9/30/2011

We saw it… did you?

Disclaimer: the following DDubz update – while not intended to offend, insult or directly point fingers at anyone in particular – may be hard for some Browns fans to read. Similarities and\or resemblances to anyone real or fictional are strictly coincidence and should be not be considered intentional.

In other words... DDubz is an easygoing, fun loving dude but he has his opinions. Love them, hate them, agree with them or totally discount them as ludicrous -- they're his and perhaps, at times, his alone. And that's okay - this is, after all, his dawg house.

With less than two minutes left in the 4th quarter of an otherwise uninspired game against the Miami Dolphins, Quarterback Colt McCoy turned the tables on the fish from down south with a 13-play, 80 yard drive ending in a 14 yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi. This inspiring connection tied the score up at 16-all and set our own Phil Dawson up for the game winning extra point... and he nailed it.

In thunderous response, the crowd erupted - celebrating, screaming, high fiving and supporting their team in true Cleveland Browns 12th Man fashion. Well… that was the case for those who remained in the stadium anyway.

For the thousands who make a habit out of leaving the stadium early - to get a jump on traffic - to get back to more tailgating - or just to illustrate frustration when the team is set to lose the battle - well, they missed a helluva finish on Sunday afternoon!

For those of us who remain in our seats until the final whistle blows, we were rewarded with an awesome finish to an otherwise (yes, we admit it) painful game. Those who hung tight, watching the game until the clock read 0:00... we were shown why an NFL game is 60 minutes long and not 45... or even 54 or 57. We were shown why every play counts and giving up is not an option. We were shown that Colt McCoy has what it takes to not only manage the two minute drill but own it, wrap it and close the deal at the end of it.

For those of us who remain in our seats for 60 minutes of football and not 45... 54... or even 57, we showed our team we believe in them - regardless of the score. Those of us who stayed cheered a first down... and then the next... and then the next... and in the end, we celebrated a victory that many, many others could have but did not see.
We are products of the Kardiac Kids era. We know the value of each and every minute given to us on the game clock and we know the thrill of watching our team squeeze every second from that clock when it appears to be working against them in every way possible. But it doesn't take Kardiac experience to know real fans just simply do . not . leave . early.

We at DawgWARDens believe this, we preach this and we live this.
We make it a point to be at our seats for the National Anthem... we stand in support and recognition of the men and women of our armed forces when they are saluted in the Row of Honor and we can be found in our seats when 60 minutes of football winds down to 60 seconds... and then we can be found there for at least one minute more because we are Browns fans and we are the DawgWARDens.

GO BROWNS!!