THE NIGHTMARE THAT IS REAL
By STEVE KING
I’ve been called the de-facto historian of the Browns.
Now, to be honest, I’m not quite sure what that means, other than the fact I’m old – at least old enough to have seen, or to talk to those who have seen, a lot of the stuff surrounding this team down through the years.
So, then, in terms of disappointing seasons in Browns history, 2019 is one of seismic proportions.
And it’s not over yet.
Ugh!
Or woohoo?!
I don’t know which I’ll be saying – we’ll all be saying – when the season is over and the Browns have had a chance to right themselves or bury themselves even more, but right now, with the fact that missing the playoffs again is almost a virtual certainty when, entering the season two months ago, making it – and even well beyond – was a virtual certainty, 2019 has been an unmitigated disaster.
But as bad as this all is – and we all know it’s really, really bad – and as hard as all this is to swallow – and, again as we fully realize, trying to swallow it is choking all of us – this kind of season, one of great hope built upon what had happened the previous year, is hardly unprecedented. It happens to all sports teams, including those in the NFL, and it has happened this season to this team, the Browns.
Furthermore, it happens more than once to franchises, and that includes, again, the Browns.
That’s really disheartening to consider, isn’t it?
Well, it’s true.
It’s the pain that comes with, as a fan, putting yourself out there, like someone in love, and then getting horribly disappointed — jilted — in the end.
It seemed so right, only – and until – it wasn’t right at all.
It seemed to be so much fun, only – and until – it wasn’t any fun at all.
It seemed like a party, only – and until – it wasn’t a party at all.
Yes, it seemed, but seeming so is not being so.
Having said all that, then, I will, in my next post, look back at the times in Browns history when good and hopeful seasons built upon the success of the previous season, didn’t happen.
See ya soon.
