“It was 20 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play” – The Beatles
Thursday marked the 20th anniversary one of the most memorable games in American sports history. The national media called it "The Drive." I call it "The day I realized what being a Cleveland sports fan meant."
The problem with anniversaries is that they are reminders, but little more than that. Often connections are lost, or not clear to us. But in this case, I can see how that game altered history. It moved jobs, changed paths, made a superstar, and crushed a dream.
As I write this, I wonder if the previous sentence is a bit too dramatic. As I read it over a second time, I am certain of that.
But when John Elway marched the Denver Broncos 98 yards for a tying touchdown on Jan. 11, 1987, it set in motion a chain of events that no one could have foreseen. The Broncos beat the Browns that day, 23-20, on an overtime field goal by Broncos kicker Rich Karlis. As I cried to my father after the game (I was 6), he assured me there was next year, and a number of years to come.
But looking back now, I have decided that Jan. 11, 1987 was the Browns’ best chance at a Super Bowl, and subsequently a championship, since thir last title in 1964
The Browns had good teams after that, and more heartbreaking losses. The next season, Earnest Byner’s fumble became football lore. But that was in Denver. The 1987 contest was in Cleveland, and the Browns led by seven with less than six minutes left in the game. The Broncos had the ball on their own 2 yard line.
It was Cleveland’s best chance.
Of course, John Elway ruined it with a 15-play drive that concluded when he found a sliding Mark Jackson over the middle in the end zone. Elway’s legend was born, while the Browns were left in Cleveland, wondering what went wrong.
I mentioned all the dramatic stuff earlier. The reason for all of that was it’s my belief that had Elway not completed his comeback, Marty Schottenheimer would not have been fired after the 1988 season for not being able to get to the Super Bowl.
He would not have been replaced by Bud Carson, who would not have been replaced by Jim Shofner, who would not have been replaced by Bill Belichick.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Jose Mesa, meanwhile, goes for redemption by trying to make the Tigers roster.
2 - The Haze
Suss - Do I detect a little "Wahoo" nostalgia?(lol)
3 - The Haze
more like a "shot in the dark".
4 - RJ Elliott
NEWS FLASH:
Schottenheimer just called TO's pharmacist...
5 - alessandro nicolo
Firing Shott seems a bit much. Though they could have ran one more play. Or at least spike the ball a little quicker to save some time. I remember 'The Drive' and I remember how incredibly riveting it was. Your thoughts about Cleveland can be applied to Montreal baseball fans: what if Blue Monday and 1994 never happened? RJ, at least he's not hiring TO's former PR chick.
6 - Pomeister
What always bugs me about those who would defend Schottenheimer is that they see no importance in the correlation between him and his results in the playoffs. San Diego is like Cleveland in that it considers itself a great city. But you can't be a great city unless you expect greatness and refuse to settle for second best. I have been living in San Diego since 1979, and I pretty much have to say that were are a land of the dumb. We accept good enough, think we are lucky because we aren't last. Schottenheimer is a perfect coach for us. You might say I need to get out of here. I'd be happy if Marty left instead.
7 - alessandro nicolo
Don't come to Canada -or Vermont. Same thing. Mediocrity reigns supreme here. You have to admit, the players failed this time for SD. Sure he made a couple of bad calls but hardly enough to make SD lose. What is he now? 5-14 in the post season? He could have been just as easily been 7-12 maybe even 8-11.