It was supposed to be the dawn of a grand new era of football in Cleveland. Instead, it was a rude wakeup call. When the new Cleveland Browns took the field in 1999, legions of loyal fans—once heartsick, abandoned, and disgusted at the loss of their team in 1995—were ready to forgive the past and embrace the future . . . a new owner, a new team, a new stadium. They just wanted their Browns back. They didn’t get what they bargained for. In the five years since a new team called the Browns arrived to play on Cleveland’s lakefront, this has become clear: Browns fans got a bum deal. The NFL traded one of the most storied teams in football history for a franchise mired in mediocrity. These were the fans who, after owner Art Modell skipped town with their beloved Browns, became the only fans ever to take on the NFL, demand their team back—and win. Yet while they were celebrating the supposed victory that kept "our name, our colors, our team" in Cleveland, fans should have been looking over their shoulders and keeping a close watch on the NFL. There would be few reasons to celebrate in the years to come. In this book, award-winning sportswriter, Terry Pluto takes a hard look at the first five years of the new Cleveland Browns franchise and doesn’t like what he sees. Pluto chronicles the backroom deals, big-money power plays, poor decisions, and plain bad luck that have dogged the new Browns franchise since its inception. Browns fans still stand by, waiting for a return to glory. How much longer must they wait? Pluto sifts through the clues from past seasons and looks for answers. This frank analysis will offer fans some solace along with an explanation for their misery.
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About the Author
Terry Pluto, a sports columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal, has twice been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the nation’s top sports columnist for medium-sized newspapers. He is an eight-time winner of the Ohio Sports Writer of the Year award and has twice been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is the author of 21 books, including The Curse of Rocky Colavito (selected by the New York Times as one of the five notable sports books of 1989) and Loose Balls, which was ranked at number 13 on Sports Illustrated’s list of the top 100 sports books of all time. He lives in Akron, Ohio.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read for Brown's fans,
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This review is from: False Start: How The New Browns Were Set Up To Fail (Hardcover)
Terry Pluto has written a number of excellent books and this book on the Browns is one of his best. The book is an absolute must read for all Brown's fans. It gives an insight that can be found no where else. If you've wondered why the Browns are struggling in 2004 it is because of decisions made or not made in 1998 and 1999. It portrays a team that the NFL and the other owners milked to line their own pockets. It shows a team that struggled from day one because it never had a true general manager, didn't get the coach it wanted, and never had a master plan as to how to build a successful NFL team. Unfortunately it shows that things haven't changed much with current coach and de facto GM Butch Davis.
It also shows the passion of the fans that has been a hallmark of the franchise for almost 60 years. And despite the mis-management and incompetence of those who have run or are running the team,fans speak from their heart and show that the love affair with Browns is as strong today as it ever was.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read for all TRUE Browns Fans,
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This review is from: False Start: How The New Browns Were Set Up To Fail (Hardcover)
Terry Pluto has put together a well-written documentation of how Brown's fans were short-changed by the NFL upon their return in 1999. I think all NFL fans will find this interesting, just to get an insight into just how powerful and greedy the NFL money machine has become.
While Mr. Pluto does not sugar-coat the truth, he remains positive and upbeat throughout, showing just how important football and The Browns are to him. Hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many things that Browns fans just accepted because of their undying loyalty to their team, and this will open the eyes of many, I know it did for me. Great book, thank you Mr. Pluto!
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Browns fans again get the short end of the bargin,
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This review is from: False Start: How The New Browns Were Set Up To Fail (Hardcover)
Terry Pluto has out done himself here again. The Curse of Rocky Colavito is great but this book just hits home with our beloved Cleveland Browns. He goes into detail on how The NFL "Took care" of one of the most proud franchises and turned it into a laughing stock. Its a great read. Cleveland Browns fans take notice that pain and misery goes on...I pray for a Super Bowl win before I die
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