It was almost exactly 31 years ago, on Aug. 8, 1994, that Nev Chandler, the great radio play-by-play announcer of the Browns for the previous nine seasons, died of cancer. The Rocky River native was just 47.
It was a somber moment for the Browns, the media overall, especially those covering the team, and the fans, all of whom lived Nev.
He was the second of three straight iconic radio guys for the Browns, beginning with Gib Shanley from 1961-84, Chandler from 1985-93 and Jimmy Donovan from 1999-2023.
Which one was better? Do you like best vanilla ice cream, chocolate or a mix of both? Think DiMaggio, Williams or Musial. Or Mays, Mantle or Aaron.
Yes, those Browns voices were really good. But y’all knew that already, right? Yes, of course.
Nev, Gib and Jimmy were so stellar, in fact, that they even had the respect of the men who owned the Browns, so they were able to tell the truth about what was going on with the team without getting any pushback, just as is the case with the great Tom Hamilton and the Guardians, or Cleveland, as he relents and calls the baseball club by its new name only two or three times per game.
Who is the inside voice of reason media guy for the Browns now? It’s Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas, who is the color analyst on the club’s preseason telecasts.
So, then, while Thomas is willing to go in — ever so slightly — on the team’s narrative of preaching patience with this quarterback derby, he is much, much more in line with the eye test after what he saw from rookie Shedeur Sanders in Friday night’s 30-10 slobberknocking of the Carolina Panthers in the preseason opener.
Yeah, you have to give the guy more first-team reps. You just have to. There’s absolutely no doubt about it.
Are you listening to your own guy, Browns coaches and top people?
You had better be.
And while we’re on the subject, yes, Sanders was correct in his post-game comments in that he gave the Browns a positive push, a brighter vibe. People who have no dog in the fight are saying good things about the team now. They sure as heck weren’t doing that before the game.
Steve King
30 years ago today, Eric Metcalf turned Municipal Stadium into a “Pandemonium Palace” as called by the great Nev Chandler. #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/o0C6GR3WIK
— Ed_in_Columbus (@ed_in_columbus) October 24, 2023
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