Top Ten Torturous Cleveland Sports Moments

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On my way home from work last Wednesday, did I really hear WKNR's Tony Rizzo, in afternoon drive, plug CST? Did I really hear Uncle Rizzy describe our front-page design in depth, slowly read our tag line (I'm blushing, now), and half our mission statement...verbatim? Sunroof down, I unapologetically pumped my fist into the September sky. For a brief moment, I was John Bender on a vacant football field, Molly Ringwald's diamond hanging from my left lobe. Or I was an aspiring pop star, hearing my song on the radio for the first time. Our fifteen seconds had come without warning, and I was unsure of myself in the aftermath. Do I break off a tweet to Rizzo? Call my longtime friend and CSTer, Kevin, to thank him for sending Rizz the email about our blog? Should I Facebook this? All of the sudden, I was home. Within a few minutes, I was drowning in domestication and had already forgotten about it.

The forgotten lockout

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No season means no Kyrie and Tristan.

A person's enjoyment for a thing is truly tested when faced with the possibility of its absence. Sports fans this year were presented with double-barreled lockouts from the NFL and NBA. While the NFL managed to come to an agreement, the NBA powers-that-be are still stalemated in their labor negotiations with players.

What's missing from the NBA "drama" is the furor and outrage that permeated the NFL lockout saga. It seems like nobody outside of hardcore NBA fans are concerned about the possibility of a shortened regular season or by tactical threats from commissioner David Stern regarding the loss of the entire campaign should talks continue to falter.

Looking back on a disastrous football weekend

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Well I think my predictions for Ohio State and the Browns this weekend were a little too rosy, for sure. I wasn't cocksure, but I felt wins were in the cards for both teams.

However, you can see that my nervousness was there, hiding under the surface.  In predicting an easy Buckeyes win, I had the caveat "this game can go a hundred different ways...Ohio State can score 49 points or 3 points and it wouldn't totally shock me." And about the Browns, I wrote "I can't see Colt McCoy being as off as he was last week, so I'm guessing the offensive ship gets righted..."

All day long. (Irwin/Getty Images)

Well, here's what I think we learned watching two of the most wretched performances imagineable this weekend from our beloved Bucks and Brownies.

Sure, Braxton Miller is only a freshman, but there appears to be an immense drop off in talent from Terrelle Pryor to Miller. Miller's average play involves him dropping back three steps, then nearly immediately tucking the ball down in a confused jig, making one person miss, and going down for no gain (+/- 2 yards). I don't even know if he can make a throw down the field.

What we think will happen vs. the Titans (Week 4)

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Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

October 2, 2011

Brian	Browns 24 Titans 21	Chris Johnson is killing my fantasy team worse than the Titans. I can't see Colt McCoy being as off as he was last week, so I'm guessing the offensive ship gets righted enough to get the good guys another home win.
Tom	n/a	No pick this week.
Doug	Browns 20 Titans 14	I'd to see the Browns go into their bye week with a decisive home win. The offensive line needs to offer Colt McCoy a bit more protection this week, but the young gunslinger must be more precise with his throws. Hillis's return will help boost McCoy's confidence, while the play of a talented young defensive line will be enough get the Browns the duke.
Kevin	Browns 10 Titans 7	Matt Hasselbeck seems to have found the Fountain of Youth but with his best receiver out for the year, Chris Johnson struggling, and a surprisingly good Browns defense, the Titans should struggle to score. That being said, the Browns offense hasn't exactly lit the world on fire and the Titans are the top rated defense in the league. With Peyton Hillis back, the Browns squeak out a low scoring, close one to earn the W.
SamVox	Browns 22 Titans 20	In March of 1998, I drank alone at a Nashville bar and spent my time there oddly fascinated by a life-size wall illustration of Yancy Thigpen. I often wonder if that bar still exists and, if so, have they replaced Yancy with an image of Jeff Fisher, Steve McNair or Frank Wycheck? And if they haven't, might I suggest Kenny Britt? You cannot stop Kenny Britt, you can only hope he's out for the season when you play the Titans.
Ryan	n/a	No pick this week.
Sean	n/a	No pick this week.

What we think will happen for Ohio State vs. the Spartans today...

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Michigan State Spartans at Ohio State Buckeyes

October 1, 2011

Brian	Buckeyes 24 Spartans 10	As much as it pained me to watch Braxton Miller "just tuck the ball in and run" as a possible solution to the OSU QB problems, his obvious talent should continue to improve the offense. This game can go a hundred different ways, Ohio State can score 49 points or 3 points and it wouldn't totally shock me. But with a pretty solid defense and Bauserman coming in to spell Miller at times, OSU should handle Michigan State with relative ease.
Tom	Spartans 17 Buckeyes 14	Braxton Miller has a tough game at home against Michigan State. He will show flashes of things to come, but ultimately the Buckeyes will struggle on offense. A late FG puts Michigan State on top.
Doug	Buckeyes 17 Spartans 14	Bigtime "show me" game for the Buckeyes. Spartans defense is statistically one of the best in the nation, but that was against cupcake opponents, and they looked wretched against Notre Dame. Their o-line is a patchwork, although OSU must tackle better than it has early on. Defense will rule the day, with a game-changing Spartans' turnover making the difference in the end.
Kevin	Buckeyes 21 Spartans 17	Michigan State is college football's version of Steve Blackman. Lots of talent, high aspirations, under achieves - and they do it year after year. Losing to (getting destroyed by) Notre Name shows that this year is no different. Ohio State does just enough to get over.
SamVox	Buckeyes 26 Spartans 16	Sparty, after we beat you today, I'll immediately trade you our victory for your win in '98.
Ryan	Buckeyes 16 Spartans 10	I think this game could be ugly. Braxton Miller will continue with some growing pains and will likely be required to throw the ball some unlike against Colorado. I think this will end up being a 3 or 4 loss season for the Buckeyes but they can squeak this one out at home against a very average Michigan State.
Sean		No pick this week.