Bud's's Archive: December, 1999
March, 2000
April, 2000
June, 2000
July, 2000

TOP DAWG

TOP DAWG
by Bud Genovese

August, 2000

CLEVELAND TRIP REPORT:
PRESEASON GAME/ TRAINING CAMP & MORE

I guess we should be proud that the Browns have the finest training facilities in professional sports (sort of like their fans). Just south of Hopkins International Airport in the little town of Berea resides the Browns first class training complex. There is a vast outdoor area that holds about four full football fields of play next to the huge indoor facility. This facility has one full practice field. To protect the players better from injury, Owner Al Lerner just replaced the old hard artificial turf with a $500,000 advanced turf surface that is supposed to be the best there is for an indoor location.

Here are some training camp notes:

• Couch does not sign autographs, ditto many other players, as they rush off the field.
• Courtney Brown gladly signs every autograph request -- and he is the last to leave the practice field.
• The team works very hard and the practice looks very organized.
• The fans at the practice camp stands were few but spirited and hopeful, and they were from all over Ohio and even out-of state!

From our live view of the Browns play against the Eagles we have these comments to note:

• WR JaJuan Dawson of Tulane is the surprise of the NFL draft (4th Round) so far and the best receiver the Browns have (after Kevin Johnson who has been hurt so far this pre-season)
• Rich McKenzie, DE Browns took from Green Bay may have more sacks than Courtney Brown.
• TE position along with most of the offensive line looks like another project and critical weakness so far.
• Couch must be still shook up over his recent breakup with girlfriend -- the 1999 Playboy Playmate of the Year!
• Sold out Cleveland Browns Stadium sure looks great!

Other observations from our Cleveland trip:

• Al Davis wishes he could get 80% of the 73,300 Cleveland fans for his never sold out Oakland home games for even one big game (maybe Sept 24 -- Cle at Oak!)
• Cleveland has added even more world class restaurants downtown that can rival some of the best SF has.
• The Browns will be lucky to win 5 games this year, but will not be blown out like the Redskin game again.
• Browns Backers need to see the progress the team should really show this season, but don--t expect a huge leap to the playoffs. (Did you know that the sold out San Jose Sharks in their 10th season have never had a winning season!)
• I predict a SIX win season at best: Cincy/ Pitts/ Arizona/ NE/ Phily, and maybe Oakland for the 6th win!

What do you think? Have you signed up yet for the Browns at Raiders game? Have you renewed your BABB membership?

Come out and join the fun at our Bay Area locations this year – it is really rewarding to see this team progress and to meet fellow Browns Backers and talk Cleveland and Ohio. And talk to someone that knows where Case-Western Reserve University is!; Or that Ohio University is NOT the same school as Ohio State University or that they actually have academic standards at Bowling Green State University (the school that original Browns owner Mickey McBride took the Browns colors from and our San Jose leader, Bob Tatar actually went to college). We all have met some great people while watching the Browns here in California.

he BABB is blessed with members from all over the USA. Our truly great “Dawg House” writer Len Filppu grew up in “Upstate New York” loving the Browns; Our President – Harold (and wife Lillian) Manson are from Houston, Texas. Hanford House B &B owners in Sutter Creek; Browns fans from Utah. Tom Finan from NE Ohio. We have native Californians, even native SF folks in our group. Richard Scopel from SF and SJ is a loyal Indians fan as well! We will spotlight our diverse and loyal membership in future articles. We have very loyal Browns fans in our membership and we are growing!

As always, e mail me your thoughts or go to the BABB Forum. Go Browns!

Take care and GO BROWNS!
Bud Genovese
408.434.9226
budg@earthlink.net

##################