutely nothing, or at least next to nothing.
That has to change – drastically so, and immediately so.
For if you want to be a champion, not just in football but rather, and more importantly, in the game of life, there are, like former Browns head coach Bill Belichick likes to say, “no days off.”
So get busy.
Now.
