Ignorance is bliss!

I just had to post this because it cracked me up for some reason.

My Browns Experience

Well, the Cleveland Browns fan experience wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be ... but it certainly was an interesting evening.

We got to our seats (the 2nd level of Dawg Pound) ... and settled in to watch the game.

The skies were dark, but the local television meterologist appearing on the field (and former co-worker) said the storms would "pass over" us.

She was right. They passed over us. Directly over us. Good forecast, Hollie.

I figured the flashes behind me were pictures being taken ... because they'd stop the game if it was really lightning.

Oh, it was lightning ... and after a huge bolt near the stadium, play was halted.

For our safety, the fans had to huddle in the concourse like sheep. Not a lot of fun.

Then the rains came. I didn't realize how hard it was really coming down, until I checked out Taawd's blog this morning.

Finally the rain stopped, play resumed ... and we made it to halftime. At 10pm. We stayed for a bit more of the game, then it started raining again. My friend and I decided that was enough, as did most of the rest of the fans still in attendance.

As I write this, I have no idea who even won the game.

Fan behaviour was actually surprisingly good. There were quite a few folks who had trouble walking, but no one threw up on me. Which is a plus.

2 quick negatives though:

While we were huddled like sheep, some Jets fans walked by, and Browns fans ... being gracious hosts ... started the obligatory "asshole" chant.

Of course, I look to my right, and after the chant has ended, a tattooed guy started yelling "asshole" on his own. With his hands on the shoulders of his son. His young son. Super role model there pops.

Then, during the game, we were sitting near the fan who was WAY to into a pre-season game. Brady Quinn had been on the field for 3 plays and he was f-bombing the coaching staff for not calling more passes. Then, he would stand, point at the formation, and when the Browns defense would give up yards, say "We ran that in high school, C'MON!"

Mind you it had been quite a few years since this guy ran ANY play in high school. But, he's apparently a better coach than everyone the Browns have on the field.

Oh, and fashion tip. If you're a slightly more heavy-set gal, who's at the game in clothes way too tight for your build, I'd leave the cowbell necklace at home. But, that's just me.

Anyways, on the bright side, the tickets were free, the company was good, and when the storm cleared, we could even see a rainbow from our sheep-like holding pen!

As for me, my "in person" duties of rooting for the Browns this year are done ... back to the La-Z-Boy.

Feeling Brown

Tonight, the Cleveland Browns open their pre-season schedule, and I'll be in attendance.

It will be just my second Browns game in person (the other was an exhibition game as well), and the tickets are freebies (as were the tickets to the first game.)

Let me tell you why I'm not a rabid Dawg Pound occupant.

First off, I'm a baseball fan. Baseball is my sport, always has been, always will be. I love football, love the Browns, and hope to live to see them in a Super Bowl someday.

But, one reason I love baseball is that it's a summertime sport. Shorts. Short sleeves. Cold beer. Warm temperatures (well, except when it snows.)

I have absolutely NO desire to see the Browns when its 30 degrees outside ... when I can enjoy a pizza and beer and watch them from the comfort of my La-Z-Boy.

But, there's another reason. The fans.

I get it that football is an aggressive sport, and so it attracts a more aggressive fan.

But, honestly, I don't need to be surrounding by people hurling expletives, fighting and puking.

There was just an article in the Plain Dealer about the NFL cracking down on fan conduct this season. Take a look at the comments. Wow.

Which leads me to another point. Why do Clevelanders seem to want to get absolutely, positively, fall-down-the-stairs hammered before every big event?

I get that tailgating is part of the football experience. Heck, I've done it myself. But, I've never been so drunk I can't make it to my seat, or fell asleep during the game.

But, it's not just football.

The Genesis concert I went to last fall featured several people falling down ... and at least one person throwing up in the aisle. Genesis! 59-year old British dudes! This isn't KISS people!

Bruce Springsteen had the right idea. Before his last solo acoustic tour, a concert where he wanted the crowd to "give him some quiet", the Boss cut off beer sales before he took the stage. You should have heard the complaining!

Now, I'll confess, I like going out on with my buddies on St. Patrick's Day in matching t-shirts or vintage green tuxedo jackets and having a good time. But, we never get out of control.

So folks, what is it that makes you want to get so darn drunk at every social event that requires a ticket to enter?

And with that, I'll end this post, and kindly tell those kids to get off my lawn. :)

Face Time

It's been a while since I've posted ... because, frankly, nothing that interesting has been going on in my world.

But, last night changed that a bit ... and Facebook is the reason.

I'll admit that while I love new technology, I'm usually the last guy on the block to buy into it.

You see, I can't justify buying that new HDTV while my old one works. I'd love a nice sound system, but the one I've had for the last 15 years just won't give up the ghost. When I joined the IPod generation, I did so with a Shuffle ... because I didn't see the need to spend $300 bucks on something that held 10,000 songs ... I just wanted enough music to exercise by.

Then there's Facebook. The college generation is all about this thing. I joined because my former employer desperately wanted us to use it to market the station (something I was all for, but felt we were dragging our feet in doing. Of course, after they let me go, they start doing it. Go figure.)

But, I have to admit ... it's pretty cool. Last night, I traded messages with one of my best friends from high school ... who I literally haven't spoken to in like 15 years, if not more.

I discovered he's a law professor ... one of our other friends is living the high life in California as an internet business guru ... and I'm ... well, let's just say they're doing pretty well.

Facebook has shot past MySpace ... because it's fairly easy to use ... and I don't get buried in "Friend Requests" from girls in bikinis who, I'm guessing, would never speak to me in real life.

It's also real easy to shoot messages to fun people ... like when I can bother Mom2Amara while she's working on an election night.

I'm not much of a "friend" collector ... sticking with those I know ... but if you want to join my elite little group ... click here.

Tell 'em my blog sent ya.

Just obey the rules.

Rule #1 -- Don't bury me with requests to do the "wave", become a "vampire", or any of the other applications. More often than not, I'm going to ignore you.

Rule #2 -- Don't believe a word I say on my "is" line.

"Development" Developing

Well, no sooner do I see the movie version of what might be my all-time favorite television show, I learn that another of my faves is progressing toward the big screen.

I'm in the minority here, but I truly believe that Arrested Development was one of the greatest comedies the small screen has even seen.

The show won an Emmy in its debut season ... and was brilliantly written. It also had a superb cast, re-launching the career of Jason Bateman, and introducing the world to Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno) and Will Arnett.

The only problem? No one watched. It lasted 3 seasons, with the second and third campaigns being abbreviated. It's final 4 episodes aired opposite the Super Bowl.

Why did that happen if it was so funny? My theory: It actually required that you watch and listen. The jokes were subtle, there was no laugh track, and it was shot with hand-held cameras. It was a show beter suited to HBO than Fox, just too darn smart for the average TV viewer.

Well, anyways, take a look at this video ... once you get past the vacation and baseball talk, Jason Bateman confirms talks continue toward a movie. Which would make me the happiest boy on earth.



Oh, by the way, as a fantasy baseball player, it makes me drool to think there's a league out there that has Olbermann, Bateman, Tim Goodman and David Cross (another Arresed Development alumnus) as some of its members!

Did I Believe?

Well, if you've read any of my posts below ... you know that one of the standouts of my geekiness is my love for the X-Files.

It honestly might be my favorite television show of all time. Very few shows could change so adeptly from week to week.

Every time you turned it on ... you might have seen a thriller, a science fiction episode, a drama, a horror story, or even a comedy.

So, I was really looking forward to the new X-Files movie ... subtitled I Want To Believe. Keep in mind, it's been 15 years since the series launched on Fox, 10 years since the last movie (Fight The Future), and 6 years since the show went off the air.

How excited was I? I went to the midnight showing last night. (I do have some spare time on my hands.)

My reaction ... well ... its mixed. And that's a little diappointing. I'll tell you why, while staying as spoiler-free as i can.

The goal of this movie was to tell a standalone story ... in the tradition of the series' "Monster Of The Week" episodes. No aliens. No dense government conspiracy.

The movie should please long-time fans of the show. We get to see Mulder and Scully and where they've been for the last 6 years while Mulder has been a wanted man.

There are lots of nice little nods to X-Philes ... as they're called. Some fun Easter Eggs too.

But, for this film to be a success, it needs to appeal to a wider audience. And I think that's where it fails.

The thrills weren't thrilling enough, the action not breath-taking enough, and the paranormal not paranormal-y enough.

What we get is a story about love and faith and morality. The beliefs of both of these former FBI agents are tested ... beliefs in psychic ability ... and beliefs in God.

It ends up being a deeply personal and "small" film ... about the two main characters. A film that really feels like an episode of the show, not real "grand" in scope.

And if you've invested 9 years of your life watching Mulder and Scully grow and develop .. it works.

Sadly, if you haven't and are a newbie to the "X" universe ... it might not ... because the "crime" part of the story doesn't stand up real well.

So, there you go ... I wish I could tell non X-Files fans to rush to the theatres and see this, but I can't.

If however, you loved watching Mulder and Scully for all those years ... as I did ... it's well worth the price of admission.

My First Rant

OK, as you know, I'm still out there looking for work.

So, each and every time my phone rings, I have a brief glimmer of hope.

Of course, it usually turns out to be the fine folks from Discover Card calling, the Atlantic City Hilton offering a free one or two night stay, or, if I'm lucky, a friend calling to check up on me.

(Which I might add, one did a couple days ago. More proof that she's good people.)

Yesterday, my phone rang with someone calling me asking about my severance package.

Someone who shouldn't have even had my phone number.

Needless to say, I was somewhat hesitant to give this person any answers, since they really had no business asking the questions anyways.

Thankfully, they didn't pry too deeply, and we left amicably.

After I placed a phone call myself today, and talked to another well-placed "source", I think I know where the call originated.

So, to the person who handed out my home phone number to this person, please stop.

Don't drag me down into your petty battles ... I have my own mountains to climb, hurdles to leap, and obstacles to conquer.

This concludes my first rant ... we now return you to the happy Chris you know and love/like/loathe/hate with every fiber of your being.

(Oh, and for the record, I wish I had one of those old-time phones pictured above.)