On Being Brown: What It Means to Be a Cleveland Browns Fan
I grew up in Cleveland, and the Browns and their worship was central to my childhood, my relationship with my family, and my understanding of the world. In this book I spend time unpacking the fraught -- and unique -- relationship between the Browns and their fans, along the way interviewing other fans, journalists, and players like Otto Graham, Bernie Kosar, Jerry Sherk, and Jim Brown.
I recently learned of a Browns fan who during the days of his final illness asked for his family to read to him from this book. This may be the greatest compliment I have ever had as a writer. Anyway, here are a few review quotes: “An understated little book but extremely well done…. [an] absorbing collection.” -- Cincinnati Enquirer “A 183-page rumination on fandom, a Leaves of Gridiron Grass. The 33 essays and interviews are as bite-sized as pretzels and just as addictive.” -- Cleveland Free Times “Consistently poignant, occasionally profound… the pleasures of fandom are in the details.” -- The Cleveland Scene “Less about the big plays, more about the feeling of it all.” -- Cleveland Plain Dealer “Huler captures brilliantly the love affair between the city and the team.” -- Currents “The head-high hit comes from author Scott Huler…. His 33 essays mix his memories of rooting for the Browns beside his father and uncle with interviews in person or by phone with fan-favorite Browns athletes.” --Akron Beacon-Journal “Huler writes with passion and compassion …. The book is personal and personable.” --Medina County Gazette “Easy to follow and hard to put down.” --Cuyahoga Falls News Press “[Not] just another history lesson… Huler is writing about emotions here; not history. This book is therapeutic.” -- Sports Jam |
Gray and Company, 1999.
Click on the book to buy it at Amazon. Though it's worth noting I try to buy books at my local independent bookseller or used bookstore. _______________________________________________________ “The finest book ever written about the Browns.” -- WERE-AM, Cleveland “A terrific read.” -- WEWS-TV, Cleveland |