Mike Polk Jr. helps fellow Cleveland Browns fans cope with another devastating loss
CLEVELAND — Even given the endless litany of “Tough Nights To Be A Browns Fan” this fanbase has experienced over the past 30 or so years, last night was a particularly “Tough Night To Be A Browns Fan.”
Everything about it was terrible, of course. It’s bad enough to lose to your divisional rival on national television, and watch your best and most beloved player go down with a season ending injury, and watch the quarterback for whom you mortgaged your future perform like vintage Charlie Frye…
All of that was clearly tragic, but what really has me reeling emotionally above all else is the fact that we somehow managed to lose, yet again, to that little hobgoblin Kenny Pickett. That’s the real kick in the teeth.
I’m used to the Steelers defeating the Browns in unique and horrible ways. I came to terms with it long ago. For whatever reason, the fates of the universe have deemed it a real cosmic knee-slapper to make certain that — with a few recent but notable exceptions — my football team is destined to be consistently defeated in a variety of unique and humiliating ways by our rival football team.
It stinks, but it’s a reality we’ve sadly largely come to terms with, like a neglected girlfriend who is never disappointed when he forgets her birthday because he forgets it every year, so she’s used to it.
But at least when it was Ben Roethlisberger at the helm of our rival team, the often ludicrous defeats felt ultimately more justified. After all, say what you will about Roethlisberger (and BOY, have I), but the man is a first ballot Hall of Famer without question. So at least there was a modicum of dignity when the Steelers inevitably defeated us via either thorough trouncing, last-minute heartbreak, or freak accidents involving electrical storms and whatnot.
At least back then, we were being shamed and beaten by one of the best, but to get beaten this way by this little Kid Rock roadie is beyond the pale. This is unacceptable.
And to be clear, if I could give Nick Chubb my knee, I would.
Needless to say, I felt the need to seek solace amongst my fellow emotionally and literally hungover Browns fans down on West 25th street to see how they were coping. I think we all helped each other out.
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