Most Prized Possession

Who’s a Fan Now?

I can't say that I've always wanted to be a football fan, but after I got married, I started to be a little envious of the way my husband was so passionate about the events in the games. My stoic husband, a man who usually keeps his emotions close to the vest, would cry out in anguish or exhilaration over a play.  I was intrigued.  As I watched him plan his draft picks for one of his many fantasy football teams or be mesmerized by the TV on Sunday, I could see there was something very interesting going on and I was missing out.

I never had anything against football fans; I just never really had the occasion to become one.   I like to say I was raised by wolves, but the truth is I was raised by humans.  They just weren’t into football.   My father died when I was very young and never really had a chance to introduce me to sports.  I guess even if he had, it probably would have been fishing or hunting, judging by the deer carcass hanging from my swing set in one of my favorite childhood  photos.

I remember my friends and their families having favorite teams, but those were their favorite teams not mine.  I knew enough to know you had to have a special connection to your team. You needed to be from a certain city or go to a certain school. Or did you?

My most prized possession came into my life in a most unexpected way.  I was helping out at my church yard sale and the t-shirts we had so painstakingly folded that morning were being sold for 50 cents apiece; that is, unless an “extra savvy” yard sale shopper (although even at church I’m certain that is not how we referred to them) who wanted it for a quarter was shaking us down.  As I saw the t-shirts and other clothing going for 50 and 25 cents, I was reminded I needed more t-shirts and I should take a look.   

As I browsed through the t-shirts, there it was, a Cleveland Browns t-shirt.  Dark grey, with black, orange and white lettering, it was quite an attractive shirt, and it was my size!  I realized right then and there the key to being interested in football is simply having a team to root for; at this moment, the next Brownies fan was born. This was essential to my developing an interest in football.

Now this next turn of events will be a little unbelievable, but this is all 100 percent true.  As I’m admiring my new favorite t-shirt, a man walks up and says, “You’re a Browns fan?”  I replied, “I am now.”  He laughed.  It turns out, this well-dressed man from Winter Park named Frank, happened  to be from Cleveland.  I said to him, “I would let you have the shirt, if you really want it, but it’s not your size.”  I was so thankful that it was not his size; I didn’t want to lose that shirt.  I couldn’t wait to wear it.  We continued talking about the team. “Are they any good?” I asked.   He said, “The teams alright, but the fans are great.”  That was good enough for me.

I’m a pretty busy person, full time work, full time school, full time service at my church Inspire.  I’m not sure I will get to see many games, but I have the one piece of essential proclamation of my team, my beloved Browns t-shirt.  

My husband wasn’t sure I was serious at first.  I guess I wasn’t certain it would take either, but I loved that shirt!  I have worn it at least once a week since the day I found it.  I would tell people every chance I got, “I’m a Browns fan,” or I would refer to them as my Brownies.  I even used the line, “Did you all know I’m a Browns fan?” to redirect a political conversation that was taking a bad turn.  The Browns are becoming a part of my lexicon, and I do love that shirt.

As time has gone on, I’ve had other confirmations that this is my team.  One of my best friends is from Ohio. I remembered my mom was born in Sydney, Ohio; I’m practically a native.  And, as if I needed more confirmation, I now have a professor from Cleveland who just happened to assign a paper about our most prized possession.  My Browns t-shirt is truly my most prized possession (that’s not a cat), and its story continues to develop.  Go Brownies!