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About Us - Featured Dawgs |
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Mike Bonnell |
Hometown: Canton, OH
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| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Clay Mathews - He played the game hard, and he had a nose for the ball! He conducted himself with class and gave the fans much to cheer about! |
| How do you know the Ward Family? I met them during Browns Backer Events and Tailgating! |
Fondest NFL Memory: I have always been a big fan of great defensive performances, so I would have to say the 1989 trouncing of the pittsburgh steelers in their house, and it was the season opener, by a score of 51-0! The Browns defense had 6 sacks and forced 8 turnovers, scoring 3 times! That's what I am talking about! 100 points scored against the steelers wouldn't be enough if you ask me! LOL |
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Perry Shockey |
Hometown: Painesville, Ohio
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| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Bernie Kosar has always been my All-Time Favorite Browns' player mainly because he was a "home-town boy" who only wanted to play for the Cleveland Browns. Bernie purposely graduated from college early in order to enter the 1985 Supplemental Draft so that he would be drafted by the Browns. Not only was Bernie a winner on the field, but also off the field with the numerous charities and organizations he headed up or belonged to. I would love to see Bernie some sort of organizational position with the Browns someday. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? I have known John and Melissa for over 30 years now (we met at church as teenagers). I'm proud to say I helped John graffiti the Riverside railroad bridge when he claimed his love for his woman (Melissa)! In addition, John is the best photographer I have ever known. |
Fondest NFL Memory: My fondest memory is the double-overtime victory over the New York Jets in the 1987 Divisional Playoff game. My friends and I sat in the old Dawg Pound and had a blast. In addition, they all wanted to leave with four minutes to go and the Browns losing by 10 points. I stood my ground, we stayed, and well, you know the ending. |
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Ryan O'Neil |
Hometown: Eastlake, OH currently living in Mentor on the Lake
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| Favorite Team: Browns! |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Ozzie Newsome. He was the first NFL player I met as a kid. I remember my Grandmother
taking me to Mentor Mall to meet him. Super cool guy and always involved in the community. He was one of the reasons I wanted
to be WR when I started playing midget football. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? I met John through Pete Krivejko when I joined a dart league with Pete. Later that year I got to meet Melissa and Bree at the annual Dawg Warden party. |
Fondest NFL Memory: Going to the old stadium with my Uncle and watching Leroy Hoard run all over the field like a mad man. |
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Gavin Gould |
Hometown: Bucyrus, OH but now call Bexley, OH home
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| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns! |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Steve Everitt. I'm a huge Ohio St. fan, but I also played center on my middle school team. I remember he broke his jaw and had a specially made helmet essentially wired to his jaw. Gotta love that toughness. Then he gets drafted by my favorite team! Then there is the image that will live forever of Steve in the Browns bandana on the Ravens sideline, fine be damned! Now if only I could meet him again and apologize for the being a drunken ass to him in NOLA in '02. (In my defense, he was wearing a Michigan shirt on The Game Saturday). |
| How do you know the Ward Family? The Wards joined our tailgate this past season. |
Fondest NFL Memory: Not even a game moment, but it's my favorite memory. It was Christmas Eve 1994 and the Browns had clinched a home playoff game and we had tickets. But we couldn't go because Mom would have to work if the game was on New Years Eve. The announcement came out on Christmas Eve that the game would be New Years Day. Best. Christmas. Present. Ever! And then the Browns won!!! (sadly or most recent home playoff game and playoff win) |
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Erica Wuebker |
Hometown: Akron, OH
Current Town: Uniontown, OH
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| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns, of course!!! |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? While I will always have a soft spot for Bernie Kosar, I would say Joshua Cribbs has got to have the top spot now. Bernie was the questerback for the team I watched growing up and you could never count him out, and now Josh has that electricity for today's team. Whenever Josh is out there, no mattter the position, you know that that moment may just be the spark the team needs or the momentum to keep it moving in the right direction. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? My husband Brian worked with John several years back. Their shared love of muscle cars (competing brands, though) and football made them fast friends. Luckily for me this allowed me to meet JW, MW and the Br's - some of the greatest people I know and love dearly! |
Fondest NFL Memory: Of course one day I hope to say this will be when I got to watch the Browns win the Superbowl, but that is just a dream for now. My fondest memory of recent time was on December 10th, 2009 when we beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time in what felt like forever. Growing up this had been such a storied rivalry, but it more recent years we Browns' fans have not had much to cheer for during these meetings. Hopefully tides will turn again and this rivalry can shift our way for awhile. |
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Bob Hostutler |
Hometown: I was born in Cleveland, Ohio - January 1953 at St.Ann's Hospital. I have lived in Northeast Ohio my entire life and currently live in Chardon.
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| Favorite Team:The Cleveland Browns, from the time I was old enough to know that Cleveland had a football team.
September 4th 2008, Founder and President of the Burnt River chapter of Browns Backers Worldwide. Current Membership of 1161, making us the Largest of over 350 Clubs. |
Favorite All-time Player and Why? Lou Groza - My father grew up in Martin's Ferry, Ohio and watched Lou Groza play High School Football . Lou then attended the Ohio State University, now my Favorite College Football team. My father and I would root for Lou "The Toe" as he Kicked for the Browns in the 1960's. My Dad is a Big Fan of Lou Groza and passed his Favorite Memories on to me. We had an old Black & White Television set with a fuzzy picture but I enjoyed watching every game I could. When games were not televised, I listened to Gib Shanley cover the games on the Radio. Fond memories of my introduction to Cleveland Browns Football and their many Championships.
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| How do you know the Ward Family? We became friends through the Burnt River Browns Backers. I have the Pleasure of Tailgating with them & Old Man Jay in the North Port Lot and attending the Dawg Wardens Party this year. |
Fondest NFL Memory: I have Two:
January 4, 1981 sitting in the upper deck of Cleveland Municipal Stadium with my then future wife Kathy. Game Time temperature of 4 °F with a −36 °F wind chill. It was the Coldest , Most Exciting and a Most Heart Breaking day for Browns Fans ..... Red Right 88
September 14, 1993 Monday Night Football at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, sitting in the "Dawg Pound". Browns 23 - 49ers 13 . The original "Dawg Pound" was born from the bond between Browns Defensive Players, including Eddie Johnson, Hanford Dixon & Frank Minnifield and the Fans during Training Camp at Lakeland Community College in 1985. Sitting in the Pound was a Highly Coveted Honor. I was with my Brother Jack and several of our friends who became some of the first members of Burnt River. |
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Peter Krivejko |
Hometown: Mentor, OH
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Favorite Team:The Cleveland Browns. But I have to admit that they were not always my favorite team because I take loyalty very seriously. I was 6 years old and I had just spent 3 years in Germany as my father was in the military. So I did not have much exposure to "American Football" to that point. We lived in South Carolina and in the days of 3 channels on the TV, there were only 2 teams that were shown in SC. They would be the Atlanta Falcons, and the Miami Dolphins. Back then the Atlanta Falcons were nobodies and the Dolphins were a couple years removed from their championship runs, so they were more prominently covered. So I started off as a Miami Dolphins Fan. But I distinctly remember absolutely having to watch each game on Sunday. My parents may have watched something different on the TV downstairs so I would go up into their bedroom to watch the games on a little 13-15" Black and White TV with the Antenna's.
When my parents split up, I moved up to Ohio with my mother. And I stayed strong with my loyalty to the Dolphins.(Even through strong ribbing from my uncles) Of course I rooted for the Browns but the Dolphins were my team...( I was seven years old...GMAB) But then a string of events happened to change me forever. First, This was the year of the Kardiac Kids. Next, was a Playoff Party at my Grandparents house in which we experienced Red Right 88. and lastly...I somehow attended a Browns Backer Event a month or 2 later where Sam Rutigliano spoke, and a few players were there. I don't even think I was supposed to be there. I just happened to be in the same building at the same time and got in. I was waiting for my mother to pick me up and I strolled into it...lol. Anyway, They had the NFL Highlight reel from the season, and they played the "12 days of Christmas" Browns rendition that was played 3 million times that year. But after the highlight reel....This was the FIRST TIME I actually understood the lyrics....I was blown away....So on this day, at the age of 7 (almost 8), I fell in love with the Browns and have never been able to shake them. |
Favorite All-time Player and Why? I don't have an all-time favorite. There are too many to pick from. I instead like a type of player. While everyone usually lauds the most popular and usually flashy players...like a Webster Slaughter, Kellen Winslow, Dieon Sanders, Terrell Owens....I loved the Brian Brennan's. While everyone went nuts for Michael Dean Perry or Lyle Alzado...I loved the Bob Golic's, the Mike Baab's....The unheralded stars if you will. The team and the NFL in general is loaded with amazing players...Marion Motley, Sammy Baugh, Jim Brown, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Ronnie Lott, Larry Czonka, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Ozzie Newsome.....I can go on and On and ON with HOF'ers...but in each of the cases I would mention...most went about their business the way I feel football should be played. And it certainly wasn't about a spotlight on themselves or a "look at what I did" attitude.
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| How do you know the Ward Family? I work with John at the Cleveland Clinic. |
Fondest NFL Memory: I think it would have to be the first game I ever went to. My parents were split and my father lived in South Carolina. And while he would sometimes come up in the summer and take my sister and I to Indians Games...This was different. My father took us to (it would have to be) a preseason game at Municipal Stadium. It was a night game. We were High up in the Bleacher Seats near the Clock on the Scoreboard. Anyone who has been to Muni knows what I am talking about. Lo and behold I believe we played the Miami Dolphins...by this time, my loyalties were completely with the Browns...I remember the stadium being just Jam Packed. I had never seen the stadium that way before. I had only been there for Indians games. The game was pretty much a blur to me. But I remember my father had broken his arm playing softball that summer. He still had his cast on. And I remember the game coming down to the final seconds and the Browns driving towards our end zone, and in the final seconds kicking the field goal to win the game. ( I want to say it was Matt Bahr). We got home and you can clearly point us out in the stands in the replays because of my Dad's cast. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of people and right next it was my sister in her pink coat, etc.
This has to stick out, because my father didn't get to take me to games. My family didn't have season tickets. We couldn't afford single game tickets much less season tickets. I caught the games by any media possible. If I had to work outside, I made sure there was a radio with the game on. So getting to this game, preseason or not...and with my father....well that was a big deal |
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Ashley Tatgenhorst |
Hometown: East Palestine, OH
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Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
(Disclaimer: We respect that some individuals featured on this page may not select the Browns as their favorite team. We would still like to recognize them for being devoted to thier team.) |
Favorite All-time Player and Why? Hines Ward-he is a tough player with a good attitude. I like that he isn't cocky or egotistical like so many NFL players.
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| How do you know the Ward Family? I know the Ward family because my husband used to work with John. |
| Fondest NFL Memory: Last years Steelers vs. Browns game in Cleveland. It was about 20 below with the windchill but it felt great to be surrounded by true fans. |
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Lisa Craig |
Hometown: Parma (but family moved when I was just 6 months old. I actually grew up in Steeler Country - Western PA!)
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| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns, really! Although when I was a young girl and had to pick a team to root for, I picked the Miami Dolphins cuz, well, dolphins are so cute! So they are my "B" team. |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Brian Sipe gave me my best memories. I wish that was as kinky as it sounded, but it's not -- those Kardiac Kids were amazing to watch. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? John and I are both Mentor High alumni; he graduated ahead of me, but I always preferred hanging out with those cool older kids... |
| Fondest NFL Memory: Attending Browns training camp with my best friend Beth when it was at Lakeland CC. We stopped Coach Sam Rutigliano in the parking lot and gave him our advice about who to start at quarterback. He replied "You only want him to start because you think he's cute" and we were SO insulted, because we actually know our football and had valid reasoning behind our recommendation. HILARIOUS! I knew I was a crazy-serious Browns fan after that. |
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Brian Wuebker |
| Hometown: Orginally Fort Loramie, OH... Now Uniontown, OH |
| Favorite Team: Cleveland Browns |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Josh Cribbs - When he touches the ball, he always has a chance to take it to the house. He is definitely the most electrifying player on the Browns roster. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? John was my boss at one time and through our love of the Browns and muscle cars we became fast friends. |
| Fondest NFL Memory: I have two - 1) Beating the New York Giants @ home on October 13, 2008. They were the Super Bowl Champions and we thoroughly beat them on primetime Monday Night Football. 2) Beating the Pittsburgh Steelers @ home on December 10, 2009. We had lost to them for so long and Cleveland Browns Stadium erupted that night like we just won the Super Bowl. |
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Dane Hubbard
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| Hometown: Mentor (OH)…Or as we know it…Menner |
| Favorite Team: Browns!!...Second Favorite…ANYONE WHO PLAYS THE RAVENS!!...Third Favorite…ANYONE WHO PLAYS THE STEELERS!! |
| Favorite All-time Player and Why? Josh Cribbs has moved into that slot. The man is a warrior among warriors! No matter how good or bad the browns are doing, he can be called on to do anything and everything and he pulls it off, EVEN when the defense KNOWS what he’s going to try!! He loves Cleveland, he loves to be part of the Browns and I think he will prove to be one the best Browns players ever! Honorable mentions…Jim Brown (love the player, not the attitude!), Bernie, Hanford. |
| How do you know the Ward Family? John was and still is my best man!!...Since the 5th grade!! (WARDen Note: Dane was John's best man, too!) |
| Fondest NFL Memory: John and I were there to watch the Browns beat the Bill in the playoffs 34-30!…Eric Metcalf ran right up the middle of a Bills kickoff defensive onslaught and he was too quick to catch and went 90 yards for the kickoff return!! |
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