Some Browns fans need to examine why they attend games
By Mark Riley
Sep 21, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans with a
How many times have you attended a Cleveland Browns game and shared a space in FirstEnergy Stadium with fans who pay no attention to the game? Every time I go, I observe more and more “fans” who seemingly would rather be anywhere, and doing anything, other than watching our beloved Browns.
Over the years, especially since the Browns returned in 1999, there seems to be a growing segment of the fandom that irks me to no end. It is undoubtedly and inexorably tied to the many advances in technology, but is also linked to other factors as well.
Sure, there are people taking pictures of each other before games, or of players if they are lucky enough to be that close to the field. I have seen people taking pictures of some of the outlandishly attired fans in the Dawg Pound and, of course, there are those who just want to take pictures of the hot women in attendance.
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The one group that irritates me the most, however, are the ones who simply cannot put their phone down to watch the game. Wandering around the stadium, phone pressed to their melon, rambling on about what great sales people they are or what great service they provide. Are they really so bent on doing business and advancing their careers that the phone has to be glued to their head the entire game?
Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans cheer against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
If that be the case, why come to the game and fight to be able to hear your customer? Why not stay at home, where it’s relatively quiet, turn on the TV, mute the sound and talk to your customer? Do these “fans” really think their client wants to hear them scream over the real fans cheering for their team? Maybe they just want to be seen as they try to appear more important than they are, screaming prices and delivery dates for their widgets and trash.
I have a close friend who has seats in the Dawg Pound. Last season, he sat near a guy for the game against Cincinnati who spent the entire game on the phone trying to close a deal. My friend told me that the guy would occasionally glance at his girlfriend/wife and ask her what the score was! She took the phone away twice and switched it off, and the guy called his client back both times! (Clearly, this young lady needs to seek another boyfriend/husband).
For nearly 20 years, I owned a business, and was as eager as anyone to acquire new customers. I found that if I was going to a Browns game, I could invite the potential client to attend the game with me and, if they accepted, we would never talk business, just about the Browns. I was able to close a lot more deals on Monday because of the relaxed environment I created on Sunday. We found common ground, shared something we both loved and developed a trust, all absolute keys to new business.
That ends the sales seminar.
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However, I am told by those who are fantasy football enthusiasts that they need to check on injury reports for the 4 p.m. games while the 1 p.m. games are going on so they can decide what players to use and which ones to sit.
I get that, but again, I see these people updating fantasy sites through the whole game, getting all excited when Tom Brady gets picked off or Dez Bryant catches a touchdown pass.
Why can’t they just watch the game going on in front of them and cheer for the Browns? Once your teams are set in your fantasy league for the day, there’s nothing else you can do about it at that point, so why not just enjoy the Browns once you’ve got your injury reports?
Sure, there have been some Sundays when watching paint dry was more exciting than the game at FirstEnergy, but in the coming season, I’ve got to believe that the Browns will have a competitive and fun team to watch.
How about putting down that phone, joining the rest of us in cheering for the Browns for the whole game and for the entire season? Let’s see what the Browns can do to keep us off our cell.
What are your thoughts on how Browns fans act during home games?