Ann Colter, Ronald Reagan, Eric Mangini, and the emotional roller coaster that is the Llama's Extravaganza

I was forwarded this article by Ann Colter tonight - a scathing accurate description of Christianity, the easiest and hardest religion in the world. Enjoy.

http://www.anncoulter.com (it's the post for January 6, 2010)

AND... I ran across this t-shirt advertisement and it made me laugh.



Finally, I found out this weekend that Mangini is staying... which makes be uncontrollably depressed, and I watched the Eagles loose to the Cowboys... again, depressing.

But thank God for good friends and many hands to make light work of a move.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

When you're a Browns fan, you need to take joy in the little things, like the Steelers missing the playoffs

When you're a Browns fan, you need to take joy in the little things. Today, that joy is in the knowledge that my putrid but beloved Browns (along with the blessing of an unbelievably cold night) completely wrecked the chances of the Steelers to compete for a playoff spot. In celebration, my father took this picture. Enjoy.



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
joel

ps - now my hope is that this fluke win does not net Mangidiot a chance to keep his job. That would be an ironic payback by the Steelernation... and just our luck

Another Cleveland Video

At least we're not Detriot...



My favorite line: "Our economy's based on Lebron James!"

High props to Ted Brandt who posted this on my facebook Wall. Cheers dude.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

John Riggins Tells It Like He Sees It

Browns fans, don't we need someone speaking up on behalf of the best interest of the franchise, like Riggins is doing for Washington, and NO that person should not be Jim Brown. Let's please pick someone who can put together a few sentences



Sidenote: an obvious, interesting use of new media...

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

The 2009 Cleveland Browns Really Suck

I have lots of things I can blog about and will in the coming weeks. Today, the subject of the day is the Cleveland Browns.



I have been a Browns fan since 1985, and I've been a student of the game and Browns history ever since. I know about the good years - decades before my birth. I have lived through some very bad years. I have faithfully supported my team through thick and thin. Simply put: the 2009 Cleveland Browns are the very WORST Browns team they have ever fielded. Brady Quinn, DA, Eric Mangini, Wimbley, Mr. Lerner, name your Browns employee. Basically everyone but Shaun Rogers needs to go. I deserve better than this. We all deserve better than this.

Today, the Browns made me watch them loose to the Baltimore Ravens again, and it's insulting to all of us.

Like all businesses, the Browns trouble starts at the top with the leadership in the front office. The Rooney family is a model for great NFL ownership. They hire the right people, support the organization, enforce the right culture - a professional and honorable culture, and they draft so stinkin' well.

Until the city of Cleveland demands a level of commitment from the team equal to OUR commitment to the Browns, we'll always be the bottom feeders. People don't make fun of me for being a Browns fan. They just feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for me too.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Bernie Kosar is bankrupt and an 8-year old Joel's childhood dies a little more

The weekend starts on down note as the AP breaks a story that my childhood hero, Bernie Kosar, has had to file for bankruptcy. This sort of thing happens, but I find it particularly noteworthy that it happens to the best player to wear a Brown's uniform in 30 years. The Browns are cursed.



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Eric Mangini's Best Move Ever

As we all know now, Eric Mangini is the Browns new head coach. Here's hoping this syncing feeling in my gut is gas. On the upside, watch the Sopranos...



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Beleaguered Browns Fans are Grasping for a New Hope

The website is is cowher09.com...



Personally, I'm not convinced that this is the answer, but with an owner like Randy Lerner, I'm not sure we can expect to magically pull the next Mike Tomlin. Given that, I'm hoping Bill can somehow bring himself to leave his $2M, one day a week job at CBS to help the team that gave him his start in Pro coaching.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

You better get your hopes up!!

Football is coming.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d804f24a7

On NFL Draft Weekend, Looking Back on Tim Couch

Today, a new set of quarterbacks will be drafted. ESPN has a great, short article on the mishaps of the position and the pressure, covering none other than the infamous Tim Couch. He was never a bad guy, but he represents the pit-in-your-stomach, heart-breaking disappointment that is life as a Browns fan. If you have the time, enjoy the read...



Good luck Matt Ryan. I'll withhold the same for Joe Flacco (Billick's gone but they're still the Ravens)

FF Update for Week 2

After my loss in week one, I wised up on a few things.

1) no more starting Braylon Edwards. He's talented, but Cleveland needs someone to throw to him
2) I dropped Phil Dawson... what was I thinking!?! Picked up Jason Hansen, one of those "best player available" moves
3) Don't ever fail to start Andre Johnson... especially for the aforementioned Edwards.

I have a roster spot open now and am not sure who to pick up.

Here's hoping at least one of my teams: the Llamas or Browns at least put up a fight this week. As Magic 8 Ball is want to say, "Signs Point to No".

Tango Does FF

So I just hosted and participated in my firt fantasy football draft. Our commissioner and dear friend, Kyle Letner, provided a video projector and the appropriate fanfare. The league is called Onside Kick and I am, of course, the Tango Llamas. Here's the link to the league site: http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/leagueoffice?leagueId=396286

It was an overall VERY enjoyable experience. If you enjoy the game of football, I suggest giving it a try someday. Here's where I ended up for my 14 picks:

Player/Team/Position
Larry Johnson, RB, KC
Laurence Maroney, RB, NE
Chad Johnson, WR, Cin
Marc Bulger, QB, StL
Carnell Williams, RB, TB
Donald Driver, WR, GB
Kellen Winslow, TE, Cle
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Sea
Donte Stalworth, WR, NE
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST
Andre Johnson, WR, Hou
Ronnie Brown, RB, Mia
Braylon Edwards, WR, Cle
Phil Dawson, K, Cle

I'll probably make a move at Kicker. I let my Browns loyalties get in the way of a better pick.

Viva la FF. Enjoy the year!

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

...Cleveland selects, Brady Quinn, Quarterback from the University of Notre Dame

I'm a Brown's fan... which I gotta tell you is WAY tougher then it looks, and I'm sure it looks painful. Believe me - it is. I was the kid crying myself to sleep when "The Drive" happened and the adult cursing at my television when Cleveland lost to the Bears after being up by 14 points with 5 minutes left.

Anyway, part of being a Brown's fan is getting your hopes up every year. And this year's draft is no exception. To that end, I submit my personal draft log from the day of....

12:05: ESPN shows the first picture of Quinn at age 4 in a Bernie Kosar jersey - I am now sold on the fact that this guy MUST become a Brown - for God's sake he actually WANTS to play in Cleveland!

12:30: With the 3rd pick in the draft, Cleveland selects, Joe Thomas, Tackle from Wisconsin - hearts sinks... we knows it is a great pick, but still... its like I lost the chance to play for the Browns. I'm sick to my stomach at the thought of another year with Charlie Frye. I become incontinent. The announcers are stunned and literally cannot speak.

12:35: I utter the words of the obviously upcoming news report, "This just in. Joe Thomas' boat has capsized on Lake Michigan. He is believed to be temporarily paralyzed and may even have a case of the bends. This is a striking blow to the Browns hopes for 2007 and 2008." I begin to rationalize about the viability of the quarterbacks that will be available in the 2nd round. There is no comfort in these thoughts.

1 PM: The first anti-Brady comment is heard on ESPN... some trumped up accuracy issue.

2 PM: Miami passes over Quinn. I (along with the entire Browns nation) immediately start the mental permutations of what it will take to get back on the board. Our hopes... like all good Cleveland fans... are unnaturally high despite the odds.

2:15: Cleveland fans everywhere come to the same conclusion at once, we have zero assets to trade for a pick except Kellen Winslow... which defeats the purpose of acquiring a great QB... if we are going to get back into this round, its going to cost our #1 pick next year.

2:30: The full-on anti-Brady onslaught is underway. Apparently Quinn has dropped in value somewhere between Tony Eason and Akli Smith. ESPN shows one more sad Quinn face and the 4yr old picture. Our collective Browns hearts go out to him. Everyone hates you Brady, except Cleveland... we love you. We hear the first whispers that Cleveland is trying to get back into the first round and our hopes are raised yet again.

3 PM: I organize a prayer vigil in my neighborhood. Candles and incense are burned, vows are made, serious promises. God has got a lot on the table with this one.

3:40: The clouds part and Boomer announces that Dallas has cut a deal with the Browns. Brady Quinn is a Brown AND suddenly "Greenhorn Dopey McDopey Dope" (Phil Savage) looks like a frickin' genius. A LT and a QB in one draft. Browns fans have no choice but to be hopeful. Great celebration bursts forth at the Carbonaro house, as even the heartless Eagles fan have been swept up by the excitement of this moment.

3:45: I utter the ever-so-famous words, "you better get your hopes up" and consider giving my good friend Nick a call.

Yes sir, my hopes are indeed up. Its going to really hurt when they crumble around me.

"This just in. Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn have both torn their ACL's on a simple practice drill tripping over one another."

I love football!

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango