On Being Brown: What it Means to Be a Cleveland Browns Fan

by Scott Huler

Browns fans are … different. Why are we the only fans in the nation who ever demanded their team back—and got it? Why did three seasons without football fail even to dampen the enthusiasm? Why have we endured years of heartache (The Fumble, The Drive, “Red Right 88” …) yet grown ever more attached to the experience? These 33 essays hold the answer. Scott Huler’s nostalgic memoirs, and his interviews with Browns legends and other fans, uncover those essential, special elements of shared experience that define what being a Browns fan has meant for us all. Includes interviews with …
It’s about pride. It’s about desire, tempered by crushing disappointment. It’s about tradition, and learning how to root for the home team at your father’s side. It’s about rivalry and electrifying victory. It’s about longing—for a return to past championships, for future glory. It’s about heart. It’s about all that, and much more. This odyssey takes Browns fans back to some wonderful places. It revives some truly heartbreaking moments. And it looks to the future with great hope. If you’re Brown, you’ll enjoy the ride.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Scott Huler was born in 1959 in Cleveland and raised in that city's eastern suburbs. He graduated from Washington University in 1981; he was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa because of the breadth of his studies, and that breadth has been a signature of his writing work. He has written on everything from the death penalty to bikini waxing, from NASCAR racing to the stealth bomber, for such newspapers as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Los Angeles Times and such magazines as Backpacker, Fortune, and Child.

-from scotthuler.com

Reviews

[Michael Merencky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a good book but has some inaccuracies that should have been caught at publication time
One is Rather minor
Greg Pruitt played for the Browns in 1981 but did not start with the Raiders until 1982 season
in the book it made it out as if Pruitt played the 81 season with the Raiders
because the Playoff game from 1980 was played in January of 1981 and the next season would have been the 1981 Regular season. That is the minor issue. He talks about the Denver Rivalry
but does not mention that the 87 Regular season game was against Denver
I also believe he got some things confused with the 1988, 1989 and 1990 seasons. Not mentioning the 88 season at all and how they made the playoffs using 4 Quarterbacks including Don Strock who was 2-0 as a Starter. Mentions the AFC Title game loss in 1989 then makes it sound like the 16-13 win happened in 1990 that the team broke a long losing streak with that win. Well in 1990 when they won 30-29 they lost 8 straight after that game and finished 3-13. Plus so far I have seen no mention of Kosar being cut after loss to Denver in a game I was at. Its not the first book or the last book that mistakes like this have happened in. Names get messed up. But to me the most egregious of the mistakes is calling Cockroft the last of the Great Straight on Kickers. Mark Mosely won an MVP award in 1982 as a straight on kicker. Plus he played for the Browns in the 86 playoffs making the winning FG against the Jets.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for any Cleveland Browns fan. It brought back memories of my childhood and made me miss my two Grandfathers, who were avid Browns fans. I would love to discuss the team with them today. My Dad was over for the game last Sunday (loss versus the Squealers) and it was great to see him in a T that said, "Play like it's 1964". 🧡 I'm glad I read this to learn a bit and have some nostalgia. "Maybe next year..."

[Katie Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing summation of Browns history. Must read by all fans. Go Browns!

[1dotson_matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very good book. It talks about wait it means to be a true browns fan. It's talks about the rough road we had with sports and the city of Cleveland. The author is a kid who grew up in Cleveland and he bleeds orange and brown, i don't think you could of had a better author for it. If you a true Cleveland Browns fan you will love this book. Even if you don't like the browns you will see how hard it has been for the city of Cleveland.

[Dr NSCA-CPT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read. The author Scott Huler describes his youth as a Cleveland Browns fan. He writes about how he came to love and appreciate the team.

The book is well-written and easy read. It brings back fond memories of old Cleveland Stadium and former Browns players and games. It includes chapters with interviews of numerous former Browns players. I highly recommend this book for all Cleveland sports fans, especially Browns fans.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible book for any sports fan - no matter what shape, color or size. beautifully written.