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The Cleveland Browns logo is a form of social currency that helps build relationships far from home: Phillip Morris

Saturday, June 09, 2012
By Phillip Morris
The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- My colleague tried to mask her annoyance when I walked into an Italian joint in a fancy Toronto entertainment district last February wearing a coat, a tie and a Browns ball cap.

The restaurant had received some mean online customer reviews suggesting that the food was good but that the staff was condescending. I thought that setup created a perfect opportunity to use a ball cap to test my new hypothesis that the Browns helmet logo remains a form of international social currency.

I wasn't trying to be an "ugly American," but I had work to do.

As soon was we entered the dimly lit, exposed-brick converted warehouse with a high ceiling, we were approached by the maitre d' who inquired about our reservations in a tone best described as deeply skeptical. He was making quick judgments.

Then his eyes rested on the orange logo on my ball cap, and a very different expression came over his face. He no longer struck the pose of someone attempting to guard the doors. He was all of a sudden a fan – a Browns fan.

"Cleveland Browns. I know a lot about your team's history," Christian announced with a broad smile.

"I know all about The Drive, The Fumble and what John Elway did to you guys. I know all about the team's move to Baltimore and how your city got another team," he said, lessening the smile, so as not to appear to enjoy our pain.

"You guys are some of the best fans in the world."

I winked at my colleague and resisted an urge to gloat as Christian led us to one of the better tables in the restaurant and immediately starting sending complimentary glasses of champagne.

It turns out that Christian is a devoted sports fan, mostly of basketball and soccer, but he also knows his NFL football, especially the Browns. He's never been to Ohio. It's just something, he said, he picked up along the way.

Amazingly, we did a quick form of bonding, because of a hat.

That same Browns cap served me well in recent months as I've traveled. Sports are a form of social currency, and the Browns brand remains remarkably well known in sundry places. What I found interesting, if not encouraging, about the international sports fans I encountered in Latin America and Turkey (places where soccer is called football) was that they didn't just refer to our hometown team as the "Browns." They referred to them by the full name: The "Cleveland Browns."

I like that. It suggests that the sporting brand, as well as the city's name, still registers and commands respect, at least among sports fans.

Not only did I find men in Argentina, Brazil and Turkey who wanted to discuss the Browns with me. They also routinely used the Cleveland connection to segue into delightful riffs on the man who now plays for the Miami Heat.

That's the point here: People who have little in common and who may have a limited connection or understanding of a country and its politics are somehow able to find a connection through culture, especially the culture of sports. And those are connections at which Cleveland continues to excel. We are an identifiable and loyal brand, even though our football team, especially, has given us precious little to cheer in decades.

We have shrunk as a city and continue to struggle with our identity. Yet, through sports, we still cast a surprisingly familiar shadow on the world stage. Few cities in the world our size (if any) boast the wide array of cultural, sporting and educational offerings we bring to the table. That's what continues to make us remarkable and, yes, competitive.

We can't forget that.

The next time you travel domestically or abroad, pack a Browns cap (even to Pittsburgh -- I've done it) and see what social doors you are unable to unlock. It's the little things that help build relationships and cities.

Thanks to that beat-up old Brown's cap, a maitre d' in Toronto now says he wants to visit Cleveland, in part, because this "social scientist" wore a cap into his restaurant.

Call it creative marketing.


http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2012/06/post_11.html

I wear Browns stuff probably more than a few times a week. Shirts, hoodies, hats, you name it. Probably 3 out of 4 times someone comes up to me and will talk for a good 15 minutes either because they are from Cleveland and are Browns fans, or they are just that much interested in our culture. The way we don't abandon our team because we're bad, or that we put up a giant fight because our owner picked up and left.

We definitely are unique, and we definitely have the best fans in the world. I don't care what they think in Green Bay or Pittsburgh or wherever.

Maybe its because there are so many transplanted Clevelanders, but I always get comments on my Browns and Indians hats and tee-shirts when I'm out of town. Most of them are friendly, although occasionally they're derisive. Like the yayhoo in southern Georgia, standing a few spots behind me in line at a convenience store ... "Cleveland Browns? Man, your team is a mess!". His accent said he was a local, but he was decked out in NY Giants gear ... a bandwagon fan. I just smiled and said "We're getting there.", paid for my stuff, and left the store. I also think there may be some recognition nationwide that we are a faithful fan base through the years even with our heartbreaks and lack of championships.

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The way we don't abandon our team because we're bad, or that we put up a giant fight because our owner picked up and left

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In that sense, we're kinda like Cubs fans I guess right?

anyway, that was the only sports related article that phillip Morris ever wrote that I actually enjoyed..

Of course, the only other one I remember him writing is the one a few years back where he berated Randy Lerner for buying a soccer team and accused him of abandoning the Browns.. as if a Billionaire can't do both...

We're better fans than Cub fans. I mean we actually care about the game when it's going on.

Plus we don't whine and cry about curses and goats when we lose, we know.

J/k

I've bought many a people a beer for wareing Browns gear, had many bought for me for the same reason, Now when we see each other around town even without remembering thier names we yell at each other, getting out of my truck at circle K last week I hear a guy yell...Richardson baby....being screamed in the loudest hillbilly yee haw he could muster had no clue who he was...but had my browns hat on needless to say another browns brother...

WE ARE THE BEST FANS...To me it's not just a team, it's who we are...

I was in NC/SC a few weeks ago for a wedding, we turned it into a vacation and stayed a few days in Myrtle with my parents. My uncle and aunt who live in SC met up with us and took us out to Garden City. We were at a bar, I went grab drinks, and I ended up sharing beers with a bunch of guys who were on vacation. They were all cops a from a small town in West Va.

They weren't die hard Browns fans, but enjoyed the team, but wow did we all share the same disdain for the Steelers. hahaha

My wife forwarded this to me a couple weeks ago. A chain of restaurants in the Philippines. Check out what's on their page.

http://casaverdecebu.com/contactus.html

I am planning an Italy trip in October. I will plan on packing at least a browns hat. Hopefully I come back with a story or two. Thinking about it, perhaps I will pack a few of my Browns hats. Then if I meet a local because of it then I will just give it to them. As a gesture of good will

My daughter DancinDawg is spending fall semester in Florence Italy for school. I know she plans on taking her jersey to wear on Sundays and she's gonna watch the games at Finnegans Irish Pub in Florence.

http://www.finneganpub.com/

LOL at an American watching Browns' games at an Irish pub in Italy.

One time in Cocoa Beach, Fl, we were sitting at an outdoor bar and grill at the pier, and a guy yells out from a few tables away "Hey Cleveland! Go Brownies!". He sent over two oyster shooters (raw oysters and peppermint shnapps) for my wife and I. Maybe the most disgusting thing I've ever drunk - like swallowing snots. But we downed them and sent a round back to them.

It is who we are. It's so much a part of what makes us that most other fans just can't understand.

I've had alot of that. I live down around the Cincinnati area and most people just tell me to hang in there. I remember back in '90 When the Reds beat Pitts. for the NL Championship. I stopped at a Kmart to buy some shirts that had the Front page about the Victory on it. Some nice lady walked by and smiled at me and behind her was a big ol burly guy. I didn't think to much of it, they got almost to the checkout counter and he turns around and yells "You got alot of nerve wearing that shirt down here" (Browns sweat shirt) I ignored him at first, then he says " Yeah, I'm talking to you" Browns Fan. I told him the samething I always told people. Hey, I wear my Colors everywhere. His Wife was pulling on his arm, trying to drag him away and I didn't think he was going to go. His face was beet red and he was breathing hard, but finally he turned around and walked out, leaving his wife to go thru the line

I was just in Petersburg, Alaska for work last week. The place is awesome, but it very close knit type of town. It's called little Norway, and about 3,000 people live there. Word was out that we (the federal goverment via NMFS) were there. I'm sure some folks in town were not pleased we were there as they were worried what that meant for thier fishery. Well in five days, I had over 20 comments on my browns gear. It was either "you must really love the cleveland browns to wear that", to "you browns fans are great", to finding out that they were fans too. I think it made me liked in town, and by the end of the week people were waving at me as I walked down the street.

I think the writer has hit on something. I don't think other fans get the reaction we do.

Our itinerary has yet to be finalized but the tentative plan is for us to be in Florence 10/21/12. Browns-Colts. If I make it to Finnigans I will buy her a soda

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LOL at an American watching Browns' games at an Irish pub in Italy.

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What a great observation. Too funny.

I work in Steeler country, I wear my Browns shoes 5 days a week (complete with neon orange shoe laces) Browns socks 5 days a week, Browns hat 3 to 5 days a week, and a Browns shirt or jersey 3 to 5 days a week. It goes well with my Browns watch, Browns wallet, Browns desk pad, Browns mouse pad, Browns mouse, Browns ink pens, and Browns mini fatheads, and decorations hanging in my office. When the weather turns cool or cold I just break out one of my ten Browns jackets or coats, and grab my Browns gloves. I have lots more Browns gear that I wear every day at home, and when I am anywhere but work.

I believe this. Often when I wear Brown's gear I notice people smiling and laughing at it.

LOL...You ring We Bring...LOL....

A coat,a tie and a baseball cap.

I would have thrown the idiot out on the spot.

Back in September of 2004, I went on a canoeing trip with my dad up in Northern Ontario. I had my then-wife tape the Browns-Ravens opening day game while I was gone. I was determined to be able to go home and watch the game not knowing the outcome.

Well, after 4.5 days on the water, we paddled back to where my truck was parked. As we were walking up to my truck a guy offered us a coupla Molsons. We obliged, and he proceeded to tell me the Browns beat the Ravens 20-3. I had not even told him where I was from. I guess he saw my Ohio tags and immediately equated that to the Cleveland Browns.

I thought it was quite ironic that here I was in the middle of nowhere in CANADA, hadn't even been talking about football, and this Canadian guy, out of the blue, gives me the score from the Browns game.

lol Yes I do indeed have Steelers toilet paper. It looks good in my Browns bathroom at home

I think as browns fans we get a lot of respect for showing love for our team. I believe we do evn more now since after "the decision". I live in Virginia, and the comments I get most are I forgot Cleveland had a team (coming mainly from deadskin fans and of course the obnoxious cowboy fans). I do remember a time in late 90's when we had no team, in Vegas, I had my throwback JimBrown jersey on. I had ppl compn my drinks, talking football but mostly it was the respect that even til this day(cuz we not back yet) that ppl will give us die hards for stain true to our team. It just goes to show that is important n life to be who you are n like what u like. People will always give u more respect and be friendlier.

On my first trip over in 2007 I got to Passport control at Cleveland airport and some guy just grunted at me as I handed over my passport .....

Passport guy 'purpose of your trip?'
Me 'I'm here to watch the Cleveland Browns'
Passport guy 'purpose of your trip?'
Me 'I've come over to watch the Cleveland Browns'
Passport guy 'Really .......?'
Passport guy 'Why in the hell have you come all the way from England to watch the Cleveland Browns!?'
Me 'Always wanted to see them play'
Passport guy 'People from Cleveland dont even watch the Browns play ... your crazy'

Lol .... welcome to Cleveland

Passport guy doesn't know too much, does he?

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Passport guy 'People from Cleveland dont even watch the Browns play ... your crazy'

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We still line up, fill the stadium, and watch every week. We are. without a doubt, the most loyal fanbase there is.

I don't get to many games (being in TX and only getting to OH once a year - usually in the summer because of kids, etc.).

But, I went to the TN game last year. It was miserable weather (40s, with heavy wind, slight rain most of the game giving way to heavy rain to end the game).

Drove past the MUNI on the way in that was absolutely packed. Walked past the NW lot (where they charged to walk-in) and it was packed and lively as well. Tailgated with 'Peen, Columbus, etc. from here before heading in.

Lots of very animated "Here We Go Brownie's" chants on the way through security, up the escalators, etc. Surprisingly positive Cleveland vibe (I go to way more Indians games when I'm in town I guess )

Stadium was probably 90% full most of the game despite those conditions (and knowing the team was terrible). The team was getting crushed and finally in the 4th quarter people started streaming towards the exits (as the rain really started coming down).

I stayed on for the full game and took some pictures and stuff throughout the stadium (my Dad and I don't get to do stuff by ourselves very often - it was my belated Father's Day gift to him). Obviously, sticking out like a sore thumb out-of-towner that led to lots of questions about where I was from and led to some fun conversations about me living in Austin, TX, Colt McCoy at UTx, etc.

It's absolutely amazing how well the fans have stayed true to the team despite everything that has happened since 1995.

That's a funny story, that wouldn't be so funny if it was not so believable