Class and Loyalty aren't Dead Yet in Sports

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, teams have shown some interest in Cleveland Indians utility man, Mike Aviles...The guy has played 2B, 3B, SS, and OF, and he plays well when he gets in there...But in a rare show of class and loyalty to a player and his family the Cleveland Indians have decided that they will not move Aviles since his 4 year old daughter is going through cancer treatment...

Adriana was diagnosed in May, and the organization has been very supportive of the Aviles family's needs...Twice he has been placed on the Family Medical Emergency List, and once on the Restricted List so that he could be with his daughter through these tough times...

When word got out in May of Adriana's diagnosis, Indians players, coaches, and the owner got together and shaved their heads in support of her...

Here they are rocking their Team Adriana shirts!

Thursday manager Terry Francona confirmed that even if teams are targeting Aviles, who will be w free agent after this season, that the Indians won't put him and his family in that type of difficult situation...

“We’re trying to be pretty respectful to Mike and his family stuff. We haven't spoken too much about it other than just to kind of maybe explain why he hasn't been here and stuff like that. ... I don't think, because of the situation Mike's in, because of his family situation that [general manager Chris Antonetti] would ever do that.”

In today's sports world, when so many athletes seem to be just out for themselves, following an example often set by owners and league officials, it's quite refreshing to see this type of example being set by the Indians...Yes, I wish they were having a better season...But how they have treated the Aviles family shows that they get it...There are things more important then the business of Baseball.

An Open Letter to Browns Fans

It's time...Time for me to sit you down, and tell you what needs to be said...I'm not the only one...There are a few guys on the new 92.3 "The Fan" that feel the same...But I don't know how many people are listening to the channel that use to be the best music station in Cleveland, and is now sports talk...Now we're left with Oldies, 80's, and ACDC and Pink Floyd being rammed down our throats...I've had enough of that...But this post isn't about Cleveland Radio...

This post is about the Browns, and Browns fans who are loyal, to a fault...I grew up a Browns fan...I lived through some tough times..."The Drive" is always talked about...But it was Earnest Byner having the ball stripped from him at the goal line that made me cry...My loyalty and devotion to the Browns left, when the team left for Baltimore...We always saw players that we loved on our teams leave for greener pastures and greener money...But the whole damn franchise leaving showed just how little loyalty in sports meant...A fan base that hadn't had a winner since before the "Super Bowl" existed, sold out it's 70,000 plus seat stadium every game...And they got screwed...My team left and went to Baltimore...

So Cleveland may have won the legal battle to keep the colors and the name, it's team was still gone...So I've never been able to fully embrace the new Browns...But many people did...No one shits on my town Cleveland, as much as me, but I'll say this...Clevelanders, for the most part are good people, and loyal...Way too loyal...And they're very hungry for a winner to cheer for...Since 1999 Browns fans have bought into multiple team philosophies...Multiple coaches, GM's, multiple presidents, and multiple QB's...

It's time to STOP!

Stop making Randy Lerner's life easy...This guy barely notices what is going on with his team...He's more focused on his Soccer team...Hell lives most of the year in New York...Yet, Browns fans never hold him accountable for how the franchise is run...Stop putting money in his pockets...It's time to stop spending money on a losing product...You wouldn't continue to dump money into any other product in your life, that gave nothing positive back to you...The Browns are a drain...They take your money, and give you heartache, pain, misery, and shitty football!

Stop making Mike Holmgren's job and life easy...It's time the Walrus has his feet put to the fire...People just want to believe that because he won "Super Bowls" as an assistant coach and one as a head coach, that he knows how to run a football franchise...When he went to Seattle front office, he drove it into the ground...His only good decision was hiring GM Tom Heckert...And Heckert had a lot of catching up to do, after many years of bad drafts and free agent moves...Luckily, he has an eye for talent on the defensive side of the ball...Stop wasting your money!

Coach Pat Shurmur clearly refuses to look at what he has talent wise, and fit his scheme to fit with the talent...Colt McCoy showed flashes of excellence last year, on a bad team...Shurmur's offense has him stifled...McCoy has regressed this year...And The O-Line has struggled all year...Some of that has to be scheme...They have refused to put McCoy in the shotgun, which would buy him an extra second before he has to run for his life...McCoy either can't throw a deep ball...Sooner or later that will catch up to you in the NFL...Just ask Tim Couch!

Last year this team was lead by a power running game, and play action passing...NONE OF THAT this year...The WR's can't get open...Some run bad routes...Some just don't have the speed, or ability to beat a DB...Too many drops has been a problem for years...I think Braylon Edwards spilled a bottle of dropsies all over Berea, and they still haven't washed it all away...

And don't forget about that 3 year stint when every time a player had an injury, he ended up hospitalized with a Staph Infection...Why are you still spending your money on this team? STOP!

Monday October 31, 2011...Coach Shurmur's Monday Press Conference...It was the first time a Monday Press Conference lasted less than 10 minutes...WHY? Because Shurmur, who Holmgren said he wants to be the voice of the organization, has been pissy with the media on the rare occasions when they ask him the tough questions...Or when they push for a real answer...He is always defensive...Listen, when dumb things are happening, and the play is awful, and the offense is moving backwards, the press and fans are going to have questions...But this dick comes in there acting like he is Bill Belichick with 5 rings...Dude you aren't shit! So Monday, the press quickly got sick of his act, and stopped asking questions...Dead air...

The Browns are alienating the media...The fans will be next...The whole organization is going backwards...Stop drinking what they are spilling!

Tell me, what have the Cleveland Browns done for you since 1999? Not Much right! So why do you keep doing for them? Respect, honor, and loyalty are supposed to be earned, not just given away...The same goes for money...Stop giving yourself away Browns fans...Make these dolts earn your respect, honor, loyalty, and money!


Later, The Beeze.